Random non-car ramblings

"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
11/30/2015 at 09:29 • Filed to: None

This thought crossed my mind the other day. Who has it harder—the soccer goalie, or the hockey goalie? A quick google brings up this result.

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This was a relief, as it meant I wasn’t the only one bored enough to get to that thought. Still, I have to say I don’t exactly agree with their calculations, So here come some attempted corrections.

The official NHL net is 48” x 72”. This means a total area presented for scoring of 3456 square inches. Now, I need to remove the area covered by the body of the goalie to get the total area that the goalie must defend. I am going to assume a 6’ tall goalie. I therefore figure the leg pads of the goalie are going to be 36” tall. I’m not sure how wide the pads are, so I’m going to assume 11”. 36x11=396si for that set of pads. Next, the torso. To keep things simple here I’m going to assume 20” wide the whole way (biiiiiiig guy). I think the head can be safely ignored. For much of the time it’s above the net, and when the goalie drops they lose the coverage at the top of the net that was filled by their shoulders (which is partly filled by the head), so I figure it’s about the same either way. With that in mind, I’m going to figure on 24” x 20” for the torso. So, 24x20=480+396=876si covered so far. For the arms, I’m going to reckon on the typical spread, that being roughly equal to height. So, 72”, less 20” of torso, leaving us with 52”, or 26” per arm. Of the first 14” or so, the only pads are the arms from the upper body pads. I’m going to figure 7” across (probably an overshoot, but I’d rather be over). 14x7x2=196si. I’m going to assume the blocker is about 14”x8”, and the catcher to be 12” diameter,with the small flat part at the wrist being about 7”x5”. All this comes to a total of 260 (with the catcher area rounded off). 876+196+260=1332si covered so far. Add the stick, with the wide section assumed to be 4” wide and covering about 48” of the sticks length (including the blade), giving a total of 192. Add to that about 30”x1” for the remainder of the shaft for a total of 222. Grand total, 1260+222=1554si covered area.

Next, subtract the covered area from the total net area for a total open area of 1902 square inches. Next, divide the size of a puck into that area for the most amount of “puck-sized slots” the puck can pass through. A regulation size puck is 3” x 1”, so 3 square inches idealy. I realize the puck doesn’t have to come through on it’s edge, and that there are almost infinite numbers of positions it can come through in, but since I’m going to do the same thing with the soccer ball it seems fair. 1902/3=634 potential slots that the goalie must cover.

Now for the soccer goalie. I’m going through the same process as above, so here I’m going to be a lot quicker. Legs, I’m going to assume an average width of 7” x 36” for a total of 252. Torso, no pads so I’m going to assume an average of 17” x the same 24” as above, 408. Arms, the same 52” as above x an average of 5”, 260. I am counting the head on this one, and I’m going to simplify it by making it a 12” x 7” box, 84. Total covered area, 252+408+260+84=1004si. The regulation soccer net is 8’x24’, or 192sf. To put it all in the same terms, 27648 square inches. Removing the area the goalie is covering leaves 26644si.

A regulation size soccer ball is about 8.65” in diameter. This means a surface area of (rounded) 59si. 26644/59=452 possible “soccer-ball-size-holes” open for scoring.

So, there you have it. Hockey goalie is harder. I should have known, having done both. :) That said, they are two different sports, utilizing two different skill sets, and this was done purely for my amusement. You could divide the hockey number by about 7 for cases where the puck goes through standing straight up. You could through that last case out the window on the basis that it’s irrelevant based on the fact that a puck is moving so much faster. You could cite the fact that a hockey goalie doesn’t have to move so far, but then again I could come right back and tell you that the soccer goalie can move a lot easier.

Anyway, have a car, since this is oppo after all.

DISCUSSION (7)

Nibby > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
11/30/2015 at 09:34

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Nibby
11/30/2015 at 09:35

Oh, right. Hockey is also more spectacular.

crowmolly > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
11/30/2015 at 09:41

Birddog > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
11/30/2015 at 09:41

The Hockey goalie is less likely to have his family kidnapped, be executed or get shunned by his home country if he blows a save.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > crowmolly
11/30/2015 at 09:44

OK, just wow.

Grindintosecond > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
11/30/2015 at 09:52

Dont need math beyond constant surgical shots on goal and the need for a gymnastic body of rubber bands attached to a spine built by Slinky. Hockey goalie is tough.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Grindintosecond
11/30/2015 at 09:54

But math, even incompetent amateur guesstimated math, is fun.