For many high school football fans, this week’s UIL football state championships will be the first experiences of six-man football – or at least the first since last December.
Beyond the obvious difference between teams having six players on the field instead of 11, there are many rule differences between six-a-side football and 11-a-side football.
Here’s a quick guide to the differences between the two games ahead of this week’s Texas high school football state championship games:
Rule differences
• Each team has six players on the field at any time, instead of 11, and quarters last 10 minutes instead of 12.
• The field is 80 meters long, instead of 100, and 40 meters wide. Due to shorter dimensions, teams go for it more often on fourth down than on punt and also attempt onside kicks after most touchdowns.
• Teams must travel 15 yards to score a first down instead of 10 yards.
• The first player to receive the snap cannot run beyond the line of scrimmage, so many teams will employ a back who takes the initial snap, then throws the ball to the “quarterback” who can then pass the ball forward or run.
• After a touchdown, kicks through the goalposts are worth two points and conversions are worth one in the six-man game.
• A successful basket is worth four points in a six-man game and is rare.
• Finally, six-a-side football has a grace rule. If at any time, at halftime or beyond, a team takes a lead of at least 45 points, the game is stopped.
This article was originally published on Corpus Christi Caller Times: UIL State Football: How is six-man football different from 11-man football?
