America is a country that loves sports. Two of America’s most popular sports are basketball and soccer. Many children participate in the sports every year. Similarities are abundant between the two. Both sports require team work. Also the main purpose of both is to put a ball into a netted goal. However, there are some very important key differences. Soccer is played on a field that is much larger and there is a goalie that constantly defends the goal. While basketball is played on a smaller hardwood court with fewer players active at once.
Furthermore, soccer is low scoring and more strategic when compared to basketball, which has final scores in the hundreds. All in all, many similarities there are huge differences between soccer and basketball. The first and most noticeable difference between soccer and basketball is the size of the playing field. Soccer takes place on a large open pitch nearly 120 yards from end to end and about 50 yards wide. At either end of the field there are two large goals. These are quite large measuring eight feet high and 24 feet wide. The stadiums in which professional teams play are colossal.
Some hold over one hundred thousand fans every event. Comparing these massive proportions to a basketball court the differences are obvious. A basketball court is much smaller. Only 94 feet long and 50 feet wide, it is minuscule compared to the larger soccer pitch. In addition court size the goal size in basketball is also much smaller. The rim on a basket is only 18 inches in diameter. Also the stadiums that professional basketball teams play in are nowhere near as big as their soccer counterparts. Only holding on average 25 thousand fans.
The Second very obvious difference in the two sports are the basic rules. I soccer there are eleven players from each team active at once, on the contrary in basketball each team only plays five. In addition the most vital rule to soccer is that it is played without using your hands and arms. This makes the ball primarily used by the players feet . Basketball is the total opposite, it is against the rules to kick the ball. Also in soccer there is a position called goalie. The goalie’s soul job is to defend the net, he is also the only player allowed to touch the ball with his hands.
Another complete opposite from basketball where it is illegal to defend the goal and players must do the defending before the shot is released. These rules lead to large differences in game styles. Soccer matches tend to be low scoring and strategic, while basketball is high scoring and at a frantic pace. While both soccer and basketball are very popular youth sports in America the same cannot be said of their professional counterparts. In America basketball is one of the most popular and highly watched sports.
On the other hand soccer is rarely even televised in most areas. Only when the American team is doing well internationally does any soccer attention start to build in America. However, the rest of the world disagrees. Soccer is the most popular sport across the globe. Basketball is becoming popular in Europe. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that it will ever reach the frenzy that the professional soccer teams cause overseas. Only America and China are serious basketball fans. Lastly, a huge difference in the two sports are the athletes they attract.
In basketball height is very important. Basketball players are almost always tall. Opposite of basketball height plays very little role in a soccer match. Soccer players range in size. Basketball players tend to be very quick and have a large vertical leap. Soccer players rarely jump so vertical leap is unimportant to them. However they are good runners for long periods of time. All in all, two of America’s most popular sports are basketball and soccer. Many young people participate in these sports every year. Similarities are obvious between the two.
Both sports require team work and the man goal of both is to put a ball into a netted goal. Although they are very similar there are very important key differences. A soccer field is much larger and there is a goalie that constantly defends the goal. While basketball is played on a smaller hardwood court with fewer players active at once. Also, soccer is low scoring and more strategic when compared to basketball, which has final scores in the hundreds. In conclusion, many similarities there are huge differences between soccer and basketball.
