While there are many similar sports, there is one that stands out above the rest – and it’s called soccer.
In this article, we will discuss the reasons why soccer is better than hockey and which position you should play in order to succeed in each sport.
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Soccer Is Better Than Hockey Because
There are numerous differences between these two sports which, when taken into consideration, make soccer the clear superior choice. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Faster And More Dynamic Movement
If we compare the two sports from a pure movement standpoint, there’s no question that soccer is the superior of the two. While there are definite similarities between the two sports (i.e. both involve team sports and you need to be agile to succeed), there is one major difference that speaks to the underlying reason why soccer is better than hockey: momentum. Let’s examine this difference in more detail.
In hockey, you have three mandatory stops: the drop-start, the stop and the go. Essentially, you drop down a gear and stop the play to allow for a defensive stance and a delayed counterattack. This is an important part of the game, but it doesn’t utilize the maximum amount of your team’s agility – at least, not consistently. As a result, you’ll find that hockey players aren’t often as agile as they could be, which affects both their performance and that of the sport itself.
In soccer, there is no such thing as a mandatory stop. Your team is constantly in motion, pursuing the ball or looking for ways to attack the opposition. This requires continuous action and continuous improvement. It is this continuous improvement that makes the difference between a good team and a great team – and what makes soccer stand out above the rest. When your team is in motion, they are always open to new developments and tactics, which makes them that little bit more unpredictable and, therefore, more effective – at least, in the long term.
In other words, when your team is playing soccer, the play literally stops only when something goes wrong. This, in turn, creates an opportunity for players to improve and, eventually, to succeed where others might have failed.
Soccer Is Better Than Hockey Because
A fundamental difference between soccer and hockey is the size of the player pool. In hockey, you’ll find most players are considerably larger than the average person. This is necessary because the sport relies heavily on hitting and taking hits in order to score. Naturally, most people aren’t built for hockey and, as a result, it’s often said that the game is mostly for the big and the strong. This is certainly true, but it doesn’t mean that it isn’t also available to the small and the agile. Just look at Jamie Ward, for example.
Ward is a small goalie who just so happened to have a phenomenal rookie season. He played in 28 games for the Vancouver Canucks and recorded a.922 save percentage. That’s impressive enough, but it gets even more interesting when you learn that he turned 18 years old just two months before the season began. Naturally, his body isn’t developed enough to withstand the rigors of professional play, but that’s what makes his story so interesting. It shows that, with the proper guidance and opportunity, even the smallest players have the potential to become the best.
Along with momentum, the size of the player pool is another important factor which makes soccer stand out above the rest. If we examine the most popular sports around the world, you’ll find that the majority of them are either soccer-related (i.e. football, hockey, rugby) or closely associated with the sport (i.e. baseball, basketball and American football). This is a testament to the fact that there is truly an audience for any sport that is connected to soccer. Of the four major sports, soccer is the most popular and has the most members in all four. This shows that there is truly an audience for any sport that is connected to soccer.
Larger Arenas
Hockey is typically played in larger arenas due to the fact that the sport is physically demanding. After all, you’re on the move for the majority of the game and, in order to succeed, you need to be able to utilize all the tools at your disposal. While arenas have gotten progressively bigger, there is still a limitation as to how large they can get. Once you reach a certain point, it’s simply not practical to keep going up.
Fortunately, this is where soccer comes in. The game has grown in popularity so much that it’s able to sustain itself even in the smallest arenas. This is largely due to the fact that there is no set size for a soccer arena – they can literally go anywhere from 5,000-20,000 fans, depending on the tournament. It’s one of the few sports where the size of the venue doesn’t impact the outcome. Naturally, this results in more excitement and atmosphere in smaller arenas as well – something that can’t be said for hockey.
Familiarity
One of the major differences between hockey and soccer is simply familiarity. Anyone who has played either of these sports knows exactly what they are doing and why they are doing it. Naturally, this makes it easier for players to get adjusted to the game and to succeed quickly. After all, if you’re already familiar with the rules and the game, it saves you the effort of having to study them on your own. This makes players better prepared when the competition gets serious – as it will when the games begin to count. If you look at the results of FIFA competitions (like the World Cup), you’ll notice that national teams that are already familiar with the game tend to do better than those that aren’t.
Better Equipment
Hockey is one of the few sports where equipment is a key differentiator. You’ll need specialized gloves, specialized boots, a scarf and a helmet in addition to the standard hockey equipment (i.e. helmet, gloves, pants and a jerseys). All of these items are specifically designed for the sport and make it easier for players to perform at their utmost potential. This type of equipment is costly to purchase and maintain, which is one of the main reasons why most sports don’t incorporate it into their game.
Fortunately for soccer, specialized equipment is widely available. You don’t need custom gloves, custom boots or a scarf to play the game. In fact, you’ll rarely see a soccer player wear anything more than the standard outfit (i.e. shorts, socks and a shirt). This makes it easier for players to perform as the game requires and to ensure that sponsorships can be easily connected to the sport.
Athletic Drinks
A definite differentiator between hockey and soccer is the type of drinks that are served during the game. Typically, hockey players will drink alcohol during the game – something which is not permitted in soccer. This may seem like a minor point, but it actually makes a difference in how well you perform – especially in the long term. As a result, many hockey players end up in trouble after the game and are punished by law enforcement officials for their involvement in the sport. For this reason, it’s preferable for players to stay away from alcohol.
Fortunately, soccer players can have a drink before, during and after the game. This is one of the main reasons why the sport continues to grow in popularity every year.
More Exciting Atmosphere
Finally, we arrive at one of the most important differences between hockey and soccer: the atmosphere. While hockey is a great game to play and enjoys a widespread audience, there is no denying that the atmosphere in an average hockey arena isn’t always the most comfortable. After all, the game is quite the physical one and it’s not uncommon for people to be screaming at each other during play. This is in stark contrast to the more relaxed atmosphere you’ll find in an average soccer stadium.
This point is particularly important for children. If they are exposed to the game at a young age, they might grow up dreaming about playing professionally. For this reason, it’s important for parents to take their children to games and let them see how exciting sports can be. Even if they don’t end up playing the sport, it’s still good for them to see how much effort goes into something as simple as sportsmanship. This will encourage them to participate in the game later in life – helping to ensure that the popularity of the sport continues to grow.
While there are many differences between hockey and soccer, it’s clear that they are closely related sports. If we examine why these two sports are connected, we’ll notice that they both stem from North America. This is no coincidence. As a result of the growth of soccer in North America, the game has now spread worldwide. It continues to grow in popularity every year and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future.