Of the 6 major sports, does basketball require the least amount of skill?

I'm speaking of

Baseball
Football
Basketball
Soccar
Hockey
Golf

It is football by far.

[QUOTE=IGOTGAME]It is football by far.[/QUOTE]

yet you see far more undersized players in the nfl than you do in the nba

soccer

[QUOTE=28renyoy]I'm speaking of

Baseball
Football
Basketball
Soccar
Hockey
Golf[/QUOTE]

Football and Basketball are easier to pick up then the other sports. Which is why they are the two most played sports in the country. But at the same time since they are played so much the competition far exceeds any of the other sports. You basically have to ask if you never had experience playing a sport which would you struggle the most.

1. Golf
2. Hockey
3.Baseball
4. Soccer
5. Basketball
6.Football

[QUOTE=IGOTGAME]It is football by far.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, depending on position, it's easily the NFL by far.

imo (ice) hockey is the most difficult, followed by basketball then meh


side note: interesting article/study:

[url]http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills[/url]

football . because every position is so specialized everyone only need to go 1 thing.

i think its football.. besides the quarterback position

track is another sport, well specifically the 100M

Success in those sports relies almost 100% on your genetics.

i agree with others on soccer, lacrosse, hockey, golf, etc. i suck at those sports lol. they are hard as hell to pick up.

Golf.

For me its baseball easily besides pitcher and catcher players really dont need to have stamina to play baseball you can be an outfielder and barely see the ball all game and then you bat like once every 3 innings... the toughest thing is hitting because the ball goes so fast that requires skill and development but once you got that down your all set

I've never played organized soccer. So from an ignorant outsider's perspective I'm wondering what skills are actually needed to play that game effectively apart from great footwork/ coordination?

[QUOTE=NBAller]Golf.[/QUOTE]

golf is by far the most skilled sport. it's probably 95% skill until you reach a point where athleticism/strength takes over. hitting a baseball is right behind it.

golf and it's not even close.. :oldlol:

[QUOTE=L.Kizzle]soccer[/QUOTE]
Please tell me you're kidding. If you think soccer requires the least skill then I'm almost positive you have never played it. Speaking as someone who plays basketball and some soccer/baseball, the latter two are much much more difficult to pick up.

[QUOTE=Boston C's]For me its baseball easily besides pitcher and catcher players really dont need to have stamina to play baseball you can be an outfielder and barely see the ball all game and then you bat like once every 3 innings... the toughest thing is hitting because the ball goes so fast that requires skill and development but once you got that down your all set[/QUOTE]
Stamina is not a skill

[QUOTE=jlip]I've never played organized soccer. So from an ignorant outsider's perspective I'm wondering what skills are actually needed to play that game effectively apart from great footwork/ coordination?[/QUOTE]

Ive played soccer up to the college ranks and from a players perspective its like basketball except with your feet lol... thats the quickest way to sum it up for me

[QUOTE=NumberSix]Stamina is not a skill[/QUOTE]

I understand that but for most sports you need stamina to compete effectively

let's look at it this way. a guy that's 7 feet tall walks into a gym. he has never played basketball before, but he has world class athleticism. do you think you could beat him 1 on 1?

After football, I'd say basketball. Seriously, there's some freakin' unbelievable scrubs in the NBA.

[QUOTE=jlip]I've never played organized soccer. So from an ignorant outsider's perspective I'm wondering what skills are actually needed to play that game effectively apart from great footwork/ coordination?[/QUOTE]

You pretty much have to train your feet to have the same dexterity as your hands.

Basketball and soccer are similar, skillwise. Most players have the ability to play most of the positions. Soccer is pretty much basketball but with your feet and a goal instead of a basket.

Football as a whole requires so many different things that it has to be split up a bunch.

Baseball is more complicated than you think. It's a game of many situations.

Basically, the more players you have on the court, the more complicated the sport.

[QUOTE=NumberSix]After football, I'd say basketball. Seriously, there's some freakin' unbelievable scrubs in the NBA.[/QUOTE]

kinda true. i think its especially true of the center position. You can find some real bozos at that spot.

i would say that at least 1/4 of amateur basketball players are more skilled than the average nba center, who just happens to be 6'10+ on average

[QUOTE=jlip]I've never played organized soccer. So from an ignorant outsider's perspective I'm wondering what skills are actually needed to play that game effectively apart from great footwork/ coordination?[/QUOTE]

bicycle kicks and ball control are not skills that everyone who plays soccer posses, especially when you are facing good sweepers. Your ankles and shin bones are at risk :oldlol:. I've witnessed guys dislocate their elbows trying to do bicycle kicks,also ankles and shin bones break from not being able to control the ball when facing good sweepers.

