DeSoto receiver Daylon Singleton (13), left, reaches to pull in a touchdown pass just beyond the reach of an Austin Anderson player during the second half of the Division l championship game. DeSoto won, 36-20 to claim the 7 on 7 title. Dallas-area teams competed in the 26th annual Texas State 7-on-7 Championship tournament held at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station on June 29, 2024. (Steve Hamm/SpecialContributor)
Steve Hamm
The final weekend of June is here, which means it’s time for the 28th annual Texas State Football 7-on-7 tournament in College Station.
Frisco Panther Creek, which won the 7-on-7 Division II championship in 2025, will compete in Division I this year after realignment moved the school from Class 4A to 5A.
For the first time, on-field communication from the coach to players will be allowed. Here are the rules and what you need to know.
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READ MORE: How 7-on-7 football has changed the college recruiting process
7-on-7 state football tournament
When: Division II and Division III pool play begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, and all 32 teams in each division will compete in the championship bracket Friday, with the title game at noon.
The 64 Division I teams will compete in pool play starting at 1 p.m. Friday. The top two seeds qualify for the championship bracket Saturday, with the title game at noon, while the bottom two teams in each pool will compete in the consolation bracket.
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Coaching: High school coaches may not serve as a head coach or be on the sidelines during games. All teams must have a coach accompany them to all events as a school administrator on duty. Up to four designated coaches can be on the sideline per team.
Headgear: All participants must wear a mouthpiece and a cap-style soft-shell helmet. The Adidas Force PRO, GameBreaker PRO and GameBreaker Multi-Sport soft shell headgear are the only ones that meet the Texas State 7-on-7 Organization’s safety standards.
Coach-to-player communication: Coaches on the sidelines will be allowed to communicate with all players on the field through one-way wearable technology, not including helmet communication or voice transmission.
In 2025, the UIL allowed one-way coach-to-player communication as well. Teams in the 7-on-7 state tournament can now use wristband technology, just like many schools did during the high school regular season.
Admission: Entry is free for spectators.
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Anna’s Edward Chumley (1) receives congratulations from teammates in the bench area after making a defensive stop against DeSoto during their semi-final game of the Division l championship bracket. Dallas-area teams competed in the 26th annual Texas State 7-on-7 Championship tournament held at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station on June 29, 2024. (Steve Hamm/SpecialContributor)
Steve Hamm
Dallas-area teams competing
Division I: Coppell, Arlington, Frisco Panther Creek, Allen, Argyle, Colleyville Heritage, North Forney, Mansfield Timberview, Lake Highlands, Plano, Everman, Arlington Lamar, Keller Central, Cedar Hill, DeSoto
Division II: Sunnyvale, Van Alstyne, Pilot Point
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Division breakdown: The tournament is split into three divisions. Division I includes teams that compete in the UIL’s Class 5A or 6A (public), the SPC or TAPPS Division I (private). Division II consists of teams that compete in the UIL’s Class 4A and 3A Division I (public) and all other private schools. Division III includes teams in the UIL’s Class 1A through 3A Division II (public).
Tournament schedule: Go here to see the pool play schedule and championship brackets
STATE TITLES WON BY DALLAS-AREA TEAMS
Celina (2000, 2007, 2009, 2012)
DeSoto (2011, 2022, 2024)
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Southlake Carroll (1998, 2013)
Colleyville Heritage (2006)
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Midlothian Heritage (2018)
Frisco Panther Creek (2025)
GOVERNING BODY: The Texas State 7-on-7 Organization runs the tournament and is not associated with the University Interscholastic League or the Texas High School Coaches Association. Its governing body consists of selected coaches from throughout the state.
How teams qualified for the state tournament: Teams qualified at one of the State Qualifying Tournaments (SQTs) held throughout Texas. SQTs range in size from eight-team tournaments to 32-team tournaments. The number of qualifiers depends on the total number of teams in the event. For example, an eight-team SQT qualifies one, and a 16-team SQT qualifies two.