# Rule changes I'd like to see **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 28, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670 "2010-10-28T15:53:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Captain\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Captain\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/41 "2010-10-29T05:47:42Z")
Canadian football: 1.) 4 downs, not 3. 2.) 100 yard field, not 120. 3.) 11 men a side not 12. If American and Canadian rules in football were standardized, then our Universities can play each other (do they have college football in Canada?). Also, the Two Minute Warning. Why does the NFL have this? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/42 "2010-10-29T06:15:28Z")
> [@Captain\_Midnight](#): > > do they have college football in Canada? You know it would have only taken you about thirty seconds to find out. [Yes.](http://www.varsityblues.ca/roster.aspx?path=football&) ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/43 "2010-10-29T08:18:46Z")
I second modifying the kick off out of bounds rule. I say give the receiving team an option of 10 yards from the point it went out of bounds, or a 10 yard penalty and rekick. Forcing a re-kick would prevent a team from just booting the thing out of bounds to avoid a dangerous returner. Reform “Roughing the Kicker.” I say the Punter should have to get genuinely drilled for the full 15 yards. And a 15 yard Unsportsmanlike Conduct to the ingrates that go down like they’ve been shot after a player grazes their leg. > [@RickJay](#): > > BASEBALL: I wouldn’t mind seeing some way of penalizing pickoff attempts… maybe every third one’s a ball or something. Are you going to walk the batter? Because the runner on 1st would just take a 89 foot lead on any 3 ball count. 😛 > [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Intercollegiate sports games of all types are forbidden to be televised. I think we’ve got our “Least Likely to be Implemented” award sewn up. 😉 [QUOTE=Captain Midnight] Also, the Two Minute Warning. Why does the NFL have this? [/QUOTE] Two main reasons. One, the extra clock stoppage will assist in dramatic last minute comebacks. And two, it’s a chance to run advertisements during these crucial moments. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/44 "2010-10-29T09:43:07Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Are you going to walk the batter? Because the runner on 1st would just take a 89 foot lead on any 3 ball count. 😛 The proposals for penalizing excessive pickoffs deal only with _unsuccessful_ attempts. The idea is that it’s not particularly fun, and not really “baseball,” for pitchers to _repeatedly_ make “pickoff” throws which aren’t really intended or expected to pick off the runner–they’re just to keep the guy close. A runner who took a huge lead, whatever the count, _would_ be picked off. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/45 "2010-10-29T14:17:56Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Now with the no player change rule on icing it would be very tough to kill off a power play if you could not ice the puck. Good. More goals. Though I’d be willing to do away with the “no change on an icing rule.” I’m ambivalent towards that one. As it stands, I’d do away with the penalty for shooting the puck over the glass and replace it with the same rule they currently have for icing. It’s basically the same tactic anyway. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/46 "2010-10-29T14:21:45Z")
Couple more baseball ones that I’ll steal from Bill James. 1. Move the batter’s box back one inch every four years, until it’s four inches back from where it is now. This shouldn’t throw anybody’s career into a tailspin if it’s gradually brought in over the span of sixteen years. 2. A manager can make a between innings pitching change: once a game, or, after the pitcher on the mound has given up a run. In other words, he gets one freebie a game, and he can remove a pitcher that’s getting hit. But constantly switching out lefties and righties…fuck it. Stop dicking around and play baseball. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/47 "2010-10-29T14:25:12Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > FOOTBALL > > The defense may not call a time out during a field goal attempt **once the play clock is under 5**. > [@Munch](#): > > I don’t understand the purpose of either of these. For the first, are you just trying to get rid of “icing the kicker”? If so, why aren’t you letting the defense at least stop the clock in case they might need the time to score upon possession? Emphasis added. If the defense wants to stop the clock to get the ball back, they should take their timeout as early in the play clock as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/48 "2010-10-29T15:06:39Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > The Excessive Celebration rule is really arbitrary also, elation is fine but taunting is not. The Lambeau Leap takes longer than any of Ocho Cinco’s phone calls. > > In my opinion no rule should be near arbitrary. Something definitely needs to be done though. In baseball you hit a homer, you lower your head and humbly jog around the bases. You know what would happen if you hit a homer, and stopped to fake a phone call or pulled or some other equally egregious type of “attention seeking behavior” as that? Your next time up to bat you’d get a fast ball in your ear hole. I think any form of premeditated celebration should be flagged. I believe 100% that a player should be allowed to have a moment of ‘exuberance’ or even the jumping-chest-bump if it’s quick; but otherwise you should humbly take your points and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/49 "2010-10-29T15:08:31Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > 1. A manager can make a between innings pitching change: once a game, or, after the pitcher on the mound has given up a run. In other words, he gets one freebie a game, and he can remove a pitcher that’s getting hit. But constantly switching out lefties and righties…fuck it. Stop dicking around and play baseball. Wasn’t Bill talking about pitching changes _inside_ innings? Not between. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/50 "2010-10-29T15:09:15Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I think any form of premeditated celebration should be flagged. I believe 100% that a player should be allowed to have a moment of ‘exuberance’ or even the jumping-chest-bump if it’s quick; but otherwise you should humbly take your points and move on. Why? What is wrong with some fun in the game? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/51 "2010-10-29T15:12:36Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Two main reasons [for the two-minute warning]. One, the extra clock stoppage will assist in dramatic last minute comebacks. And two, it’s a chance to run advertisements during these crucial moments. I would guess it’s 90% the latter, though it was likely sold in as the former. It ensures that there’ll be a full 2-minute commercial break near the end of each half. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/52 "2010-10-29T15:14:16Z")
> [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](#): > > Usually. It’s actually 30 yards from the spot of the kickoff. Good clarification…when the kickoff spot was moved from the 35 to the 30 some years ago, it had the side effect of making the default placement for that penalty the 40 instead of the 35. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/53 "2010-10-29T15:17:41Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > Something definitely needs to be done though. In baseball you hit a homer, you lower your head and humbly jog around the bases. > > You know what would happen if you hit a homer, and stopped to fake a phone call or pulled or some other equally egregious type of “attention seeking behavior” as that? Your next time up to bat you’d get a fast ball in your ear hole. > > I think any form of premeditated celebration should be flagged. I believe 100% that a player should be allowed to have a moment of ‘exuberance’ or even the jumping-chest-bump if it’s quick; but otherwise you should humbly take your points and move on. I think the easiest way to solve the problem would be to address it the same way they do fans acting up - turn the cameras away. If these endzone shows weren’t being televised, they’d quickly stop. After all, the whole point of them is attention whoring. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/54 "2010-10-29T15:34:32Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > Couple more baseball ones that I’ll steal from Bill James. > > 1. Move the batter’s box back one inch every four years, until it’s four inches back from where it is now. This shouldn’t throw anybody’s career into a tailspin if it’s gradually brought in over the span of sixteen years. Do you mean away from the plate or away from the pitcher? I can see away from the plate to get rid of batters hanging their elbow into the zone like Barry Bonds used to do. Although that’s slowly getting to be less of an issue now with the elbow armor getting reduced and grandfathered guys retiring. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/55 "2010-10-29T15:47:46Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Wasn’t Bill talking about pitching changes _inside_ innings? Not between. Sorry about that, you’re right. Poor wording on my part. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/56 "2010-10-29T15:49:00Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Do you mean away from the plate or away from the pitcher? I can see away from the plate to get rid of batters hanging their elbow into the zone like Barry Bonds used to do. Although that’s slowly getting to be less of an issue now with the elbow armor getting reduced and grandfathered guys retiring. Yes, away from the plate. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/57 "2010-10-29T16:10:00Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > Though I’d be willing to do away with the “no change on an icing rule.” I’m ambivalent towards that one. > > As it stands, I’d do away with the penalty for shooting the puck over the glass and replace it with the same rule they currently have for icing. It’s basically the same tactic anyway. Both of these changes were fantastic ones that have vastly improved the on-ice product. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/58 "2010-10-29T16:21:28Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Both of these changes were fantastic ones that have vastly improved the on-ice product. But doesn’t shooting the puck over the glass (even deliberately) accomplish the same thing as deliberately hammering the puck down the ice (at least pre-lockout)? Why is only one of them a penalty? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/59 "2010-10-29T16:24:56Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’d like to see Formula One engineers have to design a car without all the wings and winglets and venturis and diffusers, and whatever other aerodynamic doodads they put on the cars these days. > > Two problems to overcome: I don’t know exactly how that would be written in the regulations, and it would be a massive expense to implement before finding out if it resulted in good racing. Well, they didn’t have all that crap in the mid-60’s, and the racing seemed fine. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670/60 "2010-10-29T16:28:29Z")
I agree with the proposal to limit pitching changes within an inning. Abolish the DH forever. Institute a salary cap, or severely limit the number of free agents a team can sign in a season. Make rich teams trade for talent rather than just buying it outright. Ban Joe Morgan from all parks for life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rule-changes-id-like-to-see/558670.md?page=4)