My brother-in-law has done HS scholastic and club hockey just outside of Phila for the last 20 yrs. We have great conversations on the way back from games comparing notes and all. Some thoughts from our discussions:

- It's fast. But, they can glide at times.
- Their players hit, have sticks and use the boards. Play can be very physical and rough. An official needs to really know where to be.....and not to be.
- Their player and coaching behavior seems worse. Whack - get out!
- They may have more paperwork for rough behavior (because it can be condoned) based on major and game misconduct type penalties. Progressive suspensions for charges, fighting, high sticking, plus ejections, may happen more than in basketball. He's been up late with paperwork......
- Getting hit by a redirected puck definitely sucks more than getting hit with a ball. He has told me some horror stories of officials and major reconstructive surgery......
- Their equipment costs more than ours!
- He says the last games of the scholastic season can be tough if you get an idiot acting a fool, who doesn't have to worry about being suspended for the next game(s). But, I guess that's any sport.

Just a few.

Is "CIS' Canadian for "NBA" since that's where the Raptors play?

Good one. Highest level of amateur basketball.

We put down large orange cones then even blind referees can see...

Oh, this is a good solution.

Skates actually make things easier. Think about that for a second...

I do NFHS soccer and basketball, and I agree with much of SCL's sentiments.

There are indeed fewer whistles in soccer, but it makes those calls much more important. One thing I like about soccer is the slower whistles. We are required to "see contact through" before calling the foul. We judge advantage far more so in soccer than in basketball, and honestly, I think basketball should do that more often.

For example, if A-1 handchecks B-2 while B-2 is driving to the basket, we're supposed to whistle a common foul. I've become a bigger believer of seeing the play through, and holding my whistle until the shot is released. To whistle prematurely is do penalize the ball-handler, who might get off a decent shot. I've learned that from soccer, which has a better grasp of advantage, IMO.

Basketball has its advantages in its structure and organization, though. We don't pre-game enough in soccer. We don't discuss enough potential soccer situations, and since as few as one could turn the tide of a game, it should be worth the little time it takes to prepare for it.

I still stay hockey is the toughest. All of us can run (in varying degrees). Not all of us can skate.