The sports staff shared what they think is the worst rule in sports.
Gabe Newman (Sports Editor): Roughing the passer in the NFL
While there should be some level of protection for a quarterback, they’re too protected by the roughing the passer penalty.
If the quarterback hasn’t yet thrown the ball, then roughing the passer shouldn’t be called.
I hate it when a defender makes a play and sacks the quarterback, but because he landed on him with too much of his body weight it’s a 15-yard penalty.
If the tackle is flagrant, then it should be unnecessary roughness. But, throwing a flag for normally tackling someone who has the ball just because of the position they play is pathetic.
Payton Liggins (Assistant Sports Editor): Excessive Celebration in the NFL
A dumb rule in football is the “excessive celebration” penalty.
Scoring a touchdown is one of the hardest, but most exciting, things to do in the game. However, players can get flagged and fined for celebrating too much. I understand the NFL doesn’t want anything promoting sex, violence or anything that delays the game. But, whether it’s a choreographed dance, spiking the ball, or showing personality, the NFL has long restricted how players can express themselves after big plays.
I can say the league has loosened up in recent years, but some celebrations are still penalized if officials deem them “taunting”. The rule feels unnecessary because celebrations add entertainment for fans and allow players to show emotion in a high-intensity sport. By punishing joy and creativity based on a referee’s opinion, the rule not only frustrates players but also drains fun from the game.
Morgan Gillespie (Sports Reporter): Can’t reattempt run if you run off the runway in track and field
There is a rule in Track & Field for the long and triple jump events that explains how you can’t run off the runway even though you never crossed the board to reattempt your run.
During an attempt, you are given one minute to jump. Once an athlete passes the board, that is considered an attempt or a scratch, depending on the foot placement.
While athletes are running down the runway, sometimes you can tell when your steps will be off. In practice, athletes sometimes veer off the runway and try again. Although that happens in practice, officials will count that as an attempt at a meet and will not let you reattempt that jump even though you technically did not cross the board.
I feel that athletes should be allowed to do that instead of wasting jumps. Now, if that were allowed, there would need to be a limit on the number of attempts.
Jacksen Adkins (Sports Reporter): Offensive fouls in basketball
My least favorite rule is the offensive foul in the NBA.
It may sound like I want offensive players to have free reign over the court, but it’s the opposite. The offensive foul largely goes under-called due to its vagueness in enforcement.
Players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson have caught flak for drawing fouls by pump faking to get defenders in the air before intentionally jumping into them. They racked up points like this in last year’s playoffs, ending as the top two players in total playoff points.
Ultimately, these players are trying to win, and if it means using loopholes or poorly articulated rules to your advantage, then fair game.
The burden falls on referees and officials to make clear that the act of baiting for fouls will go unrewarded this season and on. If they don’t, the lack of enforcement on the offensive foul could end up making the NBA harder to watch.
Aaron Coffin (Sports Reporter): Technical fouls
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