All Questions
6,095
questions
97
votes
7
answers
306k
views
Points are given in tennis 15-30-40. Why 40?
Tennis scoring goes 15-30-40-game. Why 40? Why not 45? What is the meaning of the points being given in tennis as 15-30-40-game? What is the history of this scoring calculation?
75
votes
8
answers
16k
views
Why is FIFA against adding instant replay to the game?
Is there any evidence or reason why FIFA is so against adding instant replay to soccer? I find myself seeing many unlucky or just plain wrong decisions made by refs that could be corrected with ...
60
votes
5
answers
53k
views
Is it legal to throw an alley-oop to yourself in a real game?
In this video, a college basketball player steals the ball, races down court, and avoids the defender by throwing a pass to himself off the backboard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=...
57
votes
13
answers
29k
views
Are there any sports for which the world's best player is female?
For this question I'm referring to sports in which men and women can compete together on equal terms (even if they often don't). For example, rock climbing would count (if they climb the same rock and ...
57
votes
2
answers
40k
views
Why are professional athletes allowed to compete in the Olympic games?
When the International Olympic Committee was formed in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin, he intended the athletes competing in the Olympics to only be amateur athletes.
The definition of an amateur ...
55
votes
7
answers
10k
views
How is offside determined in football?
The offside rule on the pitch is often unclear and called suddenly. How do I know if a player is offside?
50
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Why was the marathon World Record not 2:03:02 in 2011?
Why exactly was Geoffrey Mutai's 2:03:02 in Boston (2011) not deemed the marathon World Record at the time?
47
votes
7
answers
10k
views
In cricket, how is it decided from which end to start the match?
In cricket, how is it decided from which end to start the match? Is this a per-ground convention, a decision of the umpires, or either of the captains? Is each innings necessarily started from the ...
44
votes
5
answers
32k
views
Why do some swimmers wear two caps?
Just now I saw Michael Phelps competing in the 400m Medley heats (London Olympics 2012). After he finished the race, I saw him take off two caps. I can imagine that a swimmer uses one, but what is the ...
41
votes
4
answers
13k
views
Can a football team force its defeat, e.g. via own goals?
On Thursday at 2pm GMT, the football matches for group H of the World Cup 2018 will begin. By 4 pm GMT, the fate of that group will be decided.
Let us assume that Japan comes first and Colombia ...
39
votes
6
answers
6k
views
What factors give a "Home Advantage" and how big is it?
Often you hear about the team whose ground the match is being played at having a "home advantage".
During a discussion with a friend they said teams go as far as to style the opposing teams changing ...
39
votes
6
answers
30k
views
Is it legal in racket sports to pass the racket from one hand to the other?
Can you hit with different hands during the same
point?
set?
match?
Also, is racket throwing authorised?
38
votes
1
answer
27k
views
Which is more likely to result in a goal: a penalty shot or a power play?
Statistically speaking, is a hockey team (in the NHL) more likely to score on a power play or with a penalty shot?
Often times this is something I wonder when a player is tripped on a near breakaway ...
37
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Why would you ever allow an opponent to score?
Watching Super Bowl XLVI, I noticed near the end of the game the New England Patriots allowed the New York Giants to score a touchdown uncontested.
At this point in the game, the Patriots were ...
34
votes
5
answers
167k
views
"53 has the Mic" means what in American Football?
I frequently hear quarterbacks say something like "53 has the mic" when pointing out the defensive formation. Usually the player number that he points out is a linebacker.
I believe the defensive ...
32
votes
5
answers
73k
views
Why do I get out of breath so quickly when swimming?
I am now starting to learn how to swim and have found that I have trouble swimming with my head in the water. Although I breathe every 1 or 2 strokes (front crawl) I found that my heart rate rises ...
32
votes
3
answers
78k
views
Why do players enter with children on the ground?
I have seen many soccer matches. I often see that players enter the field with children. Why do they enter with the children?
