Ridiculous Rule

[doug1500]

In my state they've implemented the co-state champions idea for varsity soccer. Unbelievable. They won't even send a match to PKs for fear of putting too much pressure on the players. Thoughts? Am I alone here? How is it in your state?

[aqelroa]

For Michigan high schools it's the same rule. The rule was established after a girl (GK) committed suicide after losing in PKs. I can understand why the rule was created.

[doug1500]

For Michigan high schools it's the same rule. The rule was established after a girl (GK) committed suicide after losing in PKs. I can understand why the rule was created.

Yeah my boys Varsity got knocked out in the first state round, but the girls went to the final and tied 2-2. No PK's, just co-champs.

Unbelievable IMO.

[cjump]

For Michigan high schools it's the same rule. The rule was established after a girl (GK) committed suicide after losing in PKs. I can understand why the rule was created.

that is what is wrong with the US right now. nobody as a kid is a loser. we only have winners so when the real world smacks a kid that has never had to experience a loss then something bad happens. there are winner and losers. i think that this is the most retarded thing i have ever heard in my life. if my team was tied i would kick it in my own goal so we can come in second.

[rca2]

Shootouts are not for the players. Traditionally there were no such thing as tiebreakers. While I have heard players at the end of a tie match demand an overtime period or a rematch, I have not heard players ask for a penalty shootout to decide which is the better team. In my view, penalty kick shootouts are as silly a way of determining a winner as tossing a coin.

[Mud Dog]

that is what is wrong with the US right now. nobody as a kid is a loser. we only have winners so when the real world smacks a kid that has never had to experience a loss then something bad happens. there are winner and losers.

I have to agree with this. If we don't allow kids to lose and figure out that it's not the end of the world then we end up with more and more psychopaths who hurt people when life doesn't go their way. It is more important to learn to lose with dignity and poise than to be that way and win. And good god, who learns anything from breaking even?!?! Losing a game gives you the motivation to go out and play harder the next time to win. My state is looking at expanding the "mercy rule" to more sports, which i don't think is the answer. if one team is overly dominant then that's the way it is. if the league thinks that team is intentionally running up a score then reprimand them for unsportsmanlike behavior. But cutting a game off because it's lopsided and might hurt someone's feelings is wrong. Hell, my team took a 7-0 beating in an indoor game last night. And you know what? I have no desire to eat my sidearm because i learned as a kid that losing isn't the end of anything other than the game.

[NHRef]

simple solution: if it ends in a tie, no winner, you both tie for second place and there's no champion.

[Joga3]

PENALTYS DO NOT DETERMINE THE BETTER TEAM IT IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DETERMINE WHO IS THE CHAMPION FOR EXAMPLE FRANCE VS ITALY IN WC ITALY WON HOWEVER IN THE NEXT FRIENDLY FRANCE WON IT IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DECIDE A GAME AND THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER WAY:mad:

IF YOU CAN'T LOSE HOWEVER DONT PLAY!

[Devil500]

Co-Champions not my thing you win or lose it does feel bad if your team loses on pk's but heck its the game we love.

[Skizz]

PENALTYS DO NOT DETERMINE THE BETTER TEAM IT IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DETERMINE WHO IS THE CHAMPION FOR EXAMPLE FRANCE VS ITALY IN WC ITALY WON HOWEVER IN THE NEXT FRIENDLY FRANCE WON IT IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DECIDE A GAME AND THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER WAY:mad:

IF YOU CAN'T LOSE HOWEVER DONT PLAY!
Ok, so name one other way that could work. Playing extra time until someone scores wouldn't work. Replays don't work. Any other ideas?

And I think you'll find it was a Euro 2008 qualifier France beat Italy in.

[scaryice]

Wow, pathetic. Every sport in every state should have only one class and one champion.

[Skizz]

Exactly. The last competition that was shared in the UK was the Charity Shield. Even Under 6's do penalty shootouts here...it toughens them up for the real heartaches at the top of the game.

