Discussion on this topic is riddled with subjectivity. Perception of “the unwritten rules” is altered for individuals based on their personal experiences, the specific situation they are in, and the severity in which one of these unwritten rules is broken. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An unwritten rule, for anyone unfamiliar, is something of a behavioral custom or etiquette that is technically not voiced or written into law. In sports, there are a number of do’s and don’ts that have been assumed respect of the game\u2014whichever game that may be\u2014forever. People tend to go to exceptional lengths to address and correct the breakers of these generally accepted, technically non-existent rules. It’s often a fleeting moment, washed away from memory by most, but the players and coaches who feel they were done wrong in those moments tend to hold a grudge about it and seek opportunities to get even. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In baseball, you don’t lay down a bunt to break up a no-hitter. In football, you burn out the clock rather than running up the score. In soccer, they say you should kick the ball out of bounds when an opposing player gets injured. Each of these ideas are unwritten rules of their respective sports that are assumed to be followed by all. Breaking these rules doesn’t lead to a penalty or discipline on the field, but often causes unrest between the rule breaker and their opponent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We saw an unwritten rule of basketball broken in the NBA last season:<\/p>\n\n\n\n