Possible Reasons
Some of the reasons why a team might run up the score:
- To improve the first team players' game stamina, so they are better prepared for later games, e.g. high school teams that are dominant through regular season, but will face much stronger teams when playing for state championship.
- To demonstrate domination of one's opponents, and intimidate them and future opponents.
- To embarrass an opponent or to make a point.
- To demonstrate respect for the opposing team by not easing up, as in European Association Football.
- To demonstrate the skill of individuals who need to impress sponsors, talent scouts, etc.
- To increase the team's prestige.
- To gain an advantage where play statistics (such as points scored or point differential) are kept and used for professional advancement or as part of a tiebreaking system.
- To ensure a win (in which case, if the scoring is genuinely used to improve the team's chance of winning, it is not unsportsmanlike. The subjective part comes from whether or not said scoring is necessary or if the game was already decided).
- To reach certain point spreads or point totals (over/under) so that betting outcomes are influenced.
- To improve rankings and thus a better placement in a championship picture, such as with the AP Poll and Coaches' Poll in college football—the computer ratings used in the BCS ranking formula do not measure margin of victory.
- Just for the sake of scoring more points.
- To respond to a crowd that may or may not want a game to be a blowout, or to reach a certain score
- To allow the first team to work on unproven/untested plays or allow untested players first team repetitions
- To break a record or reach a milestone.
Read more about this topic: Running Up The Score
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