Every sport has a set of rules that most of us are familiar with. However, these unspoken rules are some we may be unfamiliar with.
Tennis
Tennis players are told not to start a match while another game is playing beside them, out of respect.
Aside from the first serve, players call out their own shots if they can clearly see that their ball is out.
Volleyball
Players should roll the ball under the net instead of throwing it over when it’s the other team’s turn to serve or during warmup. It’s a more controlled way of getting the ball over. It’s also safer because the ball can hit someone if thrown.
Another unspoken rule in volleyball is players shouldn’t purposefully make bad calls to interfere with or disturb the other team’s communication while the ball is still in play.
Soccer
In soccer, if there are no corner flags there’s no game. Corner flags are essential for soccer because both the referee and the players need a clear separation of the sideline from the goal line.
Another unspoken rule is if a goalie catches the ball and drops it they are not allowed to pick it up again. If they do pick it back up the referee allows the opposing team a free kick.
Football
Although it’s a common occurrence to see a group of football players piling on top of a player, it’s frowned upon as it can cause serious injuries.
In professional football, it’s an unwritten rule to not talk about your contract or how much you make in order to not damage relationships with teammates or cause jealousy.
Baseball
In baseball, looking at the opposing catcher’s signals to the pitcher or to a coach and then relaying the signals to their own team is a no-no for baseball players and is considered cheating.
Another unwritten baseball rule is players shouldn’t steal bases, which is when a base runner tries to advance the bases without a ball is in play.