Every season, we unfortunately see lopsided game scores in BAYS. We must remember that our players are all young, and teaching sportsmanship is more important than racking up goals.
BAYS matches should not see goal differentials of more than +5.
Winning by more than 5 goals does not enhance the experience for the winning team, but it can significantly diminish the enjoyment and interest in soccer for the losing team. Beyond that, it is considered poor sportsmanship and lack of respect for your opponent. It is the coaches' responsibility to manage the scoring and take the necessary steps to keep within the suggested goal differential.
To help prevent large goal differentials in future games, we want to provide coaches with some proactive game management strategies. In the attachment below is a presentation that clearly lays out a wide variety of suggestions to avoid running up lopsided scores against a weaker opponent. If your team is quickly up 3 or 4 goals, game management starts immediately! Fast response and prior preparation are critical.
BAYS RESPECT - Lopsided Game Management Strategies
Excessive score differentials will result in negative consequences for the team's standing results. The point value of a win with an excessive goal differential declines in value to discourage teams from running up the score.
- Win if goal differential is +6 or less: 3 points
- Win if goal differential is +7: 2 points
- Win if goal differential is +8: 1 point
- Win if goal differential is +9: 0 point
- Win if goal differential is +10 or greater: -1 point
- Tie: 1 point
- Loss: no point
- Win by forfeit: 3 points
- Loss by forfeit: -1 point (minus one)
Teams tied on points within a section display in the order of their Team ID#, lower number team listed first.
NOTE: BAYS never uses goal differential to decide team standings in the regular season. It is only used as one of the criteria (capped at +/- 3 goals per game) when two qualified BAYS MTOC Playoff teams need to have seeding determined.
