Rules and enforcement

Thomas Miceli ()

Chapter 7 in Topics in Sports Economics, 2025, pp 112-133 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter examines the enforcement of rules in sporting contests. Rules in sports are similar to laws in society in that both function to maintain order and ensure equal (fair) treatment. Contestants take actions that may violate a rule if the expected gain exceeds the expected cost, where the latter equals the probability of detection multiplied by the sanction. Optimal enforcement of rules balances the benefits of enforcement (maintaining fair play, avoiding injuries) against the cost (less aggressive play and costs of delay). Optimal sanctions rise with both the harm from a violation and the difficulty of detection. The chapter also describes how rules evolve to account for better knowledge, new technology, and changing fan preferences. It concludes with a discussion of unintended consequences of rule changes, some of which offset the intended effect.

Keywords: Rules; Enforcement; Evolution of rules; Sanctions; Unintended consequences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035339389
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