Rule changes (what would you like)
 

OK I posted a possible thread start about the NFL overtime rules in the (best spectator sport thread) so I better start it as a new thread.

What sports rules would you like to see changed as a veiwing fan, and why?

Or defend the rule as it stands if you like the rule.

The DH in baseball.

Get rid of the red line in hockey.

Make the NBA 4 on 4 to help with the scoring average and get rid of the 3 point line.

Football is just about perfect. Maybe make it so you can only kick fields goals outside of 20 yards.


Art

that fucking away goal rule in soccer ( dont change it, but at least make it so we dont see a repeat of the Inter-Ac Milan mess up)

Not a rule change as something a rule I wish was enforced...the traveling call in the NBA. It is ridiculous what some players *cough*Iverson*cough* can get away with without dribbling the ball.

Hah, almost every star player has his rule exceptions. You never saw Jordan called for the push off, Shaq never gets three seconds and hardly ever gets the offensive foul.

Hockey games should have a winner. They need to figure out the overtime thing. It is still an exciting sport to fans at the arena, but three or four OT's with twenty minute intermissions will put to sleep the most dedicated home viewer.

For the love of all that is holy, hockey must drop the instigator rule.
Bring back the fighting and lets get rid of the stick work.
Let the players police the game from the inside and you'll see the sick work and the knee to knee stuff go.

How about make it a rule in baseball that if a pitcher hits a batter (on purpose) but isn't injury threatening (to the discretion of the umpire) there is no warning and certainly no ejection. Beaning the star player is part of the game, I don't know why they're trying to crack down on that...

They are cracking down on it because then they always have to charge the mound and that is when people get seriously hurt.


Art

I wouldnt have a problem with it except for the fact that a lot of pitchers don't have to bat. If they are going to bean someone they should have to face the opposing pitcher and risk the same. I'd like nothing better than to see Roger Clemons have to bat each game. I bet he wouldn't be such a head hunter anymore.

Besides that they should eliminate the quarterback slide rule. Its football. If they can't take a hit, they should just play badminton.

The NBA needs some drastic changes, but most importantly they have to get rid of the illegal defense rule. Also, I hate it when there is a double technical called and nobody shoots free throws!!! Let them shoot, maybe one team will make and one will miss!!

Baseball:
Pitchers should have 15 seconds to get into their windup after they catch the ball. Batters are not allowed time outs.
Bullpen pitchers should be warmed up enough to where 5 pitches on the mound should be enough when they come into the game.

Need to make the game run faster.

Couldn't agree more.

Not sure what you're saying on this one. Regular season overtimes are done after 1 period and there is only a 5 minute break. Playoff hockey has multiple overtimes but a winner is declared when someone scores. I don't think it gets more exciting than triple overtime in the playoffs.

Horrible idea. It usually takes 15 seconds to get a sign from a catcher and it would make base stealing insanely easy. If a pitcher only has time for one look to first, Cecil Fielder could steal second. Batter's should still be able to call time, but it must be limited to a certain amount. Say 2-3. The bullpen pitcher thing would never work as networks would complain they need the warm up period to get in more commercials.

Baseball is already enforcing some rules to help shorten dead time in the game:

-Pitchers now have 12 seconds (down from 20) to throw a pitch when the bases are empty (so baserunners don't get an advantage) or the umpire can call a ball. If after 12 seconds the batter is not ready and the pitcher is, the umpire can call a strike.

-A manager on the way to the mound to change a pitcher must signal for the reliever before reaching the foul line. Conferences on the mound will be broken up faster by umps. (I've noticed this around the league watching games on TV.)

-There has been a rule for some time that there is a 2 minute, 5 second break between innings. That rule is now being enforced. The umpire must signal the leadoff batter by 1 minute, 40 seconds. During the playoffs, more commercial time is allowed.

I agree with using the college overtime rules in the NFL. I SUPPORT the DH. I'm AGAINST astroturf in outdoor stadiums, especially in football, and my team plays on it.

-Mikey

I would like to see Hockey go to a shootout after one overtime hockey session (regular season only).

I would like to see Football OT like college football OT...or at least have both teams with a chance to have the ball.

