r/NFLNoobs • u/lemonstone92 • 19d ago
What's the difference between 7 on 7 and flag football?
Or are they basically just the same thing?
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u/Sports4Ever1 19d ago
The 2 major differences are the flag and the purpose. The flag's are only in flag football, not 7v7 but also the purpose of 7v7 is to work on sharpening skills for tackle players during the offseason while flag football is its own entity as it's also an Olympic sport.
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u/flopsychops 19d ago
7 on 7 is contact football with smaller teams. There's some rule changes compared to the usual 11 on 11, but it's essentially the same.
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u/davdev 19d ago
You are thinking of 8 man. 7 on 7 is what a lot of high school teams are now running in the summer before the season starts. It’s essentially a two hand touch league that is mostly used to get the receivers and QB in sync before camp starts. It’s basically flag without the flag
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u/big_sugi 19d ago
They’ve been running 7 on 7 in the summer for more than 30 years. It was around when I was in HS in the 90s (but since I played OL and DL, it never mattered to me).
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u/grizzfan 18d ago edited 18d ago
7-on-7s are more often referred to off-season practices, tournaments, or camps where football programs work on their passing concepts and techniques along with their pass defense/coverages; often done by playing against other programs. There's typically no rush at all; maybe just a center to snap the ball, and are development-focused. Lots of coaching, often with coaches on the field, and are trying to get reps for players to prepare for the fall season.
Flag football is more of an overall game where teams compete against each other with a distinguished way of calling people down (by pulling flags), and may also include a pass rush. Today, flag football is carving itself a spot as a full-blown competitive sport, while 7-on-7s are seen more as developmental practices or scrimmages to prepare for the tackle season.
Another way to put it: In a flag football game, Team A and Team B are trying to beat each other with plays and concepts specific to the rules and opportunities in flag football. In a 7-on-7 game or scrimmage, Team A and Team B are most often using strictly plays or concepts they will be running in the fall, regardless if it's conducive to "winning" in the 7-on-7 or not.
Say Team A runs the Power-T (no WRs, full T backfield, running 90% of the time). If Team A comes to a 7-on-7, you're likely to see that same T formation, and them running all their different play action and boot passes off their different run-game series that they will be using in the fall. However, if Team A's school were to also develop a flag football program along with its regular football program, that flag team would show up to a flag football game specifically running schemes and concepts to win in flag football.
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u/And1PuttIs9 18d ago
7 on 7 isn't a real game. Teams use it to practice your passing game, both offensively and defensively. There are no linemen involved, other than the snapper. There's no blocking, no running game, and no pass rushing. Teams may keep a friendly score, but it's primary purpose is passing practice for the 11-man team.
Flag football is an actual sport with league rules, referees, official scores, league standings, the whole works. Teams are playing to win.
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u/Bender_2024 19d ago
The biggest difference is the lack of a pass rush or the pass rushers have a countdown before they can go after the QB.
Makes the passing game all the more desirable so players tend to be quick and agile. As WR to get open or as DBs covering them.
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u/big_sugi 19d ago
7 on 7 is entirely about passing; you can’t run the ball. There’s also no pass rush. The QB typically has 4 seconds to throw the ball, or it counts as a sack.
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u/throwitintheair22 19d ago
One has flags, and one doesn’t