# Rules/features that only one sport has **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 26, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439 "2016-06-26T19:36:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [June 27, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/61 "2016-06-27T18:38:50Z")
There’s also Horseshoes which only shares points for getting close with the game of Hand Grenades. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/62 "2016-06-27T19:08:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That’s because you’ve never played overhand curling. I think my club would frown on that. And sometimes we need to save our energy to play Crud on the pool table upstairs. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/63 "2016-06-27T20:00:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Another odd thing about sailboat racing; race heats start before prior races have finished. So, you have boats going every which way, running their assigned courses, and (IME) you just do your best. Sometimes it’s only after the fact that you find out you won a heat. A boat passing you as you cross the finish line might be a straggler that started long before you did. > > Any other sports operate similarly? Doesn’t cross-country skiing do that? ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/64 "2016-06-27T21:24:32Z")
I recall reading many years ago that professional boxing was the only sport in which nobody knew the score at any point until after the competition was over. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/65 "2016-06-27T21:27:52Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I recall reading many years ago that professional boxing was the only sport in which nobody knew the score at any point until after the competition was over. Is that not also true of MMA? Or are there no other combat sports when it goes the judges at the end and a winner is declared (as opposed to some martial arts where individual points are scored and announced)? ---
**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:** [June 27, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/66 "2016-06-27T21:35:02Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I recall reading many years ago that professional boxing was the only sport in which nobody knew the score at any point until after the competition was over. Well the judges know their own scores, but usually no one knows all the scores. But those rules aren’t locked in, there have been experiments with posting the scores after each round, and a common practice in some locales to post scores when there are two rounds left. The reason for not posting scores is supposed to be to keep a boxer from trying to run away at the end of a fight once they know they have a lead. Not knowing the score keeps fights more exciting because it’s a sport where even a boxer thinks he has a comfortable lead the scores don’t always reflect what any person with reasonably good vision saw in the fight so he has to make sure to win as many rounds as possible. Posting the scores is also likely to make a fighter give up if he’s losing badly on the cards. Now the knockout in boxing isn’t something commonly found. In wrestling a pin is the equivalent. Outside martial arts I don’t know of any other sports where you can end the competition at any point like that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/67 "2016-06-27T21:42:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Robot Arm** : > > Curling is rather like golf in that players are expected to call fouls against themselves. There are officials watching each match, but they will generally let the players work things out among themselves. This is also the case for Ultimate Frisbee, though that may be a result of the relative informality of the sport. Nobody has big money riding on an Ultimate game. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/68 "2016-06-27T21:46:45Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Now the knockout in boxing isn’t something commonly found. In wrestling a pin is the equivalent. Outside martial arts I don’t know of any other sports where you can end the competition at any point like that. Catching the Snitch? _flees_ ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2016, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/69 "2016-06-27T23:50:07Z")
old Boston Garden rink was smaller than other NHL rinks but as noted above all the rinks are the same size now. ---
**Author:** ![cherry\_pez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8491ac/32.png) [@cherry\_pez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry_pez)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/70 "2016-06-28T02:26:09Z")
Is there any sport other than Australian Rules Football where point(s) are awarded if the ball hits a post and doesn’t go through the goal? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/71 "2016-06-28T02:51:27Z")
> [@cherry\_pez](#): > > Is there any sport other than Australian Rules Football where point(s) are awarded if the ball hits a post and doesn’t go through the goal? Horseshoes. You get points for close, touching, and “surrounding” (effectively, through). ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/72 "2016-06-28T04:51:51Z")
> [@cherry\_pez](#): > > Is there any sport other than Australian Rules Football where point(s) are awarded if the ball hits a post and doesn’t go through the goal? In rugby a try is awarded if the ball touches the line, rather than needing to cross the line. So a try is scored if in the act of grounding the ball it touches the goal posts or padding around the posts without needing to touch or cross the goal line. As a qualification, in Aussie Rules a behind is scored only if the ball hits one of the goal posts (inner pair). If the ball hit one of the behind posts (outer pair) the ball is out of bounds. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/73 "2016-06-28T08:54:26Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The rule is called “Spearing.” > > I would think if the game inherently involves players carrying sticks, you need a rule saying you can’t poke someone with your stick. Lacrosse also has a rule against spearing. I’d watch if they made hitting each other with sticks mandatory. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/74 "2016-06-28T09:46:23Z")
Golf’s been mentioned several times, but I didn’t see anything about players being allowed to use not only different brands of balls, but balls with different specs – compression, etc. I understand that Tom Brady enjoys golf. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/75 "2016-06-28T11:43:28Z")
> [@cherry\_pez](#): > > Is there any sport other than Australian Rules Football where point(s) are awarded if the ball hits a post and doesn’t go through the goal? Baseball, too. Baseball has two tall poles at the wall in right and left field that indicate the fair/foul demarcation. They are intended to aid the umpires in making the right calls on home runs/foul balls. If a batted ball hits the foul pole and bounces back into the field, it is considered a home run. Every part of the ball must be outside of the line for it to be considered foul, similar to a goal in soccer. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/76 "2016-06-28T13:21:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > There’s also Horseshoes which only shares points for getting close with the game of Hand Grenades. And the Frogs. And petanca, aka bulles. And some variants of marbles, but not all. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/77 "2016-06-28T17:39:53Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > There are certainly none that have the serving of scones as a law and have codified the order of jam and cream application (it is jam, _then_ cream) Pistols at dawn, sir! Do you put jam on your toast before the butter as well? 🙂 > [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > That’s a fair point. In terms of the accumulation of runs the bowling team is defending against that but…in order to actually win the game (in test cricket at least) you have to take 20 wickets and so at the same time the batting team is defending against that. > > so in fact it is both…and neither…at the same time…I think. Well, the side that’s out is trying to get the side that’s in, out (etc). So any other confusion is hardly surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/78 "2016-06-28T18:26:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > This is also the case for Ultimate Frisbee, though that may be a result of the relative informality of the sport. … In fact, having non-players make the calls is increasingly common, if controversial, in Ultimate. See [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/sports/ultimate-frisbee-debates-a-role-for-referees.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/sports/ultimate-frisbee-debates-a-role-for-referees.html). ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/79 "2016-06-28T22:17:22Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > Pistols at dawn, sir! Do you put jam on your toast before the butter as well? 🙂 Are you implying that toast is in some way an equivalent to fine, rosy-cheeked English scone? I have never heard the like. Good day to you sir, I SAID GOOD DAY! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439/80 "2016-06-29T23:28:47Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Are you implying that toast is in some way an equivalent to fine, rosy-cheeked English scone? > > I have never heard the like. > > Good day to you sir, > > I SAID GOOD DAY! > > 😃 Indeed, that would be an insult to good American toast. Say, are scones _supposed_ to be as hard as concrete blocks? 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-features-that-only-one-sport-has/758439.md?page=5)