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General Information

DATES: July 16-17, 2022

SITES:
Youth- (12U & 14U)

Lincoln Youth Football Runza Sports Complex (225 W. South St., Lincoln)

High School – (Freshman, Junior Varsity & Varsity)
Seacrest Field (7400 A St, Lincoln)
Lincoln Northeast
Lincoln East
Lincoln North Star

*The Cornhusker State Games reserves the right to utilize other facilities as needed. All teams will be notified if venues change.

SCHEDULES: Schedules will be posted at CornhuskerStateGames.com and emailed to participants the week of competition.

All teams will play minimum of 4 games during the event

AWARDS: Custom Cornhusker State Games gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to all members of the top three teams in all divisions.

ADMISSION: Admission will be charged daily at all Football venues.

Adults: $5
Students (6-18 Years): $2
Children (5 & Younger): FREE
Admission with Super Pass: FREE

Events

5/6 Grade / 12U – Player must be in the current 6th grade or lower or be 12 years old or younger.

7/8 Grade / 14U – Player must be in the current 8th grade or lower or be 14 years old or younger.

Freshman / 15U – Player must be in the current 9th grade or lower or be 15 years old or younger. Grade/Age verification using most recent student ID card

High School Jr Varsity / 18U – Player must be in the 11th grade or lower. NO SENIORS. Grade verification using most recent student ID card

High School Varsity– Player’s in High School including CURRENT SENIORS. Grade verification using most recent student ID card

Tournament Format

REFEREES

  • A two-referee system will be used for all 7v7 games. Players, coaches or fans that abuse referees will be removed from the venue for the length of the tournament. All abuse incidents will be reported to the tournament director within 24 hours of the end of games.

FIELD DIMENSIONS

  • Field Length will be 50 yards. 40-yard playing field with a 10-yard end zone.

UNIFORMS

  • All players must be in matching tops
  • All players must use a mouth guard
  • Soft shell helmets are optional. NO HARD SHELL HELMETS ALLOWED
  • No jewelry

POINT VALUES

  • Offensive touchdown = 6 points.
  • Point-After-Touchdown
    • 1 point from the 5-yard line
    • 2 points from the 10-yard line.

POOL PLAY

  • Teams will be assigned to pool (4 team max per pool)
  • Each team will play round robin competition within their respective pool

BRACKET PLAY

  • All teams will be seeded in the bracket based on pool play win/loss points; WIN=1 point, TIE=0.5 point, LOSS=0 points
  • Seeding ties will be broken by the following criteria;
    • 1-TOTAL POINTS ALLOWED
    • 2-TOTAL POINT DIFFERENTIAL
    • 3-TOTAL POINTS SCORED
    • If a tie remains after all 3 tiebreakers have been exhausted, seeding will be determined via coin flip by tournament officials
  • Winners will be determined by head-to-head competition
  • Bracket play is single elimination, with winner advancing to the next round

OVERTIME/TIE BREAKER

  • Games in BRACKET PLAY (SINGLE-ELIMINATION) that end regulation in a tie, will go to a tiebreaker. One hand of Rock-Paper-Scissors at the beginning of the tiebreaker, where the winner will choose to be on either offense or defense
  • Each team will have 2 plays from the 10-yard line, choice of hash. If you score, you receive the standard 6 points
  • If the offense scores, then they MUST choose to go for 1 point from the 5-yard line, or 2 points from the 10-yard line
  • The opposing team gets the same opportunity
  • If neither team scores or the score remains in a tie, we will Rock-Paper-Scissors again, then the standard, 1 (one) play for the most passing yards from the 40-yard line. There is no running allowed in the most yards situations
  • The team with the most yards will be declared the winner of the tiebreaker and will add 1 point to the final score
  • If there is no completion, or the deepest completion is equal, the tiebreaker will be repeated with the team that lost the initial hand of Rock-Paper-Scissors making the choice to either take offense or defense.
  • This format will be repeated until there is a clear winner is declared
  • This tiebreaker format will be used in BRACKET PLAY GAMES ONLY.
    •  

