Kingdom 7v7 Season Rules/Format

Welcome to the Kingdom 7 on 7 Tournaments!
This rulebook outlines the basic rules and guidelines for participating in our 7v7 Season Football Passing Tournaments. Please read carefully to ensure a fun, competitive, and fair experience.

General Information

Team Composition:

Each team's roster consists of a minimum of 8 players and max of 24 players.
There are 6 active offensive players with 3 substitutes positioned behind the huddle.

Positions: Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, Running Backs

There are 7 defensive players on the field at a time. The Offense is allowed to have up to 3 substitutes.

Positions: Defensive Backs and Linebackers

Game Duration:

Games: Pool play games are each 20 min / Bracket Play games are 25 min
The clock runs continuously, except for a Referee timeout: injury, etc.

Field Dimensions / Layout:

Field Length / Width:

The field is 50 yards long, which includes 40 yards of playing field and 10 yards for the end zone.
The width is 50 yards, or it may vary depending on the venue type (standard width if venue allows).

Field Markers:

40-yard line: The starting point for each offensive possession.
25-yard line: The first down marker (1st first down).
10-yard line: The second first down marker (2nd first down) before entering the end zone.

Gameplay Rules

First Possession:

Pool play: Determined by the Rock / Paper / Scissors winner.
Bracket play: Determined by the highest seed.

Starting the Game / Drive:

A whistle will start the game.
The ball is placed on the 40-yard line starting each drive.

Ending the Game / Drive:

When the game clock hits 0:00 a whistle will end the game and there will be no attempts for a 2-point conversion after a touchdown is scored. An automatic 1-point still applies.
Game ending in a tie:

Pool play: Overtime rules do NOT apply.
Bracket Play: Overtime rules apply. (Overtime rules listed)

A drive is over once the offense scores or it is a turnover (On downs or Interception).

Scoring:

Game scores are tracked and concluded at the end of the game. Scores are then updated to the tournament platform following each game.
Point Scored:

Touchdown: 6 points
Extra Points: Automatic 1 point after touchdown, optional 2 point conversion from the 10-yard line
Interception: 2 points awarded to the intercepting team

Downs and First Downs:

The offense has 3 downs to advance the ball from the 40-yard line to the 25-yard line (1st first down).
The offense then has another 3 downs to reach the 10-yard line (2nd first down).
After reaching the 10-yard line, the offense gets 3 more downs to score a touchdown.

No Contact or Blocking

There is no blocking or tackling allowed.
Defenders may break up passes but must avoid significant contact.

QB Clock

The QB has 4.0 seconds to throw the ball (count: “1, 2, 3, 4, DOWN”). If the QB holds the ball longer than 4 seconds, the play is downed, and it results in a loss of down.
The 4-second clock disappears if the defense blitzes (crosses the LOS).

Running the Ball

The QB is NOT allowed to run the ball at any time.
The offense may run the ball on any down, except:

In overtime (no running allowed).
Inside the 10-yard line (no running allowed).

No Trick Plays

The QB is allowed only one exchange per play (pass, handoff, pitch/toss).
Trick plays (double pass, reverse, hook and ladder) are NOT allowed.

Legal Formation

A Wide Receiver must be on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Players (WR/RB) lined up inside the tackle box result in a loss of down, and the ball is returned to the previous spot.
A designated Center is not allowed to release down field for any reason. Center can only snap the ball.

Tackle Box

For an offensive player who is aligned within the tackle box
For a player to be eligible must be aligned behind or outside the tackle box before the snap.

The Tackle Box is defined as an area extending 3 yards to the left and right of the ball spot, and 3 yards in front and behind the line of scrimmage.

Coaching / Staff

General:

Coaches / Staff are NOT allowed behind the end zone. (Playing Teams)
Coaches / Staff cannot challenge official rulings. Only head coaches may communicate with the Referee.
Warnings and Penalties:

1st warning: sideline warning.
2nd warning: 10-yard penalty.
3rd warning: possible ejection at the referee's discretion.

Cheating: Any form of cheating results in automatic team disqualification.

Offense:

One offensive coach and three substitutes are allowed behind the huddle but must remain at least 10 yards behind the ball at all times, except when the ball is spotted outside the 35-yard line.
All other team players and coaches / staff must remain on the sidelines.

Defense:

No defensive coaches are allowed on the field at any time.

