ESPN segment on NV Mercy Rule

[Nevadaref]

ESPN picked up a story done last week by nevadapreps.com on the problems some of the lopsided girls games in Las Vegas are creating. (Basically teams ceasing to play and just standing around for most of the 2nd half.)

The ESPN piece aired on SportsCenter on Friday for anyone interested in viewing it through ESPN3. The online article from the local website is still posted and free to access.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

ESPN picked up a story done last week by nevadapreps.com on the problems some of the lopsided girls games in Las Vegas are creating. (Basically teams ceasing to play and just standing around for most of the 2nd half.)

The ESPN piece aired on SportsCenter on Friday for anyone interested in viewing it through ESPN3. The online article from the local website is still posted and free to access.

We've gone to 18 minute halves and I've had 9 running clock games (40 point margins after 9 minutes left in the game) out of 46 this season. Last night our boys game was 55-18 at halftime and ended 89-43.

I've had at least 2 or 3 games with 60+ point margins and a game I assigned ended up 90-10. Nobody's said a word about this being a "problem" here.

[JetMetFan]

How a Nevada rule made basketball unrecognizable in Las Vegas

We've all officiated our share of butt-whippings but I don't know if penalizing a coach/threatening to fire them is the way to go. The video of the games in this segment is absolutely ridiculous. If a team is pressing when it's up 30-40 in high school I can see making it pull back but if the players are just "playing" and not rubbing it in, that's life. HS sports are about competition but if you can't compete, you're going to lose by a lot. That's also a life lesson.

Something like this is where the shot-clock actually helps the game remain somewhat "normal." In NYC/NYS, I've seen coaches on teams up by a lot tell their kids (girls AND boys) to only take 3s and/or only shoot when there's less than :05 on the shot-clock. That way you at least have some semblance of normalcy and the team that's losing has a chance to score.

[JRutledge]

I am not going to live in Nevada, so I really do not care what they do there. I am sure this is not going to be a trend across the country for a reason.

Peace

[BillyMac]

We have similar rules for Connecticut high school football, a reaction to a few "bad apple" coaches running up scores:

High School Team Tests 50-Point Run-Up Rule : NPR

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/op...ball.html?_r=0

[Adam]

I read the article far enough to know two things.

1. Nevada overreacted to a "problem." Probably because people who make decisions have bad memories from getting beat badly when they were young. They would have been better with one of the following options.
a) Just end the game when the differential reaches 50 points. That's what the mercy rule is in football in some states.
b) Just let the running clock be sufficient; there's something to be learned when you get beat, let the kids learn.

2. I had to quit reading when it felt like it was spending too much time singing the praises of coach Karen and what she'd accomplished. I don't really feel sorry for teams that are just too good.

[WhistlesAndStripes]

What's with Nevada Officials wearing those fat striped, NFL style shirts?

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

What's with Nevada Officials wearing those fat striped, NFL style shirts?

There are three officiating associations in the state: North, South, and East.
The South and East went to that style of shirt about four years ago. The North still wears the 1" zebra stripes.

Things are messed up with the mercy rule policy, the league alignments, and different associations wearing different uniforms and using different mechanics because the previous executive director was lacked the ability to effectively govern the system put in place by the schools and the inmates run the asylum.
Numerous people here are pleased that he left for Louisiana. Sadly, his replacement is having to deal with cleaning up the mess and that will take some time.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

There are three officiating associations in the state: North, South, and East.

Kids in Western Nevada don't play basketball?

[Nevadaref]

The North group handles anything which would be considered West.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

The North group handles anything which would be considered West.

Probably makes for some long road trips. And when an official sharing a ride calls shotgun, he really means shotgun.

Makes me glad that I live in such a compact state. Longest one way trip is fifty-five miles, and I'm only sent there once every three, or four, years.

[ChuckS]

Originally Posted by Adam

I read the article far enough to know two things.

1. Nevada overreacted to a "problem." Probably because people who make decisions have bad memories from getting beat badly when they were young. They would have been better with one of the following options.
a) Just end the game when the differential reaches 50 points. That's what the mercy rule is in football in some states.
b) Just let the running clock be sufficient; there's something to be learned when you get beat, let the kids learn.

2. I had to quit reading when it felt like it was spending too much time singing the praises of coach Karen and what she'd accomplished. I don't really feel sorry for teams that are just too good.

I agree, just a really stupid rule. Let the clock run, let the final margin be what it will be, and the kids on the losing team will be far less embarrassed, compared to having to stand around watching the winning team intentionally try NOT to score.

This is why the NV rule makes no sense. There is no way anyone can demonstrate that losing by 55 points is any more demeaning than losing by 50. And 60 is no worse than 55, and so on. . . . .They picked a completely arbitrary number of 50, and it is causing more problems than it intended to solve.

The NV rule actually causes teams to have to violate the spirit of the NFHS rule against an "actionless contest".

[Adam]

Originally Posted by ChuckS

The NV rule actually causes teams to have to violate the spirit of the NFHS rule against an "actionless contest".

That rule was disposed of long ago.

The current "actionless contest" doesn't apply, spirit or letter, because the clock is running.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Adam

The current "actionless contest" doesn't apply, spirit or letter, because the clock is running.

10-1-5 A team shall not: Allow the game to develop into an actionless contest, this includes the following and similar acts: a. When the clock is not running ...

Originally Posted by Adam

That rule was disposed of long ago.

Yep. It's the old actionless contest rule. The oldest rule in the book. Fools 'em every time.

Team behind had to force the action. If the offense, move the ball past the twenty-eight foot hash mark (some old gyms still have these hash marks). If the defense, move out to force a closely guarded situation. If tied, force the defense to move out to force a closely guarded situation.

Proper mechanic was for the both officials (no three person back then) to tell the responsible team to "Play ball" and point the direction that responsible team was supposed to move.

Penalty for noncompliance was a team technical foul after one verbal ("Play ball") warning per period.

Hey Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.: Did I describe the rule correctly? Now, where did I put my reading glasses?

[ChuckS]

Last time I will post about a rule without looking it up first - LOL!
Rookie mistake!