Most difficult position to play in pro team sports?

[True Dough]

I would have to go with quarterback. Gotta think quick. Gotta be mobile (some are more than others, obviously). Gotta have a good arm. Gotta be prepared to take a big hit without fumbling.

Here's a top-10 list compiled by a correspondent for Bleacher Report.

10. Center (Basketball)

9. Running Back (Football)

8. Shortstop (Baseball)

7. Midfielder (Soccer)

6. Center (Football)

5. Pitcher (Baseball)

4. Quarterback (Football)

3. Catcher (Baseball)

2. Goalie (Hockey)

1. Keeper (Soccer)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/41526-the-10-most-difficult-positions-in-sports


What's your #1?

[OneBlueDotBama]

1. Toss Up..

Between a NHL defenseman who blocks shots and anyone on the receiving end of a Serena Williams serve.

[Cartoonist]

2. Goalie

Any sport that has one.

[True Dough]

4. Ever see the Clint Malarchuk video

after he took a skate across the neck? It's more gruesome than Theisman's broken leg, I'll give ya that. Both are anomalies though.

I'd still take QB over goalie. Goalie is a combination of positioning, reflexes and being fearless enough to stand in front of a 100 MPH puck. There are more variables to consider as a quarterback, IMO.

[Loge23]

3. Goalie

...keeper is the same, imo

[unblock]

5. how about outside linebacker?

quarterback is "obvious", but not necessarily the most difficult. on rushing plays, for instance, the job is pretty basic, just take the ball from center and hand it off. reading only comes into play on passing plays.

outside linebacker has to read nearly every play, and very quickly react, and could be called on to rush, block, tackle, or cover a receiver.

[citood]

6. I've always thought cornerback would be very stressful

[JonLP24]

7. I think 1 or 2 are not even the most difficult position in their own sport

There is a lot more to being a QB. Reading defenses, varying loft, learning an entire system, etc.

For similar reasons I say Point Guard because they learn an offense and call plays albiet on a similar scale than a QB. Have to be an expert ball handler and basically quarterback the offense and also be a top perimeter defender and one that can't fall asleep on defense.

Most difficult positions in football are probably CB or ILB. Both sides of the line take a lot of punishment so that makes it difficult within itself.

[longship]

8. Seeker (Quiddich)! nt

[ProfessorGAC]

9. OK With The List Except for #1

Take most countries best basketball player and my guess is they would be fantastic at that spot. Lateral quickness, long limbs, vertical leap, big and fast hands.

What if the Greek Freak was Greece's goal tender? I think he'd be amazing.

I agree with someone upthread that said that isn't even the hardest position on the team.

Hockey goalies get hit (sometimes creamed) as part of a legal play and the puck is moving 110 mph. I know the goal is smaller, but they're doing it on ice skates! I'd have to put that easily above keeper in soccer.

I guess i also don't understand why playing center in basketball is harder than playing guard. The skill set is smaller, although one has to be much bigger.

[bluedigger]

10. My first thought was goalie.

[Jamaal510]

11. I never wanted

to be a pitcher or a QB. I think those are the scariest positions in all of sports. There's always the possibility of a pitcher being beaned with the baseball when a batter hits a line drive up the middle. As for being a QB, you would have to quickly get the ball off on a passing play before a bunch of 300+ pound men get to you, and the pass has to be accurate and good enough to get a chunk of yards and/or score a TD.

[True Dough]

12. True

"Come backers" have left some nasty scars on several pitchers. So little time to react.

[Goblinmonger]

13. I would switch #1 and #2

Hockey goalie, to me, is a bit harder. It's a faster game (due to the short time people on are on the ice at one time) with a shorter distance from goal to goal. The goalie has to be on and reading what is happening and what could happen all the time. Keeper has a little more time to process as the team comes down to their end.