Question Number: 30574

League Specific 7/5/2016

anon of altadena, us asks...

This question is a follow up to question 30568

The AYSO rule that Phil mentioned is not an AYSO rule. It may be a local expectation in Phil's Region/Area. AYSO's philosophies include good sportsmanship, positive coaching, and player development. Those philosphies should dictate coaching behavior that does not include running up the score at any age and should include taking advantage of a lopsided win to have players play different positions and focus on different skills. But AYSO does *not* have an improper modification of the LOTG that prohibits goal spreads. (These local expecations are sometimes an issue in tournaments when teams meet from Regions/Areas with different local expectations on what good sportsmanship means in one-sided games.)

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
As we mentioned in our answers it is not a rule that is possible under a permitted modification of the Laws of the Game. However expectation and practise can result in these type of *rules* becoming part of the game in a local area. As you say they can and do cause problems in travel games.
I would say though that my experience of encouraging the philosophies you mention many times the only viable *encouragement* can be by way of rule. Some in the game no matter what just do not pay heed to good sportsmanship and fair play. In Ireland we now have an *all must play* rule at underage and in some games I have had to request of some coaches that it is adhered to. I can because it is a principle set out in a player development plan not a rule.