Which sports are the most labor intensive?

Question

perhaps the most labor intensive are: tennis, golf, skating(all kinds), hockey, football, among others.

byronbuckles · Accepted Answer

I have heard that the most intensive is tennis, with all the constant motion. Tennis covers more area than racquetball, although I suppose the action starts back up faster in racquetball.

Tennis also uses more agility on a constant basis than cycling.

It's much more intensive than the American sports like football and baseball because those sports have short bursts of a lot of power, but not as much constant energy. It's been said a pro football game has about 11 minutes of "action." The starting and stopping of baseball and football also leads to a lot of injuries. And since you have players on the field making a switch for offense and defense, it's not nearly as intense on one person.

As far as team sports go, soccer can be pretty crazy, but I don't think it approaches the cardio stress that tennis provides.

Tennis doesn't provide the breaks offered by having multiple lines in hockey. Otherwise, hockey is probably the most intense team sport.

I always thought that boxing was pretty intensive, and today that would cover MMA, too. I would think these sports get close to tennis, but with a little less cardio and more pure strength.

BeerME · Accepted Answer

I just want to point out that the average top tier soccer player runs about 10 kilometers a game. That's a 10k in 90 mins. I'm a pretty novice runner but I keep my 10ks under an hour and I don't take a break in the middle. You can walk a 90 minute 10k, it's only about 4mph. Yeah, they do a little bit of sprinting, but it's mostly a mixture of light jogging, standing around, and rolling around on the ground crying.

I like soccer, but let's not pretend it's a lot of running.

mitzykitty1 · Accepted Answer

Hockey.

First and foremost, you need to learn to travel at break neck speeds down a sheet of ice on nothing more than two metal blades attached to a pair of boots, all in an attempt to catch and keep a hold of a small rubber disc using only a wooden stick. When you get to the right spot, you need to stop, gather your thoughts and shoot that disc into the back of a net before an apposing player realizes you're about to score.

If your a goalie, your job may seem cushy and you're fairly safe under that padding, but seeing the acrobatics that go into stopping that puck, it's no wonder Tim Thomas is into Yoga.

And then, to top it off, if you're lucky enough to be an "enforcer" or p*ss off someone known as an "enforcer"... well, let's just say, hockey plays can be really grumpy sometimes. :P

theawesomegoalie31 · Accepted Answer

I'm gonna say hockey. Why? You ask. Here's a quote from Brendan Shanahan that explains exactly why: “I don’t know, you tell me. We need to have the strength and power of a football player, the stamina of a marathon runner, and the concentration of a brain surgeon. But we need to put all this together while moving at high speeds on a cold and slippery surface while 5 other guys use clubs to try and kill us, oh yeah did I mention that this whole time we’re standing on blades 1/8 of an inch thick? Is ice hockey hard? I don’t know, you tell me. Next question”

jennyv · Accepted Answer

I would say swimming, wrestling, and cross country (including triathlons and such). In every single cross country race...your dry heaving/throwing up at the end. I'm not sure how many players in other sports feel that way at the end of every game or event. Every sport is difficult in its own way though. I would say probably wrestling and swimming are most difficult all around (like working every body muscle), but cross country running, and triathlons, require the most energy and require max effort on your body.

CatholicVirginia · Accepted Answer

Gymnastics. See this kid?     Try building up those muscles! All of the hours in the gym, plus the sheer skill and muscle it takes to vault, do rings, even just tumble... it's insane.

eithyy · Answer

I'd actually like to say badminton can be the most labour intensive, for many of the same reasons tennis is. Its an extremely fast sport (potentially faster than tennis), and you have to cover a lot of area. That sort of thing. And, as byronbuckles said, you don't get the breaks that are often present in other sports, other than the few seconds when someone is serving. It can be most difficult when you get two players who are equally skilled because the game can go on forever.

I know a lot of people will probably disagree with me. Badminton tends to be seen as much more of a backyard sport in America and many other countries, which I find really unfortunate. I absolutely love badminton, and a lot of people don't recognize how truly difficult (and worthwhile) it can be.

musicbrain5 · Answer

I would say that tennis is extremely physically taxing, because you don't get a break and you have a whole lot of area to cover. I play tennis, so I really know how labour intensive and tiring it can be.

And for further proof, just check out how exhausted Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were after their SIX HOUR match in the Australian Open final in January. Wow, just wow.

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=HhCzXwdUs_U

I'm pretty sure you can also see Nadal shifting his junk around about 2 minutes in, LOL!

theydidntnameme · Answer

i would say American football, soccer, and any fighting (like mma).

in particular, the defensive positions in football are very demanding. they don't know what the offense is going to do so they have to react and still keep up with them. linebackers in particular have to be quick and fast enough to chase down agile runners, yet strong enough to take down the big ones, so they have a lot on their plate.

while I guess this doesn't count as being labor intensive, in football and mma you get beat up, which will take a toll on you if you aren't in great shape (and even then it still takes a toll). soccer is very intensive as well but its different then football and mma. soccer requires continuous effort while football and mma require intervals of 200% effort which can be very taxing as wellw

Yeahhbro · Answer

Soccer and MMA are the most complete sports.

