# Which sports have the most and least complicated official rules? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 8, 2023, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751 "2023-05-08T14:27:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [May 10, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/41 "2023-05-10T12:23:37Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > how to score spares and strikes, I took “bowling” in college to satisfy a physical education requirement. Our final exam involved, in part, scoring a ten frame game as the instructor stood there telling us the result of each roll. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/42 "2023-05-10T12:29:47Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Our final exam involved, in part, scoring a ten frame game as the instructor stood there telling us the result of each roll. Pretty much every modern bowling center has electronic scoring, so I’m wondering how many casual bowlers even know how to score if, say, the electronics glitch and they have to keep track of the game themselves. I had no problem learning when I was a kid and still remember how to score even though I haven’t bowled in a long time. ---
**Author:** ![Quondam\_Mechanic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quondam_mechanic/32/3404_2.png) [@Quondam\_Mechanic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quondam_Mechanic)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/43 "2023-05-10T13:19:30Z")
Anybody here remember [43-man squamish?](https://en.everybodywiki.com/43-Man_Squamish) ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/44 "2023-05-10T13:41:28Z")
> [@Quondam\_Mechanic](#): > > Anybody here remember [43-man squamish](https://en.everybodywiki.com/43-Man_Squamish) Heh, I remember reading that when my big brother brought home MAD Magazine. I still remember this rule: > If the officials disagree, a decision is made by the spectator who left his car in the parking lot with the lights on and the motor running. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/45 "2023-05-10T13:48:58Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > pro wrestling as any and all rules are optional my understanding is the pro wrestling is not a sport, but rather, theater. However, I have never seen it and know nothing about it. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/46 "2023-05-10T14:28:34Z")
The simplest will be the “classic” Olympic sports: Running - Run from here to there the fastest, perhaps jumping over some obstacles Field events - Throw this thing as far as you can Weightlifting - Lift the heaviest thing you can over your head (or not, depending on the event) For team sports, soccer is relatively simple, but various interpretations of handball and offsides have increased it over the years. But the basics - “shoot this ball into that goal without using your hands or arms, other than one player who can use his hands to stop the ball” are pretty damn simple. There are various definitions of fouls, which does take some explaining. Although they can generally be summed up as “don’t kick the other person or use your hands to slow them down”. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/47 "2023-05-10T14:47:42Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > my understanding is the pro wrestling is not a sport, but rather, theater. However, I have never seen it and know nothing about it. It is Sports/Entertainment. It used to be a sport and recognized as such by state athletic commissions, even though it was no secret that it wasn’t actual competition. Back in the 90s World Wrestling Entertainment (World Wrestling Federation at the time) admitted that it was not actually a sport, among other reasons in order to avoid the costs those athletic commissions imposed on them. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/48 "2023-05-10T15:21:09Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > [bowling is] simple, but not quite as simple as a dash. The 100 m run is not quite as simple as you made it seem. There’s rules about lane violations, interference, false starts, disqualification, use of forbidden substances, and perhaps other things I can’t think of right now. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/49 "2023-05-10T15:24:10Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Least complicated rules: [Rock, paper, scissors.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_paper_scissors) It’s definitely less complicated than Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/50 "2023-05-10T15:32:48Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Field events - Throw this thing as far as you can There are extensive rules on the weight and size of the thing being thrown and from where and how the object is thrown. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2023, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/51 "2023-05-10T15:36:34Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The 100 m run is not quite as simple as you made it seem. There’s rules about lane violations, interference, false starts, disqualification, use of forbidden substances, and perhaps other things I can’t think of right now. It doesn’t affect the result of any particular race, but for a runner’s time to count as a record, the tailwind must be below a certain threshold. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/52 "2023-05-10T15:55:08Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Least complicated rules: [Rock, paper, scissors.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_paper_scissors) Not at all odd to find that Odds and Evens is even simpler. So we have seen a number of sports have rather simple rules of play, dashes, darts, shot put, bowling, but additional regulations regarding equipment, fields, tracks, lanes, all can grow in volume and complexity. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/53 "2023-05-10T15:55:53Z")
Yeah, that is even right. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2023, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/54 "2023-05-10T21:04:19Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Pretty much every modern bowling center has electronic scoring, so I’m wondering how many casual bowlers even know how to score if, say, the electronics glitch and they have to keep track of the game themselves. Which is evidence that the game isn’t actually as simple as you say. Nobody would ever forget how to score a hundred-meter dash. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/55 "2023-05-11T01:29:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Nobody would ever forget how to score a hundred-meter dash. “On your mark” “GO” “Get set” ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/56 "2023-05-11T01:48:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > > [@Jasmine](#): > > > > Pretty much every modern bowling center has electronic scoring, so I’m wondering how many casual bowlers even know how to score if, say, the electronics glitch and they have to keep track of the game themselves. > > Which is evidence that the game isn’t actually as simple as you say. Nobody would ever forget how to score a hundred-meter dash. The scoring depends on the number of teams competing. California High School Dual meet 5–3–1 Relay 5–0 Tri meet 5–3–2–1 Relay 5–3–0 6 teams 10–8–6–3–2–1 ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/57 "2023-05-11T20:37:51Z")
Simplest? The clear winner is a knife fight… [No rules in a knife fight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v010HXpfFSA) ---
**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:** [May 11, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/58 "2023-05-11T20:42:01Z")
I guess that “fight club” is pretty simple but are there eight rules or only seven? ---
**Author:** ![cincinnatus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cincinnatus/32/7990_2.png) [@cincinnatus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cincinnatus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/59 "2023-05-12T03:31:43Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Trying to explain basic baseball to him was like teaching my cat about manual transmissions. @Llama_Llogophile That put me on the floor. All right, I’m going to steal that. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2023, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751/60 "2023-05-12T06:34:21Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > Simplest? The clear winner is a knife fight… > > [No rules in a knife fight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v010HXpfFSA) Doesn’t qualify per the OP though, unless there’s an international knife fight governing body. In which case… there would be rules in a knife fight. 😀 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-have-the-most-and-least-complicated-official-rules/983751.md?page=4)