Worthing High School

Since the “anointing” of 7-on-7 football as an official sport in Texas high schools back in 1998, there has been an ongoing debate as to its overall value in relation to the brethren edition that’s played in the fall.

 

Many coaches will readily admit that improving physical conditioning, team chemistry and timing between the quarterback and receivers as obvious virtues of the sport.

Other coaches say 7-on-7 football isn’t a realistic version of the game because the quarterback faces no pressure from the defense, defensive backs can’t be physical with receivers and players get a false sense of what plays work in the summer and which ones will be successful in the fall.

 

One coach revealed to the Houston Defender that 7-on-7 football during May, June and July has become a “must” due to the growing popularity of AAU basketball. “If we’re not doing this (7-on-7), then our kids are out traveling and playing another sport,” he said. “Football is the first boys sport when the academic calendar cranks up in August.”

 

Over the past several weeks, 7-on-7 tournaments have been held at high schools throughout the greater Houston area, including Manvel, The Woodlands, Madison, Dulles and Yates.

 

The Defender caught up with several head coaches and got their opinions on 7-on-7 football.

 

“When I first started coaching, this is what we did with the kids in June,” said Yates head coach Ronald Miller, who guided his team to a 10-2 record in 2009 and another playoff appearance. “After the kids would do their work in the weight room, they’d come out on the field and work on offense and defense for two hours. Somebody just figured out a way to make money off of it.

 

“Overall, I think it is beneficial to any program that’s involved with it,” Miller said. “It’s good for cohesiveness and working on your quick passing game. The quarterback has only four seconds to get rid of the ball so you want the receivers to run precise routes. That way the quarterback can gain confidence the receivers will be where they’re supposed to be.”

 

In a recent 7-on-7 game between longtime Houston Independent School District rivals Yates and Worthing, Miller said that he and his assistants made a startling revelation.

“We saw a kid today that we had slated to be a running back that turns out to be an outstanding receiver,” Miller said. “That helps us as a staff because now we can get this kid on the field when before he might have been stuck as a third or fourth-string running back.”

 

Houston Sterling head coach Dwayne Colbert says that he believes bigger schools may reap more benefits from 7-on-7 because they have a larger pool of players to pick from.

 

“It’s not as feasible for smaller programs because you have just a few boys that you’re depending on,” Colbert said. “With the 7-on-7 season so close to fall two-a-day practice sessions, you run the risk of burning them out.

 

“On the plus side, 7-on-7 builds teamwork, chemistry and timing between the quarterback and receivers along with the defensive backs and linebackers,” Colbert said.

 

Worthing head coach Brandon Ellis believes the 7-on-7 season allows his kids time to bond into a team.

 

“It gives the guys time to mesh together and become a team. They get their timing down and learn what passing routes work best against certain defenses,” he said.

“The quarterback really benefits because he learns the difference between a five-yard slant and a 10-yard out pattern,” Ellis said. “He knows when they’re going to run certain patterns and how fast they’re going to run the patterns. The timing and confidence factors are improved big time.”

 

Ellis sees only one drawback from 7-on-7 competition.

 

“You can almost drain yourself out before the season even starts. Between practice and the tournaments every weekend, it’s almost like a full-blown season,” Ellis said. “It’s like a season before the season, and you have to watch carefully so that you don’t wear your guys down too much. They’re constantly running in that hot sun.”

 

While competing in the Dulles 7-on-7 tournament, Worthing faced the likes of Chavez, Hastings, Dulles, Bellaire and Fort Bend Bush. With four victories in five outings, the Colts qualified for the state 7-on-7 tournament this week.

 

“That’s another good thing about 7-on-7,” Ellis said. “We get to go up against suburban schools and see different looks that we don’t ordinarily see. It’s a chance to see new faces and new schools and provides good exposure for us.”

 

In this weekend’s 12th annual Fox Sports Southwest 7-on-7 state championship on the Texas A&M campus in College Station, 96 teams will compete for state titles in two divisions. The Division II tournament (Class 1A-3A) will feature 32 teams while the Division I tournament will offer 64 entries. Tournament officials say there’s a strong possibility the Division II tournament will expand to 64 teams next year.

 

Houston area teams in the field include Fort Bend Bush, Worthing, Cypress Creek, Cypress Woods, Lufkin, and Beaumont West Brook.

 

Darrell K. Ardison

DEFENDER