7-on-7 passing

Setup

1. Contact level: air. No tackling, no blocking and no pads needed beyond helmets; a two-hand touch ends the play.
2. Offence: centre, QB, running back and four receivers (X, H, Y, Z). Defence: two corners, three linebackers and two safeties.
3. Start on the 40-yard line with 4 downs to score. Mark the line of scrimmage and a 5-yard first-down cone.
4. A coach behind the offence gives each side its call and runs the 4-second clock.

How it runs

1. No pass rush. The QB has 4 seconds to throw; the coach shouts "time" at 4.
2. Every pass must be thrown from behind the line of scrimmage. Normal pass interference rules: play the ball, not the receiver.
3. Example play: smash against cover 2. X and Z run 5-yard hitches; H and Y run corners at 12 yards. The QB reads the corner on the side of the call.
4. Corner sits on the hitch: throw the corner route in front of the safety. Corner sinks under the corner route: throw the hitch.
5. Touchdown 6 points, defensive stop 3, interception 5. Swap the units after 10 snaps.

Coaching points

• Defence: communicate the call and the landmarks before every snap; point at the receiver you own.
• Eyes on the QB in zone, eyes on the receiver's hips in man.
• Receivers: run every route at full speed, even when not the read.
• QB: decide by the third step; throw to the open grass, not at the receiver.
• Two-hand touch below the shoulders. No pushing, holding or diving at legs.

Common mistakes

• Defenders grabbing or pushing receivers off their routes; call it as pass interference.
• QB holding the ball to the clock instead of taking the check-down.
• Safeties drifting too wide and opening the middle.
• Corners turning their back to the QB in zone coverage.