Why different rulesets?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Hockey was invented in Canada

Wrong.

But anyway, if there were only one code for each game, there'd be only 1 kind of football in the world. You might as well ask why there are separate codes for softball & hardball, when obviously it's the same basic game. Come to think of it, there wouldn't be cricket or stickball either, let alone Finnish and some more exotic versions of baseball.

Maybe what you're asking is, why have rule codes that are so similar to each other as to invite confusion? Like, nobody's going to accidentally slip a football into a baseball game, but someone might accidentally slip a 12" circ. softball into a 16" game, or whistle the ball dead for encroachment as in Fed in a NCAA football game. Is that what you're asking? That they make games distinct enough to avoid gotchas?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

(Re: Hockey invented in Canada) Wrong.

Wikipedia article says it was first played there.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Wikipedia article says it was first played there.

Even for ice hockey, that's true only if you count only games played with a puck. Hockey games on ice (using a ball as in the field game) were recorded long before it was played in Canada.

[Texas Aggie]

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.

[Adam]

In Fed, states can add whatever provisions they like. They simply risk a seat at the rule writing table. In basketball, for example, many states use a shot clock when there is no provision/allowance for that within the NFHS rules.
Worst case scenario for them, they don't get to vote on rule changes. Kinda like Texas doesn't get to vote on NCAA rule changes.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

I don't understand the need for Federation football rules.

Not exactly a need, but a benefit: People nationwide can benefit from the feedback over a wide area wherein players & officials have faced the same problems, and avoid duplic'n of effort in solving, or at least addressing, them. Like the National Fire Protection Ass'n code.

The fact that many football leagues that aren't even members of a Fed member ass'n adopt Fed rules entirely or as a base show that they do pretty well in the marketplace. Another bit of proof is that not only do they use Fed rules, but they use Fed rules that are either current or 1 season out of date, rather than, say, from a decade or 50 yrs. earlier. (Many adult leagues like to use the previous season's rules from a major governing body so as to benefit from others' experience & rulings.) it's a lot like the benefits from a vaccine: You get the best benefit if there's a huge pool out there using it, while you're free to do something else, and it's best if you're not among the 1st to use it.