[QUOTE=28renyoy]let's look at it this way. a guy that's 7 feet tall walks into a gym. he has never played basketball before, but he has world class athleticism. do you think you could beat him 1 on 1?[/QUOTE]
That literally doesn't bring anything to the argument.

If you threw any massive guy (I'm talking huge) on a football field with amazing speed (about as realistic as your scenario) wouldn't he excel?

Any sport can have a guy with no skill come in and be productive. If you're fast and coordinated then you can be a good soccer player, obviously you won't have the skill to shoot or pass well but you'll be athletic enough to be good at defense. Same with baseball, if you're strong and coordinated you should be able to hit a baseball pretty far.

Golf really requires technique because you really can't just go out and smash the ball as hard as you can (unless you believe Happy Gilmore). Hockey requires good skating skill and technique to do well also.

I think basketball is in the same category as football and soccer.

I have lots of experience with baseball, basketball and soccer. I think soccer is the easiest to pick up and requires the least skill. I'm always surprised how few people are good at baseball. people who are great athletes when it comes to other sports can't hit for a lick, or can't throw (just ask John Wall).

[QUOTE=Boston C's]I understand that but for most sports you need stamina to compete effectively[/QUOTE]
But we're talking about skill.

I could tell you that basketball is the most elite sport in the world. Simply by looking at hight, such a small percentage of people can even qualify. I myself am 6'4 and I can basically only be a PG or an undersized SG. A VERY small percentile of the population even reaches my height (less than 3%) and I'm too short for the majority of the positions.

That's not a skill though.

[QUOTE=MeLO MvP 15]That literally doesn't bring anything to the argument.

If you threw any massive guy (I'm talking huge) on a football field with amazing speed (about as realistic as your scenario) wouldn't he excel?

[B]Any sport can have a guy with no skill come in and be productive. If you're fast and coordinated then you can be a good soccer player, obviously you won't have the skill to shoot or pass well but you'll be athletic enough to be good at defense.[/B] Same with baseball, if you're strong and coordinated you should be able to hit a baseball pretty far.

Golf really requires technique because you really can't just go out and smash the ball as hard as you can (unless you believe Happy Gilmore). Hockey requires good skating skill and technique to do well also.

I think basketball is in the same category as football and soccer.[/QUOTE]

I was thinking about arguing with the bolded til i realized you were totally right... in college you need skill to be a defender but in high school i had a freak of nature player playing sweeper who never played before in his life and we used him for defense exactly for what you stated :lol

[QUOTE=NumberSix]But we're talking about skill.

I could tell you that basketball is the most elite sport in the world. Simply by looking at hight, such a small percentage of people can even qualify. I myself am 6'4 and I can basically only be a PG or an undersized SG. A VERY small percentile of the population even reaches my height (less than 3%) and I'm too short for the majority of the positions.

That's not a skill though.[/QUOTE]

Well put cant argue with that... I just wanted to point out that stamina in most sports is important and for sports like baseball and golf it really isnt

[QUOTE=28renyoy]let's look at it this way. a guy that's 7 feet tall walks into a gym. he has never played basketball before, but he has world class athleticism. do you think you could beat him 1 on 1?[/QUOTE]
yes

[QUOTE=28renyoy]let's look at it this way. a guy that's 7 feet tall walks into a gym. he has never played basketball before, but he has world class athleticism. do you think you could beat him 1 on 1?[/QUOTE]
A 7 footer with world class athleticism has a greater chance of succeeding in the NFL than the NBA

In my opinion, football and baseball are automatically out of the discussion, because the Quarterback and Pitcher are easily two of the most difficult positions to play and excel at in basically all of sports.

Its probably basketball...

[QUOTE=JustinJDW]In my opinion, football and baseball are automatically out of the discussion, because the Quarterback and Pitcher are easily two of the most difficult positions to play and excel at in basically all of sports.

Its probably basketball...[/QUOTE]
Yes, cuz every player in the NFL is a quarterback. Clearly there are no positions that have lesser skill requirements.

[QUOTE=Rekindled]football . because every position is so specialized everyone only need to go 1 thing.[/QUOTE]
This, so I don't have to re-write the same thing.

For basketball, skills are big pluses to each player's games. Athleticism can do the job but skills make them special.

i agree with ........

the nba center position is gotta be easy especially in this era

nba games have sooo many stoppage of plays, commercials, time outs

but NFL is probably easier, u get to catch your breath every 10 seconds, and long ass breaks

NBA centers have to be in very good condition + hustle their heart out while being mentally checked in at all times

Basketball is a skill sport since you have to do things like dribble the ball and shoot at the basket.

In football you can just run and try not to get killed. I feel like it's more natural a sport.

