Mercy Rules in Football. What do you think of it?

[Doomsday101]

That's pretty much how my folks were. They were at every single game and practice, and dad would drop everything to play catch with me in the yard, but he never "coached" me. He would give tips and advice, but never in an intrusive way. They had the same rule - you don't have to play sports, but if you start a season, finish it. And never play it again if you don't want to.

One exception was soccer when I was about 7. We had a coach that would scream at us and have us running for entire practices without even kicking a ball. The first few weeks were 'conditioning' to get us into shape. At 6 and 7 years old. He treated it like boot camp and we were in 1st and 2nd grade. There was absolutely no joy in the sport, and it was miserable - as were most of the other kids. I've never played soccer since, and that's exactly the reason parents/coaches can't do that to little kids who are trying to learn a sport. I'm sure soccer is a great sport, but he killed any passion I ever would have had for it.

No doubt there some dad/coaches who have no business coaching little kids. I do think there are many life lessons to be learned in organized sports that can benefit men and women later on in life. Back to the mercy rule I just think it teaches kids that it is alright to quit. When things look bad don't worry just quit. I would much rather lose than be a quitter

 

[Hoov]

Mercy Rules have been around for a while in sports but we never had them when I played. Now we see coaches being fined for the scores being to high. In some cases in California, I think, even suspensions are being enforced on HS Coaches.

What do you guys think?

I Think the eagles will be thankful for them this sunday

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

So? There are athletes in the Olympic who know they don't have a chance to win or even be real contenders but they go out and try to do their personal best. Sometimes it is just about getting the most you can out of yourself not just winning.

a totally different point from the one made by the poster who said that it teachs you about the consequences of not working hard enough.

the implication that losing teaches you about the consequences of not working hard enough is crap

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Success in life is seldom measured in wins. A person can be very successful in life if they just learn to never give up and continue to work at it. Get better every day and companies or Business will reward a person for it. Reminds me of that commercial that used to come on TV. "The NCAA has 400,000 athletes who will be going pro in something other then Sports." That's about as good a way to explain why sports and learning how to win and lose big is important IMO.

what does that have to do with mercy rules not teaching people the consequences of not working hard enough?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

what does that have to do with mercy rules not teaching people the consequences of not working hard enough?

As I said earlier, my post was not just about working hard. That is certainly part of it but that's not nearly all of it. This question has already been answered in this thread. I see no reason to rehash it.

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

His post discussed learning the consequences of not working hard. I was not responding to your post.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

So? There are athletes in the Olympic who know they don't have a chance to win or even be real contenders but they go out and try to do their personal best. Sometimes it is just about getting the most you can out of yourself not just winning.

I think the point is that the stupid phrase "Learn to work harder" is just that....a stupid phrase as it pertains to winning and losing. It doesn't matter sometimes how hard you work (Not to say that you shouldn't, because you should always no matter what) the other guys are simply better.

 

[StarBoyz83]

Cowboys are going to wish they had this rule sunday