Sports Gamesmanship and Officiating

The cluster focuses on debates about strategic gamesmanship, referee impartiality, uncalled infractions, penalties, and the human element in sports like soccer, American football, and basketball, questioning whether strict enforcement improves fairness or disrupts the game.

📉 Falling 0.5x Other
4,367
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4160
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
6
2008
32
2009
85
2010
231
2011
105
2012
144
2013
181
2014
223
2015
214
2016
210
2017
176
2018
315
2019
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2020
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2021
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2022
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2023
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2024
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2025
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2026
15

Keywords

US OP VAR QB youtube.com NFL MMA i.e FIFA TV game football sport basketball ball replay goal soccer diving opponent

Sample Comments

throw_pm23 Dec 6, 2024 View on HN

This is a bit like a football referee looking at the videos after a goal and deciding that it was a handball, thus invalidating the goal. It is not an easy decision to make but better to do it quickly.

fullshark Nov 28, 2018 View on HN

I think it's like playing for penalty kicks in a world cup championship game where you think you have an advantage. People moan about that too.

Kalanos Aug 22, 2022 View on HN

that's like saying "don't worry if the defender breaks your leg because the ref will call a foul"

motohagiography Jan 17, 2022 View on HN

The question is based on a proufound misunderstanding. It's like a goalie saying people should standardize where they aim their penalty kicks.

sanderjd Jun 22, 2010 View on HN

In the NFL there is generally at least one hold on every play that goes uncalled. Far from offending our sense of fair play, we accept it as part of the game. Basketball is actually strategically centered around fouling and drawing fouls, charging players under the hoop and assuming their feet aren't set, which they usually aren't. These are perfectly accepted aspects of the sport. I hate the diving in soccer, but the push and pull of what the referee will allow you to get away with is a large p

pstuart May 14, 2022 View on HN

Doesn't Football have regulations? Perhaps removing them will make the game more efficient. /s

meetups323 Mar 16, 2022 View on HN

Everything will be gamed. Penalties are part of the game.

dave4420 Nov 24, 2022 View on HN

It feels like this would make games harder to referee.

exabrial Sep 13, 2019 View on HN

Penalize them? It's a football game.

okamiueru Feb 19, 2023 View on HN

One player playing dirty does not imply the rest are saints?