# Sports Rules You Don't Think Are Necessary **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 23, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360 "2012-01-23T02:55:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 9
**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:** [February 1, 2012, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/161 "2012-02-01T12:36:40Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Isn’t how it gets judged anyway? That the guys who jump longest \*must \*have had the best style by definition, so they get the highest style points? Agreed the rule is useless, but isn’t it harmless too? No, because the telemark landing isn’t required for a long jump. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/162 "2012-02-01T14:03:58Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > NHL: Get rid of all the padding. The fights look like two guys in those inflatable sumo suits. On that note, WTF is up with NHL fighting? In any other non-combat sport, fights are an aberration. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/163 "2012-02-01T14:57:30Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Isn’t how it gets judged anyway? That the guys who jump longest \*must \*have had the best style by definition, so they get the highest style points? Agreed the rule is useless, but isn’t it harmless too? Nope, not always. In the 2010 Olympic normal hill event, the bronze medallist jumped further than the silver medallist but settled for bronze because of “Style points.” The sixth place finisher jumped as far as the silver medallist and as far as the bronze medallist, but got no medal at all, not enough “Style points.” I can’t find detailed breakdowns for previous Olympics, but it if happened in the first one I looked at it probably happened before. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/164 "2012-02-01T18:24:02Z")
Ski jumping was a judged style sport first and foremost. Distance was only one element of it. Think of it the way you would think of gymnastics, diving, synchronized swimming, ballroom dancing, or figure skating. The beauty of form and movement is what the sport was about. More recently, distance has taken greater importance, and landing in the telemark position has taken greater importance (early on, there was no bias between telemark or christie landings, despite the form being judged). Here’s an article on judging that is a condensation of [“The judging of style in ski jumping by Alexander Keiller being a supplement to the annual publication of the British Ski Jumping Club 1930”](http://www.skimuseum.ca/documents/annuals/1933_pt21_pg42-46.pdf). Note that telemark landings are only mentioned as a way of dealing with soft snow, and that distance is discussed, but only as one of many elements. ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/165 "2012-02-01T18:30:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > On that note, WTF is up with NHL fighting? In any other non-combat sport, fights are an aberration. It’s a tradition and serves a purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/166 "2012-02-01T20:39:16Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > MLB: Some are advocating getting rid of the infield fly rule. That would be fun. They should get rid of the designated hitter rule instead. That is an abomination. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/167 "2012-02-01T21:04:47Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > It’s a tradition and serves a purpose. They they shouldn’t pretend to discourage it. Five game suspension for fighting in Hockey would go a long way if you want it to stop. I have a feeling they don’t. MLB: not really a rule change, but for the love of god, can we stop the constant distractions between every inning at the ball game. A few minutes of quiet wouldn’t kill anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/168 "2012-02-01T21:57:46Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Ski jumping was a judged style sport first and foremost. Distance was only one element of it. Think of it the way you would think of gymnastics, diving, synchronized swimming, ballroom dancing, or figure skating. The beauty of form and movement is what the sport was about. More recently, distance has taken greater importance, and landing in the telemark position has taken greater importance (early on, there was no bias between telemark or christie landings, despite the form being judged). > > Here’s an article on judging that is a condensation of [“The judging of style in ski jumping by Alexander Keiller being a supplement to the annual publication of the British Ski Jumping Club 1930”](http://www.skimuseum.ca/documents/annuals/1933_pt21_pg42-46.pdf). Note that telemark landings are only mentioned as a way of dealing with soft snow, and that distance is discussed, but only as one of many elements. Still, I know it’s the rules and I watch basically 5 jumps in a non-Olympic year and 50 on an Olympic one, but in my head, guys flying preposterous distances have to win by flying the most. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/169 "2012-02-01T22:42:17Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > They they shouldn’t pretend to discourage it. Five game suspension for fighting in Hockey would go a long way if you want it to stop. I have a feeling they don’t. Of course not. A large segment of fandom would go bonkers and possibly stop coming to games. Of course, if they officially allowed them, a different group of people (some fans, mostly not) would go bonkers and possibly picket games. Hence, the kabuki. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/170 "2012-02-01T22:59:45Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > On that note, WTF is up with NHL fighting? In any other non-combat sport, fights are an aberration. Whatever makes you think that hockey is a non-combat sport? 😉 ---
**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:** [February 1, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/171 "2012-02-01T23:07:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > On that note, WTF is up with NHL fighting? In any other non-combat sport, fights are an aberration. It comes from the natural urge to punch Canadians. Even Canadians feel it. ---
**Author:** ![coolbyrne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@coolbyrne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coolbyrne)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/172 "2012-02-01T23:43:56Z")
This was mentioned by one poster and I agree- in the NHL, teams trying to kill a power play shouldn’t be absolved of the icing rule. I also think a lot more rules just need to be enforced. The pitcher/batter time limit, for one. Calling dives in footie. Carding players for crowding the ref (also footie). And there needs to be a clearer definition of pass interference in the NFL. Often, it seems the slightest touch or bump draws the flag, even if the ball is often not catchable. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/173 "2012-02-02T01:14:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > On that note, WTF is up with NHL fighting? In any other non-combat sport, fights are an aberration. Because in any other _team_ sport, fighting means ejection, not a five-minute breather. It is allowed in hockey only because of some “tradition” that fans want to see it, and because of some false bravado shit that “it’s part of the game”. That latter part is bullshit, of course - notice how the full-team, ice-littering brawls the NHL used to have regularly simply disappeared when they instituted the third-man-in rule. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/174 "2012-02-02T03:33:59Z")
> [@tripolar](#): > > it comes from the natural urge to punch canadians. Even canadians feel it. hilarious!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/175 "2012-02-02T05:37:59Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > Ok, so enforce the rule. Batters can not be out of the box for more than five seconds or its an automatic strike. Should eliminate most of the scratching, adjusting and general time wasting batters are so good at. Leaving the box without the umpire’s permission does not stop the game. Simply have the umpire stop giving permission every time and encourage the pitchers to quick pitch. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360/176 "2012-02-02T09:31:46Z")
I don’t want to go back to being able to charge the goalie in footie, but please can we get back to the days when you at least used to be able to challenge the goalie for the ball? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-you-dont-think-are-necessary/610360.md?page=8)