My 2 Cents: The 'Mercy Rule' In Sports

I've coached little league sports so this headline caught my attention: "Head of California youth football league defends mercy rule".

Now, if you're unfamiliar with the term, a mercy rule is set-up to keep most any kind of athletic game from turning into a wipeout by one team.

The head of this California little league has been criticized for cracking down on coaches who's football teams win by more than 35 points. He suspends them for a week of practices and a game.

The commish says there's nothing worse than seeing a bunch of kids lined up to shake hands with their opponents after being whipped by 50 points, so he thinks the other team should let up when they get 5 touchdowns ahead.

As a coach, I was never concerned about my teams getting blown out. It happens. It's a great motivator, but I guess I'm a softy because I would try to dial my players back if they were trouncing the other team.

Now these players out in California are ages 6 to 13. The little ones I can maybe, maybe see a mercy rule. But not once a kid gets to be 11 or so it's time to get better or find a rec league.