16
votes
Can a football team force its defeat, e.g. via own goals?
Sports governing bodies come down very, very heavily on teams deliberately losing - a very similar example to the England/Belgium World Cup situation is from badminton at the 2012 Olympics, when the ...
- 24k
13
votes
Accepted
Can a football team force its defeat, e.g. via own goals?
I doubt something like AS Adema 149–0 SO l'Emyrne will happen here.
FIFA has some fair play regulations giving them the possibility to act accordingly and they're warned. It will be possible to ...
- 5,302
12
votes
Accepted
Why do teams take knee before halftime?
It's hard enough to score in American football when you have half an hour to score in. Trying to score when you have 0:30 left in the game? Nearly impossible, if you're on your side of the field.
...
Joe♦
- 12.8k
12
votes
Accepted
Why would NFL teams do a fair catch?
Typically, a fair catch is called when no yards will be gained if a return was attempted, e.g., when a player of the kicking team is going to crush the returner the moment the ball touches him. It ...
- 1,330
10
votes
what is the purpose of a 'Squib' kick in the NFL?
Basically the squib kick is used at the end of the half or end of the game to run out the clock, and keep the ball away from a top of the line return guy. You basically pooch it down the field so ...
- 2,057
9
votes
Accepted
The Dime Package in Football
The biggest difference is in the number of Defensive Backs on the field for the play, and you would use the dime defense to prevent the mid to longer range passes. A couple of explanations below will ...
- 2,057
9
votes
Accepted
Why did Japan stop to play just before the game ends on a match vs Poland?
I didn't watch the game, but from what I've heard, the result of the Colombia-Senegal game meant that Japan were still set to qualify from the group even though they were losing 1-0. However, as they ...
- 3,681
8
votes
Accepted
Why do NBA stars keep playing in playoff blowouts?
Wikipedia lists quite a few comebacks from deficits of 25+ points in the 3rd or even early 4th quarter. The odds are certainly small that a team would turn it around, but even a glimmer of hope to ...
- 1,948
7
votes
Accepted
What is the rationale behind short-term substitutions in volleyball?
It's a bit hard to be specific without more details, but the reason is the same as everything else: to gain a tactical advantage. Some common examples:
If one of your substitutes is better at serve ...
- 24k
7
votes
Why do NBA stars keep playing in playoff blowouts?
As it is mentioned in the question, the stars are pulled out with a few minutes left in the game. How early they are pulled depends on the point differential, the coach, and the team's momentum.
In ...
- 10.8k
7
votes
Can a football team force its defeat, e.g. via own goals?
TLDR:
The answer is more or less "FIFA takes the action it feels like taking". We can look at examples and speculate, but that's about it.
..with that said:
This has already happened, in a lower ...
- 171
6
votes
Accepted
In American football, purpose of motioning the slot receiver
The answer you accepted is undeniably incorrect for the NFL - I know it is an old question and answer but this needs a correct answer. Yes NFL teams may have their slot motion to drag a man defender ...
- 5,139
6
votes
Accepted
Origin of Counter-attacking style of play in football?
Herbert Chapman is believed to be the inventor of counter-attacking style of play. From his Wikipedia article, citing Studd, Stephen (1998) - Herbert Chapman, Football Emperor: A Study in the Origins ...
- 5,854
6
votes
Accepted
What criteria does each batter in baseball's batting order have?
Traditional
1 - High OBP/Speed
This guy should have a high chance of getting on base. You want to get your guys on base so the later hitters have a chance to drive in runs.
2 - Contact/Bunt
This ...
- 2,057
6
votes
Better to fall down after interception in end zone?
It Depends
Falling down, taking a knee or being tackled in the end zone does lock in your team's starting position at the 20-yard line by rule of touchback, however returning an interception can ...
- 770
6
votes
Accepted
What strategic considerations go into passing at an attempt in events such as high jump?
There are 2 general cases when athletes pass on jumps:
The height is too low
They want to go up in the standings
Usually when an athlete starts jumping, they don't pass to preserve energy. The jumps ...
- 10.8k
5
votes
Defense against an isolation play
One team I played on--which won UPA collegiate back when I wasn't a geezer--practiced defending them thusly:
Forces must be absolute. Nobody breaks force. Ever.
Man-defender faces iso-player and ...
- 203
5
votes
Why did Japan stop to play just before the game ends on a match vs Poland?
The Japan vs Poland game was happening at the same time as the Senegal vs Colombia game. At the end of the games Poland and Colombia were winning their games by one goal. Given the standings Colombia ...
- 10.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Are the way that substitutions are utilised in soccer optimal?
Your question is somewhat subjective and the answers (or at least this one) might be found to be opinion based. But for me there are a few factors to consider:
You only get 3 substitutions
You want ...
- 10.8k
4
votes
Accepted
How does a ice-hockey team's strategy differ playing 3-on-3 rather than 5-on-5?
3 on 3 is still fairly new to the NHL, so I would imagine strategy is still well in development - teams have played tens of minutes at most of 3 on 3 outside of practice.
However, from the rest of ...
Joe♦
- 12.8k
4
votes
Accepted
Why do football teams announce their formation before the game starts?
As Phab mentioned, teams do not have to give any indication of their formation. They only need to provide a list of 11 players who will take the field at the start. The broadcasting companies take an ...
- 2,475
4
votes
Accepted
Why don't left handed power hitters bunt against the shift?
First off, left handed power hitters do, sometimes, bunt against the shift. Not frequently, but they do; I saw Jim Thome lay down a neat bunt several years back.
However, the reason you don't see it ...
Joe♦
- 12.8k
4
votes
What makes Stealing Signs wrong?
Stealing signs is "wrong" because Baseball's history goes back to the 1800s, when it was more of a "gentleman's game" (as compared to, say, American Football) and things like stealing signs would have ...
Joe♦
- 12.8k
4
votes
Why would a captain not enforce the follow-on?
The only thing that comes to my mind is to give bowlers a bit of a breather. Indian bowlers had been bowling since Day 2 (so almost 2 full days) and their legs and fingers (for spinners) must have ...
- 41
4
votes
What is the best role for a low fitness player in futsal?
Futsal is a very "quick" sport. Usually players has to run a lot (like in basketball). That's why this kind of sports has a big rotation of players on the field.
If you are playing friendly, the last ...
- 2,180
4
votes
Accepted
Why would a captain not enforce the follow-on?
It would be logical to try to get Bangladesh all out on second innings and then quickly chase down a meagre total.
Logical when it works :-)
The situation captains are trying to avoid here is ...
- 24k
4
votes
Asian handicap bets combination
This is the wikipedia page that explain asian handicap betting.
In a case of multiple bet you have to calculate in this way:
bet Y
event 1 over 1.5 => win (coefficient X1)
event 2 over 1.5 => win (...
- 9,312
4
votes
NFL team "getting rid" of a player
It is not allowed for an NFL team to simply "give up" a player; the formal language in the CBA is that a trade may not be for "nominal considerations" - a team cannot simply give Player X and a draft ...
- 24k
4
votes
Accepted
Why goalkeepers usually don't guard at the near post during free kicks?
From my view as a long-term goalie...
They shoot there, because it's one of the very few options they have.
If you guard the near post and place the wall for the long post you have to run backwards, ...
- 5,302
4
votes
How to beat a fast and consistent tennis player?
In my view, aiming for "killer" shots is a mistake.
You have the advantage in every neutral-game scenario except one: her targeting your backhand with her forehand. Hence you should focus on ...
- 466
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