Sheffield v Belle vue

[IainB]

1 hour ago, SuperStarsFan91 said:

Anyone know why tac subs are allowed in the cup now?… I got told the other day and it made sense, but now I’ve forgot the reason 😂

 

1 hour ago, PhilTheAce said:

Because round one is league format.  Only in 2 legged ties is tac sub not allowed 

So the rules change mid-competion... that really makes no sense at all... only in Speedway!

[ouch]

2 hours ago, SuperStarsFan91 said:

Anyone know why tac subs are allowed in the cup now?… I got told the other day and it made sense, but now I’ve forgot the reason 😂

Tac subs are allowed in the league bit but end when the two leg ties start. It’s the same system the main league has used for years. It’s good to see some consistency used in the sport as this hasn’t alway been the case under other top table bigwigs. 

[Sir Sidney]

50 minutes ago, IainB said:

 

So the rules change mid-competion... that really makes no sense at all... only in Speedway!

Only on speedway?

Try looking at the FA Cup, possibly the most famous knock out cup in the World, for different rules in different rounds

[IainB]

2 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

Only on speedway?

Try looking at the FA Cup, possibly the most famous knock out cup in the World, for different rules in different rounds

What are they? At least that is still a knock-out competition... at the moment

[arnieg]

3 minutes ago, IainB said:

What are they? At least that is still a knock-out competition... at the moment

Unless you are Darlington in 1999-2000

[Sir Sidney]

Just now, IainB said:

What are they? At least that is still a knock-out competition... at the moment

For example:

Replays up to, but not including the first round and any rounds thereafter

VAR in some games and not others

Plenty of sporting competitions have group stages followed by knock out stages. Speedway's only fault here is to use the term 'knockout'. 

[IainB]

3 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

For example:

Replays up to, but not including the first round and any rounds thereafter

VAR in some games and not others

Plenty of sporting competitions have group stages followed by knock out stages. Speedway's only fault here is to use the term 'knockout'. 

Okay, I get that, I think the VAR is a matter of cost isn't it? The cost of providing VAR facilities at every club in the earlier rounds and the replays to ease potential fixture congestion... I'm not saying it's right, I don't think it is but there is an explainable logic around it, same for group to knock out.

I can't fathom why tac-subs are okay in the group stage but not in the knock-out stage though, can you help me out?

[bigcatdiary]

On 4/2/2026 at 8:50 PM, Gavan said:

Obviously Harris is no replacement for Kurtz but Brady only scored 4 and 9 at Sheffield last season and Blodorn 2 and 1 so they aren’t huge losses 

Aces clearly weak as usual away from home 

Certainly weaker when missing one of the top two but that’s the chance you take when you build teams  that way.

[Sir Sidney]

43 minutes ago, IainB said:

Okay, I get that, I think the VAR is a matter of cost isn't it? The cost of providing VAR facilities at every club in the earlier rounds and the replays to ease potential fixture congestion... I'm not saying it's right, I don't think it is but there is an explainable logic around it, same for group to knock out.

I can't fathom why tac-subs are okay in the group stage but not in the knock-out stage though, can you help me out?

There isn't much logic or consistency in the SCB Regulations in a number of areas. We all know that any decent lawyer ( or indeed any sensible person on here) can drive a coach and horses through them. We are just aware of them because we follow British Speedway. 

Other sports have similarly inconsistent and apparently irrational rules - we are just not really aware of them unless we follow that sport

It's certainly not 'only in speedway '

[IainB]

Just now, Sir Sidney said:

There isn't much logic or consistency in the SCB Regulations in a number of areas. We all know that any decent lawyer ( or indeed any sensible person on here) can drive a coach and horses through them. We are just aware of them because we follow British Speedway. 

Other sports have similarly inconsistent and apparently irrational rules - we are just not really aware of them unless we follow that sport

It's certainly not 'only in speedway '

Okay...

So the rules change mid-competion... that really makes no sense at all... "mostly" in Speedway!

👍😁

[Sir Sidney]

33 minutes ago, IainB said:

Okay...

So the rules change mid-competion... that really makes no sense at all... "mostly" in Speedway!

👍😁

Twenty 20 cricket rules change during an innings ( power play, fielding restrictions)

Rugby Union rules change , depending on where you are on a pitch ( avoiding a tackle, 50 / 22's for example), or depending on which players are on the pitch ( uncontested scrums)

Curling allows players to deliberately not score on an end ( blanking the end)

People accept it, as long as it is in the rules.

Have the KO Cup rules changed since the competition started this season, or are they in accordance with the published rules? I don't know because I haven't looked

 

[IainB]

4 minutes ago, Sir Sidney said:

Twenty 20 cricket rules change during an innings ( power play, fielding restrictions)

Rugby Union rules change , depending on where you are on a pitch ( avoiding a tackle, 50 / 22's for example), or depending on which players are on the pitch ( uncontested scrums)

Curling allows players to deliberately not score on an end ( blanking the end)

People accept it, as long as it is in the rules.

Have the KO Cup rules changed since the competition started this season, or are they in accordance with the published rules? I don't know because I haven't looked

 

"almost never" in Speedway! 👍

[Bagpuss]

6 minutes ago, IainB said:

"almost never" in Speedway! 👍

I'd quit while you're behind 😂

[IainB]

... now the pedantry is out of the way, can anybody come up with a reasonably rational explanation as to why tactical substitutes are allowed in the group stages but not the knock out stages?

[DaveWayne]

4 minutes ago, IainB said:

... now the pedantry is out of the way, can anybody come up with a reasonably rational explanation as to why tactical substitutes are allowed in the group stages but not the knock out stages?

Are tactical substitutes allowed in the playoffs ?

[gjcone44]

1 hour ago, Sir Sidney said:

Other sports have similarly inconsistent and apparently irrational rules - we are just not really aware of them unless we follow that sport

i follow speedway and haven't a clue what's going on  😁

[IainB]

59 minutes ago, DaveWayne said:

Are tactical substitutes allowed in the playoffs ?

No, they haven't been... and again, I don't know why... it must just be for 5h1ts and giggles 🤷‍♂️

[Bagpuss]

12 minutes ago, IainB said:

No, they haven't been... and again, I don't know why... it must just be for 5h1ts and giggles 🤷‍♂️

I thought it was after the 2006 final where Peterborough used four tactical rides across the two legs? For me it's spot on, you can't have one team using tac subs and one not in a knockout tie.

[IainB]

5 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

I thought it was after the 2006 final where Peterborough used four tactical rides across the two legs? For me it's spot on, you can't have one team using tac subs and one not in a knockout tie.

Wasn't that double points though?

... and also why is that okay in league meetings with aggregate bonus points over 2 legs but not a semi and final?

Edited 1 hour ago by IainB

[Bagpuss]

1 hour ago, IainB said:

Wasn't that double points though?

... and also why is that okay in league meetings with aggregate bonus points over 2 legs but not a semi and final?

I take your point, I'd get rid of all tacticals personally. I guess its the knockout element which makes it more unfair for me. It was the Golden Double but I think that highlighted the imbalance of the tactical option if one team gets to use it in both legs.