Nearly 15 years ago, in the summer of 2004, a group of USA TODAY Sports reporters and editors sought to assess the changes they would like to see in sport.
Some of these ideas were simple: minor changes to the rules in particular sports, such as eliminate possession arrow in college basketball. Others were broad and radical: Shorter professional seasons, For example. No more drug tests. Cheaper ticket prices.
A few of our ideas have come to fruition – rest in peace, BCS – but most remain unchanged.
So we thought it was the perfect time to revisit the idea and come up with our own list.
Starting March 4, we’re revealing the 11 things we’d like to change in sports, as voted on by the USA TODAY Sports team — reforms we think would have a positive impact on the sports world. Each day we will explore a new idea, how it would work, and why it makes sense. The list to date is below.
As we go through our list, we also want to know what we missed. Are there any other changes you would like to see in the sports world? Share your ideas with us on Facebook Or Twitteror contact reporter Tom Schad at [email protected].
1. Ban tackling football for children under 14
“The kids don’t lose anything in this situation,” Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, told USA TODAY Sports in a phone interview. “There are no known safety issues. There are no known football development issues – no kids are being recruited from their fifth grade film. So you end up with healthier kids , who are still playing football – just for fewer tackling seasons.”
Read the full story here.
2. Rank playoff teams by record, regardless of conference
A change to seeding by record – regardless of the teams’ conference or league – would also allow teams from the same conference to meet for a title. The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox could meet in the World Series. The Dallas Cowboys could face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, and the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins could battle for the Stanley Cup.
Read the full story here.
3. Adopt a two-season MLB schedule
“I know people roll their eyes,” says Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz, “but it works in the minor leagues. Teams can now compete in the second half instead of throwing everything away the world. How are you going to tell your fans. that you’re not going to try in the second half? Who says you can’t have a great second half? You might see teams rebuilt and changed philosophically.
Read the full story here.
4. Set up a golf shot clock
Put a shot clock on the screen in every televised golf tournament. I’d go for 30 seconds, but I’d settle for 40 seconds. Time begins when the player reaches his ball. Each golfer would have their own shot clock in their bag so they know how much time they have left. Can you imagine? Phil Mickelson is trying to decide which corner to use, and suddenly the clock is ticking: 5…4…3…
Read the full story here.
5. Eliminate All-Star Games and Expand Skill Competitions
Television audiences for All-Star games are down across all sports and player apathy is pervasive. So why bother? Why not create and publicize star lists, while having an all-star weekend, but with expanded skills competitions as the main attraction?
Read the full story here.
6. Expand the size of the NBA court
Basketball players at all levels – and especially those in the NBA – have become bigger, stronger and faster, taking up more space on the court and moving around the court faster than ever before. Why not expand the field in the NBA? While it may not seem like a huge difference, extending the field width-wise would create more space and improve the flow of play.
Read the full story here.
7. Create a rotation for Olympic host cities
How would this work? Los Angeles is hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics, so let’s start the rotation there. Sydney gets the 2032 Games, London 2036, then a wild card – most likely a nation from Africa, a continent that has never hosted the Olympics – in 2040. Then the Games return to Los Angeles in 2044, and and so on.
Read the full story here.
8. Expand the College Football Playoff
A sport that is subjective by definition should rely on objective measurements whenever possible. Double the field to eight teams, with one automatic berth for each Power Five champion and two or three at-large berths. The selection committee can choose the participants at large and rank the participants. Give a place to the best team in the Group of Five if they reach a ranking threshold.
Read the full story here.
9. Play the Super Bowl on a Saturday night
Moving the Super Bowl to Saturday is something we sports fans deserve. In this new world of convenience, where we can pretty much watch and eat whatever we want with just a few clicks of a button on our phone, are we still bothered by a Sunday night Super Bowl? For what?
Read the full story here.
10. Let college athletes profit off their name and likenessAnd resemblance
Although the idea of schools paying salaries to college athletes would be controversial and complex, especially given the gender equity considerations of Title IX, allowing them to trade on their name, image and likeness is the obvious free-market solution to America’s growing unease with the unfairness of a system that artificially prevents many athletes from capitalizing on their value.
Read the full story here.
11. Remove the national anthem before sporting events
Playing the anthem before our football, baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer games has become a lazy excuse for patriotism. Standing at attention – or some loose approximation – for 2 minutes no more demonstrates love of country or gratitude to those who serve than wearing an American flag pin.
Read the full story here.
