KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) has reacted to Monday’s lopsided 46-0 win by Mona Prep over Gordon’s Memorial in their Under-12 Alberga Cup third round game played at American International School of Kingston by inserting a “Mercy Rule” in their bylaws.

In a release on Tuesday, the organisers say that the game can be stopped after any team takes a 12- goal lead at any time in the competition.

“In the event that a team is leading by 12 clear goals (+12 GD) during a match, the referee shall allow the teams to continue playing the match, on condition that the team leading by the +12 GD shall not be credited with any additional goals that would thereby increase the GD to greater than 12, and prior to kick off after the goal last scored by the leading team, the referee conferred with the head coaches of the two teams, and both coaches expressed their desire to continue playing the match, subject to the extra special playing conditions set out herein,” according to rule M.1.

Mercy Rules are used in many American and Canadian youth competitions where the games are called off if one team has achieved a preset lead.

News of the massive margin of victory sent ripples around football circles on Monday.

However, that was not the only lopsided victory of the day as St Andrew Prep were 16-0 winners over Bright Beginnings.

The release also pointed out that any of the coaches, be it the coach of the team leading or the team trailing, can request that the game be called off when the lead is established.

However, according to Rule M.6, “for each goal scored by the team trailing, which thereby reduces the GD to less than 12, the team leading shall not be prevented from attempting to score, which if successful would thereby return the score in the match to a +12 GD.”

-Paul A Reid