As safety and entertainment become the forefront of professional sports, many leagues have taken the initiative to add in new rule changes that affect the health of players and the pacing of the game. Although Major League Baseball and the National Football League have added rules with these concerns in mind, new additions have not transferred to the high school level.

Baseball player senior Andrew Traffas is a fan of the new rules implemented to speed up the games and increase action. He realizes that the new changes will increase viewership, something that is good for the media side of any sport.

“I feel like going in person is already fun because of the environment, and when you walk around, all people are there,” Traffas said. “A lot of people don’t like how slow the game is, and yeah, it is understandable, but playing it is a different part. If you speed up the game, I feel like more people are going to enjoy it, and the more people that are around a baseball game, the more we can build culture.”

While many of the new rules in MLB have not fully translated to other leagues, some new changes are only present in high school. Specifically, teams will start an inning with the bases loaded once a game has gone past the designated limit of seven. Although some high school players are hesitant about the new addition, Traffas believes it is beneficial.

“I feel like it’s a good idea because both teams get the same opportunities,” Traffas said. “It’s just there to encourage more people to score. It just doesn’t take an advantage away because the other team gets base loaded too.”

As someone who enjoys being around the game, baseball player junior Zach Gallegos is not a fan of the new pitch clock rule. Specifically, this places a limit on the amount of time that a batter and pitcher have between each pitch to prepare themselves, which can affect game play and mental preparation.

“I think they’re all good additions, other than the pitch clock,” Gallegos said. “The pitch clock is terrible because baseball is a mental game, and when you have to get a 99 mile per hour fastball thrown at your head and then hop back in the box five seconds later, it feels super rushed. I have less time to get myself ready. ”

Leagues have shifted to prioritize a fast paced game by adding these forms of rules, which Traffas believes are placed with the intent to cater to the viewers attention and community of the game.

“The faster the game, the more people who are going to show up to the game. So that would boost the culture and community,” Traffas said.

While the MLB has focused on trying to accelerate games, the NFL has turned toward safety. Last year, a new kickoff rule was implemented with the intention of limiting big hits. Quarterback sophomore Kalani Tesimale believes the adaptation takes some fun out of the game.

“It makes it a little more boring, especially on kickoff,” Tesimale said. “I think hitting is fun, and that’s what the kids find cool. That’s what the kids want to do.”

Although this new kickoff formation has not been added to high school, Tesimale believes the referees do a good job making sure the players do not get injured.

“As a quarterback, there’s a referee watching me the whole time, making sure I don’t get hurt,” Tesimale said.

While not the most feasible, Tesimale believes that it would be intriguing to add in rim guarding on basketball hoops. As the three point shot has become more prominent in the game, he thinks it would be interesting if one could swat those shots away at any time.

“If you could have a guy that could do that, it would make the game kind of dumb and boring for a while, but it would be cool to watch, I feel like, for a minute, and then it would get a little repetitive,” Tesimale said.

While new rules may bring in more viewers and ensure safety, some worry about the integrity of the game. For Gallegos, he hopes that sports like baseball stay true to its roots.

“Baseball’s beauty is in its timelessness. When you mess with the rules too much, you risk losing the soul part of the game many have come to love,” Gallegos said.