Forming now
Nov – Dec
Winter Session 1
Targeting an approximately six-week league session at MSA Woodland.
Now forming · Winter 2026–27
Keep your team together. Keep playing football.
GR7 is a proposed local, competitive 7v7 league for school and community-based football teams in the Grand Rapids area.
Weekly winter games at MSA Woodland, without the tryouts, travel, and cost of a private 7v7 club.
Not registration yet. GR7 needs at least 4 teams to launch. No payment is due.
- Needed to launch
- 4 teams
- Divisions
- 12U + 14U
- Saturday evenings
- MSA Woodland
- Per player
- ~$200
We need at least 4 teams to make it happen.
That’s why there’s no official registration yet. Right now, we’re counting teams.
GR7 is being built around complete teams, not individual free-agent registration. Coaches tell us about their team, bring their existing players, and compete against other Grand Rapids-area teams throughout the winter.
We’re aiming for 4–6 teams to start, organized by school or community whenever possible.
Count Your Team In-
01
Count your team in
Tell us about your team. No payment and no commitment yet.
-
02
We reach 4 teams
GR7 needs at least four teams to launch. Until then, nothing is official.
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03
Registration opens
We confirm dates, divisions, and pricing, then open official registration for the teams that are in.
01 Why GR7
Competitive 7v7, without the travel team.
Today, most competitive 7v7 football is played on private, tryout-based teams that travel across the state and the Midwest for games. Outside of that, the main winter option is recreational flag football.
GR7 fills the gap: a local, competitive, community-based league where existing school and community teams play each other every week, close to home.
Private travel 7v7
- Roster
- Tryout-based, players drawn from many schools
- Games
- Tournaments across the state and the Midwest
- Coaches
- Club coaching staff
- Cost
- Club fees plus travel
GR7
- Roster
- Your existing school or community team
- Games
- Weekly games in Grand Rapids
- Coaches
- Your team’s own coaches
- Cost
- About $200 per player
-
01
Local
Weekly games in Grand Rapids instead of spending weekends on the road.
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02
Competitive
Organized games, referees, standings, and division champions.
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03
Community-based
Teams come from schools and community programs, so players keep competing alongside the teammates they already know.
02 Built for existing teams
Bring the team you already have.
GR7 is designed for coaches who already have a group of players that want to keep developing together.
Instead of entering individual players and having the league create teams, coaches submit an entire roster.
Ideal for football teams that want to stay connected, build chemistry, and keep throwing and competing through the winter.
- School/community-based teams preferred
- 12U and 14U divisions to start
- Minimum 10 registered players per team
- Existing coaches stay with their team
- Teams choose their own practice schedule
- No GR7 tryouts
- No GR7 practice facility requirement
- Teams remain free to enter outside tournaments
03 League details
Two winter sessions planned.
Based on interest
Jan – Feb
Winter Session 2
A second winter session will be offered if there is enough team interest.
Sessions run only once at least four teams are in. Exact dates, divisions, kickoff times, and final schedule will depend on team interest and facility availability.
Games + venue
Local games. One consistent venue.
MSA Woodland
2100 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)- Expected game day
- Saturday evenings
- Target window
- ~4–8 PM
Most league games are expected to be played on Saturday evenings at MSA Woodland.
The target game window is approximately 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, depending on the final number of teams and field availability.
GR7 is not affiliated with MSA Woodland. We rent space there for games. Please don’t contact MSA Woodland about GR7. Reach us directly at justin@gr7football.com.
Practice
Practice as much — or as little — as you want.
GR7 provides league games only. Practice time and practice facilities are not included.
Coaches decide how often they want to practice and where.
One of the advantages of 7v7 is that teams do not necessarily need expensive indoor turf time to prepare. Depending on weather and availability, teams can work in gyms, school facilities, outdoor fields, or other spaces that are large enough for passing and coverage work.
GR7 does not schedule or provide team practices.
04 Age groups
Starting with two divisions.
12U Division
- School/community-based teams
- 10-player minimum roster
14U Division
- School/community-based teams
- 10-player minimum roster
Final division structure will depend on the number of submitted teams.
