2022 SAA 7-ON-7 Youth Passing League Rules 

We are here to teach football not to win games! Every participant should be given the opportunity to play on offense and defense. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Mouth Guards- It is required that a mouthpiece be worn!!!

1. Field Dimensions:

• Field Length - 40 yards long

• Field Width – 160 feet (Regulation HS field width (53 1/3 yards)

• End Zone - 10 yards deep

2. Starting The Game: 7-7

• Visitors will have first possession and the Home team will have first possession in the 2nd half.

• All players must wear SAA provided jersey AND helmet. Team Uniform must be worn outside of cold-weather gear.

• Players are permitted to wear standard football cleats with plastic or rubber spikes. No metal spikes allowed.

•No Jewelry will be allowed. It must be removed before game play. 

• K2 ball size for 5-8 and TDJ size for 9-13

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3. Moving the Ball

• No kicking/punting

• Field is marked at 10 yard intervals with cones or number markers. 

• Possession always begins at the 40 yard line in the middle of the field.

• Offenses always move in the same direction.

• No passer may run across the line of scrimmage with the ball.  Passer must throw the ball if the leave the pocket.

• Running the ball may only happen once per 4 downs.  QB is not allowed to run. Only backfield backs may run the ball over the line scrimmage. Defense can not cross the line of scrimmage, until after the ball is handed off. 

• The QB is not a live player, he can either hand the ball off or attempt a pass. The only player that may attempt a pass is the QB. Once the ball is handed off, the run must be attempted, and the defense is able to pursue

4. SPECIAL RULES

• Receiver/Ball carrier is legally down when flag or flag belt is pulled off. This is at referee discretion. (Excessive force by shoving, pushing, or striking a blow will be penalized by automatic first down and 5 yards. Player will be ejected if ruled unsportsmanlike and flagrant.) If this does occur, SAA Player Ejection Rules will apply. 

PLAYERS MAY NOT LEAVE THEIR FEET UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO PULL A FLAG OR WHILE RUNNING WITH THE BALL. Violators team will get one warning, second offense results in a 5 yd penalty.

• 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. If the ball is at 40 yard line, it cannot be taken backward beyond the 40. If the ball is at the 40, then it will be a loss of down.  (After 4 week start of season, and referee will determine time, after warning)

• The QB is allowed 4.0 seconds to throw for 9-12 years olds and 5.0 seconds for 5 -8 years olds.

• If release is under 4.0/5.0 seconds, the play goes on. (not enforced in first 4 weeks, only warning)

• Fumbles are dead balls at the spot with the last team retaining possession. A muffed snap is not a fumble/dead ball. The 4.0/5.0 second count remains in effect on snaps.

• NO RUSH

• Defensive Pass Interference will be a spot foul (Automatic 1st down)

• Illegal contact- the 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). No bump and run defense.

• Defensive player has the right to try to go for the ball, but cannot alter the offensive player motion to do so.

• Interceptions may NOT be returned and the play is whistled dead immediately. An interception simply results in a change of possession and the ball is placed at the 40 yard line.

• 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 the offense in retrieving and returning the ball to the tee will result in a delay of game and loss of downs.

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4. SPECIAL RULES CONTINUED

• The offensive center is NOT an eligible receiver (all teams must have a center- the center may be any player.) The center is responsible for establishing the succeeding spot as designated by the Referee. 

• No taunting or “trash-talking” allowed. (5 yard penalty and ejection if flagrant or repeated)

• Fighting: the player(s) involved will be ejected from the game. If a team fight occurs, the team involved will be ejected. If this does occur, SAA Player Ejection Rules will apply.

• For all levels, one coach is allowed on the field for offensive possessions, also one coach may be on the field for defense.

5. SCORING:

• This league is intended to be a developmental experience for the players. Following a touchdown, teams receive an additional play for a point after attempt. No rush plays on extra points. Only 1 touchdown per half per player, if a player does score the ball comes back to line of scrimmage and results in a loss of downs.

• Once a team has scored a touchdown, the other team will take over possession on the 40 yard

• 6 points for a touchdown

• all PAT from 5 yard line

• 1 point for a PAT by pass, 2 points for a kick (no rush)

• 2 point for an interception

• 2 points for an intercepted PAT

• Official score is kept by the Field Referee

6. TIME

• TWENTY (20) MINUTE HALVES game clock does not stop except for extended injury. 

• Each team will be allowed one time out (1 minute) in the 2nd half only. Exception: injuries. 

• 5 minute halftime (Halftime may be shortened if the schedule is running behind.)

• 10 minutes between games (the between game time may be shortened if the schedule is running behind.)

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7. OFFICIALS:

• There will be 2 officials per game. Officials will be one coach from each team of the previous game. 

8. 7-ON-7 COACHES

• A team may not have more than 3pre-approved coaches on the sidelines.

Spirit of Play:

No one ever won coach of the year in Youth Football of any kind, that anyone outside their family knew about.  Please do what is best for your team and the other team.  

If winning by a lot, find a way to assist the other coach and team.  Suggestions:

• Move to 6 players

• Move players back 10 yards on defense

• Move less advanced kids to skill positions, like QB.

The first 4 weeks will be time to get the kids Touchdowns that may not be able to the rest of the season.  Coaches are expected to assist each other in this process.  This should be done within the game, but near the end of the 4 weeks, options include:

• Move all kids to one side of field 

• Have defense wait and coach count to 10 before they can run, etc

Other notes:

• A Single Player is allowed 1 Touchdown per half.  

• If a player scores 2 TD’s in a game they can not catch the ball again.  

o Result of that play will be a dead ball where caught. Or loss of down if in endzone. 

o Any coach that is using just one player, we all know what this looks like, I will make special rules for that team to limit this.  Please remember the spirit of the season.  

• First 4 weeks, kids will play 5 yards off the ball on defense.  Rest of season the can play up to the line.  

• NO one can cross the line of scrimmage until the hand is thrown or handed off.  

• QB can not do a fake hand off while running down the line of scrimmage, this is considered a trick play.