Ranking the Athleticism of Major North American Sports

There are hundreds of sports out there, but four are considered the “major” sports in North America: football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Each game is drastically different, with different histories, and even more diverse fan bases. At the heart of each is a plethora of world-class athletes that defy physics.

There are a lot of sports that require incredible athleticism, but they are not created equally. Of the major North American sports, which require the most athleticism to be elite at? In this completely objective piece, we’ll take a closer look at which is the best and why.

4.) Baseball

Baseball has its share of dominant athletes, but there are also players don’t exactly exemplify athleticism. Check out MLB trade rumors and you will find a variety of athletic styles and performances that might not be seen in other sports. That is the beauty of baseball: it can be played by anyone if you can throw a ball hard or hit it far.

That’s not to say that there aren’t elite athletes in baseball. In order to play outfield or premium positions like shortstop, players have to combine size and speed to get to balls that are moving faster than ever before. Being able to hit 100mph pitching while also playing effective defense is something that only a handful of people on this planet can do regularly.

3.) Football

Football has perhaps the most diverse array of athletes you will find. In basketball, guys are huge and someone like Steph Curry (6’2”) is considered to be “short.” Football, meanwhile, has players that run the gamut from 5’7” to 6’9” while moving around far faster than the average human being should be allowed to move.

Even offensive tackles, far too long considered the “fat guys” of football, are specimen athletes. They are absolutely huge – a prototype is 6’6” and 350 pounds – while being able to run a 40-yard dash in under five seconds. Wide receivers, linebackers, and defensive backs are the kind of athletes that turn out to be effective basketball players because they have the strength and speed that only elite athletes possess.

2.) Hockey

Hockey players may be the most underrated athletes on the list. For starters, the physical cardio required is far more rigorous than most people realize. To even play 20 minutes out of a 60-minute game requires elite cardiovascular reserves. Some players are on the ice closer to 30 minutes while playing at an elite level.

Hockey players have explosive speed on the ice, which transfers into other athletic areas. The average NHLer is a pretty solid basketball player (at least recreationally) because they have the explosiveness and hand-eye coordination to move quickly and effectively through small areas. A guy like Alex Ovechkin – who is 6’3” and 240 pounds – can move at speeds greater than 20mph while displaying magical puckhandling and shooting abilities.

1.) Basketball

Being an exceptional athlete as a normal-sized person is an accomplishment. Now imagine being 6’10” or larger and moving with grace and precision while trying to put a ball in a hole that’s 10’ off the ground. Basketball players have to be uber athletic if they are to be competitive, let alone dominate.