Running the score

[Locke]

Originally Posted by urban1

This a timely question with so many complaints about the new england patriots running up the score on their opponents - and that professional football where players get millions of dollars to do their job of playing the game.

Are the pros wrong to complain about the opponent running up the score and the people here are right that you should worry that you only score 47 while someone else scores 50?

Absolutely not. There is a big difference between kids and pros. There is no way, that if the Flames were beating a team 10-0 you'd expect Keenan to tell them to take their foot off the gas.

Same in football. If the other team is busy taking a steaming dump on the field then you punish them. They're getting paid to play and fans pay to see them so its a hazard of the job. Realistically, it should never happen in any professional sport.

For kids though there is a lot less on the line and more damage can be done to player development. The average kid isn't mature enough to handle that bad of a thrashing, and its not necessary.

Can you sit one kid because hes too good? I dont think so, its not fair to him either, hes there to play and have fun too, you cant sit him for 55 minutes because the score is 5-0 already.

Contentious issue.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Sample00

this tournament was a playdown for the Alberta Winter Games, so any team can enter in that particular division

Whoops. Nice job coach.

They should just stop counting after they are up by 10. Little kids shouldn't have to put up with a beating like that. "Humiliation" isn't a lesson anyone has to learn. Sportsmanship is though. Even if it looks like you are "playing down" or "not really trying", that's better than just working your opponent over to get the score up as high as you can.

[Thunderball]

Three options when a blowout is occuring (these are applicable in Soccer or Hockey)

1. Juggle positions (goalie plays forward, a forward plays goal defenders play midfield, defenders play forward, backup goalie goes in, etc.)

2. Let the weaker players have the majority of playing time. (Usually the opposite occurs when the team is losing, so why not)

3. Make rules for goals... must have x passes, attempt long shots only, one-timers only, etc.


Pulling the goalie and leaving the net empty is probably the most insulting thing a coach can order. I've never seen it personally. The second worst thing is to line everyone along the middle and hem the other team in. Thats not really a game anymore either.

For Soccer, I think the mercy rule is that a blowout is recorded 5-0. If a team wins 12-1, the recorded score is often either 5-0 or 5-1. I've never seen a game called off cause the other team was up by 5-7. Sometimes the other team forfeits, but that's rare.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

They should just stop counting after they are up by 10.

Just playing devil's advocate here... but if it's "10" - 1 after 2, and we've not been keeping score. The "weaker" team hits a stride, and fires off 10 in a row. Offence and Defence are clicking finally... do you keep track of those? technically the score is now "10" - 11. If the other 30 goals aren't recorded, do they still count?

I think that's why there's no mercy rule in many sports. You never know what can happen any given game.

I'm not saying I don't agree with you, but I could see this situation coming up.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Prottotype

Just playing devil's advocate here... but if it's "10" - 1 after 2, and we've not been keeping score. The "weaker" team hits a stride, and fires off 10 in a row. Offence and Defence are clicking finally... do you keep track of those? technically the score is now "10" - 11. If the other 30 goals aren't recorded, do they still count?

I think that's why there's no mercy rule in many sports. You never know what can happen any given game.

I'm not saying I don't agree with you, but I could see this situation coming up.

the goals are still recorded on the goal sheet, but not on the score clock.
it happens here in minor hockey and personally I think its a good thing.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by Sample00

the goals are still recorded on the goal sheet, but not on the score clock.
it happens here in minor hockey and personally I think its a good thing.

Fair enough. Never seen this kind of situation personally. Thanks for the clearification.

I think the bottom line is no matter how morally correct/incorrect it is... it's going to happen. I've been on both sides of this situation, maybe not a 40+ difference, but it will continue to happen.

I think the main factor that makes it 'right' for me was it was a sanctioned event. (By sanctioned, I mean a major event in youth sports). I would hate to see this in house league hockey. It all depends on what the situation calls for.

The bottom line is that the kids involved need to know it's just a game. The losing team coach needs to find a way to turn it into a positive and making it fun. If they can turn the situation around either right away, or during the next game/practice. A season isn't built during one game.

I was an assistant coach for a team almost 7-8 years ago. I don't think we won a single regular season game. Probably got lit up every game. I don't remember, cause as a team... we had fun. I think it was Atom level so the kids were still developing, but the main thing we wanted to do was make the kids enjoy the game, no matter the score.

