Question Number: 12325

Law 18 - Common Sense 3/8/2006

RE: COmpetive Under 16

Nicky Sams of New York City, New York USA asks...

when should a mercy rule be applied?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Mercy, in Football -- no such thing. But if you feel it necessary to back off a bit I'm sure your opponents wouldn't mind. The old no goals unless a header is always a way to hold down a score. One touch only is another.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

IN the real world a good thrashing is not always the worse thing to build character but often the frustration factor is detremental when one team begins to push those rag on the whipping boy buttons. Often tournaments place a geat deal of value on goal differentials and for and against. A league or tournament could set up limits where nothing counts beyond a set amount but life lessons are learned in many ways. Protection of fairplay and sportsmanship are not always served by keep away or restrictions.
Some teams take offence at being lightly thought off and WANT to PLAY together. Others might think it great to divide the two teams after a certain time and play a mixed team. Rather than mercy I suggest compassion but not pity. I recall playing a dominant team where we scored 1 goal and it was hard fought. We lost 12 to 1 but that 1 goal was a source of pride as this team had blanked 2 others in the same tournament. U 12 level this first year put together team of kids 9 to 11 respected their opponents (they were an elite group who had played together since they were 6 years old ) and EVENTUALLY our team achieved similar substance at the u16 level several years later. Cheers