Questions about the rules of a particular sport. This tag should always be combined with a tag for the specific sport in question.
14
votes
2answers
917 views
Why do tennis players keep an extra ball in their pocket?
I have seen many times, while serving, when a tennis player gets a ball, he/she keeps one ball in their pocket or skirt and serves with the other ball.
Why do they keep an extra ball in their ...
5
votes
3answers
577 views
How does the NFL distribute their content online?
Ordinary television shows have sites like Hulu where their content can be viewed online. However, for the NFL, their online content distribution strategy seems less clear.
What is the league's ...
4
votes
2answers
177 views
In the NBA, what is the difference when players shoot foul shots alone vs. around other players?
I've noticed in the NBA that when a player takes a foul shot, they're usually surrounded by other players lined up around the box. But sometimes when a player is shooting a foul shot, they're ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
If there is an NHL lockout / partial lockout, what will happen to purchased tickets? [closed]
I bought tickets for the Boston Bruins' opening night against the Montreal Canadians on October 18, 2012. What will happen to the tickets that people have bought if there is a lockout?
Also there is ...
4
votes
1answer
155 views
When is a handball not penalised?
Is it a foul if a player touches the ball with his hand unintentionally?
Is it a foul is a player trips and falls and touches the ball with his hand during the fall?
Also, is a foul awarded if the ...
5
votes
3answers
574 views
Why was offside introduced, and are there reasons for keeping it?
The offside rule in football ( How is offside determined in Soccer?) is the source of a large amount of goal-related controvesy, and is argued by some to diminish the entertainment value of the game.
...
2
votes
2answers
253 views
Does MLB rookie status include postseason play?
From the MLB rule book, the rule states:
Determining rookie status:
A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season
or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 ...
3
votes
2answers
189 views
Do squad limitations help national teams?
Some nations have regulations limiting the squad selections in various ways, such as total number of foreign players or a minimum number of "home-grown" players. In Serie A and La Liga I believe there ...
4
votes
1answer
264 views
Use of the designated hitter (DH) in the MLB
With the Houston Astros moving to the American League starting in 2013, each league (National and American) will have an even amount of teams (15). As a result, the debate regarding designated ...
9
votes
4answers
374 views
What is the purpose of the eligible reciever rules?
I do not know a lot about American Football, but I enjoy watching games from time to time. The other day I saw a penalty given for a player catching a pass but being an ineligible receiver. I had not ...
3
votes
1answer
139 views
What is the scoring system in sailing?
After watching the Olympics and seeing that Australia had less points then others but was guaranteed a gold or silver medal in the laser class. We were confused as to how sailing is scored.
8
votes
1answer
226 views
Cheating in the Olympics
Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa won the gold medal and set a world record in the 100m breaststroke at London 2012, but has since admitted to cheating after the Austrialian swim team accused him ...
4
votes
1answer
261 views
What do the cards in table tennis mean?
I saw in an Olympics table tennis match a Chinese athlete being given a red card. I think she lost the point but I'm not too sure.
So why would would some receive a red/yellow card in table tennis ...
6
votes
1answer
719 views
Heptathlon point system calculation
Are there equations that are used to calculate the scores (as in diving and such)?
If so, what are these equations?
And if not, please state how the points are calculated.
4
votes
1answer
173 views
Disqualification due to unmotivated play/intentional losing
Yesterday I read about the latest "scandal" at the Olympic games in London, that 8 players (4 pairs) have been disqualified from the Womens' badminton championship due to "not using one's best efforts ...
5
votes
1answer
93 views
Relief from cart path on a hill
I sent this question to the USGA, based on a situation from my last round; we'll see what they say in about a month (if that), but I thought I'd let you guys have a try as I'll be playing the same ...
6
votes
1answer
95 views
What happens when a player loses a shoe during the course of the game?
What is the ruling about losing a shoe when the ball is still in play?
Can the player still play or does he need to get it back before continue playing?
6
votes
1answer
397 views
Can my body touch the table in table tennis?
Suppose I am about to hit a "overhead", then my stomach touches the edge of the table... Is this allowed? Can I "dive" on the table?
6
votes
1answer
118 views
Is it a foul in ultimate if the pursuer unintentionally clips the runner from behind?
When I play recreational ultimate, I pursue my man or a player a lot. Sometimes, out of nowhere, their back foot clip my thigh while running and they trip. It looks bad from far away and a foul is ...
6
votes
2answers
141 views
Is it a foul for the defender to preemptively slide tackle a potential shot?
Let's say that the striker is closing in to the goal post on the right side. As a defender, I am running towards the middle of the right post and the striker. I perform a slide tackle towards the ...
6
votes
1answer
184 views
Is it a foul in football if the pursuer unintentionally clips the runner from behind?
When I play recreational football, I pursue my man or a player a lot. Sometimes, out of nowhere, their back foot clip my thigh while running and they trip. It looks bad from far away and a foul is ...
6
votes
1answer
605 views
Deciding the winner of a boxing match
Question
Boxing matches are (usually) decided by knockout or decision. However, Timothy Bradley's victory over Manny Pacquiao in June 2012 was highly and widely controversial. CompuBox stats show ...
11
votes
1answer
2k views
Why do Olympic soccer teams need to be U-23?
Why do Olympic soccer teams need to be under the age of 23?
Are there any exceptions about age restriction?
Are there any differences between men and women?
5
votes
1answer
826 views
Why did Fernando Torres win the Golden Boot at Euro 2012?
Euro 2012 has now ended.
Why has Fernando Torres won the golden boot when the following players also had 3 goals?
Mario Gomez (Germany)
Alan Dzagoyev (Russia)
Mario Mandzukic (Croatia)
Mario ...
5
votes
2answers
308 views
What do Spain get for winning Euro 2012?
