Ohio high school rule preventing prospects from playing year-round 7v7 expected to be overturned

Word is traveling fast that the Ohio High School Athlete Association (OHSAA) rule that limited athletes from playing 7v7 outside of the window of May 15-July 31 is going to be overturned, allowing student-athletes to participate year round.

The restrictions previously prevented prospects from participating in events like the Battle 7v7 regional and national tournaments, as well as Overtime’s OT7 regional events, which are scheduled to take place in April and May this year. Earlier this winter, Doug Ute, the executive director for the OHSAA, said that a rule change allowing prospects to participate in those events was under consideration.

And now, it looks like that rule change will go into effect shortly, opening up the ability for Ohio high schoolers to participate in local and national events.

On3’s No. 1 ranked safety in the 2025 class in Shaker Heights (Ohio) High product Trey McNutt had been facing suspension from games this fall for playing in 7v7 tournaments this spring with the Fast Houston team.

He shed a light nationally on this rule by opting to play despite the OHSAA literature, and was also looking at potentially suiting up for a different high school out of state for his senior season.

“It’s not just big for me, it’s big for all the kids that’s been waiting and all the generations after me,” McNutt said.

Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban blue-chip 2026 defensive back and On3’s No. 1 ranked cornerback in the class, Elbert Hill, is already making arrangements to get out and play 7v7.

He will play with South Florida Express at the Overtime OT7 Regional in Dallas next weekend.

“It’s very big now that I can go and compete with some of the best guys in the country,” Hill said.