Abstract

Suggestion for the improvement of penalties in body-contact sports

Article

The authorities in the contact-sports codes should be held liable in damages for failing to impose sanctions on players' conduct which is negligent or intentional and causes harm to another player necessitating the victim's loss of the capacity to play for a period off time.  By inadequate penalties, the authorities negligently fail to deter the harmful conduct and should be liable for the harm which they should have prevented.

Apart from the questionably short duration of preent sanctions on the culprit, he/sheis usually back in action before the victim.  At least the sanction should endure for the period of the victim's incapacity as well as a period of penalty, which shoould commence to run when the victim resumes play or should reasonably do so.  That should be a just and reasonable deterrent.