Press Release - May 18, 2006
SportsCARE's 7 On 7 Begins May 23

For Immediate Release May 18, 2006

Contact:
Thomas Gros
SportsCARE
(903) 531-5930

John Moore
Media Relations
(903) 531-4542

TRINITY MOTHER FRANCES SPORTSCARE
7-ON-7 PASSING LEAGUE OPENS MAY 23

TYLER, TX - Trinity Mother Frances SportsCARE begins its' eighth year of
7-on-7 Football Passing League May 23, at 6 p.m. at Lindsey Park. On May 23 and 25 and June 1, 8, 15, and 22 at 6 p.m., footballs will be flying as 20 high school teams have banned together to form the 7-on-7 summer football league.

'Seven-on-seven football offers benefits to both offensive and defensive players,' said Trinity Mother Frances SportsCARE representative Thomas Gros. 'Not only do the quarterbacks and receivers gain valuable experience and repetition by competing in the league, the cornerbacks and safeties are also able to learn. In addition, the linebackers are forced to concentrate on covering both running backs out of the backfield and tight ends coming off the line.'

Passing League games are played on 55-yard fields (including a 10-yard end zone), with seven players on both offense and defense. There are a few notable characteristics absent in 7-on-7 football: offensive and defensive lineman, helmets and shoulder pads, tackling, and any running plays. The similarities between 7-on-7 football and the game most people are familiar with are: scripted offensive passing plays with defensive players in pass coverage.

In addition to Trinity Mother Frances SportsCARE, the City of Tyler Parks & Recreation Department co-sponsors the event.

The games will be played from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. each night. The league will feature squads from Robert E Lee, John Tyler, Jacksonville, Whitehouse, Lindale, Mabank, Chapel Hill, Brownsboro, Canton, Eustace, Athens, Frankston and TK Gorman.

'We are very excited to be able to offer this kind of positive activity to high school athletes during the summer,' Gros added. 'Hopefully, this league will continue to grow in both size and scope.'

The league will culminate with a one-day tournament on June 24, also at Lindsey Park. Two winning teams from the June 24th tournament will receive invitations to participate in the 7-on-7 Passing League state championships to be played in July. The proceeds from the 7-on-7 concession stand will benefit Children's Miracle Network.

For answers to Passing League questions, call (903) 531-5930. For more information on services provided by Trinity Mother Frances SportsCARE, call Trinity Mother Frances Health System's TeleCare Plus, your free, 24-hour health information resource at (903) 531-5678, or outside Tyler at 800-535-9799.

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