Baseball, football, and basketball have received backlash from recent rule changes in their off-seasons. Even though some of these changes have caused negative feedback, some people still believe these adjustments have positively impacted the sports.
In the past off-season, the MLB added a pitching clock to decrease the length of games.
“These steps are designed to improve the pace of play, increase action, and reduce injuries,” MLB commissioner Robert D Manfred Jr said, via CBS sports.
This rule change has decreased the average game time from 3 hours and 6 minutes to 2 hours and 39 minutes. This change has given the younger audience a reason to be interested in baseball again, with a 62 percent increase in watchers during nationally televised games.
During the NFL off-season, Commissioner Rodger Goodell proposed a new set of rules for the 2023-2024 NFL season. Use of the helmet, failed fourth-down conversions, and instant replay changes are some of the new regulations for the 2023 season.
All failed fourth-down conversions will now be reviewed via replay. Players cannot lower the helmet for a hit, or an immediate flag will be thrown. Also, there will now be a 10-second runoff for a replay review.
There has been a lot of frustration surrounding the use of flags for unnecessary roughness in the 2023 season from fans and sports media.
“There are so many people who want it less physical. It’s becoming more like flag football, like the 2028 Olympics,” said NFL legend, Tom Brady.
With the increase in NFL injuries, fans should expect more rules to protect defenseless players.
Through the 2023 NBA off-season, there has been a lot of exasperation with athletes and games played throughout the season. Starting in the 2023 season, all players who had made an all-star team in the past three seasons will have to play 65 plus games to be in consideration for regular season awards.
With an average all-star player playing 64.4 games per season in 2022, this is a massive decrease from an average of 79.2 in 2003.
Load management has always been an issue for star players on lesser teams. Although some players need a rest day, they should not sit out more than 20 percent of games during the regular season.
“When I see young, healthy players who are resting, it becomes maybe even more of a notion of stature around the league,” said Adam Silver, NBA commissioner.
When a young player is seen resting throughout the season, older veterans are expected to follow because they are older and need more downtime. This new rule will increase national television viewership and younger viewers watching professional basketball.
Although most sports fans despise significant rule changes, change is good for improving the health and safety of today’s athletes. Without change, we may never have the extraordinary experience of attending major sporting events.