Soccer combines all the aspects of sports: Endurance, Speed, Agility, Awareness, Coordination as in ball control (very difficult trust me) and yes even strength, to fight for the ball from strikers or to defend it from defenders. Soccer can wear you out pretty fast.

MMA: Its very similar to soccer, with the only difference is that some of the aspects although similar are actually different. For instance: You need speed in punches but not to run. Yet just like soccer is a very rounded sport.

The only one that I can think of yours as labor intensive is hockey, skatting and managing that puck looks pretty hard, plus just like the first two it is a very rounded sport as well.

drummerdude25 · Answer

Golf requires a TON of practice... I can see why it would be put on the list.

It costs a lot of money to buy equipment, get out and play, etc. and takes years to develop your game. And that's usually only to be a half-way decent player.

And it's somewhat of a physical game, yes (not physical like other sports), but it's primarily mental and can be draining, especially playing competitively. It's very important to be relaxed and trusting of your swing and alignment, and believe it or not, it's difficult.

You're kinda always competing against yourself playing golf, and trying to stay composed for the entire round. All it takes is a bad shot, and that can lead to another, and another. Definitely a game about skill, even strategy... and consistency, physically and mentally.

There's an awful lot more to golf than meets the eye.

bcbbcb1785 · Answer

Two of the most labor intensive sports that I've ever played was Wrestling and Football. Wrestling was probably a little tougher. Not only did you have to be in PEAK physical shape, you had to maintain a certain weight throughout the entire year. Football is like fighting as hard as you can for 15 seconds, stopping for 15 to 25 seconds then, doing that for several hours. It can wear on you, so you really gotta stay on top of your cardio and stamina.

Blobb · Answer

Most no weapon combat sports.

Some martial arts such as brazillian jiu jitsu.

Hip hop dancing and bboying can be extremely physically intense.

Football, Rugby, Hockey(never played it looks pretty nuts though),

Triathlon.

But really any sport taken to a high level is super taxing.

Hidden_P · Answer

This might sound weird... but over a period of time, horse riding.

Because, it's not just the riding the horse, the physical-ness needed to muck the horse out, take the horse out to the field (assuming the horse eats along the way or is naughty or whatever) takes a lot of strength.

For a short period of time I'd say swimming or running.

StrumSetShred · Answer

My list:

1)Water Polo- because you have to constantly be treading water.

2)Jiu Jitsu- in my first couple of months, I was soar in places that I never thought I would be before.

3)Outrigger Canoe Paddeling- one of THE best cardio and upper body workouts I've ever had.

mr_random · Answer

Loving the thread. The obvious answer, in my book, is MMA.

I'm currently training for a fight that might or might not happen thanks to the promotion not guaranteeing me a fight.

On heavy nights, I often wonder, what the heck I'm doing there.

After practice, however, I am "rewarded" with a great sense of accomplishment, injuries, and stories to tell.

Confused614 · Answer

I would have to say football. There is a reason why they only play once a week. Nothing has ever been so hard on my body then a hard played football game.

As for people wondering about golf, if you walk the course you can apparently walk like 5 miles. When I was in high school I remember in health once the teacher telling us that was where you got the hardest workout. I never really believed her though.

Phoenix52 · Answer

I'm going to say that soccer is the most labor intensive. Players have died on the field from cardiac arrest.

Football is dangerous. One bad hit and you may be out for months to recuperate your broken leg or torn ACL.

Tennis is definitely tough, but I think soccer is more taxing to your lungs.

ricke92m3 · Answer

Played football from 6th grade through high-school and it was very labor intensive also rewarding.  Since the end of my senior year through now, lol, I train and fight MMA. It is very rough and I like it more than football because it is a personal sport, the outcome is based on how well I prepare not on some lazy teammates you know?

Kieavehlk · Answer

I play various sports, but mainly American Football. I've been playing that a majority of my life. In my honest opinion, every sport can be considered the most "Labor intensive". If someone plays a sport for most of their life, it'll become easier naturally. While others become harder. So, In my opinion, all sports are equally labor intensive. Some are just easier for others, and some are harder.

Anonymous · Answer

Tennis and golf are the most labor intensive to WATCH, because it takes all the restraint in my corporeal form to NOT die of boredom.

In my experience, the most labor intensive sports are swimming, rock climbing, and MILSIM AIRSOFT.

swimming: for obvious reasons.

rock climbing: for obvious reasons.

Milsim airsoft: because it's MILSIM. You're kitted up with a loadout that weights 25 to 50% of your own body weight, running, climbing, and dynamic kneeling for 4+ hours.

Livestrong58 · Answer

On my phone so can't find the link, but some former members of the ISSA did a fairly comprehensive comparison of sports, top 5 were boxing, real wrestling, hockey, Rugby, Tennis. Tennis was the only non contact sport to make the top like 15. Minus the contact, it blew 3 and 4 outta the water.  Boxing was so far beyond number 2 and under it was a joke

sweet_18 · Answer

Horseback riding is actually the MOST labor intensive of any sport. Because you're caring for a live animal that weighs about 1,000 lbs. But without your horse, you can't be an athlete in this sport.

crazybastard · Answer

well I play soccer for my university and I going with soccer. so much work and its everyday training. by the end of the day I'm like forget about school! but that's just my side of the story I might be wrong  because I don't know how other guys train.

