Mercy Rule

[PGHhockey]

After 10+ years of officiating inline and dekhockey, this weekend was the first time I've ever heard numerous major complaints about the "mercy rule" during adult league play. Of course, there's always the 1 team or the 1 guy that has a problem with it, but this weekend, the mercy rule was the coming of the Antichrist.

So, I wanted to bounce it off of you guys, since I'm running the Summer Classic Tournament (http://pghhockey.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-summer-classic-inline.html) in Pittsburgh this year, and want to make sure I have a fair mercy rule in place.

I understand in adult league play that the guys pay to play, and should get their full game time in. But, I also understand that a decent percentage of teams will get chippy when down 8-0, and I also understand that some teams that are up 8-0 will continue to cherry-pick, skate hard, and run up the score. Neither situation is fun for anybody.

Sure, you can say that the teams should be placed in their proper divisions, but that's hard to do when you either A) have a ton of new teams coming in or B) you only have 8-10 teams total in the league and don't really know most of their skill levels.

At one rink I ref, the mercy rule is that the game is "over" once an 8-goal difference is achieved, but the players are permitted to use the rink for "pick-up" for the rest of their alloted time.

At another rink, the mercy rule is that the game is "over" once a 7-goal difference is achieved (after the end of the 2nd period). Again, the guys are allowed to play out the rest, but it doesn't count for anything.

So what's the general consensus on IHC?

And what should be the Mercy Rule in the Summer Classic?

[MBurke]

This isn't a recommendation either way, but we go to running time in NCRHA once we hit an 8-goal differential and the clock stays running for the rest of the game, no matter how close the score gets.

[MotherPucker21]

my leagues mercy rules is 8 goals (at the end of the second period)...you can be down 15 goals up until that point, but come thd start of the 3rd period, if the difference becomes 8 goals, the game is over. Yes, you still get your rink time, but the game is over as far as the scorebooks are concerned.

I think its fair. I've been on both ends of the mercy rule and I certainly wouldn't want the score run up anymore than 8 goals. I do some some leagues play 10, but I think 8 is sufficient.

Giving until the end of the 2nd period give any team the chance to stage a comeback. 9 times out of 10, if a team is down 8 goals after 2 periods, game is over anyway. i've seen 4-5 maybe even 6 goal comebacks in 1 period...but never 8 or 9.

[quick_dry]

I'd rather just play the game out, you've paid for the rink time.

It is one thing in league play (though again, you've paid to play, you should get a full game), but in tournament play you could show up and get barely any hockey in. Life lesson - somebody will always lose, sometimes it is you, and sometimes you lose big. If people really can't cope with a score being high, then don't have the scoreboard showing more than an X goal differential. (What does it say about people who can't cope with a high scoreline against them? its no fun to lose, but suck it up)

I remember at NARCh Platinum back in about 96, there were teams who knew they were going all the way and wanted to rest. So they'd mercy out teams in the first half and be back at the hotel pool by the time the final buzzer would've gone. The guys who got mercied out looked pretty dejected - not just because they'd lost, but because they'd come out for 10 minutes of hockey.

Mercy rule was something I'd never encountered until playin in the states, it is unheard of here. If the score goes big, it goes big, you play out the whole game - even if the scoreline is 60 nil.

[MarkLIVE]

Yeah...our Mercy rule was 10 goal differential. No stop time, finish out the game. Thing was, i was pissed when our team was like that. Its not really a good thing to beat a team by that much. A lot of guys can activate "pissed off im taking everyone out" mode since were not winning this..haha, man i was the captain then, but they way my guys were pissed was the funniest thing ever.

No one got hurt, but it was to funny to explain

[PGHhockey]

Good, sound advice, guys...

The only problem is that the leagues I'm referring to (and the Summer Classic Tournament) are all running-time games anyway. That totally changes the outlook. If it were a stop-time league or a stop-time tournament, your suggestions would work well.

But, if the clock's already running, what do you do?

[quick_dry]

But, if the clock's already running, what do you do?
let it keep running and play the rest of the game.

Perhaps make large posters saying you have a "Zero tolerance for Cry babies" policy.

[PGHhockey]

Perhaps make large posters saying you have a "Zero tolerance for Cry babies" policy.


Dude that has potential for Quote of the Year....LOVE IT

[Renegades21]

I Play At Bridgeville in an adult league...and Ive also Played in Running clock Tournaments and I'm sry if people Don't agree I Agree with the Mercy rule...I've seen games abruptly go to mass caos and Boxing Matchs when the goal differential gets up to 8...So I would definitly go with the 8 goal Mercy Rule...

[MotherPucker21]

let it keep running and play the rest of the game.

Perhaps make large posters saying you have a "Zero tolerance for Cry babies" policy.

i agree... i have been on both sides of the mercy rule. I don't gloat when we are the victor, and I don't cry when we are the loser. I play the game to play, and I have a great time regardless of whether I win or lose...though winning does make it that much more enjoyable.

If people are going to cry and complain everytime they lose by a conserable margin, they don't deserve to play competitive sports. At some point, every team will get their asses handed to them.

[DCbullets14]

I think you should use a 1 goal mercy rule to prevent any team from having their feelings hurt. How does everyone else feel about this?


If you are involved in a tournament the mercy rule can make it far less enjoyable however it does serve an important purpose.
Without a mercy rule (i would suggest 8) one team could run up the score to gain an advantage in a tie breaker situation (goals for). Allowing any team to be overwhelmed by a 20-0 game looks bad for the tournament and both teams involved in the game.

Having just looked at the point style set up i would suggest no higher than 8 goals for the mercy. Im sure you would not want a team to recieve 31 points for a 20-0 game whereas a team who decides to simply control the puck and wins 5-0 would only recieve 16 points for an equally dominating perofrmance.

[InlineMBA]

House Leagues - Once you reach a 10 Goal Differental, set the score to 0-0, and continue on with the clock and remaining periods. Heck, the kids paid to play.

Tournaments - If you don't want a mercy rule in tournaments, then Goals For and Goals Differential should not be factors in determining seeds and tie-breakers. Otherwise, high powered teams would be inclined to run up the score on a weeker opponent. I always liked seeds based on 1-Points, 2-Goals Against, 3- Penalty Minutes. However, I realize that keeping a running total on penalty minutes would be a real P.I.A.. If you want a mercy rule in tournaments, then I think 8 is a fair number.

Steve Inge - ROXBURY 8

[quick_dry]

What is the difference between using 'goals for' and using 'goals against'?

If goal differential is an important factor then the best strategy is to run up the score - score as much as we can AND not allow any goals against. It helps our goal differential, and hurts the other teams.

If goals for is a determining factor - my team should still run up the score and prevent as many goals being scored as possible. Every goal for helps us, but every goal against hurts us, since it is a goal FOR another team.

If goals against is a determining factor, then my team should still run up the score and prevent goals against - because every goal I score is a goal AGAINST the other team, so scoring high still knocks your opponents standing lower.

Whenever goals are a determinating factor, the best strategy is to score high and let as little goals in as possible (assuming that you just want to finish as high as possible, and not manipulate final standings to try and get a certain matchup)

The only way that scoring as much as you can is NOT the 'correct' course of action is when goals are removed from the criteria for working out standings - then it only matters that you win the game.

I think just accept that in some games the scores will blow out, and work on getting your pools setup right so that everyone is playing tight competition to reduce the chances of a blow out.