Challenge accepted! My guide to coach's challenges in major team sports

Eugene Ravdin Report graphic with My guide to coach's challenges in major team sports

Every sport is a struggle. Always, you fight yourself. Your fear, your weakness, your fatigue, your ego. Sometimes, you also fight the opposition.

And since every fight is a conflict, this is a rich soil for controversy, disputes, and disagreements. The higher the stakes, the more heated the arguments. So it's no surprise that sports leagues and bodies are constantly looking for ways to ease the pressure on the referees and give the teams a channel to let off some steam as John Matrix put it.

let off some steam, Bennett #commando pic.twitter.com/WsVCSJENPN
— miss waiching liu (@mswaichingliu81) July 6, 2018

Why do we seldom resort to his methods in our everyday lives? Perhaps because we have more civilized ways to object, among other reasons. This is exactly why we need coach or player challenges in sports. Having a legal way to appeal against the referees' decision has spared a lot of nerves and at least several noses.

Only with the advancements in technology, the idea of reviewing a play came to reality. Video checks and reviews, like VAR in football, were one step in this direction. But it was the introduction of coach's or player's challenge that broke the ground.

Most team sports now offer this tool to the competing sides with football being one of the few exceptions. The idea is simple. A team (or a tennis player) can appeal against the initial referee's decision hoping to overturn it if the video review gives clear and irrefutable evidence that the original call was incorrect.

Graphic for article 'My guide to coach's challenges in major team sports'

With details and subtleties varying from sport to sport, I decided to draft a guide on the main features of a challenge in major sports. Here, I will focus on basketball (NBA and FIBA), ice hockey (NHL and IIHF), baseball (MLB), American football (NFL), and tennis (ATP/WTA).

I will not delve into full lists of challengeable events as it would render this article too long and too unreadable. But I left the links to the official rules for those who wish to get deeper on the subject.

How does coach's challenge work in basketball

Table How does coach's challenge work in basketball
BASKETBALL	FIBA	NBA
When a challenge can be requested in basketball	• At any time of the game • The first stoppage after the decision • Timeout is not required	• Not in the final 2 minutes of the 4th quarter • Not in the final 2 minutes of any overtime • Timeout is required
How many challenges there are in basketball	1	1
If successful	• Decision is overturned • Challenge is lost	• Decision is overturned • Challenge is lost • Second challenge is awarded • Timeout is retained
If unsuccessful	• Decision stands • Challenge is lost	• Decision stands • Challenge is lost • Timeout is lost
Links	FIBA Manual	NBA Rulebook

How does coach's challenge work in ice hockey

The video review mechanism triggered by the Coach’s Challenge can only be utilized in GOAL/NO GOAL situations and is intended to be extremely narrow in scope.

Table of How does coach's challenge work in ice hockey
ICE HOCKEY	IIHF	NHL
When a challenge can be requested in ice hockey	• At any time of the game • One challenge per team per stoppage	• Not in the final minute of regulation time • Not in overtime • One challenge per team per stoppage
How many challenges there are in ice hockey	Unlimited	Unlimited
If successful	• Goal is disallowed	• Goal is disallowed
If unsuccessful	• Goal stands • 2-minute penalty for delaying the game (first time) • 4-minute penalty for delaying the game (second time and on)	• Goal stands • 2-minute penalty for delaying the game (first time) • 4-minute penalty for delaying the game (second time and on)
Links	IIHF Rulebook	NHL Rulebook

How does manager challenge work in baseball

Table How does manager challenge work in baseball
BASEBALL	MLB
When a challenge can be requested in baseball	• At any time of the game • Immediately after a play
How many challenges there are in baseball	1 in regular season 2 in postseason
If successful	• Decision is overturned • Challenge is retained
If unsuccessful	• Decision stands • Challenge is lost
Links	Manager Challenge Rule Reviewable decisions

How does coach's challenge work in American football

Table How does coach's challenge work in American football
AMERICAN FOOTBALL	NFL
When a challenge can be requested in American football	• Before the next legal snap or kick after the decision • Timeout is required
How many challenges there are in American football	2
If successful	• Decision is overturned • Challenge is lost • Third challenge is awarded if both are successful • Timeout is retained
If unsuccessful	• Decision stands • Challenge is lost • Timeout is lost
Links	NFL Rulebook

How does player challenge work in tennis

Table How does player challenge work in tennis
TENNIS	ATP/WTA (singles)
When a challenge can be requested in tennis	• At the end of a rally
How many challenges there are in tennis	3 per set 1 extra for the tie-break
If successful	• Decision is overturned • Challenge is retained
If unsuccessful	• Decision stands • Challenge is lost
Links	ATP Rulebook WTA Rulebook