It’s not for everyone, but 7-on-7 fills a role
Clear Brook qualified for the state 7-on-7 tournament for the first time Saturday, but coach Mike Allison keeps it in perspective.
Allison, who isn’t allowed to coach his players during 7-on-7, is excited about the feat but more than anything he’s looking for camaraderie. He hopes that bond will stick around when the pads are on in August because that’s when it matters most.
“There’s a lot more to the game in the fall than what happens in the 7-on-7 tournament,” Allison said
Texas’ “third season” brings a litany of philosophies on how to approach 7-on-7 — the pros and cons, how the game could be modified, how it’s evolved and its future.
Coaches are in agreement: 7-on-7 is not football. But there are a number of ways football programs benefit from it.
Allison is the secondyear coach of a Clear Brook program he hopes to turn into a playoff regular. As a defensive-minded coach, Allison hadn’t always been thrilled with 7-on-7, considering it’s so offensive oriented. But he understands the benefits and none is bigger than building confidence and camaraderie during the summer months.
Too geared to offense?
It’s not an exact science, either.
For some teams, 7-on-7 offense and actual offense are worlds apart. Austin Westlake won the Division I 7-on-7 title last summer and it led to an appearance in the state championship game during the fall. The team Westlake fell to in December’s title game, North Shore, wasn’t at state 7-on7 at all last summer.
“I think you could go win state 7-on-7 and go 1-9 the following season when real football happens,” Allison said. “It’s not a guarantee of success when you put the pads on. And I think there are some places that do put a lot of value into the 7-on-7 part.
“I am definitely not saying that they are wrong because I think the confidence the kids can build will help out. But I try to keep it all in perspective and try to let my kids see this helps us and it’s great and we’re being successful.”
Clear Brook advanced to state through the Ranger 7-on-7 qualifying tournament, which Terry coach Tim Teykl has run for 20 years.
Teykl is a long-time proponent of the game, but he’ll never criticize the subsection of coaches who aren’t so hot on 7-on-7. Conversely, he said some coaches may put too much stock into it. There has to be that healthy balance.
“It’s just like some people like chocolate ice cream, some people like strawberry ice cream,” Teykl said. “Some people don’t like ice cream. You have to kind of put it that way.”
There is a direct link between 7-on-7 and the advancement of the Texas high school quarterback, considering its impact on those players’ paths to college and even the NFL.
But are there still ways to improve 7-on-7?
As Allison alluded to, the game has become increasingly offensive-minded. That’s how Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire views it. He wishes there were more benefits for defensive players. On the offensive side, he said some 7-on-7 routes can’t be utilized on Friday nights.
Also, 7-on-7 teams are coached by volunteers. It could be a former player, a parent or even sometimes the players coach themselves. McGuire would love to have someone from the actual coaching staff lead 7-on-7 teams. An acquired taste
The state 7-on-7 tournament is held in early July. McGuire said wrapping it up in June would be a great move, too.
The introduction of protective headgear has been a step toward preventing injuries, too, which was always a concern for coaches with the increasing popularity of 7-on-7.
Teykl said coaches who usually aren’t big fans of 7-on-7 have to be convinced by fellow coaches who are. That was McGuire with his offensive coordinator just a few years ago.
“We had a couple different games where we had to go into overtime and his point was ‘Where are you going to get this other than a real football game, where your kids are going to be stressed this way?’ ” McGuire said. “That made a lot of sense to me.”
Pearland coach Tony Heath keeps it in perspective, too. His 7-on-7 team qualified for state for the ninth time this summer.
“I’m sure there’s ways you can modify and adjust it — defensively, offensively,” Heath said. “Are there certain things that need to be changed? I’m not the one to say. I enjoy it for what it is. I don’t put my whole livelihood into it, but then again, we do it for the kids.
“The kids enjoy doing it.”