Northern California Youth Football Mercy Rule

[konjo78]

This rule isn't applied to the kids as much as it is the coaches. Lots of youth coaches treat it like their fantasy coaching adventure and ruin it.

[animus]

This rule isn't applied to the kids as much as it is the coaches. Lots of youth coaches treat it like their fantasy coaching adventure and ruin it.

I can agree w/ that. Tons act like they're Bill Cower or Nick Saban. But at the same time, it's a poor life lesson for the kids that are winning by too large of an amount. I'd rather see the Quarters shortened or just turn off the scoreboard and let the kids ball out.

I don't understand why they just don't make the rule that once the lead gets to a certain amount the game is over, or just shut the scoreboard off. Why fine, just end the game when a team gets a 30 point lead.

I personally like this suggestion the most.

[davesandstorm]

When I played peewee football, if you were up by 3 touchdowns (18 points) you had to put in your second string. Didn't matter if it was the first minute of the game or the last.

[El-Moldo]

Again WHY, in our high school games, do we have a running clock once a team has a 35 point lead in the second half????? What is the reason? Is it a self-esteem thing???? Is it so someone doesn't get their feelings hurt? According the the article above, the promoters of the California rule stated, "It's teaching them (the team doing the slaughtering) compassion for the other team. It's teaching them sportsmanship". SPORTSMANSHIP???????? Sportsmanship is not playing dirty, and abiding by the rules of the game. Not beating up on a team TOO much, is not sportsmanship. The PIAA has done the same thing. Ooooo.....let's not win by too much. Don't want the other team to feel bad. Ohio State just beat Florida A&M something like 76 to 0 last weekend. Did they show compassion? Did they have a running clock? Feelings, nothing more than feelings.

[animus]

El-Mundo,

For HS ball there are schools that simply overmatch their opponents. Without the mercy rule Clairton could've put up 100+ points multiple times. And the worst part is, people from the outside would simply accuse Clairton of running of the score w/out knowing the details of the game. There was times Clairton ran an mercy rule clock from the beginning of the game and still won by 40+.

As for this rule, as above I don't like it; however, you're comparing college football blowouts to 8 year old kids playing a game.

[El-Moldo]

You are using Clairton as an EXCEPTION to the rule. We, as a society, do not rule by EXCEPTION. We don't have speed limits of 100 MPH just in case someone has to drive real fast to the hospital. Teach those kids to shake hands BEFORE the game and AFTER the game. And have them play by the rules DURING the game. THAT is sportsmanship, the so-called reason for the rule in the first place.

[Corky McRib]

Again WHY, in our high school games, do we have a running clock once a team has a 35 point lead in the second half????? What is the reason? Is it a self-esteem thing???? Is it so someone doesn't get their feelings hurt? According the the article above, the promoters of the California rule stated, "It's teaching them (the team doing the slaughtering) compassion for the other team. It's teaching them sportsmanship". SPORTSMANSHIP???????? Sportsmanship is not playing dirty, and abiding by the rules of the game. Not beating up on a team TOO much, is not sportsmanship. The PIAA has done the same thing. Ooooo.....let's not win by too much. Don't want the other team to feel bad. Ohio State just beat Florida A&M something like 76 to 0 last weekend. Did they show compassion? Did they have a running clock? Feelings, nothing more than feelings.

I think it was in 1999 that District 3 power Manheim Central beat Solanco 96-0 (76-0 by halftime) and to this day MC coach Mike Williams is still perceived by many as some kind of a bully. Our victimization culture knows no boundaries anymore.

[Coach]

The PIAA rule is great and works well. It allows you to finish the game and play out what is a game that is not winnable by one team.

The California rule is different because it limits what you can win by and there is a financial fine. That is ridiculous.

[El-Moldo]

But again, what is the REASON for shortening the game with a running clock???? So no one gets hurt? You can get hurt in a full 14-7 game. Because the fans are bored? They can leave early. I think it's a feel good thing, a self-esteem thing. It's teaching the kids on the losing team that when things are going bad in life, someone will come to your rescue. What are you going to learn from this? What if someone on the losing team is about to break some school record? How can he do this when the game is shortened. Why don't we end all wrestling matches once the match is out of reach for the team which is behind? Again, you should show compassion AFTER the game, not during the game.

[Coach]

Why?

Game is over. Speeds it up.

Is there anything you don't question/challenge? You can win by 1,000 if you can score that much. It just speeds up the process. It is called the mercy rule and yes there is compassion. It is a million times better than the rule this whole thread is about and is a good rule.

I guess no team should ever take a knee either...?