It is an age old question that sparks debate in schoolyards, office buildings and on building sites all over the world. One simple question that brings out the most passionate of arguments between close friends and bitter rivals, but no matter how well or poorly argued a specific case may be, the question of skill still remains.
There is absolutely no doubt that most sports require a great deal of personal skill when those involved step out onto whichever field a particular sport is played on. And, it is not just the physical skill involved that makes different sports tough. The ability to think of the next piece of movement on the sports field or the mental ability to get into or shut out your opposition are also key factors when considering what makes a sport skilful.
Adding into the mix of individual physical and mental skill is the ability to be part of a team. We have all seen those brilliant individuals who stand-out amongst their peers but they are not always on their own. Most of the time it is the support of their teammates that allow the individual success. On other occasions it is simply the perfect mix of skill amongst the team that enables it's success.
So which sport requires the most skill?
The question is simple. Answering it is not. When considering which sport requires the most skill, several factors need to be taken into consideration: rules, team or individual, playing surface, location, speed, physical and mental requirements and consistency. All of these are key components in any sport and may determine the success of the individual or team in any given competition.
It is probably too hard to pick one sport that rules over all others in regards to skill, so rather then picking just one, I will look at a few that I think fit well into the debate.
Soccer:
Better known as football around the globe 'the beautiful game' certainly requires plenty of skill. Adding to the difficulty of not being able to use one's hands (goalkeepers excepted), is the pressure these players face being part of the most popular sport in the world. Composure is often the key to victory as teams carefully shift the round ball around the field, attempting to find the tiniest space available to gain an advantage.
It also helps if you have someone like Lionel Messi on your roster. Messi is on track to be the greatest individual the football world has seen and it is not hard to see why. Messi not only has speedy feet but a speedy mind, he knows when there is an opportunity and gets into position quickly to take advantage. Balance, poise and the ability to use both feet are also crucial in 'the world game'.
Ice Hockey:
Unless you live in Europe or North America the chances are you haven't seen too much of this sport. Not helping it's popularity are the off-ice issues that hamper the National Hockey League, the sport's most well known competition. In the last decade the NHL has had two 'lockouts' due to Labour disagreements between players and owners of NHL clubs. However, season 2012-13 (which was almost lost entirely) will 'face-off' later this month enabling the sports best players to show off their slick skills.
The most obvious obstacle to overcome is the playing surface, an ice rink. It's a surface that most people would have difficulty walking on, yet Hockey players make it skating on it look easy. One thing to take into account here, is the size of the athletes. Hockey players aren't small and most could easily look the part on any football team. This makes it all the more impressive at the speed in which they move, all the while trying to control the puck and weave between opposing players who are willing to level an attacking player at their earliest opportunity. Then there is scoring. The ability to put the puck past the goaltender and into the back of the goal is no mean feat, considering that goaltenders literally leave little room for error. Reflexes like a steel trap? Yep, these guys have those too.
Aussie Rules:
One choice that will certainly provide debate, but in my opinion the game requires plenty of skill. Rule changes in recent times have taken some of the physicality out of the game, however, this places much more emphasis on players having to run more, meaning fitness is very important. Aussie Rules can look clumsy at times but that is direct reflection of how the game is played. At its best the game moves very quickly putting pressure on players and the decisions they make. One bad kick or poor option is all it takes for the momentum of a match to shift to the opposing side.
Played on a large, oval shaped field, long drop-punts are often the preferred method of moving the ball around the field and it is kicking based skill that players use to score. Accuracy in windy conditions is one test players have to face, particularly in larger stadiums where the wind tends to swirl around the large grandstands. It is these conditions that can leave even the most prominent players red-faced as they watch an attempted shot at goal sail wide of the mark. Hand skills are also used frequently, both catching and passing. 'Hand-balls' are the other method of passing between players and may seem easy to the eye but attempting a long distance hand-ball requires accuracy and strength. Aussie Rules also contains one of the more pleasing sights in sport, spectacular, high-flying marks affectionately known as... 'the specky'. Don't forget, there is no offside in this, so players need to have a 360 degree awareness.
The Bob Skeleton:
Skilful or just plain crazy? It may look simple to lie on a sled and go head first down a tunnel of ice but there is a bit more to it than that. Participants can travel at speeds of around 130 kp/h (approximately 80 mp/h), that is some serious pace with nothing more than a helmet and aerodynamic skin suit for protection. Getting a turn wrong can have serious implications, it is not hard to imagine what that might mean. Not only do riders require nerves of steel, they need to be in top physical condition due to the force that is implied on their body. Bob Skeleton riders can pull upto 5Gs while on track demonstrating just how tough this sport is on the body.
Speed for the take off, steady nerves, sharp reactions and technical ability are all required each time a competitor makes a run down the ice. In order to turn the 'toboggan' small movements with the shoulders are needed, too much or too little pressure can mean big difference in time and worst, life threatening injury. The strength and discipline to keep the body in a position to enhance unnerving speeds would be unbelievably tough when travelling at such speeds and the pressure exerted on the rider, particularly as their head is just inches off the ice. An incredible sport that requires plenty of skill.