Tournament Rules

STARTING EACH GAME

  • One hand of Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine possession.  Winning team will begin with possession of the ball on the 40-yard line with their choice of hash
  • A whistle will begin each game clock
  • Each game lasts 25 minutes with a running clock (No overtime in Pool Play)
  • The official will declare when the clock is under 2 minutes
  • Each team is allowed 1 (one) 30-second timeout per game.  Timeout must be used during regulation
  • The clock never stops, with the exception of timeout, injury or referee timeout
  • A whistle will end each game
  • The referees will keep the official score and time on the field for each game

MOVING THE BALL

  • Offense starts on 40-yard line with their choice of the hash
  • All snaps must be from center (under, pistol or shotgun)
    • Snap does not have to be traditional (between the legs)
  • Offense has three (3) downs to gain a first down. First down markers will be at the 25, and 10-yard lines
  • Once inside the 10-yard line, the offense has 3 downs to score a touchdown
  • The first person to control the football after the center-QB exchange, will be considered the QB.  The QB is never eligible to run
  • Running the ball
    • Youth: The offense may run the ball as many times as they want on any down during the game.  Ball must cross LOS between the hashes and no run plays inside the 10-yard line
    • High School: 1 (one) rushing play per game.  Ball must cross LOS between the hashes and no run plays inside the 10-yard line
  • Defensive players cannot cross the line on a run play until the quarterback hands the ball off to eligible ball carrier
  • Quarterback can NEVER run the ball
  • After a touchdown, the offense can choose go for 1 point from the 5-yard line or go for 2 points from the 10-yard line. Offense chooses hash for ball placement.

COACHING THE TEAM

  • There will be one (1) offensive coach allowed on the field at any time and THREE (3) active athletes with him only. (One warning then delay of game penalty).  Players not in the huddle must remain on a knee
  • The coach must be positioned behind the offensive huddle, out of the play
  • Coaches are not allowed to challenge any official ruling
  • Remaining offensive coaches must work from the sidelines at all times
  • NO defensive coaches allowed on the field at any time
  • Coaches will be given one (1) sideline warning during play. Second warning will result in a 10-yard penalty or half the distance to the goal. Third warning will result in coach’s ejection
  • Any form of cheating qualifies for automatic team disqualification from the tournament!

SPECIAL RULES

  • NO BLITZING ALLOWED in the ENTIRE game (INCLUDING overtime). If a team blitz’s, they will be penalized 15 yards, unsportsman like conduct
  • Face guarding is allowed
  • NO blocking
    • Blocking will result in a loss of down, return to the previous spot
  • Ball carrier is legally down when touched below the neck with one hand, any part of the ball carriers body other than his feet/hands touch the ground or the ball touches the ground.  A defender CAN leave his feet to make a tag. The offensive player can leave his feet to avoid being downed
  • No hurdling of players at any time, unsportsman like conduct
  • Fumbles (including the snap) are dead balls at the spot of the fumble with the last team in control retaining possession at that spot, and game proceeds to the next down.  Muffed snaps that occur behind the 40-yard line, will be whistled dead with the ball returning to the previous spot and play proceeding to the next down.
  • Offensive team will have 25 seconds to put the ball into play. Delay of game is a loss of down
  • The offensive team is responsible for retrieving and returning the ball to the official. The clock does not stop, and any delay of the offense in retrieving and returning the ball to the official will result in delay of game
  • Defensive pass interference will result in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down. Defensive holding will result in a 10-yard penalty and repeat the down
  • Offensive pass interference will result in a return to the previous spot plus a loss of down.
  • Offenses must align in legal formations
  • QB Clock
    • Youth: 4.9-seconds
    • High School: 4.0-seconds
  • An interception will result in an immediate stoppage of play
    • Youth : 2-points awarded to the intercepting team and a change of possession with the intercepting team gaining possession at the 40-yard line. If an unsportsman penalty is given to the intercepting team, they will start from 2nd down.
    • High School: No points awarded; intercepting team gaining possession at the 30-yard line. If an unsportsman penalty is given to the intercepting team, they will start from the 40-yard line
  • Excessive celebration is not allowed and will not be tolerated. At the discretion of the referee, if a team is penalized for excessively celebrating or clearing of the sideline, the result is an unsportsmanlike penalty and a loss of down
  • A game cannot end on a defensive penalty. If this occurs, the offense will have the option of an untimed down if time has expired
  • Fighting will not be tolerated. If a player throws a punch, he is ejected immediately and may NOT return to the game. If players are involved in pushing or shoving, they may be ejected immediately from the game at the referees’ discretion. If a second incident occurs with the same player(s), they will be ejected from the tournament in its entirety. If a team’s bench clears, resulting in a fight, both of the teams are ejected, resulting in a forfeit. The referee has the right to throw out any player, players, or team out of the game. The tournament staff has the right in extreme cases to eject players, coaches, teams, and by-standers of any tournament and they will have to leave the facility immediately. A referee can also give a 10-yard unsportsmanlike penalty.
  • Pool play games can end in a tie

