Athletes Who Exploited the Loopholes in Sports Rules

Every sport is guided by rules and what may be acceptable in one sport may be unacceptable in another.  Understandably, these regulations are updated regularly to accommodate changes in science or culture or to solve new problems that arise.

Sadly, some of these updates are not made until someone finds the loopholes and exploits them. Throughout sports history, some coaches as well as players have used certain lapses in sports rules to gain an unfair advantage over their opponents. In this article, we look at some of these people and what they did. We also consider the changes that were later made to sports rules and regulations.

Roger Neilson Strikes Three 

Roger Neilson coached many teams in his career. He had a keen eye and specialized in using videotapes to study the opposing teams' playing strategy. That was when he found some loopholes and began exploiting them. Because of this, the NHL made three major changes to the rules in a bid to stop Coach Roger.

First, he tried to manipulate his way out of the 3-on-5 situation. As a result, the league was forced to introduce the "too many men on ice" rule. Second, Roger began placing a defender— instead of the goalie—in front of the penalty shooter. Lastly, while moving forward, he made the goalkeeper leave his stick in a parallel position to the goal.

Gijon’s Surprising Non-Aggression Pact

In the 1982 World Cup, West Germany faced Austria in the group stage final. Based on the result of the previous day's match, if Germany won this match by one goal, both teams would qualify for the next stage. So, as soon as Germany scored their first goal 10 minutes into the game, both teams began playing passively. They stopped attacking each other and made no effort to score.

This incident was later known as the "Non-aggression Pact of Gijon," and it led FIFA to change one rule of the game. The body ensured that all group stage final matches be played simultaneously to avoid match-fixing.

Lester Hayes Overused Stickum

In the past, players were allowed to use a sticky substance called stickum to improve their grip on the ball. Lester Hayes, who played for the Los Angeles Raiders as a defensive back, took the practice to an entirely new level. Unlike other players, he applied large volumes of the substance to his hands, arms, and wrists.

Because of that, the ball would stick to his hands so tightly that it would take several of his teammates to pull it off. This continued for a while until the NFL got fed up with the practice. They ruled the act as foul play and banned the use of all forms of adhesives on the pitch.

Oilers Played Bartender With the Other Team’s Drinks

During the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers and the NY Islanders squared up against each other. The previous year, the Oilers had lost several matches to the NY Islanders. Hence, not much was expected of them this particular year.

Still, they found a way to gain an unfair advantage against their superior opponents. Back in the day, pro athletes had little or no access to energy drinks. So, seizing their opportunity, the Oilers who were the host team, swapped the coffee in the Islander's locker room for decaf. This gave them the edge over their opponents, helping them to win all three games and the Stanley Cup.