# Ruin sports by changing the regulations **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 28, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691 "2021-08-28T20:44:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/121 "2022-05-04T16:53:52Z")
In baseball, allow baserunners to run anywhere they want. Don’t call them out for running out of the baseline to avoid a tag. It would make non-force plays very interesting. Imagine someone like Rickey Henderson running all over the outfield to avoid a tag. To add to the drama, they could play Yakety Sax over the PA system. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/122 "2022-05-05T22:22:13Z")
Once again, looking for changes that ruin sports, not make them better. ---
**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:** [June 1, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/123 "2022-06-01T18:49:20Z")
Football- Allow a defender to stand on the crossbar for FG and PAT kicks and let him block the kick like a soccer goalie. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/124 "2022-06-01T18:58:26Z")
A rule change for the NHL to eliminate clusterfucks in face-offs when a player misbehaves or something goes wrong, necessitating a do-over with a different player: Instead of having opposing players facing each other with a ref dropping the puck in between them, have an overhead apparatus drop the puck in a random location unknown to the teams, whose players could cruise the ice hoping to be at the right spot when the puck appears. Imagine the fun if a puck dropped in front of the net and an opposing player was on the spot at the right time. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/125 "2022-06-01T19:02:31Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > In baseball, allow baserunners to run anywhere they want. Don’t call them out for running out of the baseline to avoid a tag. You mean [Skunk in the Outfield](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20294816/skunk-outfield-how-most-epic-trick-play-history-broke-baseball)? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/126 "2022-06-01T21:52:33Z")
For soccer, American football, and rugby: the Mudball variation, where the playing field is covered in 15 cm of standing water. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/127 "2022-06-01T22:22:28Z")
Well, for soccer there was the infamous water battle of Frankfurt in the 1974 WC, when the best Polish team of all time lost 0-1 to Germany on an unplayable field. > **[The Water Battle](https://www.porta-polonica.de/en/atlas-of-remembrance-places/water-battle)** > > The Polish football team has never won a match against Germany, and on the day of the semi-final match in the 1974 World Cup they were never so close. But instead of going down in history as the first Polish victory over Germany the game was given... ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2022, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/128 "2022-06-01T22:51:04Z")
pro wrestling is easy … just make them follow the official rules and have real refs … ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/129 "2022-06-14T14:46:51Z")
More importantly, every FAN takes a shot before each corner kick! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/130 "2022-06-14T14:54:09Z")
The last-place finisher in every pro division forfeits its first draft pick in the upcoming amateur draft; the worst team in the league forfeits its first two picks. Good incentive to win games. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/131 "2022-06-15T15:19:07Z")
I realize we’re trying to ruin the sport, but I’d only do that if: a) they were obviously tanking (“suck for Luck”) b) they were the worst 2 years in a row - we’ll give you one prime recruit, but if you can’t improve with that one, we’re not letting you ruin any more. If they replace the front office, then the new guys get another chance. After that, the owner would have to sell the team to reset to the #1 pick. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2022, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691/132 "2022-06-16T07:37:39Z")
Random musket fire on the field Make Aussies rules more interesting [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruin-sports-by-changing-the-regulations/949691.md?page=6)