Why don't athletes get charged with assault and battery when they get into fights during games?

Question

How come they don't get arrested?

Answer 1

Its in the contract.

Answer 2

There's something called assumption of risk that's involved. Athletes assume that certain actions are at least possible when they step onto the field of play. It pertains more to boxers in the larger sense. They expect to get hit, but they don't expect to be picked up and thrown into the stands.

Hockey players can get into legal trouble when they go into the stands after fans, but they are generally OK for a simple fight. There are exceptions. Wayne Maki once sued Ted Green when he got hit in the head with a high stick.

So in other words, something really, really bad has to help before legal action is taken for on-the-field incidents. Even then, it might be tough to prove.

Answer 3

In the context of the game, certain confrontations are expected, and as long as it all stays in the context of the game, and personal damage is minimal, it is excepted from legal proceedings. Sometimes "in the context of the game" allows for continuation during the season.