Area football teams prepare for upcoming 7-on-7 tournaments

When the upcoming TSSAA dead period ends for local football teams, 7-on-7 football tournaments will heat up.

For the sixth year Riverdale will be hosting one of the top tournaments around.

The Warriors will bring in at least 24 teams from around the area on July 13 for an all-day event.

Teams will play five games before lunch and then a single-elimination tournament will ensue after lunch.

"Coach (Ron) Aydelott let me start this (six years ago)," said Riverdale coach Will Kriesky. "I thought it was a good way to come back from the dead period. The kids can come back and get in shape and get used to playing a lot of games."

The TSSAA dead period will begin Sunday, June 25, with the last day being Saturday, July 8.

Teams are eligible to begin practicing in full pads on Monday, July 24.

The 7-on-7 tournaments are a good way for teams to work on their passing games and defending the pass. Players compete in shorts and T-shirts with helmets.

"You work on running coverage technique, lining up correctly, running to the football and running correct routes," Kriesky said. "Player get work in physically, but it's mostly mental. It's one of the hottest days of the year, there's good competition and great coaches.

"You see the top Midstate kids."

Teams currently scheduled to attend Riverdale's tournament include area foes Blackman, Smyrna and Stewarts Creek, along with Franklin County, Centennial, Waverly, Forrest, Antioch, Lebanon, Wilson Central, Moore County, Trousdale County, Summit, Page, Shelbyville, Clarksville, Stewarts Creek, Independence, Lincoln County, Marshall County, Stratford, Columbia Academy and Overton.

Riverdale will also compete in a 7-on-7 tourney at Nolensville High on Saturday, July 15.

Oakland will participate in the 12-team Tennessee Titans 7-on-7 Passing Tournament, which will be held July 12 beginning at 9 a.m. at St. Thomas Sports Park. The Patriots won the event last year.

The Patriots will also compete in the USA 7on7 Tournament - Hoover Nationals at Hoover (Ala.) High. July 13-15. There will be four pools, with pool play beginning Thursday and tourney play beginning Friday evening.

"We think it will be very beneficial for our offense to see some of the best (defensive backs) in the country and our defense to see some of the best (quarterbacks) around," said Oakland coach Kevin Creasy. "But the real reason we accepted the invite was to work on team camaraderie and to compete."

Blackman will also participate in the Nolensville tournament following the Riverdale tourney.

Smyrna will play host to Shelbyville, Gallatin and Franklin on July 11 and will be at Gallatin on July 15 for a 7-on-7 and big man challenge.

Currently Siegel, La Vergne, Eagleville and MTCS have not entered any 7-on-7 tournaments.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.