PENALTIES

  • Illegal participation: Loss of down
  • Delay of Game: Loss of down
  • False Start/Off Sides: 5-yard
  • Sideline Infraction
    • 1st Warning
    • 2nd10-yard
  • Defensive Pass Interference: 15-yards from previous spot
  • Defensive Holding: 10-yards from previous spot
  • Offensive Pass Interference: Return to previous spot, loss of down
  • Unsportsmanlike Conduct: 10-yards (1st offence)
    • 2nd Offence = Player/Coach Disqualification
    • Failure to use mouth guard will be considered an unsportsmanlike penalty
    • Hurdling of player will be considered an unsportsmanlike penalty
  • Un-enforceable yardage penalties
    • Penalties against the offense while the ball is spotted at the 40-yard line
    • Will result in loss of down
      • If un-enforceable penalty occurs on 3rd down, it will result in a turnover on downs

Roster Info

The deadline to make roster updates is 5 p.m. on TUESDAY, JULY 12. Rosters are considered FINAL after that date.

Teams that register online are able to login and make roster substitutions free of charge. Teams that register via the paper entry form will be charged a $10 processing fee to substitute players. Teams are strongly encouraged to register online to eliminate any roster change fees.

MAXIMUM OF 20 PLAYERS PER TEAM.

TEAM WAIVER: The team waiver form must be signed by each team member, or by parent/guardian if the participant is 18 years or younger. If the team is registered online, and the online waiver for each player is clicked as ‘Accepted’, no printed/signed waiver is needed. All team waivers must be clicked as ‘Accepted’ or submitted to the Cornhusker State Games office by TUESDAY, JULY 12 to be eligible for competition. Printable waiver forms and further instructions at CornhuskerStateGames.com/Waivers.

No double-rostering of athletes

Registration Fees & Deadlines

NEW THIS YEAR: CSG souvenir items can be purchased at our online store HERE.  All online store orders will be shipped directly to the athlete from the supplier.

$400 per team June 2 – July 5

ENTRY FEE INCLUDES: Competition in the 2022 Cornhusker State Games; Sponsor gifts and coupons.

TEAM ONLINE REGISTRATION NOTE: When registering your team online, please note that the system will ask you to enter your team name and roster prior to selecting your sport and division. Click HERE for a “how to” guide on team registration.

PAPER ENTRY FORMS: Paper entry forms will be accepted with a $10 processing fee per team. Registering online saves time, money and trees. If registering via the paper entry form, please rate your team as being Above Average, Average or Below Average. List this information in the Additional Details/Special Instructions section of the entry form.

Athlete Packets

Packets will be available for in-person pickup on Friday, July 15 from 8 am – 7 pm at Lincoln East High School.

Packets include athlete shirt (if registered by June 1), athlete pass, and Nebraska State Fair Admission Pass.

The athlete packets DO NOT contain any sport specific information such as schedules, maps, bib numbers, etc. For sport-specific details, refer to your sport General Information.

Opening Ceremonies

JOIN US AT THE OPENING CEREMONIES ON JULY 15!
The show begins at 8 p.m. at Seacrest Field, Lincoln!

The Opening Ceremonies will be televised statewide by News Channel Nebraska.

For more details regarding Opening Ceremonies, please refer to the Opening Ceremonies web page.

Further Information

Sport Specific Questions: Contact 7v7 Football Sport Director Mike Selvage at commish@lincolnyouthfootballleague.com

Online Registration/Website Questions: Contact the Cornhusker State Games office at 402-471-2544 or info@nebraskasportscouncil.com.

Thank You to our platinum sponsors

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info@nebraskasportscouncil.com

Phone: 402-471-2544

Mailing address: 
PO Box 29366
Lincoln, NE 68529

Shipping address:
7620 N 70th
Lincoln, NE 68517