Former footballer Ahmad Rashad supports NFL’s focus on concussions, players' long-term health

Sport: Tennis
Rule: Players’ input in roof decision at Wimbledon
Cause of change: The semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in 2018 caused a roof controversy. The match started indoors because of rain and was then stopped at 11 pm due to the existing rules. There was no rain the next day, but Djokovic insisted the match continue with the roof on as that is how they had started it. Pat came a rule change. From 2019, any match postponed at 11 pm would continue the next day outdoors, unless it was raining. Off to bed, boys.

Sport: Football
Rule: Video Assistant Referee (VAR)
Cause of change: This one was a no-brainer. While cricket had the third umpire for ages, football took a while to accept video assisted umpiring decisions. Hello VAR! Let there be no more unfair calls, wrongfully awarded penalties, missed offsides, and of course, grumbling managers and Jose Mourinhos. After extensive trials, VAR was written into the Laws of the Game in 2018 by the International Football Association Board.

Sport: Formula 1
Rule: Continuous review of safety norms
Cause of change: The world reeled when the legendary Ayrton Senna and young Roland Rat zenberger perished in one weekend in Italy in 1994. And then in 2015, French driver Jules Bianchi succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. Since Senna, there have been cont inued reviews of the safety aspect of the sport. In 2003, the Head and Neck Support (HANS) device was made compulsory. Helmets and visors have gotten better too. And of course, there is the safety car. Did you think things were always this proactive? Well, helmets were made compul sory in 1953 , fireproof overal ls were introduced in the ’60s and seatbelts only in 1972. Chew on this.

Sport: Cricket
Rule: Banning of underarm bowling
Cause of change: Two words – Greg Chappell. One of the most infamous cricketing incidents, this, but we do thank Chappell for bringing attention yet another absurd thing that was legal in cricket. And again, it was New Zealand who ended up on the losing side. It was 1981 and Australia was playing New Zealand in the third of a five-match One Day series. The Kiwis needed six runs off the final delivery to win when captain Greg instructed his brother Trevor, also the bowler, to bowl the final ball underarm and along the ground. Obviously, the boundary was not cleared and tempers f lew everywhere. The ICC took note and banned underarm bowling as “not within the spirit of the game”.