How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

[TMagic]

So what factors make someone athletic?

And like the thread title says, what are some sports that you think players benefit from being the most athletic?

Also which sports do you feel players aren't as athletic, or which sport doesn't need athleticisim as much as some others?

[Cebby]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

I'd consider athleticism everything measured at the NFL combine. Running, jumping, strength, body type, that stuff.

For major sports, I think football needs it the most and baseball by far the least (well, golf/motor racing if you want to count those). Obviously it's a case by case basis, as a center fielder or shortstop will need more athleticism than a kicker, but by and large I think that's the case.

I think basketball probably has the biggest jump from non-athletic to athletic, but after a point, I think football players show more difference once you get above a certain point.

[Gibbz]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

Balance, speed, strength, composure, etc.


I'd say boxing takes more athleticism than any other sport. Boxers are the greatest athletes in the world.

[ehh]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

Athleticism is pretty easy to define, Cebby described it well.

As for each sport, I think it has to be football at #1 since so many things going on on the field revolve solely around athleticism. The war in the trenches is pretty much only decided on athletics (who's stronger and/or quicker) outside of a few stunts. Getting off the line as a WR means you have to be strong enough and quick enough to beat the DB.

However, I think the best athletes on the planet are basketball players and by a long shot when you factor in their overall size. Could you imagine Shaq circa '95 on a football field? Or LBJ as a football player right now? You get guys like Antonio Gates and Randy Moss who were (or could have been if he pursued it in Moss' case) good mid-major DI basketball players and they are all-world football players. However, it is possible to get by in basketball if you're not a great athlete. Great shooter, great court vision, know how to use your body well to create angles and get off shots, etc. You can't do that as much in football.

[J-Unit40]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

1(a) Football

1(b) Basketball

Everything else just drops off from there.

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

To me athleticism is a combination of speed, explosiveness, strength, flexibility, and reflexes.

Football, Basketball, and Boxing came to mind first. I can't disagree with what has been posted.

[J.R. Locke]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

Interesting question. One which I always had a problem defining because I was slow as all hell (4.9 40 is my best time ever) but I had a 35+ inch vertical.

So was I athletic?

I think there are so many variances in what we consider athleticism. In basketball does good footwork = athleticism? Or is it how high you can jump or fast you can run?

From my vantage point there is a minimum level of athleticism that you need in the traditional sense (speed, power etc...) but after players reach that at their given level it really isn't that much of an issue. Footwork, mental aptitude, feel for the game matter more after the average is met.

I would say that it isn't great athleticism that separates the great from the good it is other factors.

From sports I have played football is by far the most athletically demanding sport. It is a sprint with a need for power at any given moment. When I think of athleticism that is the sport I think of. Basketball is a game of skill. Baseball more so.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

However, I think the best athletes on the planet are basketball players and by a long shot when you factor in their overall size. Could you imagine Shaq circa '95 on a football field? Or LBJ as a football player right now? You get guys like Antonio Gates and Randy Moss who were (or could have been if he pursued it in Moss' case) good mid-major DI basketball players and they are all-world football players. However, it is possible to get by in basketball if you're not a great athlete. Great shooter, great court vision, know how to use your body well to create angles and get off shots, etc. You can't do that as much in football.

That's basically what I was going to say. I was going to categorically answer "basketball", but you're right that at any one time, football players are probably using MORE athleticism just to perform their basic functions. Also, football is so ON when the play starts that those bursts of athleticism have to come faster than in perhaps any other sport. There are very few players (uninvolved WRs not blocking someone, deep safeties during run plays, etc.) who are not constantly running or going all out in other ways during any given football play, whereas you'll see possessions in basketball where guys are standing around or not really doing anything.

But I do think that basketball requires the most well-rounded athletes because they're doing EVERYTHING at once. The amount of coordination, skill, and athletic ability needed to do complex dribble moves in traffic, judge the distance and height of the basket, and release a shot that goes in without touching rim in a span of 5 seconds or so is pretty insane. And as mentioned, most of the all-world NBA players would be absolute killers in other sports, to a greater degree than would be the case vice-versa (football/baseball players playing basketball). Plus basketball is almost constant movement due to the lack of breaks after every play like football -- endurance is a major part of athleticism that doesn't affect the other sports (hockey and soccer aside) nearly as much as it does basketball.

My answer of the 4 major sports that requires the least athleticism is clearly baseball... no contest. However, the coordination required to hit ANYTHING at the major league level is pretty ridiculous... but I don't think that's athleticism in the pure sense, more hand-eye coordination and reflexes.

[MattUMD224]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

im a football player, played football in college for 2 years before having heart surgery but Basketball Players are the most athletic people in the world

look at what Lebron does at 6'8 270 pounds

im sure brand marshall whose 6'4 220 pounds couldnt do the same thing DWade can do at 6'4 216

a 6'7 Offensive Tackle wouldnt last 12 min quarters runing up in down the court with a 6'7 SF,PF

[the_future420]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

I remember this topic being discussed on another message board I post on and people swore up and down that hockey players were the most athletic. I think alot of people confuse athleticism and skill.

But I agree with everybody here for the most part. I think football takes the most athleticism overall, and ironically, I think it also needs the least skill. On the other end, I think baseball requires the least athleticism and probably the most skill. Of the four major sports I think it goes:

Football
Basketball
Hockey
Baseball

[OSUFan_88]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

Athleticism to me are skills that cannot be taught. That is speed, jumping ability, incredible strength, and quickness.

I think Basketball requires the most athleticism, with soccer being a close second. Very few Basketball players can survive playing at a high rate without being a athlete. Soccer is constant running and using your athletic skills well.

Baseball requires the least amount. You still need to have hand-eye coordination, but you do not have to be really fit.

[J-Unit40]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

Hockey players? Riiiight. Not a chance in hell. That must have been in the forums at NHL.com.

[auburntigersfan]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

Interesting question. One which I always had a problem defining because I was slow as all hell (4.9 40 is my best time ever) but I had a 35+ inch vertical.

4.9 is pretty fast, not slow as hell at all. Anything below 5 is good.

Maybe not fast enough to play wide receiver in the sec, but it's still pretty good.

[Cebby]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

I think the biggest difference between football and basketball is the skill vs athleticism.

Football requires athleticism; a 6 foot 190 pound guy who runs a 5.0 40 is not physically capable of playing in the NFL (I'd consider arm and leg strength components of athleticism).

Basketball doesn't require the athleticism. If the same 6 foot 190 pound guy has the wettest jump shot, the highest basketball IQ, and has great defensive footwork, he can play in the NBA. He obviously won't be a star, but he could make a roster.

To me, I think basketball vs football is summed up that:

Football players have to be athletic and the difference between the players is generally skill, whereas basketball players are generally skilled, and the difference between them is generally athleticism.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: How Do You Define Athleticism and What Sport Do You Feel Players Need It Most?

Cebby summed it up well back in the beginning of the thread.

A lot of talk about basketball and football. Hard to argue about the athleticism level required to play those sports at the highest level.

One thing I will say though is that playing football in high school was physically demanding, at least I thought so until rugby season rolled around. The continuous pace, with the persistent collision, having to extert one's self to move bodies from a spot, to the necessity of being able to sprint as fast as possible at any moment was indescribably taxing. There are positions in that sport that also lend themselves to the same athletic skills that are in American football, but no position is necessarily excluded from all components of the game. Rugby just requires a whole different level of fitness from any other sport I've ever played.

If you look at European countries and some of the big time rugby nation in the Southern Hemisphere you'll find their best athletes playing that sport. I think you could make a case for boxing near the top of the list as well.