High School Sports

Robert E. Lee will host the Tyler Lee 7-on-7 State Qualifying Tournament on Saturday, June 21 at Lindsey Park. Play will begin at 9 a.m. with the top two schools in the 16-team event qualifying to advance to the state tournament July 11-12 at Texas A&M.

The Tyler Lee SQT is one of 32 qualifying events, held on high school campuses around the state to determine the 64 teams that will play in the state championship tournament.

While the big schools are vying for a trip to state at Lindsey Park, Tyler Junior College will be the site for the Class 3A-A state qualifying tournament on the same day. Rockwall is hosting the event as teams try to qualify for the second annual small school FSN Southwest 7-on-7 state championship tournament July 10-11 at Texas A&M.

Seven-on-7 football is used by Texas high schools as an off-season workout program to promote and improve the quality of quarterbacks, receivers, secondary players and linebackers. High school programs throughout Texas organize teams and participate in a summer league that culminates with the FSN Southwest state championship tournament in July. To comply with UIL rules, active coaches are prohibited from instructing players during games.

The 7-on-7 format emphasizes passing using a 45-yard field and a one-hand touch for a tackle. All players, except the center, are eligible receivers. The game is played in two 20-minute continuous halves. Uniforms consist of shorts and T-shirts with no pads or helmets.

High schools from University Interscholastic League Class 1A, 2A and 3A may qualify for the small school state tournament at one of the 16 qualifying tournaments held at various locations during the months leading up to the championship tournament.

At the state tournament, the 32 qualifying teams will divide into 8 groups of four teams each and compete in pool play (three games per team). The top two teams from each pool advance to a 16-team single elimination championship tournament, while the remaining 16 teams are entered into a single elimination consolation championship. The state championship tournament is scheduled to begin pool play at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 10. The championship games will be played at Kyle Field and are tentatively scheduled at 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11.