Rationale:
The Committee has observed that the current Mercy Rule does not effectively serve its intended purpose of minimising blowout score lines. Furthermore, the rule often prevents teams and coaches from practising defensive techniques which are key to player development.
The current rule is perceived as both an ineffective tool for reducing large score margins, and a harmful blocker to development of defensive skills. The current rule prevents players from using their natural instinct to rebound or recover the ball after a live play turnover. We have also observed that the response of many coaches under the current rule is to simply retreat and then play a zone defense.
The defensive principals of rotation, “help and recover” containment, vision of the entire court and positioning relative to both your player and the ball are important fundamentals that underpin most, if not all defensive philosophies, and the mercy rule discourages those principles in its current form.
The Current Rule:
Currently in Under 8s for the whole game, or when a team is winning by 10 points (U10s) or 20 points (U12s and up), that team must retreat and play defense within the three‐point line. The penalty for breach of this rule on the first occurrence is a warning. Subsequent breaches are penalised with a bench technical foul, which does not count towards the disqualification of the coach.
The ‘Modified’ Rule Trial:
For the first 5 rounds of the 2022 Winter Season, Basketball Moe will be trialling a Modified Mercy Rule in our Under 12s Comeptitions. Coaches will be given the opportunity to give feedback on the rule and its implementation during the five week period.
The Modified Rule:
- The 20 point Mercy Rule will still exist.
- The team that is 20 points up or more will be required to retreat inside the three point line to play defense, only after the ball becomes dead when:
– It scores a basket
– A violation or foul is called against them - It will no longer be a breach of the rule for the defensive team to play defense outside of the three point line when there is a turnover in live play.
- The penalty for a breach shall be:
a. On the first occurrence, a warning.b. On all subsequent occurrences, a technical foul charged against the Team Bench (B2) with two shots for any player from the opposition team, followed by possession of the ball at the designated throw‐in line in the front court.
i) The technical foul shall not count towards the coach for game disqualification purposes.
c. Where the referee believes the rule is being blatantly disregarded by a Player or Coach outside the spirit and intent of the rule, a Behavioural Technical foul may be charged, either as a Coach (C2) or player (T2), followed by two shots for any player from the opposition team and possession of the ball at the designated throw‐in line in the front court.
d. Following any penalty for a breach of this rule, the team leading by 20 points or more must retreat inside the three point line to play defense for the next throw‐in.
Examples:
2: The Blue Team is leading by 20 points. Player Blue #5 passes the ball and it is deflected by Red #5. Red #6 takes possession of the ball and commences to dribble up the court. Blue #6 closely guards Red #6 up the court.
This is legal play.
4: The Blue Team is leading by 20 points. Player Blue #6 shoots the ball and it goes in.
5: The Blue Team is leading by 20 points. Player Blue #5 drives the basket, and player Red #5 steals the ball. Player Blue #5 immediately defends the ball, but causes illegal contact by blocking Red #5 with their leg.
A foul shall be called on Player Blue #5 which creates a ‘dead ball’. The Blue Team must now retreat to inside the three point line to play defense.
