Soccer is one of the oldest sports, with a far-reaching history originating from Britain when rugby and football separated and each formed an independent body in 1663. It has grown and developed tremendously, with the introduction of latest technologies such as artificial pitches. On the other hand, hockey is also a game with an equally far-reaching history; the International Hockey Federation was formed in 1908. The two sports disciplines have many similarities and differences. Here is a breakdown of their comparison:
Similarities
- Both have got the same number of players that can play at a match i.e. eleven players.
- Both have got pitches that have got two goals at the position of the goal lines.
- Both have goalkeepers that guard the entry of the ball or the cork into the goal and hence making a score.
- Both sports have a match duration divided into two equal halves with soccer having two 45 minutes halves and hockey having two 35 minutes halves.
- Both have got a similar scoring system with a win having three points, a draw having one point each to the two teams, and a loss having 0 points.
- Both are run and governed by international bodies, soccer –FIFA (federation international de football association), and hockey – FIH (federation of international hockey).
- Both sports are represented in international competitions like Olympics and world cup tournaments.
- Both have similar positioning of players i.e. goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, and strikers.
- Both have similar officiating methods with a central referee assisted by two assistants.
- Both sports have embraced modern technology of artificial pitches and other modern inventions.
- Both have got a common method of determining a winner in matches that demands a winner-in case of a tie after a normal play time an extra time is added, if the tie still remains then penalty kicks/flicks are taken until a winner is got.
- Both allow for a maximum number of substitutes i.e. three in competitive match.
Differences
- While soccer matches last for 90 minutes, hockey matches have a duration of 70 minutes.
- Soccer is played using feet, head, chest and hands while hockey is played with special sticks.
- The soccer pitch is larger than the hockey pitch with measurements ranging from 100-110m in length and 64-75m in width. In comparison, the hockey pitch measures only 75m in length and 35m in width.
- A soccer ball is made of leather or synthetic material and filled with pressure while a hockey ball has a small cork that’s made of hard material.
- In soccer, the goalkeeper wears boots, shin guards, and gloves as their only protective attire. However, in hockey goalkeepers wear much more protective gear which includes helmets, chest guards, loin guards, shin guards,gloves,and large plastic footwear
- Soccer playing boots have long studs compared to shorter ones used for playing hockey
- Kicking the ball is one of the major skills required to play soccer whereas kicking the cork during a game of Hockey except when done by a goalkeeper leads to gross violation
- In Soccer aerial balls (passes) are allowed but in Hockey balls above waist height are considered dangerous play leading to penalties
Works Cited
- Soccer History. Sports Knowhow. Accessed on September 7, 2008, from http://www.sportsknowhow.com/soccer/history/soccer-history.shtml.
- Hockey. National Hockey League. Accessed in September 2008 from http://www.nhl.com.
- History of Soccer. W.Soccer. Accessed in September 2008 from http://www.wsoccer.com/history_and_rules/soccer_history.htm.
- Sports. HickokSports. Accessed on September 13, 2008, from https://www.hickoksports.com/history-olsports.shtml.
- Olympic Games: Sports Disciplines Represented in Olympics -September 2008-. Accessed on September22,2008from http :// www . olympics . org / uld / sports / flash / index_uk . asp .
