Your 2 Cents: The Mercy Rule

A California little league is punishing football coaches for running up the score on opponents and going over the 35 point "mercy rule".

I don't like mercy rules.. here's what you had to say.

Casey first: "kids should learn losing can still make winners. If you don't learn to lose, you'll never become winners."

But Larry disagrees: "When the child gets up in higher grades then stress winning.

The mercy rule should be installed in jr high."

Kerry writes: "Let little Johnny's feelings get hurt. It's better to get that lesson at 8-10 years old than be 25 and not have a clue how the real world works..."

And Mary adds: "Mercy rules and participation medals are another contributing factor to the decline in the younger generation."

I mentioned my little league coaching experience and David wrote: "..like you as a coach I always found a way to dial back players when the opponent was outmatched."

Ann from Del City: "It's so important to learn how to be humble winners and gracious losers.

Not sure this generation is being taught that."

Vincent asks: "How can you better yourself with no reason to get better!"

Finally, Jim writes: "Punishing coaches and players for.. trying to be the best they can be, now that's a message that should not be sent and I would not want my children to get."