We’ve all gotten the question put to us at some point: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
You’ll get the typical responses: x-ray vision; the ability to turn invisible; flying; change my molecules so I can walk through walls; shooting spider webs from my hands. Whatever.
Here’s an atypical response: I’d like to have the superpower to change the rules of certain sports. Why? Because there’s a huge need to improve sports. The rules haven’t kept up with the athletes and their abilities.
I’ll give you a few quick examples, with fixes, and if I had the superpower, I would make it so immediately. If you watch the NBA, you will notice how frequently the players accidently step out of bounds (this happens often in Division I college basketball as well).
Why does this happen? Because the players have gotten a lot taller and bigger over the years, the court is now too small for them. A normal step puts them out of bounds.
What’s the solution? Make the court bigger. Add 10 feet to the length of the court and five feet on the side (two-and-a-half on each side). That should do it. It will give the players more maneuverability and space to create their magic. Done. My superpower just changed it. The game will now improve, with the participants better able to perform and demonstrate their incredible talents.
Second change: raise the rim in the NBA and college basketball to 10 feet, six inches. The current height is 10 feet. That’s too low. Too easy to dunk. Too easy to get above the rim. The players at their current size don’t have to push themselves and their leaping abilities. Plays occurring above the rim are routine.
Raise the rim, and make those plays special again. Force the players to improvise and push themselves with a higher rim. Superpower to change sports has now raised the rim.
When it comes to football, some of these same types of issues come into play. Because of the size, speed and athleticism of the players at the NFL and collegiate level, it’s become clear the field has shrunk. What’s the solution? Make the field bigger.
I don’t have a miracle for how much wider or longer the football field should be for college and the pros, only that there needs to be more space for the athletes to do their thing. Add five yards to each side. Add 10 yards to the length. I don’t know. Let the experts decide how much room is needed. I only have the superpower to make it so.
There is more, but I’ll stop there because you never want to abuse your superpowers. Step in where necessary and use your abilities for good. Improve something. Turn a negative into a positive.
Someday we may need to institute the four-point line in basketball. Or, we need to award four points for a field goal over 50 yards. Why not? There’s no reason for sports not to evolve to meet changing circumstances.
Adjusting and adapting to a world of new circumstances is a sign of health and well-being. It’s hard, but changes can happen with or without superpowers.
You’ll get the typical responses: x-ray vision; the ability to turn invisible; flying; change my molecules so I can walk through walls; shooting spider webs from my hands. Whatever.
Here’s an atypical response: I’d like to have the superpower to change the rules of certain sports. Why? Because there’s a huge need to improve sports. The rules haven’t kept up with the athletes and their abilities.
I’ll give you a few quick examples, with fixes, and if I had the superpower, I would make it so immediately. If you watch the NBA, you will notice how frequently the players accidently step out of bounds (this happens often in Division I college basketball as well).
Why does this happen? Because the players have gotten a lot taller and bigger over the years, the court is now too small for them. A normal step puts them out of bounds.
What’s the solution? Make the court bigger. Add 10 feet to the length of the court and five feet on the side (two-and-a-half on each side). That should do it. It will give the players more maneuverability and space to create their magic. Done. My superpower just changed it. The game will now improve, with the participants better able to perform and demonstrate their incredible talents.
Second change: raise the rim in the NBA and college basketball to 10 feet, six inches. The current height is 10 feet. That’s too low. Too easy to dunk. Too easy to get above the rim. The players at their current size don’t have to push themselves and their leaping abilities. Plays occurring above the rim are routine.
Raise the rim, and make those plays special again. Force the players to improvise and push themselves with a higher rim. Superpower to change sports has now raised the rim.
When it comes to football, some of these same types of issues come into play. Because of the size, speed and athleticism of the players at the NFL and collegiate level, it’s become clear the field has shrunk. What’s the solution? Make the field bigger.
I don’t have a miracle for how much wider or longer the football field should be for college and the pros, only that there needs to be more space for the athletes to do their thing. Add five yards to each side. Add 10 yards to the length. I don’t know. Let the experts decide how much room is needed. I only have the superpower to make it so.
There is more, but I’ll stop there because you never want to abuse your superpowers. Step in where necessary and use your abilities for good. Improve something. Turn a negative into a positive.
Someday we may need to institute the four-point line in basketball. Or, we need to award four points for a field goal over 50 yards. Why not? There’s no reason for sports not to evolve to meet changing circumstances.
Adjusting and adapting to a world of new circumstances is a sign of health and well-being. It’s hard, but changes can happen with or without superpowers.