Sportmanship--What can officials do?

[ML99]

In Austria (we play NCAA rules) we have an additional rule called the "Mercy Rule". This rule applies only in 2nd half if one of the team is leading with 35 or more than 35 points difference. When Mercy-Rule applies we always have a running clock. It only stops with team time outs, scores, injury time out ...

If the score difference gets fewer than 35points ... the clock doesn't go back to normal. It keeps running.

That's how we keep teams from running up the score. Normally they send out the backup players if there is too much difference on the score.