7th grade football

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

1) on a try, a successful kick is worth 2 points, and a "2-point conversion" is worth 1. (meant to encourage kicks, although on some fields they don't even have goalposts).

This is a common rule at that age, and I like it.

2) "no blitz" rule... only defensive linemen in a 3-point stance can rush until the ball is handed off to a running back. (as if, with 2 officials, we're going to be looking for this).

Good (yet difficult to enforce) rule for little kids ... 7th grade? These kids are too old for such a rule.

3) no rushing the punter

Also common at this age, and if coupled with a no K team players downfield before the kick rule, and a no fake punt rule - a decent rule for this age. If not coupled with both of those, you're asking for a mess.

4) "overweight" rule... only players under ___ pounds can be backs and advance the ball; anyone over that weight must be a lineman. (Of course, they don't give us any way know who is overweight and who isn't).

Another good rule for youth (they usually designate their allowed runners with a circle sticker on the helmet around here). STUPID rule for 7th graders. Now you're not teaching what could be your best runners or fullbacks in high school how to run the ball.

5) flat-out ignoring the numbering rules for Team A.

Extremely common at this age ... and 8th ... and 9th ... and occasionally even JV.

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Extremely common at this age ... and 8th ... and 9th ... and occasionally even JV.

Try 8-man football.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Good (yet difficult to enforce) rule for little kids ... 7th grade? These kids are too old for such a rule.

Usually these restrictions on offense and/or defense are not to make up for inexperience of the players, but lack of prepar'n time for the coaches & team. Many of these teams are forced to play with otherwise ridiculously short practice schedules, so the league takes away some of the contingencies they might have to prepare against. The same thing is done in college & pro all star games, for the same reason.

The division I'm coaching in has players slightly younger. No such restrictions on regular offense & defense (but considerable during mercy rules -- 18+ point dif.), but scrimmage kicks aren't live plays. If you declare a punt, nobody can cross the neutral zone, and no runback is allowed. Defense has to have at least 4 on the line, I suppose offense has a time limit to get off the kick, kick is dead as usual or at the least favorable spot where R touches it, so knocking it forward is as good as catching it. You can declare a field goal attempt too (nobody ever has), and the defense can rush 4, all between team A's ends, and the ball is dead similarly. Nobody said we couldn't quick kick as a live play, however.