Had my first running clock of the season last week in a girls varsity game. The spread was 39 at halftime, even though the winning team had stopped pressing at the quarter, substituted freely, and dropped into a zone defense. The final spread was 59 points.

What states have implemented a mercy rule this year? Everyone in Michigan is glad to have it back.

So far the answer is no.
 

It appears that my state from several conversations with people in the know, we are not doing this. And if it was going to happen, it is not happening during the playoffs at all. It is still early and we have not gotten our information yet, but I do not think we will have any kind of mercy rule.

Peace

I'll know for sure in a couple of weeks, but I do not think GA will implement this either.

I personally have mixed feelings on it. What's more emabarassing to the kids...Getting blown out, or having someone tell you that you can't finish BECAUSE you are getting blown out?? But, at the same time, it does seem crazy to continue on with these games sometimes.

I guess my question to you is, do you think that the mercy rule will clean things up and stop flaring tempers before they happen??? The jury is out in my book............

can't finish BECAUSE you are getting blown out

I do mean finish a normal game, not that they don't actually play to the end......

In NC, the coaches voted to not use the mercy rule.

Just a thought, but would a rule such as this encourage a coach to "call of the dogs" more quickly in order to ensure his kids get a full game?

Or do the opposite and press longer than necessary in order to force it to happen and then call of the dogs?

OC, may I know what is 'call of the dog'.
When I'm in a blow out game, at half time, I often offer my partner to bet for a beer whoever calls the first foul on the losing side.

"call off the dogs" is an expression we use in the states. In basketball, it amounts to putting in substitutes, pulling off your press, dropping into a zone, not shooting three point shots, not running trick plays, or any combination of the above.
OC has a point, though.
Adam

Where I ref here in Japan we get our share of lopsided games. (small international schools playing large military schools). No decision has been made yet about the mercy rule. What we have done in some games in the past is turn off the score and just use the clock (whenever both coaches agree). If we put in the mercy rule I foresee some heavy first half presses.--I'll also get home a lot earlier.

Wisconsin coaches chose not to have the mercy rule.

Mark

No mercy in Texas
 

Course we have a reputation for that anyway.

An Andy, AMEN!
 

In Maryland, for private schools it is being left up to the individual leagues. As far as I know, there has not been a final decision yet for the public schools.

Does not sound as if we'll be using the mercy rule here in Washington State this year.

Z

Not in Tennessee
 

TSSAA voted not to use it.