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Sports are governed by a specific set of rules that are hundreds if not thousands of pages long. Those are the official rules of sports, anyway. There are also tons of unwritten rules in each sport that players keep each other accountable through. Here are the 15 biggest, some of which you may not even be aware of.
15. No Teammate Contract Talk
Credit: Getty Images15. No Teammate Contract Talk
While this is true of all sports, it's especially true in football. When there are 53 men on the active roster and there are plenty of egos mixing, the best way to avoid a chemistry problem is to put teammates' contracts off limits. If everyone started griping about everyone else's contracts, plenty of problems would ensue.
14. Avoid the Knees
Credit: Ron Chenoy, USA Today Sports14. Avoid the Knees
Bodies are just flying around in the NFL and that can cause plenty of injuries. A good way to avoid catastrophic injuries, though, is to aim toward the middle of the body rather than dive at the knees. If enough players get this idea in their heads, less guys will suffer season-ending injuries.
13. Don't Throw at the Head
Credit: Getty Images13. Don't Throw at the Head
Baseball has more unwritten rules than any other sport and this is one of the biggest. Opposing teams can generally accept if one of their players is going to be hit intentionally, but you better be aiming for the middle of their body. As soon as you throw above the shoulders, all bets are off. This has caused several brawls and further retaliation pitches over the years.
12. No Running Up the Score
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today Sports12. No Running Up the Score
In any sport, but especially in the NFL and in college football in which there are prolonged drives on offense, it's not cool to keep trying to score. If you're up by 30 points late in the fourth quarter, sit on it and let your running back work as the clock rolls. It protects your own team as well because running up the score makes your offensive players more prone to dirty hits from opponents.
11. Stay Below the Shoulders
Credit: Getty Images11. Stay Below the Shoulders
There are some truly vicious hits in hockey, some of which are legal and some of which are not. This is technically a written rule as well, since players can be suspended for hitting above the shoulders, but players re-inforce it. Most players just want to be able to earn a living doing what they love and going up high on someone puts them in jeopardy of never being able to play again.
10. No Shaving During the Playoffs
Credit: Getty Images10. No Shaving During the Playoffs
Most know about this tradition, but don't really understand it. There's not a lot of rhyme or reason to this unwritten rule other than it's a way for players to show off how manly they are. Obviously, the longer and thicker the beard gets, the deeper you are in the playoffs. In that way, it's one of the coolest unwritten rules in sports.
9. Don't Foul Superstars Hard
Credit: Brett Davis, USA Today Sports9. Don't Foul Superstars Hard
In the NBA, it's all about star power. Most teams have at least one on their team and may God help you if you foul them hard. Retaliation will come to whatever team fouls an opposing superstar. It's perfectly fine to make sure they don't get a shot up, but don't be vicious or you'll get fouled hard on the other end.
8. No Stepping on the Putting Line
Credit: Getty Images8. No Stepping on the Putting Line
Golf is a game of fine calculations and any little difference in what you expect can throw you off. Stepping on the putting line is an example of that. It can completely change the lie of the course and throw off your putting. Anyone who breaks this rule is going to get the stare from more than just the player they're affecting.
7. Don't Touch Conference Championship Trophies
Credit: Getty Images7. Don't Touch Conference Championship Trophies
Hockey is one of the most superstitious sports out there and in the postseason it's taken to a whole different level. When teams win their conference championships, earning them berths in the Stanley Cup Finals, they will never touch the trophy. The idea is that players don't want to touch any trophy until winning the Stanley Cup.
6. Rookies Should Keep Their Mouths Shut
Credit: Getty Images6. Rookies Should Keep Their Mouths Shut
In pretty much any sport this rings true, but especially in the NFL. Rookies are told to show what they've got on the field and not run their mouths. They don't always do this, but they will get shunned when they ignore this rule. When they prove what they can do on the field, then they're given a little more leeway.
5. No Bunting to Break Up a No Hitter
Credit: Getty Images5. No Bunting to Break Up a No Hitter
If a pitcher is throwing a gem, you just don't bunt to try and get a hit. You're basically telling the pitcher, "I know I can't actually get a hit off you, so I'm going to try and get it cheaply." Of course, if the situation calls for it and there's a speedster up when down by one or two runs, this isn't as frowned upon. Most of the time, though, this is discouraged.
4. The Goalie Gets Defended
Credit: Getty Images4. The Goalie Gets Defended
In hockey, the crease is sacred ground. It's the goalie's and shouldn't be anyone else's. When someone decides to move into that area and harm the goalie, players take exception. It's the type of thing that can spark a brawl and has a lot over the years. There's a reason you're supposed to leave the goalie alone.
3. Don't Walk Across the Mound
Credit: Adam Hunger, USA Today Sports3. Don't Walk Across the Mound
Just like the crease is sacred ground in hockey, the pitcher's mound is sacred in baseball. When play is going on, nobody but the pitcher goes on the mound (other than during a mound visit, obviously). If a batter runs across the mound in the middle of a game, you better believe there's going to be some pushing and shoving. It's just not something you do.
2. No Shooting at the Buzzer When Winning
Credit: Getty Images2. No Shooting at the Buzzer When Winning
This is just common sense sportsmanship wise. In basketball, if you have possession of the ball with less time than is on the shot clock, you just hold onto the ball until time expires. Never chuck up a shot at the buzzer just to get garbage-time points.
1. Don't Watch Your Long Home Run
Credit: Getty Images1. Don't Watch Your Long Home Run
This will get 95 mph fastballs thrown at you your next time up. Increasingly, players are becoming more and more enamored with their own moon-shot home runs. You're supposed to be humble when you do something well in sports and that's no different in baseball. It's understandable when emotions get the best of you sometimes, but for the most part, just run around the bases and act like you've been there before.
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