Northern California Youth Football Mercy Rule

[abpk2903]

That's why I've always been a proponent of just ending the game...baseball does this with the 15 runs after 3, 10 after 5 rule. I never understood basketball and football finishing a game with a running clock when the game is already 55-7. If you are down 42 at half or 35 after the 3rd quarter just end it. That is when frustration kicks in and players are more likely to lay out a cheap shot.

If you want to get the players some work in, it's youth football just make an agreement that each team will get 3 possessions in the second half and play it like a scrimmage.

What really is the point of a running clock?

[El-Moldo]

The team in the lead scores a TD right before the half making the score 34-0. A bad snap on the extra point keeps the score at 34 instead of 35. So the clock runs the same to begin the 2nd half. Have any teams ever come back from being down by 34 in the second half???? Who set the rule for 35? Hell, why not make it 30. coach thinks the running clock "speeds up the process". For what??? So we can all get home early. And taking a knee is certainly football strategy. In a close game and time is running out, why risk a fumble on a hand off. Milking the clock by a winning team is legitimate strategy. Snapping the ball with 2 seconds left on the play clock is NOT mercy either. Again, what does a running clock teach the players on the winning and losing teams.

[abpk2903]

Not gonna argue with you about this. 35 points was just a suggestion. If the league wants to make it 20, 30, 80 I don't care as long its a consistent rule. Why do you argue everything. If they miss the extra point and it's only 34 points, then play on...

[El-Moldo]

I'm not arguing. I'm making a point in a round about way. We are seeing the wussification of the American male. Since I was in high school, we have gone from "Don't give up the ship" to waving the white flag. Old Japanese proverb: Fall down seven times, get up eight. No wonder kids aren't out for sports. They are taught otherwise. Take the easy way out.

[jayjay6218]

The team in the lead scores a TD right before the half making the score 34-0. A bad snap on the extra point keeps the score at 34 instead of 35. So the clock runs the same to begin the 2nd half. Have any teams ever come back from being down by 34 in the second half???? Who set the rule for 35? Hell, why not make it 30. coach thinks the running clock "speeds up the process". For what??? So we can all get home early. And taking a knee is certainly football strategy. In a close game and time is running out, why risk a fumble on a hand off. Milking the clock by a winning team is legitimate strategy. Snapping the ball with 2 seconds left on the play clock is NOT mercy either. Again, what does a running clock teach the players on the winning and losing teams.

Just to play Devil's Advocate, Tyrone came back from being down 30 to 13 at the half against Penn Cambria back in 2005. (See article below) Yes it isn't 30 points down but Tyrone still was able to score 30 unanswered points in the second half which if they were down by 30 would at least have tied the game.

http://www.tyronepa.com/2005/11/Tyrone- ... -comeback/