Whether you’re a diehard hockey fan or you just watch the fun regularly, there’s probably one thing you know about the sport: It’s tough! And, at least according to Merriam-Webster, it’s one of the hardest sports out there. While it’d be great to believe that hockey is as tough as it is popularly said to be, the fact is that it is, in fact, a LOT harder than figure skating. Let’s compare the two sports and see how much effort they put in so you can have a better idea of what your body is really undergoing when you play or skate hockey – follow along as we break down the similarities and differences between the two sports to help you decide which one is the toughest.
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Hardest Sport? Figure Skating Versus Hockey
Let’s start with the basics. Both sports involve physical activity and skilled execution, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. To prepare for a match or training session in hockey, you need to load up on protein and carbs to build up your stamina. Once you’ve gotten your body into playing shape, it’s time to integrate strength training with cardio. After all, working your muscles while also keeping your heart rate up is the key to scoring goals and avoiding injuries in hockey.
As for figure skating, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get plenty of sleep and eat well to stay in top shape. After all, it’s not uncommon for figure skaters to lose up to 10 pounds before a competition. The diet and lifestyle suggestions for hockey and figure skating are pretty much the opposite of each other. While you can’t hurt your muscles by being underweight in hockey, in figure skating, you want to be on the larger side.
The equipment you need for each sport is also very different. For example, traditional hockey equipment includes a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, and a pair of pants, while a figure skater needs a pair of ice skates, a top, and a bottom. Of course, you have the basic equipment like hockey gloves and a stick, but other items can vary by league or culture, so make sure you research the right equipment for the sport you’re playing.
Which One Is Tougher?
Now that we’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to compare the two sports and determine which one is the toughest. To figure out how much harder hockey is than skating, let’s measure the total work done during a match. We’ll use the scoring system presented by Prozone to easily compare the effort between the two sports. Each goal will score you one point, and an overtime period scores two points.
Using this system, a game of hockey scores around 3.9 points, while a skate to the same extent of play scores 2.8 points. So, in other words, a hockey game is around 1.3 points harder to watch than a figure skating competition. This doesn’t even factor in the mental strain and stress that comes with following a game, so it’s possible that, at least at a mental level, hockey is even harder than skating.
Another factor that makes hockey more difficult to watch is that there’s more action to take in. While watching a figure skating competition is pretty much limited to what’s on the ice (unless you get really close to the action), a fan of a hockey game will have plenty to look at. There are usually several fights per game, along with players checking and checking, and checking and hitting. It is a violent sport, and it definitely doesn’t hurt that players grow up watching these games and developing a taste for them.
Skill Level
The last thing you want to do if you’re playing or watching hockey is lower your skill level. Just like with any sport, there’s always someone out there who wants to knock your skills. So, in order to keep playing, you need to work at keeping your skills as high as possible. One way to do this is by constantly training and working at improving your technique, no matter what level you’re at.
This is why, even without any specific training, experienced hockey players can usually outperform beginners. It’s not just about having the skills, it’s about understanding what the skills mean and how you can put them to use. Beginner players usually get frustrated quickly and give up on the game, while veterans almost always stay competitive and focused, even when playing against better teams.
Stamina
Another important factor that makes hockey more difficult to play is stamina. This is something that you need in order to endure a game and not get tired of it fast. Just like with any sport, hockey is a game that requires a lot of energy, and there’s no easy cure for this. Building up your stamina starts with eating well and getting plenty of sleep, but once you’ve started playing, it’s time to work at keeping your energy up. The best way to do this is by integrating strength training with cardio, since muscles burn more calories than fat does. Even when your muscles are not active, they are still working hard to keep your body at the right temperature – which is why most weight rooms have a large amount of cardio equipment, like treadmills and stair climbers.
Of course, the other way to increase your stamina is by playing more often. The more you play, the more your body gets used to the physical activity, and the easier it is for you to have energy during and after matches. This is why hockey is often referred to as a “sport that eats souls.” While you shouldn’t take this literally, it does indicate how much energy the sport requires.
Mental Strain
Whether you like it or not, the stress and pressure that comes with following a game is very real, and it’s a lot more than just the score. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun, and when you’re not having fun, it’s hard to enjoy the mental or physical aspects of the sport. Just like when you’re doing your taxes, there’s always that one step that’s not fun, and that’s what you have to focus on. Even when you’re winning, you still have to keep in mind that you’re not having fun, and it’s only a matter of time until you start losing.
To keep yourself in the right mental state, you need to get some distance from the game. This is why most professional athletes drink alcohol or take other drugs, and why many get into mood swings or lose sleep due to stress. When you get home from a hard day of work, it’s important to take a break from the game and have some fun, otherwise you’ll have a hard time getting back on track.
Total Points
So far we’ve only compared the effort involved in playing hockey to that of a figure skating competition, but it’s also important to take into account the total amount of points scored in each sport. While a game of tennis scores around 4.5 points, a game of hockey scores around 3.9 points, and a skate to the same extent of play scores 2.8 points. This makes hockey the harder sport overall, largely due to the fact that more goals are scored than in a tennis match. Just like when comparing apples to oranges, it’s important to compare the whole fruit to the whole fruit – not just the juice or the seeds.
In closing, it’s important to remember that whether you’re playing the sport or watching it, it’s an incredible amount of fun to play hockey. As we mentioned before, there’s usually plenty of action, along with several fights and heavy hitters hitting each other. This is why the NHL is the most popular professional hockey league, attracting fans from all over the world. It’s a great spectator sport, too, and even the smallest town has a rink where they can take a leisurely skate on Friday night.
Of course, one of the biggest differences between hockey and figure skating is the equipment. Unless you’re playing in ice hockey, you won’t need any equipment other than your hands and your skates. As for the rest, you’ll just need a pair of shin pads, elbow pads, a shoulder pad, and a helmet. Also, the shape of the hockey puck is different from that of a figure skater – it’s more rounded, and it has deeper grooves, making it more like a ball than a square.
Of course, there are many other factors that can affect the comparison, like the size of the ice surface or the rules of the game. Still, these are the main differences between hockey and figure skating as far as most people are concerned. If you’re looking for a comparison that takes all these factors into account, look no further – comparing the total effort between the two sports is about as fair and accurate as you can get.