Create a Grace Rule!?

[Rainbowcycle]

It is very disturbing when any team wins by many goals; however, in the spirit of the game one understands that a team cannot stop playing.
The name of the game is scoring goals - like in basketball there is no limit as to how many balls you can throw in the basket- however, that being stated ask yourself if you are doing so merely to satisfy your ego or simply because you have tried everything else and nothing worked, or things worked so well for your team, that it was unavoidable. I'm not going to insult your game intelligence by telling you, what one can do to make scoring more demanding on your team, by scoring only by headers for instance coming down field from flank runs, but everyone knows there are ways to slow down... Notwithstanding, in some recreational leagues, there is a five goal maximum differential rule enforced. Kids are for some, taught to show some kind of class by limiting excessive scoring; for others, however players are really asked to "unplay" soccer; if not to show total unsportmanship, by missing the target intentionally, therefore literally showing dishonesty. It must be mentioned, that on one occasion, when a team opted to start pulling players out of the game and playing men-down, the other coach came over at the end of the match utterly upset. She scolded the coach who was trying to avoid running the score up( while still asking his players not to lie and to continue playing) because she felt like he handed her and her team the highest insult any player could endure.
As one can observe, there is no easy answer to this situation until a power ranking system is instituted in order for strong teams to meet in the same pools. No more divisions I,II,III,IV,V according to schools' sizes; but according to power ratings.
Or maybe is it time to create a mercy rule and call it a match after so many scores?!

[Bandit99]

Mercy rule is in affect up north in some tournement its a 7 goal lead. I like the rule and it also will help with people running up their scoring record

[Bish]

Mercy rule is rediculous. Teams shouldn't be penalized on the field for scoring a bunch of goals. They hurt their own reputation when they do that, and that's good enough for me.

[Footy365]

a grace rule. What is this 5 year old tee ball. This is a competitive sport. forget the grace rule. The amount of goals is up to the players and the coach.

[spar10]

I've coached for 10yrs. and my limit is 7on a differential, unless I've watch a team run the score up with disrespect. I've also been on the flip side by some older teams and can hoonestly say they evently got thiers before the season was over and was glad that it happened. Honestly , if you can score at will WHY!!! ddoes make better or are yooou trying to give your younger kids some exposure? With a lead like that give them a cchallenge and play short!!!

[lmnop123]

I can see both sides of this rule.

Yes I sort of agree with everyone on the Northshore team not showing class. It's the playoffs why take the chance of injurying a player. 17-0 is crazy. But think about it, next round of the playoff's the team that goes to play Northshore will think, "MAN THEY SCORED 17 GOALS AND ALLOWED 0!" its very intiminating. They are going out there showing people that they want it the most. It's reality. People play to win. But i still wouldn't allow my team to beat a team 17-0. thats ridiculous.

but...

the whole point of the game is to score goals.

[Vista]

17-0 Proves nothing that 8-0 or even 9-0 wouldnt have. However it does do something that 8-0 would not have done. It puts a rather large Target on their back. Which they created themselves and will eventually fall to.

[Bee24Bee]

ok i understand that many teams want to hold a reputation, but this is playoffs. if you can get beat 17-0 then you shouldnt be here. now although i do belive after 5-0 or so you should but the younger guys in and give them some play time. And if they score still reaches 17-0 then so be it. its life. if you are trying to sale a car, you are goin to jack up the price as much as possible, you dont care what anyone else thinks, as long as you sell it. well same applys to soccer.as long as the goals were coming im sure they would take them.

[Bish]

I don't see how your car salesman analogy can be related to this at all, but I agree with you nonetheless.

[hXcsoccer04]

I think it would be a rediculous rule to say you could only score so many goals. I say play to the fullest extent of your game, if you beat a team 13-0 like we did against broodmoor(I think it was Broodmoor) It sets a level of intimidation. But like someone said it also sets a big target on your back, people will be out for blood. We got beat 9-4 by Lee early in the season, we knew we played horrible but we also knew that we wanted revenge so next time we played em we beat them 10-1 Payback is *a word i cant say in here* so i think it would be a bad rule but also to any team running up the scores watch your back...

[user101]

regardless of whether somebody belongs in the playoffs, if they make it then respect should be shown to them for accomplishing that. There's a lot of teams who didn't. They shouldn't get the crap beaten out of them for making it and drawing a talented team in the first round. There's nothing one can do about who makes the playoffs. Its not handpicked. There is a system that is abided by. At the same time, there is nothing one can do about the matchups (as seen in Division III) setup before the season. That doesn't excuse this performance.

[porkypine]

Guys, I'll say it again, you weren't there and you don't know what happened. No cards, no glares, no verbal abuse, no taunting. N'shore and Abramson walked off the field smiling and healthy. N'shore cleared it's bench and everyone played. They didn't try to be "cute" and play keepaway or play down a few men. The score could have easily been 30-0. Hats off to Abramson for playing a clean game and having fun in the process. They knew better than anyone that they were not a good soccer team, but they came, played, and probably couldn't care less about the crap being written about this game.