A “mercy rule” for colts matches is being considered by the North Eastern Football League to give all players a fair go when a match becomes one-sided.
The league has asked its delegates to take the idea back to each club for discussion before they vote on it.
The problem was highlighted during the June 20 “local derby” round when all Under-14 matches were one-sided, with margins ranging from 10 to 32 goals.
The Under-17 matches were more even although one match had a 29-goal margin.
“It’s unfortunate that this year we’ve probably got an imbalance of outstanding footballers in a couple of teams, and a lack of numbers in a couple of others, but it’s not a new situation,” NEFL president Graeme Wandel said.
“I can remember being beaten by 36 goals to one against South Clare when I was playing for the Blyth colts and I didn’t like that much.
“The concept of the mercy rule is being looked at by the league but it must be remembered that the league executive is made up of the delegates from each club and it is difficult to introduce new concepts mid-season.”
A mercy rule is in operation for colts matches in the neighbouring Yorke Peninsula Football League where president Bradley Haylock said he believed it was helping to give all players a fair game.
“I think it’s working well but some people don’t agree with my sentiments,” he said.
The YPFL changed its mercy rule this season to make it compulsory in Under-14 matches where the margin is more than 10 goals at halftime.
Previously the mercy rule could only be used in Under-14 matches if both coaches agreed.
“But we could never get two coaches to agree,” Mr Haylock said.
Under the YPFL mercy rule, scoring stops at halftime, umpires complete their medal votes, and the coaches are required to agree on player swaps. The second half of the game essentially becomes a practice match where no scores are recorded.
In the YPFL Under-17 competition, the mercy rule may only be used if both coaches agree.
Mr Wandel said he had heard both positive and negative comments about the success of the mercy rule in the YPFL.
“To have a mercy rule, whereby the game is virtually finished at halftime and another game starts, certainly would need cooperation from coaches and administrators, but also from the players themselves,” Mr Wandel said.
“The delegates have really got to think about it and work it through.”
NEFL colts chairman Stephen Kitschke said one club had proposed a mercy rule at the last colts meeting.
“It was sent back to the clubs to discuss, to do a lot of research, to do a lot of work to get it right, and to see if it will help the situation,” Mr Kitschke said.
“Maybe the mercy rule could be used on a trial basis for a couple of rounds later this season.
“A lot of time and thought needs to be put into it to get it right.
“One-sided matches were happening when I was playing colts football too. It’s just as bad for the side winning by heaps as it is for the side losing by heaps.”
YP Football League Mercy Rule:
Under-14: Use of the Mercy Rule is compulsory if the margin is more than 10 goals at half time. Scoring stops and umpires submit their medal votes. Coaches required to meet and swap players and match continues as a “practice match”.
Under-17: If the margin is more than 10 goals at halftime, the Mercy Rule may be used if both coaches are in agreement.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter