# Resolved: Rules changes in all four major U.S. sports that completely fix their flaws **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb, basketball-nba, hockey-nhl, football-nfl\ **Created:** [October 14, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578 "2023-10-14T20:14:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/121 "2023-10-17T13:57:04Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > (I can’t even recall the last time I saw that) Cool. I saw it happen recently and thought about it. As an aside, I was really enjoying watching the live-stream of the Belgium-Sweden match where it was 1-1 at the half. I took my dogs outside to let them run, then returned to my tablet to watch the second half, but there was some sort of delay. I looked on my phone for “Belgium Sweden Soccer half time delay” and saw there was a shooting outside of the stadium and 2 Swedes were killed. Game called. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/122 "2023-10-17T14:58:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > MLB: Eliminate that tee ball ghost runner bullshit in extra innings. Limit pitchers on roster to 10, this will encourage pinch hitting and pinch running. Instead of an automatic strike on a batter if he isn’t ready in time, allow the pitcher to deliver whether the batter is ready or not. Eliminate the DH and interleague play. Go back to Sunday doubleheaders and end the season two weeks earlier to avoid postseason snow. Make the coaches wear the same uniform as the players. Agree with much of this. Re: ending the season earlier, are you proposing returning to 154 game season? I think I could get behind that. I don’t mind the DH or interleague play. I get the objection to the DH. What’s wrong with interleague play? I like seeing teams I don’t usually watch. As a Mariner fan, it’s interesting to see the Reds or Marlins come to town every once in a while. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > NFL: Move the hashmarks back to where they were in the good old days. Eliminate the two point conversion. Eliminate spiking the ball to kill the clock, make them go ahead and throw at the feet of an eligible receiver. Eliminate overtime except in postseason. How does the hash tag width change the game? I know it’s wider in college. I don’t mind overtime, but I think it should be a full quarter. And not modified sudden death. Just play another 15 minutes. I know this would play havoc with the TV schedulers, and won’t happen. I’m one of the fans that hates ties. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/123 "2023-10-17T15:09:57Z")
I’m proposing to maintain 162 games. Having regular doubleheaders would just allow for fewer calendar days to get them in and allow us to play the Fall Classic in fall weather, not winter. My problem with interleague play is that it dilutes league play. I miss the old days when I could go to Detroit and watch a Yankee game in one of two series played in Detroit over the year. Now it’s one series per year per out of division league rival per year. That isn’t enough. Regarding hash marks, I think it makes field goals a little tougher or force you to waste a down to center the ball. I’d like to see fewer field goals. I’m okay with one 15 minute OT in NFL and NHL, but let ties be ties after OT. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/124 "2023-10-17T15:12:59Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Regarding hash marks, I think it makes field goals a little tougher or force you to waste a down to center the ball. It affects all play calling, since there can be a much more pronounced short and long side to the field on every play. We did a thread on it a short while ago. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/125 "2023-10-17T15:40:27Z")
NFL OT: Each team gets one possession. If the game is still tied after these initial possessions, continue to play until somebody scores. No ties. ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/126 "2023-10-17T23:21:56Z")
NFL changes: Laser devices on the sideline to detect when a player went out of bounds. Maybe keyed to a sensor on the shoes of QB/WR/RBs so as not to mix up tacklers and blockers. Same thing on first down and goal lines. Have it pick up a sensor in the ball itself. Sensitive GPS on the ball itself, to get accurate spotting. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/127 "2023-10-18T00:50:27Z")
All sports: eliminate time outs. Keep the game moving - they serve little purpose except to allow more TV commercial time. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/128 "2023-10-18T16:37:09Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > NFL OT: Each team gets one possession. If the game is still tied after these initial possessions, continue to play until somebody scores. No ties. Or keep playing until a team has too many players injured to field 11 men. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/129 "2023-10-18T16:43:43Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Or keep playing until a team has too many players injured to field 11 men. At some point, we’ll just start playing Rollerball. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/130 "2023-10-18T17:11:53Z")
That doesn’t make much sense. For one, more than just shoes can make you out of bounds. Additionally, out of bounds calls aren’t that often hard to review anyway ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2023, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/131 "2023-10-28T01:08:21Z")
I find basketball just plain tedious. Scoring left and right, yawn. To make it more interesting, - a 14" diameter ball (just a couple inches smaller than the hoop - eliminate goaltending as being against the rules, though that is almost moot when - play the game on a hockey rink, on skates, with contact rules similar to hockey - but still require dribbling – if the player’s feet are in motion ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2023, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/132 "2023-10-28T04:43:13Z")
1. Raise the net 5 feet -or- (even better) 2. Lower the net 5 feet. Now everone can dunk. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/133 "2023-11-07T00:41:17Z")
MLB - all balls hit out of the park are considered foul. Bring back sacrifices and bunting! ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/134 "2023-11-07T01:59:38Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > all balls hit out of the park are considered foul. Back in the day when slowpitch softball was extremely popular around here, the first guy to hit a home run out of the park was awarded the home run, and any subsequent homers he hit were also home runs. All other homers were outs. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578/135 "2023-11-07T03:06:26Z")
I was working on a mutant sport that I called “Contact Cricket”, which plays a lot like cricket but alternating teams when a batsman is out, so that both teams play in an innings, and both teams are on the field at the same time, but they can only handle the ball with lacrosse sticks (including batting).        A ball hit out of the field (even on a roll/bounce, untouched) puts the batter out, as does a ball caught on the fly, but if it is caught by a batter’s teammate, the team also gets some points.        Full contact would be allowed on the field, but none at all involving the stick – if the aggressor cannot be established, both players are counted out (stricken from batting rotation or, if already out, struck from the field for the innings). It would be more interesting than either cricket or lacrosse. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-rules-changes-in-all-four-major-u-s-sports-that-completely-fix-their-flaws/991578.md?page=6)