Soccer and hockey, known worldwide, have their unique traits, techniques, rules, fields, and fans. They share a long history, evolving in the late 1800s.
Despite clear differences, these sports surprisingly have more similarities than you’d think. This comparison will walk through the key differences, like the pitch, equipment, and techniques.
In this article, we will also reveal unexpected similarities, showing how these sports bring fans worldwide together.
What is the Game of Soccer?
Everybody knows about soccer, and I doubt there’s anyone who hasn’t heard of it.
Football the game most countries call by that name, except for the USA who call it soccer, is definitely the most liked and popular field game. More people watch soccer games than any other sport – that’s just the way it is.
When you look at soccer players compared to other sports, you can see how big a deal it is.
Soccer is not like any other field game, especially in terms of how simple it is. It’s a game that anyone can play because it has fewer rules and stuff compared to other sports.
The outdoor game has 11 players on each side, with 10 players and 2 goalkeepers. It’s kind of like hockey, with defense, dribbling, kicking, passing, heading, and more.
Unlike hockey, in soccer, you play the ball with your feet. If the ball accidentally touches any other part of the body, like the hands, it usually means a foul, and the other team gets an advantage.
What is the Game of Hockey?
Hockey has become super popular worldwide. It’s been entertaining for a long time, gathering lots of fans. It’s called a “field game” to tell it apart from the ice version.
In hockey, there are 10 regular players and a goalie on each team, making a total of 11 players on the field.
What makes hockey stand out is that players use long sticks.
These sticks help them pass, dribble, score goals, and defend against the other team. The sticks are not just long; they’re kind of bent like hooks, making it easier for players to control the ball.
Soccer vs Hockey: The Difference
Thinking about it, it’s not hard to spot one or two clear differences between soccer and hockey. That’s because these sports are fundamentally different.
Let’s take a closer look at some obvious and not-so-obvious differences between the two games.
Duration of Play
Soccer matches have a longer duration compared to hockey games. In soccer, the official time spans 90 minutes, divided into two halves of 45 minutes each.
While hockey matches normally last about 60 minutes. They consist of three periods, each lasting 20 minutes. In some cases, an additional 5-10 minutes may be added if the game ends in a tie.
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Gameplay Techniques
Both sports have different ways of playing. In soccer, players use their feet to move the ball, while in ice hockey, players slide the puck on the ice using their hockey sticks.
In soccer, when a player gets the ball, they can dribble, which needs a lot of talent and skill.
On the other hand, in hockey, the puck is passed and shot really fast. Goalkeepers need to be super-focused to stop it.
Jersey
Both soccer and hockey teams wear uniforms for easy identification. The front of the jerseys usually shows the team logos, indicating loyalty to a club or national team.
The uniforms consist of pullover shirts, shorts, and high socks.
Physicalities
Soccer matches need a lot of jogging around the pitch, while hockey necessitates both body strength and skating stamina. Players in soccer need to sprint around the field for hours until the match ends.
Ice hockey players need to be skilled at maintaining their balance, skating, and passing the puck, which requires a high level of physical fitness and strength.
In short, due to the unusual field conditions and the usage of sticks to move the puck around the rink, as well as having to skate around in heavy protective gear, ice hockey calls for extra strength.
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Playing Field
There are two types of hockey: field hockey and ice hockey, and this is where the difference arises.
In soccer, the playing field is typically covered with grass, either natural or artificial. On the other hand, in ice hockey, the playing surface is made of ice, professionally known as an ice rink.
Countries with abundant ice resources tend to favor ice hockey. However, artificial ice rinks have been constructed for indoor games, allowing for year-round play rather than being limited to a specific season.
The dimensions of a hockey pitch or rink also differ from those of a football pitch.
A hockey pitch is normally 100 yards (91.4m) long and 60 yards (55m) wide, while a soccer pitch varies in length from 100 yards (90m) to 130 yards (120m) and in width from not less than 50 yards (45m) to not more than 100 yards (90m).
Possession
In soccer and hockey, having control of the ball or puck is crucial for winning. If a team can’t hold onto it for at least ten seconds, they can’t go on the attack and might not score.
In both sports, players battle for possession until a chance to score appears.
The coach’s tactical skills often play a significant role in deciding how the team sets up to keep possession and turn it into a chance to score.
Equipment
Soccer balls come in different designs, each with its own look and features, but they’re always round.
A hockey puck is a disk used in various sports and games, and it can be open or closed. Its job is like that of a soccer ball – to score goals.
But unlike soccer, where players use their legs, hockey players use hockey sticks (also called a pusher), originally made of wood but mostly now made of carbon fibers and graphite.
The stick should be entirely white or black to show the player’s team.
The stick’s shape affects how you play, and it all comes down to the player’s personal preference.
