Referee Rules Viewer

1-point PAT attempt is taken from the 5-yard line. Offense chooses which hash.

2-point PAT attempt is taken from the 10-yard line. Offense chooses which hash.

Interceptions on PAT attempts do not score points.

A touchdown is worth 6 points.

1-point PAT = 1 point (from the 5-yard line).

2-point PAT = 2 points (from the 10-yard line).

A safety is worth 2 points.

NNSFL 2027 Boys 7v7 interception = 2 points. The old/source 3-point interception value is NOT NNSFL's 2027 value.

A Boys 7v7 interception awards 2 points; the play immediately becomes dead; the interception cannot be returned; possession changes; no interception return yardage is recorded. A PAT interception awards no points.

The offense chooses the hash mark for its PAT attempt.

Length of halftime break

Number of players allowed on the field per team

QB has 4.0 seconds to throw after receiving the snap. Violation = loss of down, treated as a sack.

If QB does not release the ball within 4.0 seconds: loss of down, treated as a sack.

Each possession begins at the 40-yard line going in toward the end zone.

First down is earned by crossing the 20-yard line. 4 downs to get there.

Offense has 4 downs to cross the 20-yard line for a first down.

After earning a first down at the 20, offense has 4 downs to score.

1 coach is allowed on the field during offensive possessions.

All offensive formations must be legal sets prior to the snap.

Running plays are not permitted in 7v7 tournament format.

Double passes (two forward passes on the same play) are not permitted.

Shuffle passes (lateral-style forward passes) are not permitted.

One-hand touch anywhere on the body downs the ball carrier.

Automatic first down and 5 yards from original line of scrimmage.

Previous spot and loss of down.

Automatic first down and 5 yards from original line of scrimmage.

Loss of down.

5-yard penalty.

Loss of down. In the final 1:00, clock also stops on delay of game.

Loss of down and 10 yards from original line of scrimmage.

Automatic first down and 10 yards from original line of scrimmage.

1st offense: ejection from the game.

2nd offense: ejection from the league.

If any player leaves the sideline to participate in a fight, the ENTIRE team is ejected from the tournament.

Standard game duration: two 20-minute halves, running clock. Administrators may shorten to one 20-minute game ONLY via an EventRuleOverride (event-specific; never modifies this standard rule).

Standard game format: 2 halves.

Running clock. Clock stops during the final 1:00 as required by the applicable clock rules, except when the mercy condition applies (clock continues running).

Possession changes after: the PAT attempt; a failure to make the first down; or a turnover.

During the final 1:00 a sack stops the clock — EXCEPT when the 21+ mercy rule is active at the 1:00 mark, in which case the clock remains running. The mercy rule takes precedence over the normal final-minute sack clock stop.

Each team receives 1 timeout per standard game.

The 14U division uses a 25-second play clock.

Teams do not switch ends at halftime. Each game remains on its assigned half of the football field and both offenses attack the same end zone for the entire game.

In a two-half game, the team that did not receive the opening possession receives the first possession of the second half. This rule does not apply to single-period games or Rapid Fire.

Standard Boys 7v7 opening possession is decided by team captains playing rock-paper-scissors — no coin toss is used. The winner chooses offense or defense and the other team receives the remaining choice. The opening offensive possession begins at the 40-yard line.

Unlimited substitutions are permitted during dead-ball situations. Incoming players must already be checked in, certified, eligible, and on the team's event roster.

Substitutions may not be used to delay the game beyond the applicable play clock.

At 1:00 remaining, if the scoring differential is 21 points or greater the clock continues running; normal final-minute clock stopping rules no longer apply.

When the mercy condition applies (differential of 21+ points at 1:00 remaining), the clock continues running. This is NOT a second-half activation rule.

The mercy condition is evaluated at the 1:00 remaining mark: with a 21-point or greater differential, the clock continues running and normal final-minute stop-clock rules (including the sack clock stop) cease.

Overtime periods are NOT timed. Clock does not run during OT.

Each team receives 3 plays to score in the initial overtime. Both teams must receive the opportunity.

