# Stupid sports questions that you should know but don't. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 17, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657 "2009-12-17T17:47:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/41 "2009-12-18T17:50:01Z")
> [@davekhps](#): > > One more point: I think it’s a sound axiom that your appreciation of college sports is directly proportional to the success of the teams playing at your alma mater. I.e., if you didn’t go to college, or went to a college with minor Division 3 teams, or the like, you’re going to care a lot less about college sports than if you went to a Division 1 school routinely fielding championship-competitive teams in multiple sports. I think you might have something here, but it doesn’t apply to me. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin (go Badgers!), but I still don’t like college football. I’m like you - it’s just so amateur. Run up the middle on 4th and 10? Sure, why not? And the hell of it is, it’ll work! No way those plays would work in the pros. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/42 "2009-12-18T18:23:43Z")
Here’s one: how do you figure the distance on a field goal? If the ball is on the 30 yard line, it’s not a 30 yard attempt, they tack on some yards for the endzone. How many? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/43 "2009-12-18T18:28:37Z")
The end zone is 10 yards deep. Field goal distances are measured from the spot of the kick, normally 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage. So if scrimmage is the 30, the kick is 48 yards. ---
**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:** [December 18, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/44 "2009-12-18T18:44:07Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The end zone is 10 yards deep. Field goal distances are measured from the spot of the kick, normally 8 yards behind the line of scrimmage. So if scrimmage is the 30, the kick is 48 yards. Hrmm, I always thought it was 7 yards behind the LOS. Has that changed in recent years? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/45 "2009-12-18T18:51:38Z")
It’s 7 yards, although it varies somewhat with the distance of the attempt with some kickers. You add 15 to the line of scrimmage normally. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/46 "2009-12-18T19:07:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Hrmm, I always thought it was 7 yards behind the LOS. Has that changed in recent years? That used to be standard, but it appeared to have gone to 8, oh, maybe 5 years ago or so. There also seem to me to be fewer blocks and tips now, not coincidentally. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/47 "2009-12-18T19:14:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s 7 yards, although it varies somewhat with the distance of the attempt with some kickers. You add 15 to the line of scrimmage normally. 17, not 15. Need coffee But ElvisL1ves is still wrong. 😃 Incidentally, the rule doesn’t make any damn sense. Punts are measured from the line of scrimmage, as are passes and rushes (yards after catch and rushing yards after contact may be measure from behind the line, for obvious reasons, but neither is an official statistic). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/48 "2009-12-18T19:21:23Z")
:shrug: Pay attention to a game or two on Sunday and see for yourself. If a field goal attempt fails, the other team takes over at the point of the kick, \*not \*the former line of scrimmage, so the spot does matter. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/49 "2009-12-18T19:24:30Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > :shrug: Pay attention to a game or two on Sunday and see for yourself. > > If a field goal attempt fails, the other team takes over at the point of the kick, \*not \*the former line of scrimmage, so the spot does matter. I pay attention to all of them, and it’s nearly always 7 yards, except on extreme-range attempts. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_goal_(football)#Soccer_style) agrees with me, too: > [@](#): > > Soccer style is almost universally used in American and Canadian football today. In field goal and extra point attempts, the ball is snapped to a holder lined up about seven yards from the line of scrimmage. > The distance of the holder behind the line of scrimmage is not mandated by any rule, but rather has developed by trial and error over time as the optimal distance to allow the center, holder and kicker to combine to get the kick off, and force defenders to run a greater distance in attempts to block the kick. That is a good point (about the change of possession) though. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/50 "2009-12-18T19:44:28Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Interesting, 3 of the 4 successful fair catch kicks invovled the Packers > [Fair catch kick - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_catch_kick) Wow, I didn’t know there was a list on wiki. I had no idea the Mac Percival FK was still the last successful attempt. I was 8 years old at the time, too young to follow football, but I vividly remember my older brother screaming loud enough to wake the dead while listening to the Jack Brickhouse radio broadcast. And I remember everybody saying that the Bears knew about it because of the Hornung kick four years earlier. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/51 "2009-12-18T19:54:12Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > It’s illegal to play with a broken stick and you can hand off your stick to another player. Normally the “flow” of sticks is the other way, back to the goaltender. If the goalie breaks his stick a player will hand his to the goalie and play without. If a defenseman breaks his stick a forward will offer his up. The players on the bench are alert to that kind of thing so it’s pretty easy to grab a stick on the way up the ice if on the attacking side. Of note, the goalie is the only player allowed to play with a broken stick. He can continue with it until the next whistle. Usually it’s busted enough that it’s of no use anyway, but if just, say, the blade is snapped, the paddle is still useful. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/52 "2009-12-18T20:06:33Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I pay attention to all of them, and it’s nearly always 7 yards, except on extreme-range attempts. It always used to be 7, though in recent years my impression is that 8 is much more common. For instance, a couple random recent games: [Saints-Falcons](http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=291213001&period=0) 4th and 8 at NO 18 M.Bryant 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Zelenka, Holder-M.Koenen. 4th and 6 at ATL 15 G.Hartley 33 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Kyle, Holder-M.Brunell. 4th and 2 at NO 12 M.Bryant 30 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Zelenka, Holder-M.Koenen. 4th and 4 at NO 8 M.Bryant 27 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Zelenka, Holder-M.Koenen. 4th and 20 at ATL 20 G.Hartley 38 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Kyle, Holder-M.Brunell. [Colts-Jags](http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/playbyplay?gameId=291217030&period=0) 4th and 11 at IND 32 J.Scobee 50 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Cain, Holder-A.Podlesh. ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/53 "2009-12-19T08:43:53Z")
