New rules may be on their way

PREPS

You knew this would happen.

Following Woodinville’s 64-0 rout of Franklin last week, Seattle’s Metro league is contemplating adding another level of scoring to its “mercy rule.” The league already has the 10-run after five innings rule in effect, but now is talking about a 15-run after three innings rule.

The Woodinville coach is falling on his sword in this Times’ story, saying he’s been thinking about what he could have done different for the past few days.

There are a couple of paragraphs in this story I really agree with, and they come from the Franklin principal:

“Franklin principal Jennifer Wiley said her school’s softball team will have to learn how to define success for itself, apart from the scoreboard.

” ‘Our program is about taking kids where they are and growing them from game to game,’ Wiley said. ‘We’re not measuring success by wins and losses. … Sometimes that puts us at the top of the heap, and sometimes it does not. There’s so much more to athletics than winning, and we need to make sure we’re cultivating all those things.’ ”

Wiley goes on to point out it would be hypocritical of Franklin to ask for special favors, as their boys’ basketball team routed quite a few schools this season.

At least no one is currently contemplating a rule like in Connecticut football, where a coach can be suspended for a lopsided score, but my guess is that’s the next step.

If you want to comment on how to control such situations, click this link and join the conversation.

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There was little on-the-field action in our area Tuesday, thanks to the weather. But what there was is covered here.