NCHSAA board voted to reduce the mercy rule threshold to 35 points after halftime for football and basketball.
Mercy Rule reduced to 35 points
- Thread starter HowerinJr
- Start date
Makes me all the more glad to be out of the conference we were in.
Not sure what to think about this. I seen teams be down 5 TDs and then the other team would make a comeback. Maybe not win the game but ended up being close. Also robs reserves getting in more playing time. But then also I see where this keeps scores from really getting out of hand.
Agree completely on the last line. It robs reserves of more playing time.
I don’t like the reserves not getting as much playing time. They work hard too and deserve to see some action. If I were a coach and wanted my subs to play I might “bad snap” my extra points after a couple TD’s to keep it under 35. Again this is against inferior teams only just to let my guys play some.
Exactly! Me and my dad talk about that some, missing a PAT to give guys more time to play. As you said, they’ve worked hard in practice as well
I know I wrote seeing teams being down 5 TDs and seeing teams coming back on them. I should stated I’ve seen that happen few times. Of course I’ve seen HS football for many years now. But yes I think this will hurt players of getting playing time in. I agree above. They work hard in practice and deserve more playing time. I just feel like changing to 35 is not good. I was getting use to 42. But now down to 35. I think that will only hurt more than help.
How does this hurt reserves. When you get to 35 they go in and play. this goes into character of coach. I wish the Running clock would start immediately. Why wait til 2nd half. Some players are practice players and some are Friday night Players. Not saying they don't deserve to play but if they don't play until the running clock how really valuable are they?
I am sure most THS fans feel the same way. It is nice to win and be a dominant team. But most all the regular season and even early round playoff games sure must have been very boring for Viking fans and likely cut down on attendance. I doubt even many die hard fans want to suffer through a 60-70 to nothing murder of Gates Co. The new conference should offer more exciting and competitive games.
You can scroll to the bottom of the NCHSAA website and watch the 2025 spring meeting in three different segments, which is about seven plus hours total. I did not watch it all.
You’re correct! I think the new conference will generate excitement again. We are looking forward to it
Just wondering, is there a difference if a team got a 42-point lead, the clock kept running ?
I am not sure I know what the Mercy Rule means or I forgot if I ever knew. If it has ever happened in a game, I must have missed it. I can remember it had to be maybe in the 1980s, Mount Airy JVs was up on Surry Central like 70 plus to zero at the half, and the game was not continued for the 2nd half. Now that is what I call a Mercy call. So, what is the Mercy Rule about ?
I am not sure I know what the Mercy Rule means or I forgot if I ever knew. If it has ever happened in a game, I must have missed it. I can remember it had to be maybe in the 1980s, Mount Airy JVs was up on Surry Central like 70 plus to zero at the half, and the game was not continued for the 2nd half. Now that is what I call a Mercy call. So, what is the Mercy Rule about ?
So in most recent years, the clock would run continuously unless stopped for an injury or timeout if margin reached 42 points. It would only be in effect for 2nd half so you could be up 75-0 at half and clock would run normally till start of second half. Also, if you got up by 42 but other team cut it inside of that number prior to half, you had to hit 42 in 2nd half for it to be in effect.
Example: Clinton was playing a team and hit 42-0 with 30 seconds left in half. Ensuing Kickoff, opposing team returns it for a TD making it 42-7, end of half. Team didn’t get up by 42 till midway thru 4Q so clock never ran continuously until that time.
Ok, thank you but what threw me off was I thought I read in a post that the mercy rule was cut from 40 to 35 points but I was only remembering the basketball part, and I knew about the football 42 point lead, Sorry, my bad ! I remembered where I read it after your post. I have missed a lot of post the last few months and that was a post of mine I had read . lol
Review and Officiating
- Approved changing the mercy rule in basketball from 40 to 35 points
- Approved changing the mercy rule in football from 42 to 35 points
Imagine being up 75-0 at halftime but still having to fight for that 42-point margin to control the clock in the second half.
Here are my thoughts that probably should had been done. Instead of going from 42 to 35 it should have went from 42 to 49. I believe going to 35 is little extreme. Shortens the game up too much. Give the players regardless whether they are backups or starters some more playing time. I get it no reason for these big blowouts like 50+ points with regular standard time in a game. I personally think 49 would be good. I was ok at 42.
You obviously not been on the field for that 42 run deficit. Most coaches at that point just wants it over with, be it the winning team and especially the losing team. Have been asked numerous times to run clock in first half. If it’s 42-0 at half, the losing team will rarely play their subs and the winning team has ample time to play theirs. Just my opinion.
Never seen anyone come back from that deficit, don’t even recall anyone coming close, but I’m sure someone will tell me about it happening.
asked to run the clock? are u an official? or do you just run the clock in the booth?
I'm always one for more football, but if a team is up that much a lot of players lose interest and that's when injuries happen. Also if a team was that much better than the other then you have even more risk of injuries there too.
Have you ever witnessed a comeback from a huge deficit, or do most teams just throw in the towel when down big?
He's an official. I am too. I actually had a game 3-4 years ago in which one team was up 42 midway in the 2nd quarter. Losing coach asked me to check with the winning coach and see if he was willing to go to a running clock right then. Winning coach agreed. Finished game before 9 pm!!!