SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Boys Varsity Soccer Soccer Needs A Mercy Rule (Gerald Davis - The State)

I also had an opportunity last season to talk to some of the O-W players, both boys and girls, including the boys' keeper--no idea if it's the same one this year; they moved out of our region and I haven't had any contact with them. I was impressed by the fact that the O-W players showed a lot of spirit and maintained a great attitude about competing and developing, no matter what the score on the board said. At the end of two seasons of getting clobbered on the scoreboard, they still went out and played their hardest for the full 80 and showed a commitment to work even harder. They may not have had the skill and experience to look competitive against established teams, but a lot of athletes and programs could benefit from that kind of attitude and commitment.

I agree...let 'em play, and let 'em learn...and respect them enough to understand that a few lopsided scores aren't going to send them running home. It might just increase their determination to keep fighting.

no need for a mercy rule implemented by the league but coaches could be a little smarter. for example, northwestern, or so i am told, did not start enzo and others against york a couple of weeks ago. most of their starters did not play at all. nhs still won 4-0. they play again this week and we will c what d coach will do. while not a mercy rule, common sense is much better. if irmo had its starters for the majority of the 16-0 game it did them little or no good imho. let the other kids play, let them start even. in the end it is still a win and subs got to start and play significant minutes, the weaker team plays harder because it thinks it actually has an chance, and no starters get hurt from an over zealous weaker player crashes into him for of lack of skill or revenge. use some sense.

We lost to NW 8-0 on Friday night. Enzo scored the 7th goal (his 3rd) on a really sweet free kick with maybe 10-12 minutes left in the game. A few minutes later....Ricky made it 8-0 with a very nice goal.

I disagree with mercy rules, preferring common sense. But we all know what Will Rogers said about that...

wolfgang, just for clarification, Irmo did NOT leave their starters in for long at all. In fact, at the end of the game I believe that Irmo only had 5 players on the field at the end. Phil does what he can to get his players to be better in games like that. I know when I refereed blowouts at OW, I too was impressed with their attitudes and general good sportsmanship.

cant pick your coach, cant pick what region ur n, my thought was always no more than 9-0, anymore than that seems selfish and bad for both teams, kids want to score, but its not the ultimate goal, look at the game, 1-0 works just fine.

No need for mercy rules. When I was playing HS soccer here, throughout my first two years all scores were at least 7-0, and in my first two years we scored a total of 1 goal those two seasons. Now those who know me know that some of us on those teams played hard throughout the whole game and had fun playing. I learned a lot from those blowouts. And of course when we won our first ever game our third year, it was a feeling like no other. It all depends on the attitude taking towards these games.

I don't think soccer needs a mercy rule, coaches just need to know when to call off the dogs. If it gets too bad then a team can play possession or tell them they have to have 15 consecutive passes then score off a cross. I believe it comes down to the coach.