7 on 7

It’s a Good Measuring Stick
“I believe that 7-on-7 plays an important role in developing team chemistry, knowledge of where you are supposed to be, and what your team’s strengths and weaknesses are. It also can be a good indicator of which players respond well under pressure and which techniques that are best suited for your team. It’s also a time to see if new coverages or changes in philosophy work under game-like situations. All of these things are good to know before the season starts.”
Arglista L. Scott (IL)

It’s Artificial
“It distorts defensive player reads of play-action passes in particular. It distorts the QB’s abilities to read defensive back play which becomes artificially stilted to pass.”
Harry Stryffeler (NC)

What Is Your Real Motive?
“7-on-7 is great for my kids in terms of seeing different formations and making adjustments per our coverage. That being said, 7-on-7 tournaments are not a high priority due to the excessive desires by most teams to win the tourney at all cost. It seems like it is a desire of a lot of schools to win these games, and not truly preparing their teams to win football games in September and October when it counts.”
Michael Robirds (CA)

Keeping It In Perspective
“I feel that it is a valuable tool in the preparation of our team’s upcoming season. Although it is not real football, it plays an important role for the offense and defense. It lets players and coaches know what they have to work on to put the “icing on the cake” - to make it better when we finally put on the pads. It also gives coaches a good look at possible competition and also what other programs and teams are doing.”
Mark Del Mar (CA)

Teaching the Fundamentals
“7-on-7 games allow us to slow down the pace of a session and fine tune the fundamentals of passing, receiving and coverage. I do not, however, like the fact that lineman are not involved. As we all know, games on Friday nights are won in the trenches.”
Scottie Pierce (FL)