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Youth Sports in Hillsborough, NJ

7v7 Football Rules

Click here to download the 2023 7vs7 Flag Football Rules 

Field & Game Set-up

  • Games shall be comprised of (2) 20 minute running time halves with a 5 minute halftime

    • There shall be NO overtime during the regular season

  • Fields will be 40 yards long with a 10 yard end-zone

    • 6-7-8 teams will play on a standard width field

    • 3-4-5 teams may shorten the field to play sideline to far hash

  • First team listed shall be the visitors and wear their WHITE jerseys; second teams listed on schedule shall be home and wear their COLOR jerseys.

  • Teams shall line up on the SAME side of the field

    • HOME (dark jersey) Team shall sit between the 10-20 yard lines

    • AWAY (white jersey) Team shall sit between the 30-40 yard lines

  • Parents and spectators shall sit on the OPPOSITE side of the field from the players

Teams & Season

  • Prior to the season there will be a “practice session” for all registered players

  • After that practice session teams will be formed with the following considerations:

    • Competitive balance is of the utmost importance

    • Player/Coach requests will be honored where possible

      • Requests made in an effort to create “super” teams will not be tolerated

    • All teams are to be Coed to the fullest extent possible

  • Athletes will be divided evenly into teams with roughly 10 players per team

  • Regular season will consist of 9 games over 12 weeks

  • Playoffs will be after the regular season

    • All teams will make the playoffs

Player Equipment

  • Each player will be given a reversible game jersey

  • All players MUST wear sneakers or standard athletic cleats (metal cleats are NOT permitted)

  • Players are permitted to wear mouth guards.

  • Players are permitted to wear gloves, elbow &/or knee pads at their discretion

  • Players are permitted to wear soft helmets at their discretion

    • Standard tackle football helmets are NOT permitted

  • Players MUST remove all jewelry

  • Players are permitted to wear face coverings or masks.

Basic Game Rules

  • Each team shall field (7) players on the field

  • Visiting team shall call the coin toss

    • Winner of the coin toss can elect to kick or receive in the first half

  • Game will be comprised of two 20 minute running clock halves.

  • At the start of the game, start of the half and at each change in possession the ball will start on the 40 yard line going into the endzone

    • An interception will result in a change of possession and the offense will assume the ball at the 40 yard line going into the endzone

  • If an interception is returned for a touchdown the original offense will retain the ball on the 40 yard line

  • First down can be obtained at the 20 yard line, or by penalty

  • Teams have (4) downs to make the line to gain (or score)

  • Teams shall have 30-seconds between plays

  • Teams are allowed (1) timeout per half, the game clock will stop

  • (1) Offensive and (1) Defensive coach will be allowed in the huddle

    • Once the teams come to the LOS the coaches shall leave the field of play

  • Teams are required to play all players the same number of snaps throughout the game

    • Teams are encouraged to utilize at least (1) underclassman at quarterback for a portion of each game

Offense Rules

  • General & Formations

    • Offense shall be comprised of the following positions:

      • (1) - Center

      • (1) - QB

      • (5) – Receivers/ Backs

  • All players (excluding quarterback) are eligible to catch a pass

  • There is NO blocking

  • (3) Players, including the center, must be on the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped

  • Only 1 player may be in motion prior to the snap of the ball

    • Motion CANNOT be made towards the line of scrimmage

  • Snaps can be shot-gun between the legs or shot-gun side snap

    • Direct snaps under center are not permitted in 2020

  • Once the ball is snapped the QB has (4) seconds to pass or hand-off the ball

    • After (4) seconds the ball is dead on the LOS

  • Once a player is in possession of the ball beyond the LOS all offense players are to remain motionless

    • Picks, screens or blocking is NOT permitted

  • Running:

    • The QB is NOT permitted to run the ball past the line of scrimmage

    • The center is NOT permitted to run the ball

    • The ball may NOT be handed off and then passed

    • The ball may only be handed off ONE time per play from scrimmage

      • Once a runner is past the line of scrimmage the ball cannot be handed off

    • There is a “NO RUNNING ZONE” 5 yards from the end-zone & first down marker

    • Once the ball is handed off all defensive players are eligible to rush

    • Players are NOT permitted to leave their feet (no diving or jumping to avoid a defender)

    • A fumbled ball is dead where the ball is dropped

  • Receiving:

  • All players (excluding quarterback) are eligible to catch a pass

  • A player must have (1) foot in bounds for a legal catch

  • Interceptions are returnable

  • Once a receiver catches the ball they become a runner (see rules above)

Defense Rules

  • General & Formations

    • The defense may play zone or man-to-man defense

  • Blitzing

    • There will be NO blitzing.

  • Dead Balls

    • A play is over when:

      • Ball carrier flag is pulled

      • Ball carrier steps out of bounds

      • Ball carrier falls to the ground

      • Ball carrier knee hits the ground

      • Ball carrier crosses the end zone

      • Ball is fumbled or touches the ground

      • Play reaches 4-seconds and the QB is still in possession of the ball

Scoring

  • Touchdown – 6 points

  • Extra Points – (ball on the 5 yard line) – 1 point

    • No run plays

  • Extra Points – (ball on the 10 yard line) – 2 points

  • Interception – 3 points

    • No points on an interception of a PAT

  • Interception Returned for a Touchdown – 6 points + 3 points for the interception

  • Turnover on Downs – 2 points

Penalties

  • Defensive Penalties:

Offside

+10 yards

Illegal Rush (Starting rush from inside 7-yard marker)

+ 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Illegal Flag Pull (Before the receiver has the ball)

+ 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Roughing the Passer

+ 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Taunting

+ 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Defensive Pass Interference

SPOT FOUL, Automatic First Down

Holding

+ 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Unnecessary Roughness/Tackling

SPOT FOUL + 10 yards & Automatic First Down

  • Offensive Penalties:

Offside / False Start

- 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Illegal Forward Pass

- 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Offensive Pass Interference

- 10 yards from line of scrimmage & Loss of Down

Illegal Motion (More than one person moving)

- 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Delay of Game

- 10 yards from line of scrimmage

Flag Guarding & Untucked Jersey

-10 yards from line of scrimmage

Unnecessary Roughness/Illegal Blocking

SPOT FOUL, -10 yards & Loss of Down


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