32
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Why is the word Love used as a score for Tennis?
I have never understood this form of scoring. What is the origin of this score "title".
31
votes
10
answers
21k
views
Why are substitutions commonly made right at the end of the game?
I often see the manager of a winning team making substitutions as the end of the game nears (sometimes as late as during injury time).
The player being replaced is not injured, and doesn't time get ...
31
votes
3
answers
17k
views
Can referees change their decision?
Let's imagine an ideal situation:
A player scores a goal
Before scoring, they deliberately handle the ball
None of the referees notice the foul
The referee validates the goal
The scorer admits (...
31
votes
1
answer
74k
views
If the basketball goes through bottom of rim and re-enters, is it a basket?
Several years ago I was playing in an adult basketball league and a player took a bad shot that entered through the bottom of the hoop, hit the backboard and re-entered the hoop. The referee counted ...
30
votes
8
answers
16k
views
Do they ever pull the goalkeeper in football?
In ice hockey, teams that are losing will sometimes pull their goalkeeper late in the game and bring in an extra attacker to increase their chances of scoring and tying the game.
Do teams ever pull ...
30
votes
2
answers
3k
views
In the history of Formula 1, when has the fastest qualifier not started the race on pole?
Lewis Hamilton has a 5 place grid penalty for the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, due to having to change his gearbox. Harsh, but that's the rule.
He's been on pole for the first two races this ...
30
votes
3
answers
62k
views
How to recognize baseball pitches when watching television games?
When I watch Baseball games on TV, I have trouble to identify the pitch that the pitchers are throwing. I know the pitch types but can't tell the difference of a fastball to a slider when watching ...
30
votes
1
answer
27k
views
How are the number of laps in an F1 race determined?
The number of laps in a F1 race seem to differ wildly. Obviously the length of each lap varies from circuit to circuit, but how are the number of laps for each race decided?
Additionally, is this ...
29
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Why is the referee treated so different in soccer and rugby
Recently, in Dutch amateur football, a linesmen died after being attacked by players. This terrible news was directly the reason for the Dutch football association, KNVB, to apply some rules with ...
29
votes
3
answers
80k
views
Why are there different stars on table tennis balls?
What determines the rating of a table tennis ball? I know there are several different star ratings. The ratings go from 1 star to 4 star. I think there maybe a 5 star ball.
What factors determine the ...
29
votes
1
answer
33k
views
What do all these Runners Lingo abbreviations like PR and HR mean?
In other running related question there is often made use of abbreviations like PB, PR, HR, VO2 etc.
I know what PB means (Personal Best), but what do the others mean and what other examples are ...
28
votes
6
answers
15k
views
Can the opposing team's goalkeeper take a kick in a penalty shootout?
When doing a penalty shootout, is it possible for the opposing team's goalkeeper to take a kick? I've never seen it happen, but it seems that since the goalie is part of the team, he/she should be ...
28
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What is the on-field role of the captain?
After watching the John Terry "stripped of captaincy" episode in the England national football team, my question is what exactly does the captain do on the field?
The team tactics are decided by the ...
28
votes
11
answers
40k
views
Screening in volleyball
The volleyball rules prohibit screening during a service (preventing the receiving team from seeing the ball or the serving player; rule 12.5), however, during any professional game you can see ...
28
votes
1
answer
10k
views
What's the justification for this rarely-invoked NFL fumble rule?
Yesterday, at the end of the Packers-Bills game (2014 Week 15), Rodgers fumbled into his own endzone. Eddie Lacy recovered it, but was unable to fight his way out, resulting in a game-winning safety.
...
28
votes
4
answers
41k
views
Are all oval-track races done counter-clockwise? If so, why?
It seems to me that every type of race on an oval track moves in a counter-clockwise direction. Off the top of my head, I know that this happens in:
auto racing of any kind
roller derby
horse racing
...
27
votes
2
answers
33k
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 pocket/...
