Is there a Rule that permits a running clock in the second half of a very one sided football game in high school
It is done here in Virginia (VHSL) I think it is a good idea, just would like to know the rules.

It's a state association adoption, meaning it varies from state to state.

In Tennessee, we were told in no uncertain terms in the preseason meeting that we were NOT to utilize a running clock at any point, but that by mutual agreement of the coaches, we could shorten the quarters.

In Pa, there is a "mercy rule". Any time a team leads by 35 points and it is in the 2nd half of the game, the clock will only stop for official time outs. ie. penalties, injuries.

Same for MD

FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association)
tweaked their running clock rule for this year:

35 point differential--

3rd quarter --- an option for the coach of the losing team

4th qyuarter-- MANDATORY (thank you !)

clock only stops for a team time out or official's time out.
reverts to regular clock if point differential drops below 35.

Great rule--- good to see we got our "foot in the door"
making it mandatory in the 4th. I'll be happier if it is
mandatory period.

Michigan doesn't call it the 'mercy rule' anymore. Now its the point differential rule. In the 2nd half when one team is up by 35 or more the clock only stops for the following sitiations .. . .

T- Timeouts
I- Injuries
P- Penalties
S- Scores

Spells 'tips' , an easy way to remember. If the deficit is less then 35 we revert back to the way the game is always.

VHSL has no such rule, there is no "mercy" rule in Virginia.

TIPS
 

kd0254,

I understood the "T.I.P.S" acronym to be the following :

T imeouts
I ntermission
P enalties
S afety (injuries, etc.)

Basically the same except scoring.

???

J

J:

I don't see why Intermission would need to be included (The clock is out and needs to be reset anyway) and you leave out scoring with yours. The clock stops after a Safety, TD, or FG in Michigan during point-differential and based on that I think TIPS that includes scoring is more appropriate, at least in Michigan.

Dale

Our youth leagues have this rule here in NW Dallas. But we keep it running on scores (often, especially in flag, if we stopped it on scores, the effect of the running clock would be nullified, as the scores in a blowout are pretty common).