If that can't be achieved in this situation, then it's a complete loss IMO.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Prottotype

Fair enough. Never seen this kind of situation personally. Thanks for the clearification.

I think the bottom line is no matter how morally correct/incorrect it is... it's going to happen. I've been on both sides of this situation, maybe not a 40+ difference, but it will continue to happen.

I think the main factor that makes it 'right' for me was it was a sanctioned event. (By sanctioned, I mean a major event in youth sports). I would hate to see this in house league hockey. It all depends on what the situation calls for.

The bottom line is that the kids involved need to know it's just a game. The losing team coach needs to find a way to turn it into a positive and making it fun. If they can turn the situation around either right away, or during the next game/practice. A season isn't built during one game.

I was an assistant coach for a team almost 7-8 years ago. I don't think we won a single regular season game. Probably got lit up every game. I don't remember, cause as a team... we had fun. I think it was Atom level so the kids were still developing, but the main thing we wanted to do was make the kids enjoy the game, no matter the score.

If that can't be achieved in this situation, then it's a complete loss IMO.

Good post and well stated!

[Ice]

My son's coach has them play "posts" if they're up by 10 or more at the start of the third. This keeps our kids intensity up so the other team is still playing against a team competing, but since the kids are aiming for the posts, they aren't running up the score. Sure, there are ocassional misses that may result in a goal, but mostly it keeps our kids focused on hockey without humiliating the other team. The coach keeps track of the leading post scorers and they are awarded a similar prize as the game MVP, best physical player and spam after the game.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Ice

My son's coach has them play "posts" if they're up by 10 or more at the start of the third. This keeps our kids intensity up so the other team is still playing against a team competing, but since the kids are aiming for the posts, they aren't running up the score. Sure, there are ocassional misses that may result in a goal, but mostly it keeps our kids focused on hockey without humiliating the other team. The coach keeps track of the leading post scorers and they are awarded a similar prize as the game MVP, best physical player and spam after the game.

now thats a helluva idea.
gonna have to put that one in the memory bank
thanks

[Ice]

Oh, the funniest part about it, is when our kids hit the post, they raise their arms in the air and you will hear the other teams parents scream "NO GOAL NO GOAL!"

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Ice

Oh, the funniest part about it, is when our kids hit the post, they raise their arms in the air and you will hear the other teams parents scream "NO GOAL NO GOAL!"

Really? Thats the funniest part? How about the parents of the winning team scream "NOT MORE SPAM!!!"

Its all fun and games until the prize is SMEAT!!

[FireFly]

When the one team scores 47 goals, the question I have is, how does the other team score even one?!

Seriously though, I like the idea of a certain number of passes first as well as the posts idea. You could definitely use the game as another practise and draw up some new plays and whatnot to try throughout. Is the other team playing piggy in the middle then? Perhaps, but maybe that's what they need to try and do to get better as a team. Blocking passes and whatnot.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by FireFly

When the one team scores 47 goals, the question I have is, how does the other team score even one?!

Seriously though, I like the idea of a certain number of passes first as well as the posts idea. You could definitely use the game as another practise and draw up some new plays and whatnot to try throughout. Is the other team playing piggy in the middle then? Perhaps, but maybe that's what they need to try and do to get better as a team. Blocking passes and whatnot.

you know, FF, I actually asked that same question, nobody could give me a straight answer, I'm thinking somebody messed up big time and nobody wants to divulge why.

[mykalberta]

Pro sports - anything goes.
Amateur sports - there has to be a mercy effect.

The only problem I see with that is if the Round Robin is only for an against, then one team might run it up after another team doesnt.

There should be a mercy rule to prevent that - 47-1 for kids is disgusting.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Pro sports - anything goes.
Amateur sports - there has to be a mercy effect.

The only problem I see with that is if the Round Robin is only for an against, then one team might run it up after another team doesnt.

There should be a mercy rule to prevent that - 47-1 for kids is disgusting.

Or atleast a max for/against of 10, no matter what the final score is.

I thought of another great example of how to handle this. Watch any NBA game where the score is 110-60 in the 4th quarter. Try and recognize anyone on the court. You have to be a die hard fan to know the bench guys who are getting court time.