Rules/features that only one sport has

[Number]

@Shoeless

For hockey, I was thinking of how players are substituted during play. All other sports I can think of substitute players during a stoppage in play.

Australian Rules Football allows substitutions during play, though it’s not quite the same as line changes in hockey.

Up to three interchange (reserve) players may be swapped for those on the field at any time during the game. In Australian rules terminology, these players wait for substitution “on the bench”—an area with a row of seats on the sideline. Players must interchange through a designated interchange “gate” with strict penalties for too many players from one team on the field.

Futsal and some indoor soccer leagues also have unlimited on-the-fly substitution.

[running_coach]

@BobLibDem

And hockey.

Is golf the only sport where low score wins?

Cross-country running.

Each runner’s finishing place is added for a team score. There’s also an extra runner used to break ties.
High school: 5 runners score, 6th breaks ties.

[Laggard]

Does any other sport have red and yellow cards?

[Rysto]

@Laggard

Does any other sport have red and yellow cards?

Yes, including the two big rugby codes.

[cherry_pez]

Doesn’t Australian Rules Football also allow coaches(or runners delivering instructions) on the field during play? Can’t think of another sport that allows that.

[Askance]

@MaxTheVool

-Stoppage Time. Are there any other sports with a clock, but a slightly secret clock? One thing I do like about it is that the ref has the discretion to keep the game from ending in the middle of an offensive chance. This is built into American football, since the game doesn’t end during a play (right?).

An Australia Football (AFL) quarter is 25 minutes’ play plus on-time. The players do not know exactly when the quarter or game will finish. If you were just about to have a kick at goal when the siren goes, you can complete the move, otherwise tough luck. But it’s under the control of a timekeeper, not the ref.

Another one: AFL umpires (referees) do not have the power to send a player off during play, for any reason whatsoever. I’m not sure any other game has that.

[QUOTE=cherry_pez]
Doesn’t Australian Rules Football also allow coaches(or runners delivering instructions) on the field during play? Can’t think of another sport that allows that.
[/QUOTE]

Runners, not coaches; technically they are keeping the players hydrated but of course are passing on instructions.

[amanset]

Any sports apart from cricket that take a break for lunch and tea?

[Novelty_Bobble]

@amanset

Any sports apart from cricket that take a break for lunch and tea?

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)

[AK84]

@amanset

Any sports apart from cricket that take a break for lunch and tea?

Interestingly, while Americans and others love to cite this fact as quintessentially English, it is actually an Australian invention and the English initially scoffed at the idea, and when they did adopt it, they seemed to be trolling the Aussies; as this picture from a Headingley test shows, they are serving tea, on the field, with waitresses.

[Giles]

@TriPolar

… I’m not sure how cricket works but I understood there was a fixed number of innings and the game can end in a draw.

In the traditional form of cricket (i.e., without the relatively modern innovation of limited-over cricket), each side bats for two innings.

Cricket can end in a draw, and often does. In fact, cricket distinguishes between draws and ties. A draw happens when time runs out for the game, and neither side has bowled the other out and scored a higher score than the other: in other words, if the game continued without a time limit, either side could (in theory) win. A tie occurs when both sides have been bowled out, and the score for each side is equal: a tie is quite rare.

[AK84]

@Giles

In the traditional form of cricket (i.e., without the relatively modern innovation of limited-over cricket), each side bats for two innings.

Cricket can end in a draw, and often does. In fact, cricket distinguishes between draws and ties. A draw happens when time runs out for the game, and neither side has bowled the other out and scored a higher score than the other: in other words, if the game continued without a time limit, either side could (in theory) win. A tie occurs when both sides have been bowled out, and the score for each side is equal: a tie is quite rare.

A Tie has happened only twice..

At one time, there used to be a rule that the last test of series would continue till a result. This led to one famous situation where a match went on for 11 days and was only abandoned because England needed to catch the boat home.

[kayaker]

@Iggy

A bit odd… but sailing changes the course during the race. I can’t think of another sporting event that changes the course/size of the playing field during the actual competition.

The order in which you sail the buoys changes each race (at least with hobies). Immediately prior to a race the committee announces “4”. All sailors in the fleet refer to their charts and see that “4” means “start”, then buoy 2, then buoy 3, then back to “2”, then finish.

We were racing on Lake Erie once and had a phenomenally excellent start. We were driving for buoy 4 when we realized the boat trailing us was headed for a different buoy. We initially assumed we’d fucked up, but it turned out they had.

Also in sailing, the start of the race is determined by a timepiece on the committee boat. Everyone synchs their watches, but being a minute off can mean fouling by crossing the starting line prematurely, then having to turn around and do it again.

[BobLibDem]

@cherry_pez

Doesn’t Australian Rules Football also allow coaches(or runners delivering instructions) on the field during play? Can’t think of another sport that allows that.

Oh sure, third base coaches give instructions to runners as to whether to slide into third, stand up, or attempt to score.

[Stanislaus]

@running_coach

In baseball, the defense controls the ball.

@Novelty_Bobble

and cricket

A minor quibble here, in that the bowling unit is usually referred to as the attack. And batting can be more about defending your wicket than scoring runs. In truth, I don’t think “attack” or “defense” are useful descriptions of either batting or bowling. (E.g. Viv Richards attacked, Chris Tavare defended but both batted.)

[Novelty_Bobble]

@Stanislaus

A minor quibble here, in that the bowling unit is usually referred to as the attack. And batting can be more about defending your wicket than scoring runs. In truth, I don’t think “attack” or “defense” are useful descriptions of either batting or bowling. (E.g. Viv Richards attacked, Chris Tavare defended but both batted.)

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.

[Lamar_Mundane]

@Iggy

A bit odd… but sailing changes the course during the race. I can’t think of another sporting event that changes the course/size of the playing field during the actual competition.

Maybe a technicality, but a golf tournament lasts four rounds. Each round has different pin positions and the length of the course can and does vary widely. So during the competition, the playing field changes three times.

It never changes during a single round, even in the case of weather delays or darkness delaying play until the next day. Every player plays the same course for every round.

[cmkeller]

Tri-Polar:

Baseball’s use of innings and continuing until there is a winner may be unique.

Doesn’t basketball have unlimited overtime periods until one team or the other wins the game?

[Siam_Sam]

Weightlifting is the only sport that has snatches and clean jerks, although I can think of at least one profession that does.

[cherry_pez]

@BobLibDem

Oh sure, third base coaches give instructions to runners as to whether to slide into third, stand up, or attempt to score.

He’s outside the foul line though.

[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?