It is said that the temperature on turf fields is augmented by 10 degrees on a hot, summer day. Whether this is just a legend among athletes or scientific fact, 20 McLean football players will endure the heat of the Falls Church High School turf at the Falls Church 7-on-7 Passing League Tournament on Saturday, May 30.
The 7-on-7 format is set up to simulate the passing-exclusive offense that has become more and more common the past few years in high school football.
Each team is allowed only seven players, which limit personnel to skill players only- no linemen. The typical offensive personnel in this passing league are one quarterback and 6 receivers. The offense is only allowed to pass the ball, so teams often spread out their players to use the entirety of the field.
The rules are as follows according to The Players Choice passing league:
Games are 40 minutes long with two halves. There is a two minute break between halves.
Teams have four downs to get a first down or a touchdown; otherwise they result in a turnover.
There is no tackling, holding, blocking, or roughing. The game is strictly two-hand touch.
The quarterback has four seconds to throw the ball before he is “sacked.”
There are no run plays allowed.
This is the second consecutive year that McLean has attended the tournament, last year being their inaugural appearance. McLean was winless at last year’s tournament.
Many football players have high hopes for the tournament this year, however, as they have been working all off-season on their 7-on-7 game.
“We’re looking really good,” junior linebacker Tom Shue said. “I’d be surprised if we didn’t do really well this year. After all, we’ve been working our butts off all off-season.”
Many of the teams that participate in the tournament are teams that play each other in the regular season. For example, last year, Mclean played Hayfield High School in the Falls Church tournament, which is one of their conference games this coming football season.
“7-on-7 is a great opportunity for us to see the competition that we’ll be going up against,” said junior Mike Robbins, a starting cornerback and wide receiver.”
This tournament is just the first of many that McLean football will participate in this summer. Success in this tournament can only spell success during the regular season this coming fall.
