Tools · Rules at-a-glance · Football — 7v7

Football 7v7: rules at-a-glance

Skill positions only. No linemen, no contact (mostly), the recruiting circuit. The rules of 7v7 in five minutes.

Field/court setup

Half-field or specific 7v7 field, typically 40 × 30 yards with a 10-yard end zone. Some leagues use a full field length-wise but narrower.

Game length

Two halves of 12-20 minutes each, depending on league and tournament format. Running clock except in the last two minutes.

Scoring basics

— Touchdown: 6 points.
— Extra point: 1 point from the 5-yard line (pass), 2 points from the 10-yard line (pass).
— No field goals or kicking in 7v7.
— Defensive interception returned for TD: 6 points.

Calls you'll see

— One-hand or two-hand touch: tag the ball-carrier above the waist. League-specific.
— Pass interference: defender prevents the receiver from catching. Spot foul.
— Defensive holding: defender grabs receiver beyond legal contact zone. 5-yard penalty.
— QB pressure rules: pass-rusher (sometimes one, sometimes none allowed) starts a fixed distance from the QB. Rush early = penalty.
— Pick plays: offensive players cannot interfere with defenders covering other receivers. 10-yard penalty.
— Excessive contact: any contact beyond the touch/tag is a penalty.

Three things parents most often get wrong

— There are no linemen, no run plays (mostly), and no real defensive line. 7v7 is QB + 6 skill players vs 7 defenders. The whole game is passing.
— Some leagues allow extremely limited contact at the line of scrimmage; others are pure no-contact. Check the league rules before the season.
— 7v7 is a recruiting venue at the older ages. The major events (Pylon, Adidas 7on7, Under Armour Future 50) attract college coaches in volume during the live periods.

A few specifics.

No standard 7v7 ruleset. Unlike tackle (NFHS) or flag (NFL Flag), 7v7 doesn’t have one dominant national rulebook. Major events use their own rule sets (Pylon, Adidas, Under Armour, Battle 7on7). Read the rules of the specific event before showing up.

The seven positions. QB, plus 6 skill players (typically split as 4 receivers + 1 RB + 1 TE/H, but varies). Defense has 7 too: usually 3 DBs + 4 LBs/safeties.

Why 7v7 exists. Two reasons: skill development for QBs and skill-position players in the off-season, and recruiting exposure for HS-aged players. The recruiting circuit is real: live periods in May and July attract college coaches.

Cost. Mid-tier 7v7 teams run $500-1500/year in registration. Top circuit teams (Pylon, Under Armour) run $2,000-4,000+ with travel.

Equipment. NOCSAE mouthguard required. Rubber-stud cleats (no metal). Football gloves matter more in 7v7 than flag (real catches and DB plays). Optional: skull cap or Guardian Cap if league requires.

Last updated April 2026.