Mercy rule inflames parental passions

[wevans]

Californication again "of course"

As reported by Sacramento NBC affiliate KCRA, the Northern California Federation Youth Football League (NCFYFL) instituted stiff new penalties for any teams that beat opponents by 35 points or more. Specifically, those teams will be fined $200 and their coaches will be suspended from all league activities for two weeks. The penalty is a drastic change for the league of 7-13 year-olds, which previously issued teams with a warning following such blowouts and required a written description that detailed what the victorious team had done to try and keep scores low.

Similar penalties are occasionally installed by other youth leagues, but they usually don't kick in until the disparity in score between the teams is almost twice as much as the 35 points being used by the NCFYFL.

With the new, harsher penalties, some players have begun insisting that their development is being hurt. One team has stopped attempting any field goals, leaving kicker James McHugh unable to attempt any scoring kicks except points after touchdowns. That's a problem for a 13-year-old who hopes to serve as a high school placekicker in fall 2014.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/highschoo ... 25382.html

[SS-342]

Well, well, well…..wevans, what can we say about that?

"LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD, DUMB EVERYONE DOWN TO A COMMON DENOMINATOR ? "

I have seen coaches leave the first string in and run up the score but I suppose that should reflect their character more than make me react in a negative way and show mine.

The bottom line to me is the low team needs to improve. I would NOT put up with any abusive plays from either side but if the game is played with in the rules and accepted practices …..work to improve or take another beating.

Some of my most valuable lessons was learned by getting whipped!

Question: How far would this attitude or thinking get you in WAR?

O WELL, WEVANS, our lives are about like "GONE WITH THE WIND" anyway!

[Sun Daze]

More pussification of America. What does this teach them about competiveness? That's right, nothing! The younger we teach kids there are winner and losers in EVERY aspect of life, the better they will deal with disappointment when they lose, and losing is inevitable. This is one reason we shy away from organized stick and ball sports!

We race off road motorcycles (motocross and hare scrambles) and the pee wee (50cc motorcycles) classes get a participation award, but the top 3-5 in the class get trophies or plaques with their finishing place. In the 65cc classes and up, if you don't finish in the top of the class, you don't get a trophy or plaque, and these classes start at age 8-9 depending on the child's birthday.

These kids need to learn what it takes to be the best, that it takes hard work. It was taught to me as the three Ds... Desire, dedication and discipline. Thats why I love the dirt bike racing, it teaches the kids all three, and racing is all you when you're out on the track, the only other person a kid can blame for anything is if dad hasn't maintained the bike properly and he suffers a mechanical DNF (did not finish), but even then after the kid reaches a certain age, they're taught to maintain their own bikes!

Anyway, our society has become so wussified that the overwhelming concern seems to be sheltering kids from any disappointment that may damage their self esteem.... It's actually comical at times!

[FUTCHCAIRO]

COMPLETLY AGREE WITH SUNDAZE, SEEMS LIKE THE CURRENT CROP OF WISSY KIDS HAVE TO BE GIVEN WHATEVER THEY ARE WORKING FOR INSTEAD OF THE ABILITY TO EARN THE CUP OR PRIZE.
PA
SEMPER FI

[wally]

If they are having consistent blowouts in the league they need to look at coaching and/or how the teams are selected. Typically that seems to happen when certain teams get stacked with talent.

[Pirate]

Blowouts don't do either team any good. The people it bothers the most though are all the parents. They are the ones who really get their feelings hurt. Most of the kids are interested in just having a good time.

[Pirate]

Oh, and they are actually shortening games in high school now if the point spread is too wide going into the 4th quarter.