sports-rules

The NBA 9, commonly called the “9-point rule” or “mercy rule,” is a game management guideline used in some levels of basketball to end or significantly shorten a contest...

An NFL game can be cancelled due to injury when too many players on one team are unable to play or are unavailable for emergency call‑ups, typically because of a short practic...

When an NFL game is stopped for an injury, a structured set of rules and medical protocols determines whether play resumes or ends, often within seconds or minutes. This overvie...

Law 11 of the Laws of the Game governs offside in soccer and defines when an attacker is in an offside position and, more importantly, when that position is penalized. An offsid...

Runners are disqualified (DQ) when they fail to meet the rules of a race, most often involving course cutting, illegal aid, unsportsmanlike conduct, or repeated pacing violation...

The MLB hitting helmet rule requires baserunners on the basepaths to wear a protective helmet any time they are outside the three‑foot runner’s lane or within the dangerous...

The draft is a structured process that connects elite amateur or professional players with organizations that can develop and deploy their talents. At its core, it is a regulate...

A punch in the NFL is a personal foul that can dramatically shift field position, alter momentum, and trigger lengthy disciplinary reviews. Governed by rules that penalize unnec...

Women are allowed to play in the NFL under the same player eligibility rules that apply to all people who meet position requirements. No rule bars women from signing or remainin...

On a standard football (soccer) pitch, 22 players take the field at once: 11 per side, including 1 goalkeeper and 10 outfield players. Substitution rules vary by competition, bu...