It was actually my question about NFL OT that prompted me to start this thread. I'm in Canada, and don't watch much NFL, but it appears that whichever team wins the coin toss gets the ball, and if they score it's over.

Correct me of I'm wrong on this, but does this not make the coin toss almost as, or more important than playing the game ?
I'd be concerned about that if I were an NFL fan.

For the hockey guys out there....NEVER CHANGE PLAYOFF OVERTIME. There is nothing that keeps me watching a game than knowing that the next shot could place my team in the finals, or the enemies team. Great excitement.

The NHL needs to find a way to lower the stickwork and water skiing that is so prevalent. Perhaps the instigator rule would do it, or just better enforcement. I feel this season was an improvement on the interference being run. Players have been learning they'll get called for running picks etc.

I'd like to see it so if the goalie feels the need to throw body checks, it would be legal to at least "touch" the goalie. Stay in your net if you want complete diplomatic imunity I say.

The team that wins the coin toss wins less than half the time.

Make it easy and just make it a tie and only have OT in the playoffs but make it so that you play a full quarter.

An even better rule would be to make no extra points or fields goals inside 50 yards or just get rid of the field goal kicker at all.


Art

the nba charging rule.

at first, it was implemented and upheld to prevent the offensive player from running down the court like a mad man, out of control, and towards the basket giving the defensive person no safe way to guard him. i saw it as a way to protect the defensive player and to keep offense under control and clean.

now players like derek fisher (la lakers), vlade divac (sac kings) and a whole slew of others jump in the way of the offensive player, and fall at the slightest contact. that's not charging at all. the offensive player was in control, the defense just jumped in the way without even trying to block the shot. takes away the skill of having to play defense if you can just run in front of someone, and flop to the ground to prevent a basket.

what happened to talented defensive players and such. the stupid charging call is ruining the gameplay.

don't get me wrong, i do think that there should be a charging call, but if the offensive player is out of control, or if he lowers his shoulder in an attempt to move the defensive player *cough* shaq *cough*, not when some over acting defensive twirp jumps in front of the moving person and decides he's gonna fall on his butt.

geez, derek fisher is pretty built and relatively short, which makes his center of gravity pretty low, giving him good balance. that boy is on his butt from flopping so much it's sickening to watch a game. in the 5-6 years that he's been playing, i don't recall him ever contesting a lay-up, he just runs in front, puts arms down and falls.

my two cents. nice thread by the way, i've wanted to vent about this for quite some time now. and sorry for the long post. oh yeah, laker fans, sorry if it's offending, i was a laker fan before they turned bulls, so my brother still watches the lakers and i sit and watch for the sport, my examples are directed at fisher cuz i see him the most, and his flopping is god damned annoying.

whew </rant>

NBA should make a 4 and 5 point line

NHL should allow goals made from behind the blue line to count as 2 points

NFL I have no problems

MLB should get rid of Bud Selig

NBA - Widen the court by five feet on each side, and lengthen it by maybe ten feet. This will spread out the players, since they are not getting smaller.

NFL - Adopt the college overtime rules

NHL - none

MLB - none

Golf and Tennis - let the crowds cheer (or boo) when they want

Get rid off the offside rule in Soccer!!

NFL overtime sucks. Once a team is in field goal range they no longer try anymore and instead just settle for a field goal. In overtime teams should have to play 110% to win. College overtime rules are much better.

NFL - Adopt College overtime rules and figure out a way to get rid of this "Automatic 1st Down" bullshit that comes with certain penalties.

I also don't understand the "Holding" penalty in the NFL. I mean, don't you think there's someone holding on practically every snap? It's just up to the refs to see it, right?

The easiest way to tell if NFL overtime is fair is to publish the stats on overtime games of who won the coin toss vs who won the game. That stat should be 50% given enough samples because a coin flip is completely unbiased. Then do the same stat for college over time games. That will tell us which overtime is fairer.

Also I don't like the automatic first down in some situations either. Namely when the play wouldn't have resulted in a first down anyway. The problem is it is hard to know if the play would have resulted in a first down without the penalty.

Change the rules of UFC so that:

The fighters follow the Queensbury Rules

Change the rules of boxing so that:

One weight = one world champion.