Texas 7-on-7 has become one of the biggest pieces of the high school football offseason.
Now, one of its longest-running rules could be up for a major change.
The UIL Legislative Council is set to review a proposal that would allow high school football coaches to coach their own players during summer 7-on-7 tournaments. Under current rules, school coaches are not allowed to coach, call plays, run drills, or provide instruction during those passing leagues.
That has long been one of the stranger parts of the Texas football offseason. The quarterbacks, receivers, and defensive backs are out there competing, building timing, and sharpening skills. The actual football coaches? They have to stay out of it.
Parents and volunteers usually handle the teams instead.
Supporters of the change argue that football should be treated more like other sports, where school coaches have more freedom to work with athletes during summer competition. They also believe trained coaches could make 7-on-7 more organized, safer, and better for player development.
The proposal is still just that: a proposal.
It must first move through the UIL process, including review by the athletic committee and the full Legislative Council. If approved there, it would still need final approval from the Texas Commissioner of Education before becoming an official rule.
The vote is expected to draw plenty of attention from coaches across the state.
For a game that helped turn Texas into a quarterback factory, this would be a major offseason shift.
