Mercy, mercy...

[TampaSteve]

Some States have it, some don't.  Those that do, vary quite a bit.  If FED came up with a uniform Mercy Rule, what should it be?

FL:
Team up by 35 or more in the 3rd quarter: the losing team has the option whether to run clock or not.  In the 4th, it's mandatory.
Once we go to running clock, there's no going back.
Clock runs for everything but during timeouts & the time between a score & the subsequent free kick.

Cons: optional in the 3rd quarter. - rarely do coaches opt for this ("i'm going to teach my boys a lesson."  or "we need to work on X").

What should it be, if I had a say-so:
From FL rules I'm used to, make the change to:
Make it mandatory any time in the 2nd half if the 35 points is met...or even also reduce it to 32 also (?)

Heck, in baseball we have the "5 inning, 10 run rule" - there's no coaches option there.

[srhendon]

Alabama has no mercy rule which why we had 60 point wins which is not good for either team. We can shorten quarters if both coaches agree. I would like to see a running clock once a 40 point difference is reached in any quarter. Blow outs do let the subs get more playing time which they need but we have a lot of 50+ to not very many scores that are no fun for anyone.

[bbeagle]

Where I work now, no mercy rule.

Where I worked 15 years ago in Carolina:
A team is up by 36 points or more at any time after the half:
Running clock.
Losing team gets the ball on the 50, first and goal. EVERY play is first and goal. (i.e. Team A gains 2 yards to the 48, it's 1st and goal at the 48).
If the defense intercepts or recovers a fumble, ball is dead immediately, offense gets the ball 1st and goal from the 50.
This 'scrimmage type situation' continues until either the time expires or the offense scores, then we go back to regular game rules.

This type of 'scrimmage' either helped offenses improve their games by playing better defenses, or just got the offenses more frustrated.

[Rulesman]

An example of why a uniform mercy rule is a good idea...

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/oct/20/a-season-on-the-inside-at-winless-struggling-had/

[TampaSteve]

Alabama has no mercy rule which why we had 60 point wins which is not good for either team. We can shorten quarters if both coaches agree. I would like to see a running clock once a 40 point difference is reached in any quarter. Blow outs do let the subs get more playing time which they need but we have a lot of 50+ to not very many scores that are no fun for anyone.

Shortened quarters is FED rule, FYI.

[Jason Kramer]

Wisconsin is running clock in second half if the margin is 35 points or greater. Can be frustrating to switch back and forth between rules when the margin goes above 35 and then drops below.

[TampaSteve]

Wisconsin is running clock in second half if the margin is 35 points or greater. Can be frustrating to switch back and forth between rules when the margin goes above 35 and then drops below.

That is most frustrating.  Team gets to 35 pts, in comes 2nd teams & now we have a 2nd team game.
I 'get it' that second team is part of the team & they get playing time too.  But the clock has been 'set in motion', if you will & now the losing team's 2nd string scores on the winning team's 2nd string.

[ECILLJ]

We have a running clock in Illinois when there is a 40 point differential in second half. We only stop the clock for timeouts and scores. Once we have the 40 point differential, the running clock rule is in place, regardless of whether the differential becomes less than 40 points.

[SD_Casey]

SD is regular timing in the first half.  after halftime a 35 point differential is a running clock, no going back to regular clock. If the differential in the 2nd half gets to 50, game over.

[Atlanta Blue]

Georgia uses a 30 point differential to go to a running clock.  Optional in the 3rd qtr (I have seen one coach accept it when he knew it was already a long night), mandatory in the 4th qtr.  Once you start it, there is no reverting to normal timing even if the score becomes tied (which I have never seen).  But once a quarter starts without a running clock, you don't add it either, even of you reach the differential.  In other words, however we start the 4th quarter is how we will end it.

When we are in a running clock, it stops for SPIT (scores, penalties, injuries and time outs).

[vplacek228@comcast.net]

Work two states, WV and Oh.  Neither allow running clock.  Only legal option is shortening quarters.  Very seldom will coach agree to this as he feels this is "surrendering".  One of the reasons given for not instituting a mercy rule and running clock is that this take playing time away from reserves.  With larger schools this probably is true.  However we have several smaller schools that dress 20 or fewer players so pretty much everyone is getting playing time, but still coach doesn't want to shorten quarters because it looks bad.

[TampaSteve]

Fellas, fellas.  Back to the premise of the string:
If it was up to you, what would the mercy rule look like?

[bbeagle]

Fellas, fellas.  Back to the premise of the string:
If it was up to you, what would the mercy rule look like?

Once a 'mercy rule' goes into effect, in essence, the game is over. The winner has been determined. I think we should play a modified scrimmage at this point, where score doesn't count.

