Mercy Rule

[Rich]

We have a 35 point running clock rule in the second half. Works well, I think. Ours runs during penalty administration, unlike Georgia. And we take full advantage of that, when it feels necessary.

[SE Minnestoa Re]

Minnesota has a mercy rule at 35 points in the 4th quarter. A few weeks ago we had a game that was 66-6 at half. At halftime, the losing coach asked what we could do to get his team on the bus. Both coaches agreed to a no-stop clock for the entire second half.

Small schools with limited bench players need extra protection in these games when compared to a Twin City school with 90 kids on the sidelines. As a referee, I think my most important duty is to keep the players safe.

[csb1971]

Colorado's mercy rule is a running clock once the differential hits 40 points (45 in 6-man) regardless of when that mark is hit. I've worked a couple of subvarsity games this year where it was still in the 2nd quarter and the winning team got it above 40. Made for a really quick 2nd half. I see both sides to it. It does limit playing time for the kids, but I also know that many of the kids on the short end of the score would rather just be done with it, especially if they are just getting clobbered.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by Rich

We have a 35 point running clock rule in the second half. Works well, I think. Ours runs during penalty administration, unlike Georgia. And we take full advantage of that, when it feels necessary.

Agreed, Rich....don't know about you, but more than half of our games this year here were running clock at some point in the second half.

I may be the minority in this, but I can't envision why every state doesn't have this adopted....even if it's more than the 35 points.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

I may be the minority in this, but I can't envision why every state doesn't have this adopted....even if it's more than the 35 points.

Oh, that's an easy one: if a state doesn't have it, then the coaches voted it down.

It certainly wasn't the officials!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

Agreed, Rich....don't know about you, but more than half of our games this year here were running clock at some point in the second half.

I may be the minority in this, but I can't envision why every state doesn't have this adopted....even if it's more than the 35 points.

We had quite a few. The most frustrating game we had was a 57-31 masterpiece that got to 34 points in the third quarter and never got closer than the 26 point final margin. The game ran 2:55 and we ended up with at least 4 UNRs and one UNS in the fourth quarter.

Only one game left (actually 2 as we're working a game between two 1-7 teams tonight), so we'll see how that one goes.

[Altor]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

I may be the minority in this, but I can't envision why every state doesn't have this adopted....even if it's more than the 35 points.

Why the need for the running clock when one can shorten the game directly? Even in Ohio (where the OP mentioned there's no running clock mercy rule), the coaches can agree to shorten the game or end it at any time. I heard of one game in these parts where they ran 8 minute quarters for the 3rd and 4th a couple weeks ago. If that's not enough, shorten it to 4 minutes or just call the game completely.

[HLin NC]

the coaches can agree

CAN being the operative word.

As I stated earlier, some coaches want to teach their kids some weird, twisted lesson. Some don't think to mention it. Some are job scared and don't want to show the faithful that they are "giving up". A state mandated rule makes it easy for them and us.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Altor

Why the need for the running clock when one can shorten the game directly? Even in Ohio (where the OP mentioned there's no running clock mercy rule), the coaches can agree to shorten the game or end it at any time. I heard of one game in these parts where they ran 8 minute quarters for the 3rd and 4th a couple weeks ago. If that's not enough, shorten it to 4 minutes or just call the game completely.

We had a game a few seasons ago where the score was 56-0 at halftime. The visiting team had about 16 players and a few were injured in the first half.

EVEN WITH A RUNNING CLOCK, the visiting team wanted to shorten the quarters. The home team coach was annoyed at this and I had to mediate this. Personally, I didn't care one way or the other, but it was an unpleasant thing.

Imagine if we had to deal with this every week just to have a running clock.

I like the running clock rule, but the 35 point margin shouldn't be the only thing that dictates clock mechanics. If a team pulls to 34 with 6 minutes left, the clock should still run.

[bigjohn]

The use of this rule does not preclude the use of NFHS Rule 3-1-3, which
reads: “A period or periods may be shortened in any emergency by agreement of
the opposing coaches and referee. By mutual agreement of the opposing coaches
and the referee, any remaining periods may be shortened at any time or the game
terminated.”


That is my question, is one team getting beat the EMERGENCY that this rule was written for?? It says periods may be shortened in an emergency by mutual agreement of the coaches and the referee. 3 people have to agree that one team getting their lungs kicked in is an emergency!!

[jTheUmp]

There are two separate statements in that rule:

"A period or periods may be shortened in any emergency by agreement of
the opposing coaches and referee."
Last year I had a 2nd quarter that ended with 35 seconds left because of a player injury that necessitated calling an ambulance. Two years ago I had a varsity game that ended with 1:20ish left due to an ambulance call. I'd say these constitute "emergencies" for purposes of this rule.

"By mutual agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee, any remaining periods may be shortened at any time or the game terminated."
No emergency required here. If the two coaches agree to shorten the game in whatever manner they wish, I'd find it highly unlikely that the referee would disagree.



Rule 1-7 mentions allowed state association adoptions.
8. Establishing a point differential to terminate games or to use a running clock when the point differential is reached. (3-1-2)

If the state association adopts a running time or ending of game rule, that's completely in the purview of the state association.

[maven]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

That is my question, is one team getting beat the EMERGENCY that this rule was written for??

No, it's not what the rule was designed to do, but it permits the game to be shortened if both coaches agree.

If you want a mandatory rule, contact OHSAA and recommend it. I should say, however, that it is highly unlikely to get past the (other) coaches, who typically like the power granted them by the existing rule.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

The use of this rule does not preclude the use of NFHS Rule 3-1-3, which
reads: “A period or periods may be shortened in any emergency by agreement of
the opposing coaches and referee. By mutual agreement of the opposing coaches
and the referee, any remaining periods may be shortened at any time or the game
terminated.”


That is my question, is one team getting beat the EMERGENCY that this rule was written for?? It says periods may be shortened in an emergency by mutual agreement of the coaches and the referee. 3 people have to agree that one team getting their lungs kicked in is an emergency!!

Why repeat the question. NO, getting beat is not an emergency. Which is why so many states have opted to create their own mercy rules that supercede the NFHS rule.

[bigjohn]

itheUmp. I agree with you but have been told by officials that Ohio doesn't allow a running clock and this is not an emergency situation so we can't shorten the quarters.

[voiceoflg]

Originally Posted by Rich

We have a 35 point running clock rule in the second half. Works well, I think. Ours runs during penalty administration, unlike Georgia. And we take full advantage of that, when it feels necessary.

Oh trust me, Georgia doesn't always adhere to it. One game in particular saw one team up 49-0 at half and the losing team was very undisciplined. The middle linebacker led the region in personal fouls and we knew he had one for this game coming. Sure enough before the snap in the 3rd quarter he blitzed in, left his feet and launched himself helmet first into the shoulder of the quarterback. Everyone kept their cool then and he was the only one ejected, but it did get chippy afterward. The game clock kept running the whole time, even as the white hat made the thumb motion. I'm glad it did. That game needed ending fast.