By: Jay Em
Submitted: 2010-07-15 03:21:24 | Word Count: 439
With One Hand Tied – Sports Handicapping
Under special sporting events, there are instances wherein handicapping is allowed and legal. This form of competition may be seemingly unfair, but considering the skill and ability levels of the opposing sides, then would the unleveled format make sense.
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Handicapping is the provision in sport that allows a competing party or team to be in an unequal disposition right at the beginning. This may come in various forms, depending on the kind of skill that must be used to win the event. For example, in horse racing, handicapping occurs can be done by adding a few more weights on the horse’s saddle. In this way, the horse would tend to run slower than of its average speed, due to the heavier load it carries on its back.
Another is for the points centered sports. Teams under this sport format are handicapped by giving a default number of points to the opponent team even before the game begins. Under this condition, the non-handicap team would have a default advantage over the handicap team in winning the game over points.
Handicapping is done in order to stabilize the skills and experience of the obviously better team or party. This is permitted, especially on special leagues, wherein a more experienced team or a professional team has to fight against an amateur set of individuals. However, not at all times that this is done if a better opponent is going to fight in a game. Sometimes, a handicap is requested by the team or player just for casual purposes.
Though handicapping is allowed, there are some circumstances wherein doing such is not allowed. This mostly happens when the handicap may already pose danger to any of the participants of the game. Example of this is during boxing matches. Gloves are being inspected so as to assure that they are empty and not loaded with any hard or hurting objects, such as metal slabs and special gloves. Several boxing matches in the history has been voided by boxing commissions due to this kind of sportsmanship fraud.
As a rule of the thumb in general sporting events, handicapping must be first registered and declared in order for the request to be valid. Both parties must agree and depending on the gravity of the sporting event, both parties must be properly informed of the confirmed unparalleled match/game, so as for them to have ample time to prepare for the said kind of sporting event.
