Basketball gains mercy rule

The Georgia High School Association State Executive Committee didn't waste any time when it convened March 14.

The committee approved a number of changes that will alter the landscape of high school sports as early as next season.

The most noteworthy change was the creation of a "mercy rule" in high school basketball.

Kendrick High, of Columbus, Ga., received a great deal of attention when its girls team won games this season by gigantic margins, including 136-25, 111-14, 86-2, 122-10, 102-24, and 131-5.

The new rule would change quarters from eight minutes to six if the score differential at halftime is 40 or more points and the trailing team's coach wishes to have the rule enacted. If the point spread is 30 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, then the rule is enacted regardless.

"I really don't see how the rule will affect us," said Greenbrier coach Casey Dees. "I don't think we'll ever be in the situation. Forty points by halftime is a huge margin. But I think it would help some schools that don't have the talent level and are overmatched."

The soccer committee re-installed the overtime rule that was removed after the 2002 season.

The new rule mandates that all same-classification games must have two five-minute overtime periods after regulation of a tied game. New, however, will be a penalty kick period if the game is still tied.

"I like the overtime rule," said Lakeside boys coach Dave Morgan. "I'm not a big fan of penalty kicks at any level. But we have them in the playoffs and that could be good practice for us."

Another key change will be the move of competition cheerleading from a winter sport to a fall sport.

"It remains to be seen (whether the change is good)," said Lakeside cheerleading coach Christa Burch. "It's during football season and most of our girls do both (support squad and competition squad). It's going to be tough to stay out at a football game and then have to get up for a competition."

Golf is also in the survey mode and could be switched to a fall sport if enough coaches support the move.

Other changes included the elimination of sectional tournaments in cross country and the formation of a committee to explore moving the state championship games for football to the Georgia Dome. Currently, only the semifinals games take place in Atlanta.