7-on-7 Football Positions Explained: Roles & Responsibilities
7-on-7 football is the fast version of American football without the tackling. It’s a great sport for every age. Because there’s no contact, 7-on-7 is also a very different sport from American football. The positions in both types of football have the same names, but their responsibilities are slightly different. Since 7-on-7 relies on a productive offense, speed and ball skills are essential elements for a championship team. Those qualities are necessary in regular football, too, but you can also build a great team around your defense and an elite running game. 7-on-7 is dependent on passing for long-term sustainability, and there’s very little running. Below is a description of the key skills for the different positions in 7-on-7.
Offensive Positions in 7-on-7 Football
In 7-on-7, the quarterback has seven seconds to get a pass off or to hand the ball off to a running back. Because of the short clock, making good, quick decisions is important for the offensive players. Below is a list of the positions and some important skills they need.
Quarterback: The quarterback is essentially the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the team on the field. The quarterback receives the snap from the center, usually from the shotgun position, which is five to seven yards behind the line of scrimmage. They must be able to read defenses, make quick decisions, and be an accurate passer. The quarterback calls all the plays in the huddle, and they’re responsible for calling audibles, or changing the play to the line of scrimmage based on what formation the defense is lined up in.
Center: The center’s primary job is to snap the football to the quarterback. They’re also responsible for calling out the defensive alignments for their teammates. Because there’s no blocking in flag football—players can only shield the quarterback from pass rushers—centers are also often eligible receivers. In tackle football, the center isn’t an eligible receiver, which means they can’t catch a pass. The center’s typically the only offensive lineman in 7-on-7.
Outside Wide Receivers: The outside wide receivers, sometimes called X and Z, are responsible for getting behind the defenders and catching long passes. The X and Z receivers line up on the outside of the line of scrimmage. They typically run intermediate and deep routes, which is anything beyond 10 to 15 yards. The outside receivers are often the fastest players on the team, and they’re known as game breakers, meaning they can give their team a big advantage after making one big play. They’ll likely run vertical routes to occupy the defensive backs guarding them.
Slot Receivers: Sometimes known as the Y and H receivers, the slots are possession players. Their job is to run short-to-intermediate routes that are safer than vertical routes. Possession receivers help keep the drive alive, chewing up the clock. Holding the ball on offense is advantageous because it limits the time the other offense can score. Slot receivers typically run horizontal routes. They often run just five or six yards and then cut across the middle. They must be shifty and elusive to break free of the defensive backs and they must be able to run effectively after the catch. Slot receivers line up on the inside of the outside wide receivers. They’re typically a yard or two off the line of scrimmage while the outside receivers are on the line of scrimmage.
Running Back: A running back in 7-on-7 has a distinctly different role than a running back in tackle football. In 7-on-7, a running back is primarily a receiver and pass blocker. Their secondary job is to carry the football. Because 7-on-7 relies primarily on passing, it’s advantageous to have another receiving threat. The running back can also be a decoy, with the quarterback sometimes faking a handoff to them but then dropping back to pass. The running back usually lines up a few yards behind the center, either to the right or left of the quarterback.
Defensive Positions in 7-on-7 Football
The defensive players need to be in position to guard fast, developing plays. The players should have quick reaction times, and they all need good pass coverage skills.
Cornerback: The role of cornerbacks is slightly different in flag football than tackle football because of the limited use of the running game and the rules regarding blitzing. Blitzers must start 7 yards from the line of scrimmage and identify themselves by raising their hand to signal that they’re blitzing. In regular football, the cornerback blitz is used as an element of surprise. Cornerbacks typically defend deep pass routes. They’re among the fastest players on the team, who need to be skilled at defending receivers in one-on-one coverage, meaning they must generally guard the receiver alone. They should have sure hands to catch interceptions, good instincts for the football, and above-average leaping ability to jump for balls.
Safeties: Safeties typically cover a mix of intermediate and long pass plays. They don’t usually cover receivers one-on-one. Instead, they cover different areas of the field, helping linebackers on short-to-intermediate routes and cornerbacks on deep passing plays. Safeties need to anticipate where the ball is going and react quickly since they aren’t assigned a player to cover. They also need good hands.
Linebackers: A linebacker in 7-on-7 has the responsibilities of guarding against the run, covering receivers, and blitzing. Since the offense revolves around passing, linebackers generally are covering short-to-intermediate passing routes. Typically, one of the two linebackers calls the defensive plays in the huddle. They have the job of shifting players on the field before the snap if they see a formation that’s not covered properly. The linebackers usually line up in the middle of the field on either side, a few yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Rusher: A team can opt to have a designated rusher. Their job is to rush the quarterback on pass plays. Typically, a rusher plays in the middle of the field. Teams often don’t have dedicated rushers because a linebacker can easily slip into the same role.
Knowing the skills players need for the individual positions in 7-on-7 is important for players, fans, and coaches who want a deeper understanding of what’s happening on the field.