> [@KennerTheGreat](#): > > There’s also [Pat Venditte](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Venditte) in the minors. One time, he came up against a switch hitter. [Hijinks ensued.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDyCRTlKllk) Wow. That was more than a little ridiculous. Not sure what the pitcher was complaining about. It’s his responsibility to deliver the damn ball. Ump should have started charging him balls. I, for one, have gone to hundreds of football games, and I still don’t completely understand the details regarding illegal shift/illegal formation/illegal motion/eligible receivers. I just kind of take the zebra’s word for it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/54 "2009-12-19T09:34:18Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > Wow. That was more than a little ridiculous. Not sure what the pitcher was complaining about. It’s his responsibility to deliver the damn ball. Ump should have started charging him balls. > > I, for one, have gone to hundreds of football games, and I still don’t completely understand the details regarding illegal shift/illegal formation/illegal motion/eligible receivers. I just kind of take the zebra’s word for it. 😃 I’m a NFHS zebra, ask away and I can probably answer. But the most common problems are: Illegal shift has 2+ people moving at a time presnap and not setting for a second (generally one person starts motion while another is moving) Illegal formations don’t have 7+ men on the line (more is ok, but limits eligible receivers) Illegal motion is generally going to be somebody moving forwards at the snap Eligible receivers are the 2 people on the ends of the line of scrimmage, and everybody in the backfield (wide outs off the line, running backs, h-backs, the quarterback on trick plays, etc). The 5 interior linemen (who must be numbered 50-79) can’t go more than a couple of yards down field unless the pass is behind the LoS (screens). Otherwise, they’re ineligible men down field. The other time you would see it called is if somebody split wide covers up a tight end accidentally, making him ineligible. ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/55 "2009-12-19T09:38:39Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > I, for one, have gone to hundreds of football games, and I still don’t completely understand the details regarding illegal shift/illegal formation/illegal motion/eligible receivers. I just kind of take the zebra’s word for it. 😃 Illegal shift: If two or more players are moving at the same time before the ball is snapped, all players must come to a stop for one second. Only one player is allowed to be in motion at the snap, and this motion must begin after all players are stationary. Illegal motion: The player in motion at the snap may not be moving toward the line of scrimmage when the ball is snapped. Eligible receivers: Players in the backfield or on the end of the line with numbers not between 50 and 79 are eligible to receive a forward pass. In the NFL, a player with a number 50-79 who lines up in an eligible position may report to the referee and be declared eligible. In NCAA, such a player will never be eligible. Illegal formation: NFL: There must be at least 5 players on the line numbered 50-79. There must also be an eligible receiver at each end of the line. If not eligible by number, this player must declare eligible. NCAA: There must be at least 5 players on the line numbered 50-79. There may be no more than 4 players lined up in the backfield. “On the line” means that the player’s head breaks a line drawn through the waistband of the snapper when in formation. “In the backfield” means that no part of the player breaks a line drawn through the rearmost part of anyone “on the line”. Players that meet neither definition cause an illegal formation. Exceptions are made for quarterbacks under center (in NCAA they count as “in the backfield”, I think the NFL rules don’t count them that way but the effect is the same). ---
**Author:** ![Cyberhwk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7993a0/32.png) [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/56 "2009-12-19T10:18:59Z")
> [@Darth\_Sensitive](#): > > The other time you would see it called is if somebody split wide covers up a tight end accidentally, making him ineligible. How would this happen? Just a WR lining up to close to the OL as to be considered a “lineman?” Or would the TE be ineligble in this formation? ```auto O OOOOOO O O O O ``` ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/57 "2009-12-19T10:39:26Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > How would this happen? Just a WR lining up to close to the OL as to be considered a “lineman?” Or would the TE be ineligble in this formation? > > ```auto > > O OOOOOO O > O O > O > > ``` Yes. It usually happens when a flanker gets too close to the line or when one of the ends ends up on the wrong side. Sometimes teams will have formations where the TE lines up on one side or the other depending on field position, defense alignment, etc, and the WRs on each side are responsible for adjusting. If they don’t adjust properly, the TE can get covered up. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/58 "2009-12-19T10:41:25Z")
> [@wedgehed](#): > > I’ve got one. > > Has there ever been a switch _pitcher_ in baseball? > > What rules would govern changing from one arm to the other? There were several in the 19th century: Icebox Chamberlain and Tony Mullane and someone else whose name I can’t recall. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/59 "2009-12-19T10:46:52Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Can I ask a couple questions? > > 1. What’s the big deal about the two-minute warning? I understand that the clock stops and there are no more challenges, but why is there always a rush to get one last play in before the warning? > > 2. How does an on-side punt work? I know it’s meant to make it easier to get the ball back, but how? Keep in mind before 1970 in the NFL, one of the officials kept track of time. The stadium clock the teams and fans saw was unofficial, as TV announcers repeated every 10 minutes The stadium clock was not always in sync with official time. So having a two minute warning did let both teams know how much time was left. The rival AFL made the stadium clock the official time and the NFL adopted this common sense rule with the merger. But I’m sure having a planned break for TV commercials is a big reason too. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-sports-questions-that-you-should-know-but-dont/521657/60 "2009-12-19T16:30:27Z")
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