Who do work more, top soccer leagues' players or nhlers?

[CaptBrannigan]

As a big fan of both, I’ll just submit the observation that back to back games can happen in the NHL playoffs and that would be unthinkable at even mid-tier European professional soccer. The type of activity involved at that level takes longer to recover from.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Sure thing boss

those throw-ins, huge arm pump

This is a weird hill to die on in the context of hockey, a sport that requires about the same amount of upper body strength as soccer.

 

[Mikeshane]

NHL goalie probably does more than any soccer player or any other type of NHL player.

 

[one2gamble]

Thats really not true, at all. It’s firmly a contact sport and the upper body comes into play all the time. You’ve clearly never played the game, which is fine and all but don’t make sweeping statements like that.

I don't know if I'd call it a contact sport but it's definitely more physical than people give it credit for. Though I guess that depends where your bar for "contact" is.

 

[EXTRAS]

Different type of physicality. Hockey players are more like 200m runners that do it 30 times whereas Soccer players are more like runners doing a 10k. Look at Crosby and Martin st Louis legs.

 

[one2gamble]

As a big fan of both, I’ll just submit the observation that back to back games can happen in the NHL playoffs and that would be unthinkable at even mid-tier European professional soccer. The type of activity involved at that level takes longer to recover from.

All that flopping really take toll on the body

 

[stevo61]

I feel like hockey gets underrated because the players arent shredded. But when you play or really think about it, its constant bursts of high energy and with opponents all over you. Soccer players could runs Torts 2 mile run for example faster but their conditioning is focused on something different than NHLers so its hard to compare 1 to 1

 

[Goomba]

This is a weird hill to die on in the context of hockey, a sport that requires about the same amount of upper body strength as soccer.

Um..

you dont seriously believe that, right?

 

[CaptBrannigan]

All that flopping really take toll on the body

Yeah with all the heads snapping back when a stick touches their chest, the head first dives the second a stick touches their back, the goalies flopping at a stiff breeze, etc it is amazing how these hockey players can keep it going.

The “lolz they dive” take is extremely superficial.

 

[Daisycutter]

This question has been asked and answered many times:

ESPN.com: Page 2 - Sport Skills Difficulty Rankings

Hockey players aren't "shredded" like in some other sports probably because it uses more core strength as opposed to limb strength. One poster actually suggested that the momentum of skating made it easier..lolwut!? Thats fine if you never want to change directions but try stopping, starting and turning with all that built up momentum and tell me how you feel.

 

[93LEAFS]

EPL players have about 1 month long summer vacations, though. And that's it.

That's essentially every 2 years. They have way less burdensome travel (outside of non-Europeans for internationals). Both Sports are grinds though.

 

[Kshahdoo]

That's essentially every 2 years. They have way less burdensome travel (outside of non-Europeans for internationals). Both Sports are grinds though.

Nah, the EPL season finishes in May and camps start in June.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Um..

you dont seriously believe that, right?

Just how much upper body muscle do you think hockey players really need? 90% of the activity involves lower-body and core muscles, and a lot of the upper-body activity involves fine motor skills. Wrist and forearm strength is important but that’s not exactly what most people consider “athleticism”.

 

[Goomba]

Just how much upper body muscle do you think hockey players really need? 90% of the activity involves lower-body and core muscles, and a lot of the upper-body activity involves fine motor skills. Wrist and forearm strength is important but that’s not exactly what most people consider “athleticism”.

Wait when did this turn to 'upper body muscle' vs just using the upper body?

now Im just confused and kind of over all this

i Love both sports so

 

[Maple Leaf]

Watch the flops and you have it

 

[majormajor]

As a big fan of both, I’ll just submit the observation that back to back games can happen in the NHL playoffs and that would be unthinkable at even mid-tier European professional soccer. The type of activity involved at that level takes longer to recover from.

Definitely.

I play both at an amateur level and I'm in good enough shape to run for a full 90 minutes (no standing around). But I can't do that two nights in a row.

After you're in shape for soccer and you play a hockey game you're like "what, the game is over?". I could almost play two hockey games with no time in between, no problem in back to back nights.

I imagine playoff type hockey maybe involves a lot more bumps and bruises. But I'd say aside from that it's actually easier on the body. Good skaters especially don't put much wear on their joints.

 

[ESH]

Two football games a week is 180 minutes. Four hockey games for a player is at most 100.

Not to suggest hockey players aren't super fit of course, but football really is the elite physical peak.

The difference comes in the intensity of the work. Hockey is a lot more about high intensity in spurts. Hockey also involves a lot more physicality. Soccer players are generally a lot lighter because they need to be adaptive to long bouts of running, whereas hockey players are generally moving around more mass because they need to be able to absorb lots of contact.

 

[Legionnaire]

As a big fan of both, I’ll just submit the observation that back to back games can happen in the NHL playoffs and that would be unthinkable at even mid-tier European professional soccer. The type of activity involved at that level takes longer to recover from.

When I was playing in tournaments, it was not uncommon to play two or three games a day and a up to six games over a weekend in 90 to 100 degree weather. Yeah, sure I ended up with heat stroke a couple of times but it can be done.

Soccer is a marathon while hockey is a sprint.

As far as who works harder, the answer is any competitive athlete

 

[Nickmo82]

I'd give it to hockey players personally. Footballers bitch and moan if they have to play more than one game a week mid-season and we all know about how soft they are - one tap and they're rolling around in faux-agony. Yes, they're typically in the 90 minute game from start to finish, but much of that is idling about. Hockey players do short, intense shifts but hockey places much more physical demand on it's players. Plus they play as many as 4 games a week.

Last point: Would you rather block a shot in football or hockey? I know what my answer is.

 

[SotasicA]

I think it's pretty clearly the footballers. Shorter seasons overall but when they play they're invariably on the pitch for 90 minutes for (in some cases) ~50 games a season and they only get 8 weeks off at the end of the season - less if there's an international tournament.

A full NHL season run of 110 games at 22 minutes is 2,402 minutes with frequent breaks. Even if you only play 30 full football games it's 2,700.

There's a lot of standing around in soccer, while the clock runs. Hockey players sprint more. A soccer player travels maybe 6 miles per game. A hockey player 5. So that's like 300 miles per season in soccer, and 500 miles in hockey.

Soccer players just have way more days between games.

The sport is also not as physical.

 

[Statto]

Hockey players, soccer players do not always play a full game and when they do it is short bursts of energy with periods of inactivity. Pushing the ball around standing still is different then attacking a 6'4 deeman.

Football players frequently run up 9-10 km per game, there isn’t much standing still... apart from the keeper. The back lines move up the pitch as they keep the space between defence and midfield, midfield and defence as tight as possible. No standing still.

 

[Aurinko]

It doesnt matter which they do, it doesn't really matter the day when they realize that their life goal is to run after a rubber puck/ball.

 

[MoeTheHobo]

In my experience badminton is the most exhausting game I've played so football and hockey can suck it

 

[Legionnaire]

There's a lot of standing around in soccer, while the clock runs. Hockey players sprint more. A soccer player travels maybe 6 miles per game. A hockey player 5. So that's like 300 miles per season in soccer, and 500 miles in hockey.

Soccer players just have way more days between games.

The sport is also not as physical.

There is no midfielder who just stands around.

Yes, you are correct there. Hockey is way more physical, but hockey is trending away from that just like footie did.

 

[OKR]

elite physical peak?

Its a non contact sport, they dont use their upper body at all

Soccer isn’t non contact sport tho, not even close.