Looking for a good real-world analogy for the importance of the center

It is quite common to hear the  "dominate the center" guideline during a many beginner's chess lessons, though one can grow a little weary of resorting to team sports metaphors (soccer etc.) to illustrate the idea using an analogy.

Wondering if the hive can help me with some new-er real-world analogies that might help explain why the center is so important.

One example (that may not be a good fit!) is why you might pick the middle lane of a highway if you're not sure if the interchange is on the right or left lanes. You want to keep your options flexible until you have to commit?

Another one I could come up with is more geographical ... if you're a tourist visiting a big new city, you may want to get to the center so that you'd be able to get to multiple locations a lot quicker and make the best use of your time.

Any others (no sports examples, please!)

Thanks in advance!

What's the use of an analogy? It's pretty easy to show why a strong central position is desirable. Mobility is just one aspect.

Well when trying to get through to beginners (including a really young one I'm helping out), it sometimes helps give them something to relate to. 

Talk about the activity and good or bad squares for them and how to be active they have to get to those squares. Its all about good pieces.

I assumed you were doing something like that.  I'm not sure I'd appreciate being taught chess concepts by way of analogies.

Wouldn't it be easier to demonstrate how many moves it takes for a knight on rank A to get to rank H? And then follow up by showing your students how many moves it takes for a knight in a central post to get to either wing of the board.

Also a discussion on the centre can really go hand in hand with some examples on space advantages and disadvantages.

really good ideas ... Thanks ... and keep them coming! :)

I think explaining to students some various good points in a position like, extra space, bishop vs knight (sometimes an advantage), material advantage, or a weak enemy king, for a few lessons will help. Then you can ask them to explain to you (in a few words only, these are kids right?) what each of their moves does to benefit his/her position. If they can't say something good about their move then it shouldn't be made. This will also help them verbalize their ideas and misconceptions about chess aloud which will make it easier for you, as a teacher, to correct them.

Basing your move on some kind of plan (even a terrible one) can't be a bad habit to get into when you're starting out with chess.

War analogies. If you lose in the center, your army is separated and shattered on the ranks.

how about some Tao, Take some clay and form a vessel, it's the empty space in the center that gives it worth.

Well I think kids can relate to that.

Most pieces, in order to move about, would like to go to or through the center.  Therefore, the player who controls it has a comfortable edge in most instances. :)

I usually explain it to them while playing to emphasize my point. I say whoever controls the center controls the board. Are you not starting to find less and less moves for your pieces.It kind of feels like a boa constrictor wrapped around you tightening and squeezing the life out of you,is it not?

What you do is you ask the kid, "Remember when I kicked your butt when you didn't take the center but instead insisted on your little flank b.s.? Remember that?" Make sure he's looking you in the eye. Keep reminding him of who kicked whose butt. Then if he still insists on not taking the center, start playing him for money.

Women. Playing on the "flanks" of women is nothing serious. What you really wanna do is get access to the "center" and start an "attack".

There are several ways to teach it.

First, you can just have them count how many squares a piece can move to from the center of the board and again from the corner.

King 8 3
Queen 27 21
Rook 14 14
Bishop 13 7
Knight 8 2

The center of the board is therefore more important because your pieces control more squares.
Another approach is saying the center of the board (e4,e5,d4,d5) is a bridge to the otherside. OR it is the top of the mountain (used for battle analogies).
Those are just some off the top of my head

Keep a strong center!  But beware of the sneaky weasels! 

The center of the field must be controlled in football--American and international versions. The action that takes place on the flanks is because the center is a battle zone,

In politics, success means controlling the center and making your opponent represent the fringe.

A musician that cannot master the center of the scales will have nothing to offer at the extreme low or high ends.

Center control is a life principle. Chess is one way that people learn this principle.

Yes, yes, yes, and yes.  Being 'centered' keeps all things in balance, whatever one strives to do.... starting with the abs. 

you can relate the game to pretty much anything.  i think it helps to take something you are already familiar with and try to see the game from that perspective.  An example for me Is the game of hockey.  In the defensive zone its good to angle the opposition to the boards and away from the slot (in front of the goalie)  because thats where most goals are scored, therfore controlling the center.  Scoring a goal can be considered a checkmate or perhaps winning the entire game can be a checkmate.  Trying to isolate opposing defenders freeing up 2 on 1s (when you have two players against one opponent)  is similar to winning a piece.  Since learning chess I have been seeing the game on the ice through a totally new perspective.  A lot of the strategy is similar.  there are several life lessons that can be found in chess as well in hockey and I try to apply what i learn in both to my every day life.  hope this helps.