If one team scores and the other does not, the scoring team wins. If both teams score OR neither scores, proceed to the sudden-death yardage procedure.

Ball starts at the 20-yard line.

Each team receives ONE play from the 20-yard line.

Compare yards gained: the team gaining the most yards wins. Example: Team A gains 14, Team B gains 9 — Team A wins.

If both teams gain the same yardage, repeat the round. Both teams receive another one-play opportunity from the 20. Continue until one team gains more yards than the other.

There is NO maximum number of sudden-death rounds.

Each team receives 1 additional timeout per overtime period.

Minutes past scheduled start before forfeit is declared

Minimum players required to play = 7. Applies to all Boys 7v7 divisions.

NNSFL Season 2027 decision (2026-10-18): Team Manager minimum age 18. Server-enforced at staff registration.

NNSFL Season 2027 decision (2026-10-18): Equipment Manager minimum age 18. Server-enforced at staff registration.

Boys high school division allows players up to 17 years old. High school seniors are NOT eligible to participate in boys formats.

High School seniors are NOT permitted to play in Boys HS division. Players must be 17 or under and not in their senior year.

How player ages are evaluated for division eligibility

Players must be certified before participating

Maximum number of divisions a player can compete in per event

A younger player may play up into an older division. Playing up does not change the player's official age.

Playing up requires parent/legal guardian approval.

Playing up requires the receiving team's head coach approval.

Both approvals (guardian + receiving head coach) must be documented in LeagueOS before participation.

Playing up does not change the player's official age for eligibility purposes.

Whether rushing/running plays are allowed in 7v7

Rapid Fire belongs to BOYS 7V7. It is NOT a standard Girls Flag rule. Rapid Fire is a Boys 7v7 competition period with its own possession flow.

Standard Rapid Fire period is 20 minutes. A 15-minute variant is an EVENT-SPECIFIC scheduling override (via EventRuleOverride) when team count or event scheduling requires it — never the global standard.

Rapid Fire possession starts at the 20-yard line.

The offense receives 3 plays to score in each Rapid Fire possession.

If the offense scores, that team remains on offense. If the defense stops the offense, the defensive team takes over on offense. The process continues until the Rapid Fire period expires.

A minimum of 2 officials is required for every 8U Boys 7v7 game.

NNSFL may assign additional officials for tournament or championship games or when operationally necessary.

The 8U Boys 7v7 division uses the Pee Wee / K2 (Size 6) football.

Maximum games a team can play in a single tournament day

Draw-number seeding applies to applicable TOURNAMENT competition only. League regular-season standings and playoff seeding are INDEPENDENT of tournament draw seeding.

Every player must complete NNSFL game-day and event check-in before entering the playing field or a restricted team area. Check-in verifies the player against the team's certified NNSFL roster, and only players shown as certified and eligible may enter and participate. Late-arriving players must complete check-in before entering the field or team area, and a player who has not completed required check-in cannot participate.

Each Boys 7v7 team may have 1 Head Coach, up to 6 Assistant Coaches, 1 Equipment Manager, and 1 Team Manager.

The minimum age for a Boys 7v7 Head Coach is 21.

The minimum age for a Boys 7v7 Assistant Coach is 18.

The minimum age for a Boys 7v7 Coach Trainee is 16.

All applicable NNSFL background-check requirements remain in effect for Boys 7v7 coaches and sideline staff.

The Head Coach must maintain the required CPR and First Aid certification.

First double-roster violation: the violating team is automatically disqualified from the event, the involved player receives a 1-game suspension, and the team's Head Coach receives a 1-game suspension.

Second double-roster violation: the involved player is suspended indefinitely pending NNSFL administrative review, the Head Coach is suspended indefinitely pending NNSFL administrative review, and the team remains subject to event disqualification. Indefinite suspension is pending NNSFL administrative review — it is not a permanent automatic removal.

A mouthguard is required for all Boys 7v7 players.

A team jersey or uniform is required, and the jersey must display a visible player number.

Hazardous jewelry and equipment are prohibited.