So Spain, the winners of Euro 2012, now have a UEFA Trophy in their hands and a handful of winners medals for good measure.
But, are there any additional benefits/ prizes of winning the European Cup?
...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Differences between NBA and European/FIBA/Olympic basketball rules
I recall about zone defense and travelling being major differences but I'm sure there are more small differences.
7
votes
1answer
1k views
What happens if there is a tie during an olympic race?
Recently during the USA Track and Field Olympic trials, there was a tie for third place between Allyson Felix and Jenebah Tarmoh. It appears that there was previously no tiebreaker rule in place for ...
10
votes
1answer
287 views
What actions are taken by FIFA/UEFA against what's known as filming or diving
It seems to me that modern football is suffering from the kind of unsportsmanly behavior of diving which became all the more common, perhaps with the recent success of southern European teams/nations. ...
4
votes
3answers
271 views
Timekeeping before modern technology
During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, Michael Phelps won his 7th gold medal of that Olympics by defeating Milorad Čavić by 0.01 seconds. However, there was controversy that Čavić finished ...
7
votes
2answers
825 views
Yellow card for removing t shirt after scoring in football?
If a player receives a first caution (yellow card) during the game and the same player scores a goal and removes his jersey will he be dismissed from the field of play and shown the red card?
Thank ...
7
votes
4answers
305 views
Was Jelavić's goal offside?
Nikica Jelavić was clearly in an offside position when he received the ball and scored, in Croatia's 3-1 win over Ireland, for Euro 2012. Having received the ball through one of Ireland's defenders ...
9
votes
2answers
3k views
Qualification decision in group stages when everything is equal
Consider a football (soccer) tournament has a group stage, where for example teams are divided into groups of four and the first and second teams will qualify to the next round. If all games end with ...
5
votes
1answer
117 views
How does the interference call work in american football?
I try to follow american football as much as I can, but having lived my whole life in Europe it's not something you get exposed to alot. So I had to decipher the game by myself.
One particular rule ...
10
votes
2answers
845 views
What are the criteria for wins, losses, and saves in MLB?
I've read the rules for determining Wins, Losses and Saves for pitchers, and I've never been able to make heads or tails of it. Is there an easier way to explain it?
9
votes
3answers
476 views
Ball touching the ground during a catch in cricket
If a fielder takes a catch and if the ball touches the ground (ball is in hand only, but it’s touching the ground at the same time), is it considered as out?
11
votes
1answer
446 views
Number of OUTs in Cricket
Recently I attended an interview, in which the interviewer asked me how many types of OUT are there in cricket.
I counted on my fingers and said 6. He said it was wrong and told me that there are a ...
5
votes
1answer
130 views
Decision after draw in extra time in field hockey
Yesterday on television I saw a play-off match in some national field-hockey league and the match ended with the teams level.
I always thought that draws were decided based on a penalty series (like ...
5
votes
2answers
143 views
Can a football (soccer) league decide to use video review?
As a fan of ice hockey, I've become accustomed to the benefits of video review. The NHL does it right. There is one "war" room where all video reviews are done for the entire league, which leads to a ...
10
votes
1answer
206 views
Can the second-to-last defender cause an offside by leaving the field of play?
I had a little conversation one of my football friends and we had this interesting situation come up during the conversation.
As I understand the offside rule, the offending player should not be ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Use of the Disabled List
At times Major League Baseball teams place an underperforming player on the DL (Disabled List). It seems the DL would be meant for players who are injured and or are returning from injury. Why aren't ...
10
votes
3answers
300 views
Unwritten rules of baseball
There are some rules in Major League Baseball that have "evolved" over time. One such example is the checked swing rule. Announcers talk about the bat "breaking the plane of the plate" to judge ...
4
votes
1answer
125 views
Technology in Baseball
Since the early 2000's digital cameras have been installed by MLB in stadiums to enhance broadcasting/media as well as to review the performance of home plate umpires during baseball games.
According ...
7
votes
1answer
200 views
Under what conditions can a player take a quick throw-in in rugby union?
I've read the rules at irblaws but I'm still confused: over there the most binding condition stated is "A player must not take a quick throw-in after the lineout has formed", but quite often it ...
5
votes
1answer
81 views
Suspending a pitcher for misconduct
For an everyday player the standard 5 game suspension for misconduct certainly hurts both the player and the team as a whole. Whereas, the same standard 5 game suspension for pitcher doesn't even ...
4
votes
2answers
77 views
How come Belarus played 4–5 against Finland on IIHF World Championships?
In yesterday’s game BLR–FIN, at 59:16 with Belarus trailing 0–1, Belarussian player injured a Finnish player with a high stick, and received double minor penalty (2+2) for that. However, during the ...
4
votes
3answers
237 views
What happens if a ball is lost in cricket?
What will happen if a ball in play is lost or cannot be recovered? Does batting side keep any penalty for that?
7
votes
1answer
245 views
What's the reasoning behind the Uncaught Third Strike Rule?
In MLB, if a Catcher drops or misses the third pitched strike, the batter becomes a runner and can attempt to reach first base before tagged out or forced out at first.
6.09 The batter becomes a ...
5
votes
2answers
815 views
How does the match time work in soccer?
How does match time work in soccer? i think i know a little bit about how it works, like how they add injury time to the end of the regular time, but ive never been exactly sure.
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Can we use leg in Volleyball?
I have started playing volleyball recently. I dont know much rules of this game. Recently while playing one of us lofted the ball by leg and another player parred the ball.
Isn't it foul? How can we ...
0
votes
1answer
112 views
Is it common among hobby-snooker-players to play for money?
Snooker is a very popular game in Great Britain and Ireland. Most Top-Players come from these Isles. Nearly 90% probably. I don't know the history of this sport, on TV it looks a bit elitist, fine ...