Officiating
In professional soccer, the rules usually have 1 referee and 2 assistant referees. Sometimes, a 4th or even 5th referee might be brought in for certain games. The head referee is the one responsible for making sure the game follows all the laws and rules.
In hockey, every game gets 2 referees (umpires) and 2 linesmen.
They started using this ‘four official’ system as a trial in 1998-99 before making it standard in 2000.
Basic Rules
The two games operate by different rule sets.
Soccer players are known for pushing the boundaries, leading to the official classification of their rules as “laws.” It seems like a strong effort to ensure players adhere to them.
Soccer has a few laws. Only one official is permitted on the “pitch” or field, with two or three others allowed to stay on the sidelines, but not any closer.
On the flip side, hockey has more straightforward rules simply referred to as ‘rules,’ and officials in hockey are allowed to be on the field of play.
Offsides Rules
Soccer and hockey both have rules about being offside, but they’re not the same.
In soccer, it’s when a player gets the ball passed to them while being beyond an imaginary line across the field, where the last defender from the other team is.
This is to prevent players from hanging out behind defenders, waiting for a pass, which would be an unfair advantage.
In hockey, being offside is when a player crosses the blue line of the defending team before the puck does.
Hockey players get around this by keeping one skate outside the zone and one inside, a legit move that lets them cross the blue line without being called offside.
Soccer vs Hockey: The Similarities
With the key difference between the two sports laid out, it’s worth delving into what soccer and hockey have in common.
Exploring these similarities not only expands your perspective on how soccer and hockey relate but also offers a chance to grasp aspects of soccer by observing hockey, or vice versa, gaining insights and understanding from one sport to enhance your appreciation of the other.
Global Popularity
Soccer and hockey, in their unique styles, enjoy enormous global popularity.
Soccer takes the lead as the unrivaled king, captivating a broad audience with events like the FIFA World Cup.
On the other hand, hockey has a passionate fan base, particularly in countries such as Canada, the United States, and parts of Europe. Leagues like the NHL draw international attention to the sport.
History
Soccer and hockey share a history, both emerging in the latter part of the nineteenth century. These sports also have fundamental cultural and intellectual similarities.
Strategies
Another common aspect in both games is the strategic elements, covering ideas like passing, leading, attacking, and defending, as well as footwork and stickwork.
For soccer players who enjoy watching hockey, the time spent observing the game is valuable. Many of the tactics and strategies learned can be applied on the soccer field.
Scoring System
In both soccer and hockey, players strive to score by putting the ball or puck into the net. Similar to soccer, it’s nearly impossible to score a hockey goal from the corner.
Hockey players tackle this by passing the puck from the corner to teammates positioned in front of the goal, giving them the opportunity to take a shot and score.
Soccer players employ a comparable strategy.
The player often sends the ball back to the attacking midfielder, who can either take a shot from outside the 18-yard box or deliver a cross into the 18-yard box for a header goal.
Commercial breaks
If you’ve watched a soccer game, you know they’re usually intense, and a pause in the action can be disappointing.
In soccer, the only breaks occur at half-time or after the game. This continuous flow aims to maintain high concentration and intensity among the players.
The only exception for a pause during a game is for weather disruptions or water breaks.
Hockey, though somewhat similar, allows for commercial breaks between periods.
Goalposts
Both sports aim to score more than their opponents, but hockey goalposts are smaller than soccer goalposts.
For soccer, the goalpost dimensions are: the distance between the posts is 7.320m, and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44m. The goalpost and the crossbar both have a width and depth of 12cm.
In hockey, the goalpost is 72 inches (180 cm) wide and 48 inches (120 cm) tall, with a footprint of 40 inches (100 cm) deep.
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FAQs
What are the differences between hockey and football?
Hockey and soccer are different. In hockey, you play on ice or a field, use skates and a puck, and try to shoot into the opponent’s goal.
Soccer is on a grassy field, with cleats and a ball, and the goal is to get it into the other team’s goal. They vary in how they’re played and what you need to do to win.
Why hockey is harder than soccer?
Yet, both sports demand different skill sets and physical abilities.
For some, hockey might seem more challenging because of its rapid pace and the requirement for advanced skating skills. Meanwhile, others may argue that soccer is tougher due to its physical nature and intricate strategies.
What sport is most similar to hockey?
Bandy, also known as Banty, is a game a lot like ice hockey.
People play it mostly in the Scandinavian countries, the Baltic countries, and Mongolia. A team has 8 to 11 players, all wearing skates and using curved sticks to hit a ball. The goal is to score by getting the ball into the opponent’s goal.
Which country played hockey?
Many countries play hockey, with ice hockey being popular in nations like Canada, the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, and various Nordic, Baltic, and Asian countries.
Field hockey is also widely played, with strong participation in countries like the Netherlands, Australia, India, and Argentina.
