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

[auburntigersfan]

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.

In football the less athletic guys can work hard and have really good technique to catch up to the freakish athletic guys, but the more nonathletic guys have to have a decent position to start.

[bgeno]

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

I think agility and speed are the main things for me. Just above Versatility.

I remember in high school, the kids I described as the best athletes around were the ones that were good at multiple sports. There was one kid in our area who was always highly ranked in wrestling and started at quarterback on his football team for 4 years.... great athlete. There was a kid from my high school who was a great basketball player, better soccer player, and good at track and baseball, whichever one he decided to play in a given year... great athlete.

I don't really see strength as being too much involved. But that's just how I see it.


And I believe NBA basketball players are the best athletes in America. In the world though, maybe upper-league soccer players.

[slickdtc]

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

Tough to say which sport needs it most. I'd say if you're a wide receiver in the NFL, you need it just as much as a guard in the NBA or something like that. Some guys get by on athletic ability alone while other guys don't have that natural talent and get by through preparation or just freakish things like always looking the same whether they're going to run a fly, post, or button hook.

I think the best athletes can probably play other sports very well too. I know a lot of hockey players are big soccer players too (also because there's a lot of European NHL'ers).

Then there's things like shooting (basketball, hockey, soccer) and hitting (baseball). These things can be practiced but some guys are just head and shoulders above others in how good they are in shooting a ball or hitting a ball. I don't know if that's athleticism or not. I think that's more hand-eye coordination.

[Salhus]

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

Answering just the most athletic sport quesiton:

It's football. They have guy's like A. Randel El/Brad Smith/Furrey (soon to be Tebow?) changing positions and still competing at an NFL level.

Basketball: Higher vertical

Football: More speed/agility/strength

That's from a general viewpoint

[stewaat]

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

Athleticism to me is the ability for one to excel in all types of sports which include physical ability.

A good athlete can play all sports well (football, basketball, baseball being the main 3). Can't count hockey because you have to skate on ice...which is more of a skill.

[Rocky]

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

I played major college football at the D-1A level and a little bit at a NFL mini-camp. That said, not everybody in the NFL is some superb athlete. LB's for the most part aren't terribly athletic, QB's, O-Lineman, D-Lineman, and safeties for the most part aren't superb athletes. Sure they may be some freaks at those positions but they're not universally super athletic. Definately no more than a Lebron James, a Serena Williams, a Rickey Henderson, a Mike Tyson, etc.

So I think great athletes are just great athletes no matter which sport they play. As for what sport requires it the most, the NFL is up there, but to be a professional boxer requires a tremendous amount of speed, endurance, strength, quickness, and power...even if you're not that type of fighter.

[Maxattax3]

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

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).

What about Punters and Kickers?

As long as physical contanct and aggression doesnt constitute athleticism I have to give it to soccer players. The only reason they dont look as fast as football players on TV is because the field is HUGE and the camera is far away. Next time you are watching a soccer game...wait to turn the channel until after they change camera angles and zoom in to show a defender and a forward both running for a ball down the sideline. these guys are rediculously fast and agile...then to think what they do with their bodies/feet while running full speed its just sick. Also, soccer uses the 50m dash i think to gauge speed. Im not 100% on that. But I heard that (in his prime) Thierry Henry ran a sub 4.3 40yd dash.

Imagine Deon or Barry Sanders playing soccer...or Vince Young...Or Lebron James playing GK...they would be fun to watch.

[Cebby]

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

What about Punters and Kickers?

As I said in my post, I'd consider leg strength components athleticism. Accuracy would be a skill, but you can't just teach a person to kick a 50 yard field goal.

[Maxattax3]

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

As I said in my post, I'd consider leg strength components athleticism. Accuracy would be a skill, but you can't just teach a person to kick a 50 yard field goal.

So a 6' 190lb 5.0 40time dude could play in the NFL. As for teaching a person how to kick a 50 yarder...you made me think on that one. I played soccer and FB in HS and my coach always tried to get me to be PK/P and I always said no. I never even tried to kick a FG in practice until my soph yr. After spending 15-20min with the soccer coach I hit 2 50yd FGs (40yd line) that day. Made me wonder whether I was hitting them b/c I had a strong leg...or because it was a natural transition for me...or if it was b/c i had a good teacher.

[Jukeman]

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

hands down its soccer

[Vince]

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

LOL, Lebron isn't 270 man...

[Vince]

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.

LMAO...Give me a break.

Speed, Strength, Endurance, Agility

Explain how Hockey players don't qualify...

[MassNole]

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

LMAO...Give me a break.

Speed, Strength, Endurance, Agility

Explain how Hockey players don't qualify...

That would describe lacrosse players as well, especially when coupled with the coordination it takes to catch a ball on the move with a small stick. Lacrosse players are probably the most underrated superb athletes. As a whole lacrosse would rank above football when all of the positions are taken into account, you won't have any fat slobs on the field. People seem to only be considering the skill positions when ranking football so high, while ignoring the poor athleticism of most OL/DL's and K/P's and for the most part a lot of the pro style QBs.

[ehh]

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

That would describe lacrosse players as well, especially when coupled with the coordination it takes to catch a ball on the move with a small stick. Lacrosse players are probably the most underrated superb athletes. As a whole lacrosse would rank above football when all of the positions are taken into account, you won't have any fat slobs on the field. People seem to only be considering the skill positions when ranking football so high, while ignoring the poor athleticism of most OL/DL's and K/P's and for the most part a lot of the pro style QBs.

I gotta disagree with that. In lacrosse and hockey there is very little explosive athleticism needed in comparison to football and basketball. You're not required to be running full speed, jump 40" into the air while still doing a skillful act like in basketball.

The prep school I was at had a good lax team with several DI players, a couple played basketball as well with me. One played at UMass and he was far from a great athlete. Zero explosive athleticsm, about 6'2 and 190 lbs yet he was honorable mention All-America and All-New England by the time he left. He was crazy and worked his rear end off but he wasn't a great athlete. Another was about 6'4 200 and he played at Loyola in MD I believe, another one who wasn't a great athlete. Pretty quick for his size I guess, but not strong or explosive.

By the way, lineman in football are still athletic, they make up for their lack of speed/quickness (in some cases only) with their strength and almost all lineman are very light on their feet. You'll also find the biggest freaks on the field in the trenches (Kearse, Freeney, Tuck, etc).

[Tre74]

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

LOL, Lebron isn't 270 man...

Actually lebron is 274 pounds to be exact they jus recently weighed him. 6'8 274 pounds and runs like a running back. Im a basketball player and basketball requires alot of athleticism. Its hard to say though im 6'0 205 and some people think im athletic some dont. It all depends. I can do jus about any dunk you can probly think of but if somebody measured my veritcal it might not be really high. I have very long arms which is why some people say i can dunk so easily. But does me having long arms make me not athletic. Even with my long arms i still have to get high enough in the air to do a windmill or a 360. Im not muscular and im not real big but then again im not small either. I have never touched a weight and if i was to get in the weight room. I probly couldnt even lift 205 pounds. But if im on the basketball court or the football field and im matched up with someone bigger than me 8/10 times I still overpower them because of natural strength and physicality. Does that make me athletic. I guarantee if anybody sees me in person and sees me play basketball or football there would be no way that they wont think that im a great athlete. But because i dont measure well in some of the test does it make me a good athlete or not? You tell me?