Fitness in soccer can mean different things for different positions. Below we have put together some important facts about the fitness level required to be a top soccer player. On average, an individual player is in control of the ball between seventy (70) seconds and ninety seconds (90) depending on the player's position. This highlights the importance of improving what is done off the ball (strength, speed, conditioning, agility, and fitness).
Average distance run by professional soccer players- Midfielder- 6.5 miles Defenders- 5.2 miles Forwards- 4.8 miles The distances themselves are really not that impressive. Given that these distances are covered over 90 minutes, players are covering approximately four (4) miles per hour. The key in developing fitness for soccer is understanding that over a 90 minute game players will run in many different ways and at different speeds. This includes walking, jogging, cruising, sprinting, and backing up. Every effort should be made to decrease the recovery time needed between the moments of high intensity. |