Is There a Mercy Rule in Soccer?

Is it better to get destroyed or end the game early? This is where the mercy rule comes in.

For professional, college, and most youth soccer games, the mercy rule does not exist.

I recently saw one of our MLS Next teams crush their opponents 15-0. Yes, the game quickly got out of hand but the clock kept ticking.

A mercy rule might exist in certain leagues and tournaments. For example, there’s a mercy rule in some 3v3 tournaments because of all the goals scored. The game can quickly get out of reach.

What is a Mercy Rule?

The mercy rule also known as a ‘goal difference rule’ or ‘goal average rule’, is a regulation that allows a game to end early if one team is significantly ahead of the other.

This rule is intended to prevent the losing team from being further humiliated and ensure the game remains competitive.

Sometimes it’s best to stop the ‘blood bath’ and end the game so families can eat dinner earlier.

Pros and Cons of Mercy Rule

While the mercy rule has its advantages, it also has its drawbacks. Here are some of the pros and cons of mercy rule in soccer:

Pros

1. Safety Measure: The mercy rule is a crucial safety measure for young soccer players during matches, ensuring that they are not at risk due to overly competitive situations when teams are noticeably mismatched in terms of strength or skill levels.
2. Saves Time: The mercy rule can save time by ending a game early when one team has a huge lead. This can be especially helpful when multiple games are to be played in a day or when there is a tight schedule.
3. Reduces Humiliation and Embarrassment: By ending a game early, the mercy rule can help reduce the humiliation that a losing team may feel. It is embarrassing to go down by a large margin but when goals don’t stop it can be demoralizing.

Cons

1. Discourages Effort: The mercy rule can discourage players from putting in their best effort, especially if they know that the game will end early. This can be detrimental to their development as players and can lead to a lack of competitiveness. Sometimes a team can have a late push that carries over to the next practice or game.
2. Reduces Playing Time: The mercy rule can reduce playing time for both teams, which can be frustrating for players who want to play a full game. This can also be a disadvantage for teams who are losing but want to continue playing to improve their skills.

Final Thoughts

I like that we don’t have the mercy rule for normal 11v11 games.

Yes, it stinks to lose by so much but it can also be a good learning moment. Let’s face it, there’s only up from there.

If you are the team beating on your opponents, the coach should encourage you to work on your passing. There’s no need to put more flame on the fire.

If you have to think about a mercy rule, it’s time to evaluate what you are doing wrong or find a new league to play in.

There’s nothing wrong with a crushing loss on the weekend. What matters is how you are able to pick yourself up from it!