Mercy, mercy...

[skip1]

In Connecticut we have a 50 point rule. If a team wins by more than 50 points the coach has to sit out the next game. It makes a travesty of the game. Teams telling there players to fall down, taking 4 knees in a row. It won't get changed until a player is injured as his team is not playing all out and the other team is.

I would like to see the 35 point rule in the second half. Once the clock starts no going back.

[Rulesman]

In Connecticut we have a 50 point rule. If a team wins by more than 50 points the coach has to sit out the next game...

You have got to be kidding. Who came up with that?

[HLinNC]

You have got to be kidding. Who came up with that?

Oh there was quite the hubbub when that got posted a few years back.  Don't remember, 2? 3? years ago.

My guess- some pointy headed intellectual types whose kids play soccer.

[FBUmp]

My sons played soccer but even we aren't that stupid.

[bbeagle]

In Connecticut we have a 50 point rule. If a team wins by more than 50 points the coach has to sit out the next game. It makes a travesty of the game.

Now here's a good place for the defense can get a point on the try rule.....

Team A scores with :01 left on the clock to take a 50-0 lead. Team A takes an intentional safety on the try to make the score 50-1. Coach does not have to sit out the next game now.

[Osric Pureheart]

My guess- some pointy headed intellectual types whose kids play soccer.

The ironic thing about this is that there's absolutely no stigma whatsoever about running up the score in soccer culture.  If you can't defend, you can't defend.

[Atlanta Blue]

The ironic thing about this is that there's absolutely no stigma whatsoever about running up the score in soccer culture.  If you can't defend, you can't defend.

May be true in Europe, but not here.  We have mercy rules in high school soccer as well, and running up the score against a weak opponent is considered poor sportsmanship.

[TampaSteve]

The ironic thing about this is that there's absolutely no stigma whatsoever about running up the score in soccer culture.  If you can't defend, you can't defend.

Soccer also has a running clock... so running up the score wont make the game any longer (sans injury time)

[bbeagle]

Soccer also has a running clock... so running up the score wont make the game any longer (sans injury time)

I refereed FIFA soccer in the past, and if the score is like 10-0, we ignore injury time and end the game at 90:00. So, I guess this is a 'mercy rule' invoked by the officials, but not the players.

[HLinNC]

Soccer also has a running clock.

My son played from age seven until last spring.  He switched to football this fall.

It is absolutely STUPID to have a timed sport where the only person who knows the time is the referee when stadiums can hang the clock from the rafters in stunning HD.  When it hits 0:00 and he wants to add some time on for "stoppage", just get on the little radio in his ear and tell the dude to add x:xx to the big, honking clock.

But I digress....

 

[maven]

It is absolutely STUPID ...

Talking about soccre? You had me right there, my friend.

[bbeagle]

It is absolutely STUPID to have a timed sport where the only person who knows the time is the referee

There is a difference in philosophy.

The referee will never end a soccer game when one team is pressing to score, even if penalty time is up. Once the defense gets the ball to mid-field, then he will end the game.

In football, even if teams are tied, and Team A gets a 1st and goal from the 1, and the clock expires, we're going to overtime - where Team B might win.

[TampaSteve]

co-worker's kid plays MISL for Hou (formerly DC united), so I'll keep quiet re soccer.

[Rulesman]

The referee will never end a soccer game when one team is pressing to score...

Which is why I agree with NC's statement "It is absolutely STUPID to have a timed sport where the only person who knows the time is the referee ..." Allowing an official the latitude to potentially determine the outcome is just plain wrong.

[bbeagle]

Which is why I agree with NC's statement "It is absolutely STUPID to have a timed sport where the only person who knows the time is the referee ..." Allowing an official the latitude to potentially determine the outcome is just plain wrong.

Actually, I think it's the same with football in this regard: Once a play in football starts, even if the clock expires during the down, we allow the play to continue. And if a foul occurs, we extend the game with an untimed down.

In soccer, if the offense is pressing to score, and they are within 30 or so yards from the goal, this is considered a 'play', and the referee allows it to continue. As long as the offense is attacking the net and not passing it back and forth to each other at the 30, they will be allowed to complete the play, which might include several shots. Once the defense gets the ball out of there, the game is called.

How is it so different? What if a football team starts a possession with time on the clock, let them finish the DRIVE, not just the PLAY if the clock is expired? In hockey or basketball let the team who has possession of the ball have a last PLAY instead of just a last SHOT? Once the defense gets the ball/puck, game over.

This would change the strategies in games quite a bit, but it wouldn't be unfair. It would just be different.

[Rulesman]

In football, an extension of the game is defined. It is black and white... here's what you do when a foul occurs during the last timed down and the penalty is accepted. Same in basketball. Either the shot is in the air when time expires, or it isn't.

In soccer, this determination is left to the discretion of the referee. You bit on my point when you said, "...30 yards or so from the goal..." and "...if they are pressing to score..." Define "or so", and "are pressing to score." That is just too subjective when the only person on the field who knows the time remaining is the referee. I've always had that issue with soccer. It's the perception the sport projects.

[bbeagle]

In soccer, this determination is left to the discretion of the referee.

Pretty much everything in soccer is left up to the discretion of the referee. There are only 17 rules in the game, and all are short compared to football.

The end of game situation is soccer is vague, but defining it would go against that sport. Because international soccer does not support something like a goal going in after the buzzer. It's impossible. The whistle to end the game will always blow when the ball is going away from the goal. Even though nothing in the soccer rules directly supports this, it's the way the game is officiated. If a referee were to blow the end of game whistle just before a team was ready to kick the ball in the goal, all hell would break loose. The defense in soccer knows this, and has to defend to the very end. And there's no complaining if a 2 minute injury time lasts 2:30, as long as the offense was pressuring for the entire 30 seconds.

That's something I think is very exciting in basketball, hockey and lacrosse. Did that shot go in just before or just after the buzzer? A team can win or lose because someone was .1 seconds late on a shot.

[bossman72]

PA has mercy rule at 35 points.  Clock only stops for SPIT (Scores, penalties, injuries, timeouts- both officials and charged).  Clock will restart on the ready in all situations.