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Summer football maintains popularity as state 7-on-7 tournament hits 15th year
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
Even the most casual football observers will probably be able to recognize what they are watching this weekend at the 2012 State 7-on-7 Tournament at Texas A&M University in College Station.
It is the brand of football that many have played even if they never laced up the cleats for an official game.
The 7-on-7 format has been described as a "pick-up game" that has for many years been seen in the backyard of any neighborhood for years.
This year, 128 teams will head to College Station for the state event, with half of those competing in the Division I (Class 4A-5A) bracket and the other half taking part in the Division II (Class 1A-3A) competition.
After pool play on Friday and bracket play on Saturday, the title games will be held at Kyle Field, one of the state's largest venues.
The first official state tournament in Texas was in 1998, but it was an idea that was already gaining attention.
Horn head coach Rodney Webb was coaching in New Mexico from 1996-1998. One of the features of an annual state-wide event with the state's coaches was a 7-on-7 tournament.
Webb said it was an event that his players really seemed to enjoy, but he understood early on that what happened at the tournament was not indicative of what would happen months down the road.
"I remember back then what I do know about it now," Webb said. "It was an interesting diversion from the 11-man game, but some schools that you knew were going to be good on Friday nights were not going to be good at 7-on-7, and vice versa."
Rowlett head coach Kiff Hardin first noticed 7-on-7 in the mid-1990s while he was at Gatesville, where he would eventually win a state championship in the fall in 2000, and shared a similar sentiment.
"My impressions really haven't changed," Hardin said. "My philosophy is that it was good for the quarterbacks and wide receivers to work together and for the defensive backs, to be in that situation where they have to react quickly, but it has never been a huge priority as far as the fall in concerned. It is a chance for the kids to enjoy themselves and stay active."
The results often confirm what Webb and Hardin stated.
North Mesquite won the state 7-on-7 tournament in 1999. In the fall, the Stallions squeaked into the playoffs with a 5-5 record and lost in the opening round.
Mesquite was the state runner-up in 2008, but finished 4-6 in the fall and missed out on the postseason.
"It (the experience) is beneficial, but you can't get caught up thinking how that translates into Friday nights," said Mesquite head coach Robbie Robinson, who is headed to College Station to watch his third team in four years that has qualified for the tournament. "It is a good chance to work on throwing and catching but there is not a lot that carries over into the fall."
While most coaches downplay the importance of winning in 7-on-7, that has not diminished its popularity. Not only did the players enjoy it, but the rise of the spread offense throughout the state made the additional experience even more valuable.
What started as a 32-team state tournament field in 1998 grew to 48 teams the following year and to 64 in 2000.
In 2007, a 32-team bracket for smaller classification programs (Class 1A-3A) was started and that has since been expanded to 64 teams.
In addition to the state qualifying tournaments, many teams participate in local city leagues during June, as well. With the rise of the Internet, many websites have boards and articles dedicated to not only the state tournament, but also the qualifying events, and recruiting websites have used the events in their scouting evaluations.
"It is a trend in general in that most sports have become a year-round endeavor," Webb said. "You have AAU basketball, fall baseball and summer 7-on-7. When I was growing up, you played football in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in summer, but it isn't that way a lot of times anymore."
Perhaps the strictest rule surrounding 7-on-7 football is that which prohibits any member of a school's coaching staff to actively oversee any practices or games, leaving that duty to others, such as a parent or volunteer.
But even as bystanders on the sidelines, the coaches are not only showing their support, but also keeping an eye on what is going on around them.
Several other sports, most notably in AAU basketball, have witnessed episodes where coaches and even boosters outside of the high school program have become very influential in an athlete's life, even steering him or her in their collegiate decision.
"It is important to keep this controlled by the coaches and the schools," Hardin said. "There are some other sports where a big deal is made with the select leagues and other factors, so I hope we are able to maintain this the way it is."
The competitive drive in the players propels them to want to win, meaning the 7-on-7 season can last from when city leagues start in late May through the state tournament in July for the qualifiers.
But while coaches agree that the chemistry and camaraderie that can be built during these summer workouts is a bonus, there is sometimes a need to go back to the basics when official workouts get started in the fall.
"There are definitely benefits that come out of it, but you also see more out-of-control football as you go forward into the summer," Webb said. "You see sloppier routes from the receivers and the quarterback's mechanics aren't where they should be, and that doesn't just go for our school, it is any school. It can be difficult as a coach to sit there and watch things from the sideline that you don't necessarily want to see."
Offensive philosophies change over time, and while run-oriented offenses such as the wishbone, option and wing-T have taken a backseat to the spread and other variations in many high school programs, that does not mean that will always be the case.
Still, as the state tournament heads into its 15th year, the appeal of 7-on-7 shows no signs of letting up.
"Without a doubt, I think this will be around," Hardin said. "A lot of programs are looking for every little advantage they can get through the offseason and summer and this is one of them.
"But again, it is fun for the kids, they get to go out there and play with their friends and teammates and compete against some of the best athletes in the state so that is always a positive."
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