[Tony Dellbird]

Co Champions is the stupidest thing i've ever heard of! Some players might even play for the draw, it's pathetic.

[Lurko]

Unreal. What are we coming to in this country? This ranks right up there with tee-ball, one of my biggest pet peeves. When I was a kid, your dad took you out in the back yard and tossed a ball your way until you learned how to keep your eyes open and connect with a moving object. If you couldn't do it, you'd need to keep practicing until you could.

Now EVERYBODY gets a chance to run the bases. What does that teach kids about life?

Tee-ball and this co-champion crap are a symptom of why we are falling more and more behind in every stat you can think of. Fair competition breeds excellence.

[doug1500]

Unreal. What are we coming to in this country? This ranks right up there with tee-ball, one of my biggest pet peeves. When I was a kid, your dad took you out in the back yard and tossed a ball your way until you learned how to keep your eyes open and connect with a moving object. If you couldn't do it, you'd need to keep practicing until you could.

Now EVERYBODY gets a chance to run the bases. What does that teach kids about life?

Tee-ball and this co-champion crap are a symptom of why we are falling more and more behind in every stat you can think of. Fair competition breeds excellence.

My thoughts exactly. PKs do not decide who the better team is, they decide the WINNER. Come on folks. The best team does not always win. Like you said, its ridiculous that kids cant understand that. And I like the baseball reference.

[ctsoccer13]

I think that we are forgetting about what "High School" soccer is based on in many areas. Where I'm from, "yes" it's competitive but it's also viewed as an extension of the classroom and the school. The purpose is to learn, participate and yes, excel if possible. While I wouldn't put this rule in for any other non-school league, if you follow the above mentioned philosophy, it's a good rule.

[doug1500]

I think that we are forgetting about what "High School" soccer is based on in many areas. Where I'm from, "yes" it's competitive but it's also viewed as an extension of the classroom and the school. The purpose is to learn, participate and yes, excel if possible. While I wouldn't put this rule in for any other non-school league, if you follow the above mentioned philosophy, it's a good rule.

In theory, yes. But these days HS sport is becoming more than just an extension of the classroom (which I believe it needs to be). Players move in to certain districts to play. I dont play soccer in HS but I see it in baseball. I played through the local parks and such and came up, but now on our hs team, only about 1/3 of the team played in the area during middle school. HS sports are getting so competitive to the point where a rule like this isn't plausible anymore, especially when it determines a state champ.

[cardinal]

Ok, so name one other way that could work. Playing extra time until someone scores wouldn't work. Replays don't work. Any other ideas?

1. When you go to overtime pull the goalies. 10 vs 10 and no one can touch the ball with their hands.

or

2. When you go to overtime, dump the offsides rule. Or amend it so that you only need to have one defender between a pass recipient and the goal (instead of two defenders as is the rule now).

[ctsoccer13]

In theory, yes. But these days HS sport is becoming more than just an extension of the classroom (which I believe it needs to be). Players move in to certain districts to play. I dont play soccer in HS but I see it in baseball. I played through the local parks and such and came up, but now on our hs team, only about 1/3 of the team played in the area during middle school. HS sports are getting so competitive to the point where a rule like this isn't plausible anymore, especially when it determines a state champ.Undoubtedly there are definitely schools out there that are becoming "factories" and pulling in kids for specific sports. I coach at the HS level and our Athletic Director is constantly pushing the "extension of the classroom" philosophy. I happen to agree with it. I also coach at club level and that is a totally different story.

[refontherun]

Ok, so name one other way that could work. Playing extra time until someone scores wouldn't work. Replays don't work. Any other ideas?

Have a series of short overtime periods, perhaps three minutes each. If noone scores in a period, equally reduce the number of players on each team for the next overtime period, let's say by two. No "reduce to equate". Eventually, someone is going to score and there is no individual at fault.