Running up the score is when a team scores an excessive amount of points (ex. 70-0) that they not only win, but defeat the team. Winning is based on the score, but defeating a team means to take away their dignity. During some games, like in conference, running up the score is necessary for point differentials to determine who will continue to the next round, but if it is not necessary and the team is clearly going to win, should teams continue to score an excessive amount of points?
“I think it depends on the situation,” said technology teacher Mrs. Rachel Mroz. “If it allows a player to score an all-time career high, then that would be okay, but running up the score just to show that you are that much better is not the best and not a very good show of sportsmanship. It becomes obnoxious, so teams should put their second lineup in, at least at the high school level.”
Others, however, point out that the experience gained is worth the destruction of an opponent’s dignity–with limits, of course.
“I think they should stop putting it on the scoreboard, but keep track in the books to show how much they won by,” said junior Ava Sclafini. “A team should not have to stop scoring, that should be their choice.”
Some teams decide to take players off the field or challenge their players on the court by forcing them to complete a certain skill. Unless point differential is important or the game matters in conference, a team will likely gain respect by putting the substitutions in or slowing down scoring runs. Referees will sometimes tell a team to try a new skill to challenge the winning team, but also to give the losing team a chance to score more points. There is a time and place to run up the score, but sometimes it is necessary to realize that the other team deserves to not be defeated.