Anonymous · Answer

squash and skating (tried both)

In squash you need to have really good muscle strength (like tennis) to hit the ball really fast. And training for it is a pain in the a** , So is skating (esp in the beginning) because you keep falling down.

But I think all the sports are labor intensive in one way or another.

Each sport has its own story.

Anonymous · Answer

This is a good question. From the sports I have played (baseball, tennis, and football) I would say tennis hands down. The amount of mental and physical labor that goes through tennis is much more than it looks. It's one of those sports that if you are watching can get boring since as a casual viewer all you see is a ball hit back and forth, but it is pretty darn demanding to play.

Overall, I would say any kind of fighting, more noticeably MMA.

sqiddy7 · Answer

rugby, constant sprinting, lifting and mashing people, 80 min of mixed cardio, strength and endurance, can't go wrong :)

Sebas · Answer

Football (soccer) Because it's a sport that is constant running, especially if you're a midfielder. Another really demanding sport is Lacrosse, because it's constant running like football, and you get hit pretty hard with a stick that are made out of metal, scandium, carbon fiber, etc. Look up some lax hits and you'll see.

kheserthorpe · Answer

MMA is pretty brutal, you need multiple energy systems and if you don't have them, you literally get beaten up.

Some sports do require more cardio, or more power, or more lactic tolerance, but MMA requires a lot of all of them.

candlewax · Answer

Soccer, rugby, triathalon. Football? Labor intensive? No. Physically hard on the body because they're getting knocked around? Sure. They don't run a lot though.

recniabsal · Answer

Bull riding is the most dangerous but its the lazy mans game. Football is running across a field for almost a full hour. 8 seconds and I'm done in my sport.

HannahC · Answer

after reading "Open" a few years ago, I have some serious respect for those hardcore tennis players

driftangel · Answer

ballet. Takes immense physical strength, perfect balance, an always smiling appearance and not to mention guys need to wear thongs!

Levin · Answer

football, or what you might call 'soccer' *eurgh, shudders in disgust*. Don't believe me? Try it. It's unrelenting. No silly breaks every two minutes.

SkinnyG · Answer

Football. Those guys get beat to sh*t.  The pitchers in Baseball, too. Boxing MMA

stubbsy · Answer

its a known fact that swimming uses every muscle in your body, so swimming will always be the most labour intensive sport going.

dan123z4 · Answer

I play every sport and fighting is for sure the most than prob ice hockey than surfing or swimming.

WeaponZero · Answer

I would probably have to guess gymnastics and competitive swimming far exceed any of the ones you mentioned.

Betawolf · Answer

Hockey, Soccer(Futbol), and Rugby. I don't know a lot of non-American sports so I can't really say for those =P.

bellybuttonlint · Answer

Golf?! I would say maybe soccer, MMA, basketball, and gymnastics. You always have to be on your feet. American Football has too many breaks in between to be labor intensive.

TedStar · Answer

Rugby hands down. I've played many sports in my life and when it comes down to the intensity it has to be rugby for me. Field hockey is a close second

beer3 · Answer

It really depends on how hard you work at it. For sports like hockey, football and lacrosse you need to be fit and have balls, while a sporty like gymnastics, running and swimming can be just as difficult with the right, hard ass coach.

SlickRicky · Answer

have you ever heard of a triathlon? Cross country, Swimming, then biking- makes MMA look like WWE

DutchAtheist · Answer

Swimming. Because you use your entire body and it is intensive for all body types.

kezytrouble · Answer

i know for a fact swimming especially if you have a hard coach.

CBearsgirl · Answer

I would say Hockey, soccer, rugby, but that's about it. Golf isn't even close.

Love_is_in_the_air · Answer

id say swimming because moving in water is a lot harder

Anonymous · Answer

I would say football just cause everyone is pouncing on you

pr3ttybr0wn · Answer

football dunno why GOLF is on that list

G-Daz · Answer

MMA and Football ( or 'soccer')

THAT-1-guy · Answer

Tennis swimming soccer

peace-love-couture · Answer

-Soccer -Gymnastics -Swimming -Ballet

Lilyaris · Answer

I'd say hockey or Football.

honeyltsme · Answer

curling but those girls sure can clean ;-)

steveman2008 · Answer

Wrestling... folk style. Not the fake stuff.

xTeacup · Answer

Ballet.

Anonymous · Answer

Football. Constant running, full contact. =\

Anonymous · Answer

Rugby. Football is for p******.

MrReal · Answer

Football, half the sport is training.

Lj236 · Answer

i hear chess is pretty intense lol

Longshot · Answer

Swimming.

Anonymous · Answer

Doing your mom is the most labor intensive sport

The-Dude-Next-Door · Answer

running

HotPepper302 · Answer

Skate-skiing

justlilly · Answer

Rugby swimming

Wassup · Answer

MMA or wrastling

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