Which is More Physically Demanding: Football or Basketball?

Sports experience is only complete with physically demanding encounters. The exhaustion after extensive game rallies and highly physical ball stealing keeps you coming for more. Nonetheless, some sports are meant to be more complex than another—true enough, and some fans cannot decide which is more physically demanding, football or basketball.

Being physically and mentally equipped would be best before deciding to play these sports. Basketball requires body coordination to make risky ace moves. Meanwhile, football entails the endurance to turn down an opponent. In this battle of physical strength, which will take the lead? Find the answer below.

What is the Difference Between Football and Basketball?

Choosing the right sport to play is difficult because you need to consider both the technicalities of the sport and your interest. The same goes for basketball and soccer; they are equally entertaining and physically demanding but vary in some aspects.

First, do not play a sport just because everyone is doing it. Should I play soccer or basketball? Which is better, football or basketball? Learn something from your interest and curiosity to have a more genuine experience.

If you are still deciding on these two sports, take advantage of the technical discussion below that will enlighten you on the difference between football and basketball.

• Football vs. Basketball Ball Size

Football and basketball use different ball sizes in their games. As for football, the balls they use are a little smaller than basketball’s. The standard used in FIFA measures 27 to 28 inches. On the other hand, the ball size used in the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA is bigger, which measures 29.5 inches. 

Soccer games are played on 131 X 87-yard synthetic or natural grass fields with 27 to 28-inch balls and last an average of 90 minutes. On the other hand, basketball games use 29.5-inch balls and are played on 28-by-15-meter wooden floors for an average of 48 minutes. The primary distinctions between these two games are concentrated on fundamentals such as court dimensions, game time, ball sizes, and court kinds, among others.

• Football vs. Basketball Game Length

The main difference between these two sports is that they last for different lengths of time. In general, football is more extensive because their field size is bigger—which also makes the game more difficult or more challenging to score. Football matches last for 90 minutes on average (divided into two halves), while basketball games last for 48 minutes (divided into four quarters).

• Football vs. Basketball Style of Play

The style of play between basketball and soccer are totally different by nature. First and foremost, you need to use your upper extremities like hands to make a score on basketball. On the other hand, football needs coordination in the lower extremities. You need to have great footwork to excel in basketball tournaments.

Is There More Contact in Basketball than Football?

If a sport has more contact, it is more physically complex and vulnerable to more injuries during a match. Before answering the general questions, you first know this: is basketball a contact sport?

Basketball is a contact sport that requires physical contact with other players during a match. Similarly, football is also considered a collision or contact sport. Since both entail bodily contact, is there more contact in basketball than in football? The answer is yes.

The answer is no, and football has more contact than basketball. It is understandable since football players need complete contact to take down other players. However, it does not make basketball the safest sport in the world.

According to an article published in St. Luke’s Health, approximately 170,000 injuries are recorded annually among male and female basketball players. It proves how frequent physical contact is in basketball, which results in hundreds of thoun=sands of injuries every year.

Which is Harder to Play? Basketball or Football?

According to a study from ESPN, football is a lot harder to play than basketball. The data is obtained from the responses of a panel of experts, in which football emerged as the fourth most challenging sport to play.

Based on the article, football scored 68.375 points out of 100. On the other hand, basketball ranked fifth or one rank lower than football. The difficulty level of basketball is 67.875 points, one point lower than football.

Football is more challenging to play because it involves much pushing and tackling. Football or American football players are giant and have more toned muscles than other players.

Moreover, basketball uses hands to record a goal. It is much easier to control a ball because you are sued to using them for daily activities. Meanwhile, football needs muscle memory in the feet to make score. Imagine using your feet as a hand; this challenge takes the right mindset and a long process.

Which Sport Requires More Stamina: Basketball or Football?

Both sports require endurance to survive. However, football requires more stamina than basketball because the field is longer and wider than a basketball court. It means that football players need to endure more in terms of ball dribbling, etc.

Basketball is a sport that needs bursts of energy level or pouring out your energy all at once. In this case, basketball takes the lead because players need power and longer endurance to win a game.

The bottom line is every sport has distinctions, and it is unfair to compare them based on specific criteria. However, football games are undeniably the sport that needs longer endurance. However, which is more entertaining, football or basketball? Sports fans will agree that basketball is more entertaining to watch since the game duration is shorter. 

Wrapping Things Up: Which is More Physically Demanding: Football or Basketball?

Newbie sports fans often wonder which sport is better or which is more draining. Basketball and football are among the sports that rookies are interested in. Now, which is more physically demanding, football or basketball?

It is unfair to judge solely on an angle because every sport has strong and weak points. What applies to basketball may not apply to volleyball. However, football is more demanding than basketball if stamina is the concern because the field is extensive, plus you are running for the whole duration of the match. Football players also embroil in highly physical pushing.

Never follow the famous road if you plan to play these sports. Follow your heart, and go to where your heart beats. At the end of the day, you are not playing for people. It is not a matter of difficulty, but it is a matter of interest and passion. Physically demanding or not, as long as you love playing it, you have no reason to rank sports based on specific conditions.

We hope you enjoyed this post! If you did, be sure to check out our other basketball FAQ articles here.