As you can see it is hard to choose just one sport when answering the question of skill. It is a debate that will always remain due to the passion that sport fans have for their favourite game and the athletes that display these skills best. I don't think there is any one sport that is more skilful than the others, purely because different sports require different skills and skill sets.
Got some more examples? Feel free to make your case in the comments below, just click on the comments link (where it says "no comments")
There is absolutely no doubt that most sports require a great deal of personal skill when those involved step out onto whichever field a particular sport is played on. And, it is not just the physical skill involved that makes different sports tough. The ability to think of the next piece of movement on the sports field or the mental ability to get into or shut out your opposition are also key factors when considering what makes a sport skilful.
Adding into the mix of individual physical and mental skill is the ability to be part of a team. We have all seen those brilliant individuals who stand-out amongst their peers but they are not always on their own. Most of the time it is the support of their teammates that allow the individual success. On other occasions it is simply the perfect mix of skill amongst the team that enables it's success.
So which sport requires the most skill?
The question is simple. Answering it is not. When considering which sport requires the most skill, several factors need to be taken into consideration: rules, team or individual, playing surface, location, speed, physical and mental requirements and consistency. All of these are key components in any sport and may determine the success of the individual or team in any given competition.
It is probably too hard to pick one sport that rules over all others in regards to skill, so rather then picking just one, I will look at a few that I think fit well into the debate.
Soccer:
Better known as football around the globe 'the beautiful game' certainly requires plenty of skill. Adding to the difficulty of not being able to use one's hands (goalkeepers excepted), is the pressure these players face being part of the most popular sport in the world. Composure is often the key to victory as teams carefully shift the round ball around the field, attempting to find the tiniest space available to gain an advantage.
It also helps if you have someone like Lionel Messi on your roster. Messi is on track to be the greatest individual the football world has seen and it is not hard to see why. Messi not only has speedy feet but a speedy mind, he knows when there is an opportunity and gets into position quickly to take advantage. Balance, poise and the ability to use both feet are also crucial in 'the world game'.
Ice Hockey:
Unless you live in Europe or North America the chances are you haven't seen too much of this sport. Not helping it's popularity are the off-ice issues that hamper the National Hockey League, the sport's most well known competition. In the last decade the NHL has had two 'lockouts' due to Labour disagreements between players and owners of NHL clubs. However, season 2012-13 (which was almost lost entirely) will 'face-off' later this month enabling the sports best players to show off their slick skills.
Aussie Rules:
One choice that will certainly provide debate, but in my opinion the game requires plenty of skill. Rule changes in recent times have taken some of the physicality out of the game, however, this places much more emphasis on players having to run more, meaning fitness is very important. Aussie Rules can look clumsy at times but that is direct reflection of how the game is played. At its best the game moves very quickly putting pressure on players and the decisions they make. One bad kick or poor option is all it takes for the momentum of a match to shift to the opposing side.
Played on a large, oval shaped field, long drop-punts are often the preferred method of moving the ball around the field and it is kicking based skill that players use to score. Accuracy in windy conditions is one test players have to face, particularly in larger stadiums where the wind tends to swirl around the large grandstands. It is these conditions that can leave even the most prominent players red-faced as they watch an attempted shot at goal sail wide of the mark. Hand skills are also used frequently, both catching and passing. 'Hand-balls' are the other method of passing between players and may seem easy to the eye but attempting a long distance hand-ball requires accuracy and strength. Aussie Rules also contains one of the more pleasing sights in sport, spectacular, high-flying marks affectionately known as... 'the specky'. Don't forget, there is no offside in this, so players need to have a 360 degree awareness.
The Bob Skeleton:
Skilful or just plain crazy? It may look simple to lie on a sled and go head first down a tunnel of ice but there is a bit more to it than that. Participants can travel at speeds of around 130 kp/h (approximately 80 mp/h), that is some serious pace with nothing more than a helmet and aerodynamic skin suit for protection. Getting a turn wrong can have serious implications, it is not hard to imagine what that might mean. Not only do riders require nerves of steel, they need to be in top physical condition due to the force that is implied on their body. Bob Skeleton riders can pull upto 5Gs while on track demonstrating just how tough this sport is on the body.
Speed for the take off, steady nerves, sharp reactions and technical ability are all required each time a competitor makes a run down the ice. In order to turn the 'toboggan' small movements with the shoulders are needed, too much or too little pressure can mean big difference in time and worst, life threatening injury. The strength and discipline to keep the body in a position to enhance unnerving speeds would be unbelievably tough when travelling at such speeds and the pressure exerted on the rider, particularly as their head is just inches off the ice. An incredible sport that requires plenty of skill.
As you can see it is hard to choose just one sport when answering the question of skill. It is a debate that will always remain due to the passion that sport fans have for their favourite game and the athletes that display these skills best. I don't think there is any one sport that is more skilful than the others, purely because different sports require different skills and skill sets.
Got some more examples? Feel free to make your case in the comments below, just click on the comments link (where it says "no comments")