Blitz Rules

General:

Each team is allowed one blitz per game.
A blitz can only be used by the defense when the ball is spotted within the 30-yard line.
The QB clock disappears once a blitz occurs.
No Limit on the number of players blitzing.
The Defense can cross the line of scrimmage without using their blitz after the first exchange on offense.

Defensive Alignment:

If the defense is wanting to blitz, the player/s must align behind or outside the tackle box. The defense may blitz once the ball has been snapped.
A defensive player may line up in the tackle box but is NOT allowed to blitz from this position. If they were to blitz, cross the LOS, their blitz will be considered used.

Penalties During a Blitz:

If a defensive penalty occurs during a blitz, the blitz is considered used.
If an offensive penalty occurs during a blitz, the blitz is restored to the defensive team.
If a team were to blitz twice, resulting in a 5-yard penalty, repeat down.

Restrictions:

If the QB scrambles beyond the line of scrimmage or is tagged during a blitz, the play is down, resulting in a loss of down, and the ball returns to the previous spot.

Face Guarding:

Face guarding without contact is allowed.
Contact results in pass interference:

Offensive Contact: Loss of down, ball returned to the previous spot.
Defensive Contact: 15-yard penalty or half the distance to the goal line (when inside the 10-yard line).

Ball Carrier:

A ball carrier is down when touched with one hand below the neck. Contact to the head results in an unsportsmanlike penalty.

Fumbles:

Fumbles behind the line of scrimmage result in a dead ball and are returned to the previous spot, with possession retained by the last team in control.
Downfield fumbles result in a dead ball at the spot of the fumble, with the fumbling team retaining possession.

Players Leaving Feet:

Players are allowed to leave their feet to make a play (e.g., to tag, catch, or score).

Play Clock:

The offensive team has 25 seconds to put the ball into play once spotted by the referee.

Interceptions:

Worth 2 points and result in a turnover. The intercepting team starts at the 40-yard line.
If an unsportsmanlike penalty is committed after an interception, the team will be penalized on offense and lose a down, starting at the 40-yard line.

Celebrations:

Celebrations are encouraged but taunting is prohibited. Taunting results in an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Penalty: 15 yards (and a loss of down for offense or an automatic first down for defense).

Format:

All teams will be seeded in the bracket based on pool play standings.
All teams are guaranteed at least one round of bracket play.

Seeding Criteria:

Number of Wins/Losses.
Point Differential.
Points Scored.
Head-to-Head Results.

If a tie persists after these criteria, a coin flip will determine seeding.

Overtime / Tie Breaker (Bracket Play Only):

Initial Tie Breaker:

Rock Paper Scissors determines who chooses to play offense or defense first.
Each team gets 2 plays from the 10-yard line. If a team scores, they receive 6 points. Extra point rules apply (automatic 1-point or attempt for 2 points from the 10-yard line).
No running plays allowed in overtime; all plays must be passes.

Subsequent Overtime Rounds:

If neither team scores in the first round of overtime or if the score remains tied, another round is played with the same rules.
In the second round of overtime, teams must attempt a 2-point conversion after scoring.
If still tied after the second round, the teams play a "Longest Play" tiebreaker from the 40-yard line. No running is allowed.
The team with the longest completion wins and adds 1 point to their final score. If both teams fail to complete a pass or have equal completions, the process is repeated.

PENALTIES

Offensive Penalties:

False Start / Illegal Motion / Illegal Formation: Loss of down, ball returned to the line of scrimmage.
Delay of Game: Loss of down, ball returned to the line of scrimmage.
Blocking / Holding: Loss of down, ball returned to the line of scrimmage.
Pass Interference: Loss of down, ball returned to the line of scrimmage.
Unnecessary Roughness: 15-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 15-yard penalty and loss of down.

Defensive Penalties:

Encroachment / Neutral Zone Infraction: 5-yard penalty, repeat down.
Holding: 10-yard penalty, repeat down.
Pass Interference: 15-yard penalty and automatic first down.
Unnecessary Roughness: 15-yard penalty from the line of scrimmage.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 15-yard penalty and automatic first down.

CONDUCT AND SPORTSMANSHIP

Fighting:

Fighting will not be tolerated. Players involved in physical altercations (e.g., throwing punches) will be immediately ejected and cannot return to the game.
Further incidents may lead to ejection from the tournament. If a bench-clearing brawl occurs, both teams will forfeit.
Referees and tournament staff have the right to eject players, coaches, or teams for misconduct.

Celebration:

Celebrations are allowed but taunting is not. Taunting will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty and possible ejection upon repeated infractions.