Ohio high school football players and teams now have more chances to participate in offseason 7-on-7 competition.
In a change to the Ohio High School Athletic Association 's general sports regulations, players are allowed to participate in 7-on-7 at camps and play on non-scholastic teams. For teams, which previously were allowed to participate in 7-on-7 competition between May 15 and July 31, they can now take part during the offseason "other than the 28-day no-contact period immediately after the season," the OHSAA said in a release Friday.
Contact is prohibited in 7-on-7 – there is no tackling – and helmets and cleats are the only equipment players may wear. Linemen do not participate.
"The changes mean that prior to May 15, a limit of seven football players from the same school team can now play together in a 7-on-7 competition, and there is no limit on the number of 7-on-7 competitions in which a player or coach can participate," the OHSAA said in the release. "After May 15, there is no change to the current regulation, meaning there is no limit on the number of players from the same school team who can compete together in 7-on-7 competition."
Football teams already were permitted up to 13 work days between May 15 and July 31. Those days have the same contact and equipment rules as 7-on-7.
Preseason practices traditionally begin Aug. 1, although they began a day earlier last summer because the 2023 season got underway Aug. 17.
"We have been talking about the football 7-on-7 regulation for some time and we believe that football should be treated the same as our other team sports, essentially allowing football athletes the same opportunities as their peers in other team sports," OHSAA executive director Doug Ute said in the release. "Most other states already allow it, so there have been a growing number of situations when Ohio student-athletes have had to pass up opportunities in the winter and spring due to our regulations. We want to stress that hitting is still not permitted in the offseason, but this change expands what football players can do outside the season."
Reaction was mixed among central Ohio coaches.
"It will be similar, I think, to any AAU-style team," said Pickerington North coach Nate Hillerich, who serves as second vice president of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association. Hillerich noted that the OHSFCA historically has not been in favor of 7-on-7, although it has hosted a state tournament the past several summers in which high school teams can voluntarily participate.
"We would rather coach our own guys," Hillerich said. "We want our high school guys coaching the athletes. Then you have spring sports coaches who feel like this could really hurt some of those sports in the spring in Ohio. …
"It's more opportunities for kids to catch a football, run routes, do those things, but realistically I think they have those opportunities now."
The prohibition of players participating in 7-on-7 events was highlighted in late February, when Shaker Heights defensive back Trey McNutt was suspended for a game this coming fall because he played in a national tournament in January. McNutt, a four-star recruit, is the top-ranked safety in Ohio, according to Rivals and 247Sports.
The OHSAA said McNutt and any other player who has participated in 7-on-7 activity will not be subject to penalties.
"For the kids," McNutt posted on X in sharing several reports of the OHSAA approving 7-on-7.
"Personally, I'd prefer to have spring practice as an option," Bloom-Carroll coach Jeremy McKinney said in a text. "I'm not a big 7v7 guy to begin with. In fact, we've not done any since I became (head coach in 2022). We are planning to do two this summer, but I think in so far as football skill development, spring practice would be more beneficial.
"If 7v7 was so beneficial for football development, I'd think every level of college program and every professional football organization would have their own players do it. Of course, they don't."
Hartley coach Brad Burchfield supports the addition of offseason 7-on-7.
"Things change and we love football, so the more opportunities for people to play football, it's always fun," he said. "The more opportunities that kids have to play sports and love sports and do more things, that's all good. I don't see it hurting one thing or the other. Kids are going to do what they enjoy and what they find compelling. There's room to do everything. Most kids figure it out.
"Football is an odd sport. You can't work on blocking without pads on, so you're limited in what you can do. Kids like to run, throw, catch and chase and do all that kind of stuff. That's what 7-on-7 is. It's a good thing."
Pickerington Central boys track and field coach Jason Roach is against the change, in part because of how it might affect traditional spring sports. He also is an assistant football coach at Liberty Union and previously served as a football assistant at Central.
"We already put enough pressure on these kids as it is that we have to be one of the best, we have to win the OCC title, have to be in the regional finals," Roach said. "Now they're going to be torn. Do I go to baseball practice? Do I go to track practice? They're not going to know what to do."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: High school football: OHSAA expands 7-on-7 offseason competition