05 Registration
Built to be affordable.
About $200 per player
Final pricing will be confirmed once the number of teams and facility schedule are finalized.
Registration isn’t open yet. Official registration and payment open once at least 4 teams are in.
This is intended to be a lean, locally run league. Registration fees will go toward field rental, officials, uniforms, league operations, and other direct costs of running the season.
Registration is expected to cover
- League game facility rental
- Paid game officials
- League administration and operating expenses
- Team jersey / compression shirt
- Team shorts
- League scheduling
- Standings and results
- Championship medals for the winning team in each division
Player-provided
- Football helmet
- Personal football equipment required under league rules
06 Rules
Standard 7v7 football.
League games will follow a standard non-contact 7v7 passing format, with final GR7 house rules published before the season begins.
Baseline: USA Football 7on7 rules
- 7DefendersSix players on offense, seven on defense.
- 0Running playsA passing-only format.
- 4secThrow clockQuarterbacks have four seconds to get the pass off.
- 1Hand touchA one-hand touch anywhere ends the play.
- 0TacklingNon-contact. No traditional tackling.
- 100%HelmetsAll players wear helmets.
- 40Yard lineEach possession begins at the 40.
- PDF Full rules USA Football 7on7 rules, opens in a new tab
GR7 may make minor league-specific adjustments for game length, scheduling, age group, facility configuration, or competitive balance. Final rules will be distributed to all coaches before the season.
Championship
Play for something.
Each division will have standings throughout the session.
The exact championship format will depend on the number of teams, but the goal is to finish each session with a league champion.
Division champions receive GR7 championship medals.
Outside tournaments
GR7 doesn’t replace travel tournaments.
GR7 is an informal private local league.
Your team remains completely independent and can enter any regional, state, or national 7v7 tournament that you choose.
Use GR7 for consistent weekly competition, then add outside tournaments if your team wants more.
Count your team in
Want your team in GR7?
We’re currently collecting interest from Grand Rapids-area coaches for the first 12U and 14U winter sessions.
GR7 needs a minimum of 4 teams to launch, so we can’t open official registration until we know we have them. If you have an existing team or can organize one through your school/community program, count it in below.
This isn’t registration yet. No payment is due. Once at least 4 teams are in, we’ll reach out to open official registration and confirm divisions, schedules, and pricing.
You’re counted.
Thanks. We’ll be in touch as soon as we know whether GR7 has the 4 teams it needs to launch, and as divisions begin to take shape.
Can we register now?
Not yet. GR7 needs at least four teams to launch, so official registration and payment open only once we have them. For now, just count your team in.
What if fewer than four teams sign up?
Then GR7 can’t run that session. We’ll let every coach who counted their team in know either way. Since nothing is paid until registration opens, nobody is out any money.
Is this a travel team?
No. GR7 is a local league for independently coached teams. Your team can still enter any outside tournaments it wants.
Do players register individually?
GR7 is being organized around complete teams. Coaches should count their team in first. Individual player registration will happen after the team is accepted.
Do you provide coaches?
No. Teams bring their own coach or coaching staff.
Do you provide practices?
No. Coaches arrange their own practices and facilities.
Where will games be played?
The planned venue is MSA Woodland in Grand Rapids.
Should I contact MSA Woodland about GR7?
No. GR7 is not affiliated with MSA Woodland. We rent space there for games. Please send any GR7 questions to us at justin@gr7football.com or with the question form on this page.
When are games?
Most games are expected to be on Saturday evenings, generally sometime between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. The final schedule will depend on the number of teams.
What ages are you starting with?
12U and 14U.
How many players are needed?
Teams should plan for a minimum of 10 registered players.
How much will it cost?
The current target is approximately $200 per player, including the league uniform package. Final pricing will be confirmed before registration opens.
What equipment does my player need?
Players provide their own football helmet and personal football equipment required by league rules.
What does the winning team receive?
GR7 division champions will receive championship medals.
Got it.
Thanks for asking. We’ll get back to you by email.