Seriously - what is the largest number of points overcome by a team in the 2nd half? 32 points? Buffalo was losing to Houston 35-3 in the 3rd quarter and came back to win, and that was BEFORE the 2 point conversion. So, 35/36 points is a reasonable score advantage in the 2nd half to 'call' the game.

Perhaps do something like Carolina's old rule (is this still in effect down there?) Maybe give each team 10 plays from the 20. And go back and forth, but don't count the scores. And keep the clock running. This will give the losing team a chance to practice.

However, injuries might hit, and who wants their star player injured in 'scrimmage time'? What about a team completely over-matched. The 'scrimmage' would be like pouring salt into a wound.

Why not just make a point-difference where the game is over, like some baseball mercy rules - up by 10 runs after the 5th inning, game over?

[HLinNC]

Simplest method-
#1- Take it out of the coaches hands by mandating a running clock
 once the point spread reaches a specified number with no return.

#2-  Clock stops for team TO, injury, change of quarter.  Stop clock for penalty enforcement, then wind once administered.

[Rulesman]

Simplest method-
#1- Take it out of the coaches hands by mandating a running clock
 once the point spread reaches a specified number with no return.

#2-  Clock stops for team TO, injury, change of quarter.  Stop clock for penalty enforcement, then wind once administered.

Agree with all but the last sentence. You know there will be someone out there trying to figure out a way to extend the game if given that out.

[TampaSteve]

Ditto Rulesman. 

[VALJ]

In Virginia, if the score difference is more than 35 points or more in the second half, we go to a running clock.  We have 4 situations where the clock actually stops:

Time outs (Charged or officials')
First Down
Scores
Penalties

In all cases, the clock starts on the ready.  Unless the game gets closer than 35 points, this applies all through the second half. 

(Unofficially, we tend to be slower to stop the clock, and quicker to wind it.  And if the back judge throws a delay of game, we take his damn flag away.  )

[maybrefguy]

In KS 8 man games have a 45 point mercy rule.  At a point spread of 45 points or more at half time or later, the game is over.  Each 11 man league can put in a running clock mercy rule.  Usually it is 35 or 45 points.  Once the clock starts, it does not stop except for injuries, timeouts and after they try for a scoring play.

We will be using the 45 point running clock in our 11 man playoff games this year as well.

[AFSST]

I like Colorado's rule:

40 points at any time for 11 and 8 man; 45 points for 6 man

Run the clock as soon as the margin is 40/45.  Stop only for timeouts and injuries.

[Curious]

When we are in a running clock, it stops for SPIT (scores, penalties, injuries and time outs).

"Spit"  

In Michigan, our acronym is "TIPS":  Time outs, intermissions/injuries, penalties, and scores....Much nicer

Michigan Point Differential Rule: spread of 35 points or more any time in the second half; back to regular timing if <35

We also have adopted a 50 point spread rule: in the second half, if the spread gets to or exceeds 50 points, the clock does not stop - except for an official's TO for an injured player.  <50 points, back to 35 point rule

[Atlanta Blue]

"Spit"  

In Michigan, our acronym is "TIPS":  Time outs, intermissions/injuries, penalties, and scores....Much nicer

When it's taught to officials, I believe they use TIPS here as well.  I pointed out to a WH friend of mine that SPIT works just as well, and he has adopted it in his clinics.  It usually gets a chuckle, which probably helps with memory as well.

Whatever it is, the ECO in our game on Friday night didn't know it.  We had a running clock in the 4th qtr, and he was letting it go on penalties and scores, stopping it on first downs.  I thought the WH was going to dislocate a shoulder winding so hard trying to get him to pay attention and start the clock.

[TampaSteve]

Man, these States that revert back to standard clock once it's below the threshold.   
Pfft...and stopping it on penalties.   
Eh, I guess we should be glad we have a mercy rule to begin with.

[110]

Man, these States that revert back to standard clock once it's below the threshold.   
Pfft...and stopping it on penalties.   
Eh, I guess we should be glad we have a mercy rule to begin with.

Yes, yes you should. I've worked three blowouts this year, on the order of 50, 60, near 70-0. Not fun.

[BIG UMP]

Wisconsin is running clock in second half if the margin is 35 points or greater. Can be frustrating to switch back and forth between rules when the margin goes above 35 and then drops below.

This is Tennessee's mercy rule also.  Hate going back and forth.

[VALJ]

This is Tennessee's mercy rule also.  Hate going back and forth.

Yep - we hate it in Virginia, too.  At least this year they're letting us apply it in the playoffs - through last year, playoffs didn't have a mercy rule.