Cleats are permitted for Boys 7v7 players.

Metal cleats are prohibited.

No football helmet or shoulder pads are used in Boys 7v7.

NNSFL Boys 7v7 uses a regulation football field divided into two simultaneous 7v7 playing fields. Game Field A plays from one 40-yard line toward that end zone, and Game Field B plays from the opposite 40-yard line toward the opposite end zone. Both games may operate simultaneously, and each normal offensive possession starts at that game's 40-yard line.

The area between the two 40-yard lines (40 to 50 to opposite 40) is a neutral operational buffer zone and is not part of either active 7v7 playing field. It may be used by officials, authorized coaches and staff, and game operations as needed. Spectators and unauthorized personnel may not occupy the center operational area.

The home or event host is responsible for field preparation and field safety inspection before competition.

Boys 7v7 is TOURNAMENT-BASED competition. There are NO standard NNSFL league playoffs for Boys 7v7 — the general Top 4 D-1 / Next 4 D-2 league playoff bracket does NOT apply. Tournament draw-number seeding may be used when the applicable tournament is configured to use it.

To be eligible for the championship or advancement portion of a tournament, a player must participate in at least one qualifying game with that team and must already be on the team's locked event roster. Players may not be added specifically for elimination, advancement, semifinal, or championship games.

The previously approved injury exception remains in effect: an injured rostered player who properly completed the required check-in and presence requirements retains championship and advancement eligibility.

The recommended Boys 7v7 roster size is 16 players. This number is highly recommended but is not a hard maximum.

There is no absolute maximum roster size for Boys 7v7 unless an event-specific rule explicitly establishes one.

A player may be rostered to only ONE Boys 7v7 team during the same event or tournament. Playing up does not permit a player to appear on two Boys 7v7 rosters during the same event, and a player may not circumvent this rule by changing divisions or teams during the event.

A team's tournament or event roster becomes locked once the team completes event check-in. After roster lock, no players may be added, replaced, swapped, or transferred onto the roster, and only players on the locked certified event roster may participate. Any NNSFL-authorized roster exception must be approved before roster lock and before competition begins, and no automatic post-lock exception exists.

Each simultaneous game has its own designated team and sideline area associated with its half-field. Players who are not participating remain in their assigned team area.

Only certified players and authorized, certified staff are permitted in restricted team areas. All sideline personnel must be properly registered and certified with NNSFL, and only authorized rostered personnel may enter restricted team or field areas.

Teams and sideline personnel may not interfere with the other simultaneous game being played on the shared regulation field.

Spectators and unauthorized personnel remain outside restricted team and playing areas and may not occupy the center operational buffer zone.

When teams finish pool play with the same record, tiebreakers are applied in this order: head-to-head result, fewest points allowed, then point differential (points scored minus points allowed). If teams remain tied after those criteria, the final competition tiebreaker applies.

The standard NNSFL Boys 7v7 tournament structure is pool play followed by a single-elimination bracket. Teams play their scheduled pool games, qualifying teams advance to the elimination and championship bracket, and once single-elimination competition begins a loss eliminates the team.

The number of teams advancing from pool play is event-dependent — there is no universal hard-coded advancement count. NNSFL determines bracket size based on the number of teams entered, the tournament schedule, and operational requirements. The advancement structure must be published before tournament competition begins, and once published it cannot be selectively changed to benefit a particular team.

The final pool-play advancement tiebreaker is a 3-play yardage tiebreaker. Each tied team receives an equal opportunity, and the team gaining the most yardage advances. If still tied, equal 3-play opportunities are repeated until the tie is broken.

Boys 7v7 bracket seeding is based on pool-play performance — random number drawing is not the standard NNSFL Boys 7v7 seeding method. The highest qualifying seed plays the lowest qualifying seed, continuing inward through the bracket. Once pool play and all required tiebreakers are complete, the elimination bracket becomes official.

Qualifying teams are seeded in this order: tournament and pool record, head-to-head result, fewest points allowed, point differential, and the 3-play yardage tiebreaker if teams remain tied.