Sports Stuff I Don't Understand

Posted on the 26 August 2014 by Lifeofasportswife @jessaolson
I like sports and for the most part I can watch any sports. There are a few sports things that I just don't understand. I don't know if I will ever really understand it. 

1. Icing the kicker: 

For those who aren't sport savy, this is when the defensive team calls a timeout right before the kicker kicks the ball. Basically the coach thinks if he calls a time out the kicker is going to be thrown off his game. Does it actually work? I researched this and the answer is no. 

Field goal success whether opponent calls a timeout or not
(Percentage of kicks made)

Situation All kicks Iced Not iced

Less than two minuntes left in fourth quarter or OT76.2%74.2%77.6%

Less than one minunte left in fourth quarter or OT75.5%74.3%76.4%

Less than 30 seconds left in fourth quarter or OT76.5%76.0%76.9%

Less than 15 seconds left in fourth quarter or OT76.4%77.5%75.4%

If it doesn't work then why does coaches continue to do it. Because of tradition, and traditions die hard. 

2. All-Star Nominees: 

So this year, Jeff Samardzija was nominated to play in the All-Star game by the Cubs (which is a National League team) but he got to traded to the A's (which is an American League team) before the All-Star Game. So he couldn't play for the National League. 

borrowed

But what I think is ironic is that if a player gets traded during the season and team A goes to the world series then the player gets a World Series ring. That doesn't make any sense to me. 
3. Hockey coaches that pull the goalie: 
I'm just going to throw it out there that hockey in general confuses me. Yes, I worked for a hockey team and it wasn't the best experience (that's a post for another day). But I really don't get why a goalie get pulled with less than a minute. Ok. I take it back I get the principle of it: it gives the team that is down another offensive player. But to me it's a lot like icing the kicker. 

I researched this as well. Shocking enough it works but coaches often pull the goalie too late. They should pull between 1:30 and 2 minutes left in the game. I wish I could see it actually work, but most of the games that I have watched it doesn't work. 

4. Soccer in general: 

I really think Sarah should create a how to understand soccer 101 like she did for baseball
What sports tactics do you not get?