PrimeTime Sports 7 on 7 Football Rules

1. No kicking/punting.
2. Field is marked at 15 yard intervals with cones. (3 first downs without a penalty would result in a TD).
3. Possession always begins at the 45 yard line at the right hash. No penalty will be assessed in excess of the 45 yard line. If a penalty would move the offense beyond the 45 yard line, the offensive team shall be charged with a loss of down.
4. Offenses always move in the same direction
5. NO PASSER MAY RUN WITH THE BALL. ALL PASSES MUST BE FORWARD. A pass caught behind the line must be forward. The only laterals that will be allowed will be laterals that occur AFTER the completion of a forward pass.

1. No blocking. No screening when a ball has been intercepted. All defensive players must stop and allow the passing team's players unrestricted access to the player that intercepted the ball.
2. Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when touched below the neck with one or both hands. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Player will be expelled if ruled unsportsmanlike & flagrant).
3. Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. A muffed snap is not a fumble/dead ball. The 4.0 second count remains in effect on snaps. A muffed snap is not a fumble. The 4.0 second count remains in effect on muffed snaps.
4. Each team will have 25 seconds to snap the ball once it has been marked ready for play; delay of game penalty will be a 5-yard penalty.
5. The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw the ball. The Official timekeeper starts a stopwatch on the snap of the ball from center and stops the watch as soon as the QB releases the ball.
   1. If release is under 4.0 seconds, the play goes on.
   2. If the timekeeper sees that the clock has exceeded 4.0 seconds, he waits until the play is over (the play is not blown dead), then brings the ball back to the original line of scrimmage with loss of down. (The timekeeper will be an official or coach from a team that is not playing).
   3. Game manager - placed on the 50 yard-line to keep score for his field (both games) and to assist with crowd/player control. (This may be a coach).
6. Defensive Pass Interference will be a spot foul (1st down at the spot).
7. Responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense. There will be NO chucking, or deliberate bumping or grabbing. These actions will result in a "tack on" penalty at the end of the play (5-yard penalty).
8. Offensive pass interference is the same as NCAA rules.
9. Interceptions may be returned however, defensive players may not block anyone subsequent to an interception. If an interception is returned beyond the 45-yard line (the offensive origination point) it is a touchdown and point after attempt should ensue.
10. Offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the previous spot or the new scrimmage spot. Clock does not stop and any delay by offense in retrieving and returning the ball TO THE REFEREE will result in a delay of game and will be a 5-yard penalty from the succeeding spot.
11. The offensive center is not an eligible receiver (teams must have a center). The ball must be snapped between the center's legs.
12. The center will be responsible for setting or re-positioning the Referee's bean bag at the line of scrimmage.
13. No taunting or "trash talking." (5-yard penalty & expulsion if flagrant or repeated).
14. The offense must gain at least 15 yards in the first 3 or less plays or the defense takes over. (There is no kicking). Four down territory occurs only after offense proceeds to or inside the 15-yard line cone (third quadrant).
15. Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game and tournament. If a team fight occurs, the teams involved will be ejected from the tournament and denied participation in any/all state qualifying tournaments and the state tournament.
16. Any dead ball foul on a play that results in the defense getting the ball and it is unable to be penalized back to the 50 yard-line will result in a loss of down penalty. The defense - not the offense - would be starting play with 2nd down.
17. For 8th grade divisions and below, one coach is allowed on the field for the team's offensive possession. The coach must remain behind all offensive players at all times.

6 points for TD, 1 point for PAT from 3 yard line, 2 point PAT from 10 yard line (interception on PAT is dead ball). Official score is kept by field referee and game manager.

After coin flip to determine first possession, teams will alternate 4 down series from the 15-yard line. A winner is determined when one team scores during its possession and the other does not. If a second overtime period is necessary, each team must then go for two points on the conversion attempts.

1. 20-minute halves (continuous clock for each half--see: "starting the game").
2. No time outs. (EXCEPTION: Injuries. Both games on the Field will halt until player(s) can be be removed as soon as safety dictates).
   1. 10-minute halftime/10 minutes between games.
   2. 7-on-7 tournaments require that all games start/end at the same time. If a team(s) is(are) late and cannot start when the tournament officially starts, they will begin play with whatever time is left on the tournament clock. (Not to exceed 10 minutes of 1st half. Forfeit will occur after 10 minutes of the 1st half) IT IS IMPERATIVE TO KEEP TO THE TOURNAMENT TIME SCHEDULE. Teams must be on site and ready to play when scheduled). Injury time outs may reduce the amount of time between halves and/or between games to maintain the game schedules.

1. Players: Maximum of 20 players per team. We recommend a minimum of 10 players per team.
2. Tournament Fees: Each team must pay $225 per team to play in a Prime Time Sports tournament.
3. Squad members must be from the same high school district. Squad members may come from different middle schools and/or junior high schools as long as they are scheduled to attend the same high school.

(2) - Referee/Field Judge and Back Judge for All Games

1. No high school or middle school coach may serve as a coach or stand with the team on the sideline. All team coaches will wear an identification tag for clarification purposes. A team may not have more than 4 coaches on the sidelines.
2. Each team must have a coach accompany it to any/all events to serve as a School Administrator on duty for their particular team(s). No high school or middle school coaches are allowed on the sidelines during a game. High school and middle school coaches must watch games from the end zones. This individual is responsible for the ACTION OF THOSE REPRESENTING HIS SCHOOL!

1. If two teams are tied at the end of pool play, the first tiebreaker shall be head-to-head play.
2. If three or more teams are tied at the end of pool play, the following tiebreakers shall be applied until there are two or less teams tied. If two teams are tied at the conclusion of any of the following tiebreakers, then the tiebreaker shall be head-to-head play:
   • The first tiebreaker shall be cumulative head to head record against the other tied teams.
   • If three or more teams remain tied after this tiebreaker, the next tiebreaker shall be point differential.
   • If three or more teams remain tied at the end of these two tiebreakers, the next tiebreaker shall be points scored.
   • If three or more teams remain tied at the end of this tiebreaker, then the teams shall participate in a coin flip.

If there is inclement weather on the day of the tournament, Prime Time Sports will evaluate the conditions to determine if the Tournament will be held as scheduled. Prime Time Sports will reserve the right to reschedule or cancel the tournament if the inclement weather makes it unsafe or unplayable for players and spectators. In general, a tournament will be played if there is light to moderate rain, with no thunder or lightning. If there is inclement weather on the day of the tournament, call 972 539-9106 for updates. If a tournament is cancelled or rescheduled, Prime Time Sports will apply all fees paid by a team towards entry into a future Prime Time Sports event.