Baseball and golf are completely skill, I mean athleticism is a plus for sure, but if you don't have the developed skills you're not going to be successful.

Soccer is very much skill based too because you have less control using your feet than you do your hands. That said those who grow up playing it like many of us did basketball might argue differently.

But it really is tough to remember since I've been playing basketball so long, just how hard it is to pick up at first. We had some exchange students who played tennis and were fast and were good at football and soccer. But we got them on the court and they looked like a couple 6 years olds could beat them. It's really an odd sport if you think about it.

[QUOTE=NumberSix]Yes, cuz every player in the NFL is a quarterback. Clearly there are no positions that have lesser skill requirements.[/QUOTE]Come on man. Football can't even be in the discussion if they have easily the most difficult, stressful and unforgiving position in all of sports. No other position even comes close. The skill it takes to be a Quarterback, Pitcher and maybe even Designated Hitter exceeds that of any position in basketball. Which is why its easy for me to say the answer is basketball.

I am very very very naturally skilled at sports...just short.

My definition of 'skills' is would you be able to play with a bunch of normal athleticism guys that have played the sport for 10+ years. For example, if you went to the park and there were a bunch of 20-40 year old people there could you play the game without being a huge detriment to the fun.

Results for someone with above average athleticism and coordinator (me)
In order of easiest to hardest (assuming you get to have one day to practice)

1. Baseball.
Catching and throwing. Your singular effect on any single game is usually not that great. I've never once played baseball in any organized way, but when I play with people that do know how to play I don't embarrass myself. I can catch the ball if it easy and i'm fast enough to get a grounder. I have a naturally good arm and can get it close enough to my target. I suck at hitting, and am a detriment there but with a subpar picture I can occasionally get a good whack at the ball.

2. Soccer
If you have decent athleticism you can always play defense. I really am terrible at kicking the ball but can play great on the ball or help defense. This is a game with clear cut offense and defensive players so as long as you don't choose a position (forward) that requires mad skill you can play just fine. I played with varsity level players and most of them had no idea I never played soccer before. All I did was play defense and try to not do too much. I've played one on one soccer against people that have high school level of skills and beat them. Again, mostly luck, I was faster than them and it was a big field, and no goalie. It takes a little bit to get used to dribbling with your feet, but as far as sports go you can pick that up fairly quickly.


3. Football
Football really depends on how properly it is played. You have to at least understand football to play it decently. You have to know where to be and what to do/the rules. This is not necessarily skill, but rather knowledge. If you are playing tackle then the skill is a bit less. You can be huge, fast and strong and dominate as a running back or etc. This gets the nod above the other two because you HAVE to be able to catch the ball, move laterally, move explosively, and gauge distance. If you are wide open and can't catch the ball you are a huge liability. Alternatively, if you keep getting torched on defense you are a huge liability.

4. Basketball
In bball you can be pretty terrible and still be allowed on a court. However, the skills required to be good are very fine tuned. Being a skilled shooter is something purely learned, and not physical (such as catching). Same with dribbling. However, you can be tall and do other things. Alternatively, as long as you can catch and get the ball to someone else it is usually enough. However, the divide between not having skills and having skills is larger than the prior two sports.

5. Hockey
Ice skating is a semi-skill. I could ice skate just fine the first time I ever tried it. Stopping, turning quickly, etc etc is something I'm sure I could pick up if I go another 20+ times. I think the skill to hit a puck while moving is pretty hard though. I think basketball requires more actual skill, but I think for most people skating and using a stick at the same time is a combination of body skill that requires tons and tons of practice. I might be an exception, rather than the rule here.

6. Tennis
As an avid tennis player, I can say with certainty if you don't have the skills you have no chance. The athleticism/etc only comes in to play once you have the skills. Someone fast and strong will be only marginally better than someone slow and weak. Skill definitely trumps all, until you get to the upper echelons.


7. Golf
This sport requires the most skill in my opinion. I naturally have been able to get by, or do well at every sport I've ever played just a few times. Golf is by far the exception. It is impossible. The skill required to hit that ball properly is just unbelievable. Size, strength and every measure of normal athletic ability (coordination, wrist strength, explosiveness, etc) really have no bearing on golf. It is a pure skill sport.

Baseball is the hardest sport to master.

Football or basketball are probably on the easy side.

I'd go with football.

[QUOTE=Boston C's]For me its baseball easily besides pitcher and catcher players really dont need to have stamina to play baseball you can be an outfielder and barely see the ball all game and then you bat like once every 3 innings... [B]the toughest thing is hitting because the ball goes so fast that requires skill and development but once you got that down your all set[/B][/QUOTE]

Good luck with that. Some never get it. Only the few ever bat at a high level.