re: Sports rules you would like to see changed

Targeting.
TEAM MUST PLAY 4 scrimmage plays with 10 players instead of 11.

IF it is egregious, kicked out of current game
If criminal, out for the year.

quote:

---

I think as soon as you start talking about magical places and special rules when discussing football, your argument by default sounds pretty silly.

---

I was clearly being sarcastic when using the term magical. But there are special rules for the end zone. To argue otherwise and call that “silly” is being willfully ignorant. Literally every sport has special rules for scoring zones:

- Greens on a golf course
- The lane, backboard and rim in basketball
- The goal lines in hockey and soccer
- The penalty box in soccer
- Home plate in baseball (good example)

There are rules in each sport governing what is allowed by either team in those areas, and what constitutes a score.

quote:

---

There aren’t really special rules in the endzone, outside of the fact that once the offensive player has established possession of the ball in it, the play is over because they’ve scored.

---

You named one of many special rules in the end zone:

- if the offense commits a penalty in their own end zone it’s a safety
- if the defense commits a penalty in their end zone the offense gets the ball on the 2 yard line (how’s that for arbitrary?)
- the rule you mentioned is in fact special - there is no where else on the field where play would stop just because the ball crossed the plane regardless of whether the ball carrier is out of bounds or down.
- the offense can score points by kicking the ball through the goal posts at the back of the end zone (I think you’d agree this can’t happen anywhere else on the field)
- a ball can be downed by a defending team in the end zone and awarded a touchback (nowhere else on the field do you get a 20-25 yard “reward” for taking over possession of the ball)

The end zone is a different place. The rule book consistently reminds a reader that this is where a team is defending against the other team, which is attacking. Once the ball enters the end zone, new rules apply.

In fact, if you read the rule book, this situation isn’t really a special or unique section that needs some lengthy explanation or caveats. It’s one of the more straightforward pieces of the rule book - Go to section 6, Article I

quote:

---

When you start talking about “special rules” you’re agreeing that something is inconsistent and unique, and I don’t see any reason for that to be the case.

---

In the context of the game of football, it is unique but it is not really inconsistent. If the attacking team loses the ball into (or out of) the defending team’s end zone, the ball is now the defending team’s. It’s a pretty basic rule based on the very notion of having end zones to protect.

Every argument I’ve seen about this seem to be based on one of the below:

- denying that the end zone has or should have unique rules, which feels like a lazy argument
- suggesting that it’s somehow unfair to the offense and that they should arbitrarily be given an additional chance after making a mistake
- that this rule is antiquated and no longer should apply, all the while ignoring the reasons for the rule itself, as well as seemingly being okay with all of the other rules that are based in the same antiquated concepts that the rest of the game is governed by (why 4 downs? What’s special about 10 yards? Why 6 points for a touchdown?)

But I’ll humor you and others:

What do you think should happen on this play, and why?

quote:

---

If someone is like an entire step ahead of someone, then yeah, it’s offsides. But this using VAR to analyze if someone is a couple inches ahead is ridiculous.

---

No matter what parameter you set for it to be offside, there will still be VAR reviews for the closest of calls

quote:

---

The rest of the field is not the same as the end zone. There are different rules for the end zone - it’s why teams score points in them and why teams are trying to prevent others from getting into it.

---

None of this creates an inherent justification for the rule as currently applied. Moving the ball back to the 25 yard line would be just as arbitrary and unique relative to other parts of the field, wouldn't it?

1. No automatic First Down Penalties - Move the yardage; gets a first down - GREAT; doesn't - doesn't.

2. No Half the distance to the goal penalties. If the ball would be moved to the end zone on a penalty = ball is spotted on the 1. Just like for PI in the end zone.

3. Pass Interference should have levels of consequence
a. Between 1-15 yards (Spot Foul) (Doesn't Change)
b. Between 16-25 yards (15 Yards) (Puts Restriction on intermediate throws)
c. Between 25-100 yards (25 Yards (Deeper pass; deeper consequence; but not egregiously so)
d. Would be open to other suggestions admittedly not perfect, but much better than what currently exists.

4. Fumble into the end zone
a. End zone is different and treated as such (see rule two; ball cannot be spotted there)
b. Should be a consequence for fumbles here
c. Defense should not be rewarded with the ball for the mistake, but offense should be punished for the mistake.
d. 15 yard penalty from the spot of the fumble.

If a player in football decides to slide rather than get tackled, move the ball back 5 yards. Tired of these little sissies.

quote:

---

What if the defense forced the fumble?

Why should the boundary lines of the end zone be a safety net for the offense but not the defense?

---

In my head I'm making the same argument. They (The defense) should be rewarded (ball is moved back 15 yards); but they didn't recover the ball; so why should they get the ball just for causing the fumble, but not completing the play and recovering during the run of play?

So reward for causing fumble/mistake, but not get the ball because they didn't recover the ball.

nascar may be beyond fixing but they can start by killing the playoffs and stupidarse stage racing

I'm not sure how anybody can be against the fumbling through the endzone touchback rule. It's the only thing that makes any sense in consistency with other rules of the game especially kickoffs. It also rarely happens so why would anybody care that much.

Hate the one knee down thing in college football. Even if the player is untouched, he's down. If untouched, let him get up and go. Drives me crazy.