27
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is this three-against-one game with red and blue balls?
On a recent visit to the University of Colorado, Boulder, I saw some students playing a sport I've never seen before. I'll do my best to describe it.
On a grass field, a rectangle is marked out with ...
26
votes
5
answers
34k
views
Why does a foul ball not count as a third strike?
From the Wikipedia entry for foul ball
A strike is issued for the batter if he had fewer than two strikes ...
A strike is, however, recorded for the pitcher for every foul ball the
batter hits, ...
26
votes
8
answers
2k
views
What baseball rules or calls have become customary despite them not being in the rule book?
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 ...
26
votes
1
answer
14k
views
How does a sport become an Olympic Sport?
How does a sport transition into the Olympics? What are the qualifications? Is there a process?
25
votes
5
answers
20k
views
Does the batsman get runs on No ball when the team requires only 1 run to win?
Suppose, A batsman is on strike with 98 runs. The scores are level so the batting team requires only 1 run to win. Now suppose in the next ball, the bowler bowls a No ball and the batsman hits FOUR or ...
25
votes
4
answers
61k
views
How is 'distance covered' tracked in football (soccer) at the World Cup and during other official competitions?
In most football leagues, and now the World Cup, distance covered is now a commonly-shared statistic.
Are there trackers in the boots? Do the players have chips implanted in their brains? How is '...
25
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Why is drafting allowed on the bike in an Olympic triathlon and not otherwise?
The Olympic (or International) distance triathlon is 1500m swim, 40K bike, 10K run.
Yet when run as the qualifier or at the Olympics, this is draft legal. Where as all tris of that distance I have ...
25
votes
3
answers
122k
views
Why is American football called football?
Why is American football called "football" even though the players play with their hands more than their feet? It seems to be very similar to rugby, and doesn't have the name "American Rugby". What ...
25
votes
3
answers
9k
views
What is the biggest comeback recorded in competitive international soccer matches?
On October 16, 2012, Sweden came back from 4-0 down to draw 4-4 with Germany in a World Cup qualifier. Purely in terms of goals, is this the record for the biggest comeback in a competitive ...
25
votes
0
answers
799
views
Is there a connection between serious injuries/deaths in boxing and having one's father in one's corner?
In the commentary on the tragic 2005 Leavander Johnson/Jesus Chavez fight, which claimed the life of Leavander Johnson, commentator Jim Lampley said that there are two things that seem to be "constant"...
24
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What's the worst defeat of a host nation in World Cup history?
Brazil, the host nation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, lost to Germany 7-1. This seems like a very big defeat in term of goal difference. What is the worst defeat of a host nation in World Cup history in ...
24
votes
7
answers
9k
views
What are the team sports with more than two teams?
The only team sports with more than two teams I can think of is relays in track and field and swimming like 4x100m and 4x400m.
However I wonder if there is a full sport on its own that is played by ...
24
votes
7
answers
17k
views
Why don't any USA professional leagues use promotion/relegation?
Promotion/relegation is a competition format that is often used in many countries for professional leagues as a way to have many teams participate and yet not dilute the top level of play, by only ...
24
votes
1
answer
108k
views
What is the maximum number of red cards that a referee can give in a football match?
What is the greatest possible number of red cards that a referee can give in a football match?
Does such a limit even exist?
If so, does it vary from league to league and tournament to tournament?
24
votes
1
answer
11k
views
Why is Ivory Coast being referred to as "Côte d'Ivoire" in the 2014 World Cup?
I understand that the country's basic language is French, but you don't see any other countries using non-English names in the World Cup. Japan isn't called "Nihon" or "Nippon", Germany isn't called "...
23
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Most number of extra-time Goals
On 30-Oct-2012, Arsenal defeated Reading with an incredible score of 7-5. A more astonishing fact is that 4 goals were scored in Extra-time.
Is this the record for the most number of goals in extra-...