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I don't understand the need for Federation football rules. For one thing, Federation only allows states to adopt alternate provisions in specific rules. In Texas, we use NCAA rules for football and we can have whatever exceptions we like. Want to add provisions for a coach's ejection that's not in the NCAA rule? No problem; do it. Further, there is 6 man and 8 man football played in other states and each state would be free to adopt the NCAA ruleset for whatever size field or number of players they want. The reason it isn't done (at least with some states) is that there is a perception that the NCAA rules committee won't pay any attention when states voice concerns over rules. But the ability to change those rules makes that point moot. Want to eliminate all blocking below the waist that doesn't occur at the line of scrimmage and involve all linemen? No problem -- just make an exception and write out a rule.
Basketball is the one area where Federation rules are needed for the simple reason that a lot of teams travel across state lines for tournaments. When I first started working basketball in the late '80s, the differences between Fed and NCAA weren't that great. Now, they are, and the NCAA basketball committees have been making really stupid rules changes for almost a decade -- like basically eliminating the player control foul if the offensive player is within 6 miles of the basket. Thus, Federation is needed in basketball.
For US pro leagues, their ruleset has evolved over time from something similar to amateur rulesets early in their history to what they are now. These rules are not solely focused on the competitive aspects of the sport, but for fan enjoyment. Plus, they see themselves as a step above any and all amateur competition, so they put in rules that set themselves apart. There's no doubt about that.
I couldn't care less about international competition of ANY kind, so whoever can write whatever code they want. However, if football ever went international, I suspect they would sit down with the NCAA and NFL books and find a happy medium.
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