New Jersey High School Coaches Push Back on Mercy Rules

Cresskill’s rout of Pompton Lakes in girls soccer reignites controversy across the state as coaches, parents and officials clash over sportsmanship, competition, and the future of high school athletics

Nate Latsch

A late-September girls soccer match ended in a stunning 12-0 victory for Cresskill High School over Pompton Lakes, leaving many New Jersey sports fans stunned by the lopsided final score – one of the most extreme blowouts in recent high school soccer history. In response, Cresskill head coach Adam Khriss received a one-game suspension, while league officials circulated a memo reminding coaches to prioritize sportsmanship and model integrity for their players.

Renewed Push for Mercy Rules in New Jersey Sports

The embarrassing result has reignited heated discussions about New Jersey’s growing adoption of mercy rules designed to prevent runaway scorelines. In the past two years, the state has introduced such measures in field hockey, soccer, and basketball, with additional sports potentially next in line.

Advocates among coaches and administrators view the rules as essential protections. Opponents contend they weaken true competition, punish successful teams, and shield young athletes from the realities of a competitive world. Some critics suggest the policies reflect an overprotective parenting culture obsessed with participation trophies.

Legendary Pascack Valley girls basketball coach Jeff Jasper summed it up for NJ Advance Media.

“It’s not the mercy rule that bothers me. It’s the fact that there has to be one. It just gives a poor indication of coaches and our own sense of sportsmanship. There’s got to be more than just winning and losing in this thing.”

A History of Blowout Controversies

Controversial blowouts and the resulting mercy-rule debates are nothing new in the region.

• In 2022, Montclair Immaculate girls basketball coach Jimmy Kreie (now at Franklin High) served a four-game suspension after his team defeated Caldwell 104-30.
• That same year, a Connecticut girls basketball coach faced similar punishment following a 92-4 win.

Going further back to 2001, Camden’s boys basketball program came under fire when future NBA star Dajuan Wagner scored 100 points in a lopsided contest against Gloucester Tech.

Coaches consistently frame high school athletics as preparation for life, teaching hard work, preparation, and resilience. Many worry that heavy-handed regulations distort those lessons while trying to eliminate extreme scores.

Stan Fryczynski, executive director of the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (NJIC), pointed out the practical challenges, noting that a team already trailing by a massive margin is painfully aware of its deficit. For the leading team, he added, deliberately slowing down requires players to restrain their natural skills in ways they have never been taught.

New Mercy Rules Take Effect Across Sports

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has prioritized curbing blowouts this year by implementing statewide mercy rules in basketball and soccer.

• In soccer, the game ends automatically if one team leads by six or more goals after the 60-minute mark of the second half.
• In basketball, a running clock begins once a team builds a 35-point advantage in the second half.
• In September, South Jersey’s Colonial Conference rolled out a field hockey mercy rule that terminates games when a six-goal gap exists by the end of the third quarter – a move that angered many coaches who felt left out of the decision-making process.

Officials also cite rising youth-sports violence, including on-field brawls and spectator interference, as a key reason for the changes. NJSIAA assistant director Al Stumpf explained that the rules aim to head off frustration that can escalate into flagrant fouls, fights, or fans storming from the stands.

The Impacts of the COVID Era Still Playing a Role

Post-COVID participation drops have widened talent gaps, with many programs fielding far fewer experienced players. Fryczynski noted that not every school can sustain a strong roster year after year, making competitive imbalances almost inevitable. In response, the NJIC has launched a promotion-and-relegation system in its Colonial Division to create fairer matchups and give struggling programs rebuilding breathing room.

Impact on Rosters and Bench Players

Critics frequently argue that shortened games rob reserve players of valuable minutes.

Don Bosco Prep boys basketball coach Kevin Diverio said the athletes most affected are those who already see the least court time, asking whether coaches should now cut rosters from 15 to 12 players since the end-of-bench kids may never enter a lopsided contest. Hackensack boys basketball coach Aaron Taylor echoed the sentiment, insisting most coaches already handle blowouts respectfully and that formal mercy rules unnecessarily police behavior while denying developmental opportunities.

The Case for Mercy: No One Benefits from 12-0

On the other side, West Orange boys soccer coach Doug Nevins strongly backs the measures. He explained that once a soccer team holds a big lead, the losing side often finds it even more humiliating when the winners simply keep possession instead of attacking. Nevins stressed that a 12-0 final helps no one – likening it to an 84-0 football score – and repeatedly reminded critics that the athletes involved are still just children who deserve adult guidance.

Direct Penalties on Coaches and Calls for Better Solutions

Recent policies now punish coaches personally for extreme scores. Jimmy Kreie, suspended for four games in 2022, recalled widespread confusion that season, saying referees themselves often did not understand the guidelines and that inadequate communication turned him into an unintentional example. He now pushes for a higher basketball threshold and collaborative reforms, urging officials and coaches to work together so that neither overwhelming defeats nor overwhelming victories become the norm.

Bridging Generations: Coach Penalties and Calls for Reform

As mercy rules spread, society appears increasingly uncomfortable with lopsided results. NJSIAA leaders maintain the policies enhance sportsmanship rather than diminish competition, with Fryczynski warning that huge margins often provoke trash talk during handshakes or outright post-game confrontations.

Still, many coaches believe adversity itself is the best teacher. Don Bosco’s Kevin Diverio closed by arguing that young athletes can gain crucial life lessons even from crushing defeats, learning how to confront hardship and respond with grace.