People often get delighted while watching a soccer match as it is full of thrilling moments. You cannot deny the 90 minutes long excitement that you feel while watching a soccer game. But do you know, a footballer needs to keep fit as soccer is a super active sport?
Yes, there is no doubt about the fitness of a footballer. During the ninety minutes of the match, they consistently need to run from one place to another. They frequently have to switch from a walk to a full pace within seconds. On the other hand, it is essential for the team to maintain the space among players and move according to the position of the ball if a turnover occurs. The players must dribble the football, twist, and turn, and look for chances to move the game.
How much does a soccer player run in a game?
Now, you may ask how much a soccer player needs to run in a single match. Can you guess it?
Surprisingly, the soccer players need to run between 12,320 to 16,720 yards in a single match. So, they need to run about seven to nine miles while playing a single soccer match in 90 minutes, as we know 1760 yards is equal to 1 mile. Even though each player spends the same length of time in the field, the distance per player needs to cover is never consistent.
The Midfielders
Among all the players, mostly, midfielders have to cover the most distance. After that, defenders cover maximum distance in a match. On the other hand, the goalkeeper moves around the goal bar and runs the least. You know what!! The midfielders are considered as the link between the attackers and the defenders. The whole soccer match depends a lot on the midfielders as they need to move the most with the ball and pass it to the next fielder. 11 km is quite normal for a super fit midfielder to run in the whole match. Moreover, central midfielders are those that participate in the areas of six, eight, and ten.
Among the three positions, the one that is in number six needs to be most careful. They are also popularly known as defensive midfielders. As the midfielder in position six is responsible for chasing back and assisting the defensive structure in dealing with opponent attacks. Furthermore, the commanding midfielders demand quick back and forth movements. The player is in charge of collecting and transferring the balls in order to set up various goals. The position usually plays in the number eight position.
Lastly, you may know the number ten midfielder as a follow-back striker. For the number ten position, the team needs a player who is quick and has excellent ball control. There are also some wingers in the midfield who help in the attack from the sides. While talking about the wingers, how can we forget about Lionel Messi, Eden Hazard, and Cristiano Ronaldo?
Read Also: Why don’t Americans Like Soccer?
Defensive Players
Defensive players are the back-liners of any soccer game. Their position is quite fixed, and they seldom venture over the midway point. They are typically chasing after the ball throughout the game. Defenders get the responsibility to make sure that the goalkeeper does not face any attacks. Whenever the team needs to face any corners and free-kicks, only that time, the defenders move from their fixed places and proceed to the opposing team box. The most active full-backs defender runs around 10.5 kilometers every game.
The Strikers
Strikers need to cover short, sharp sprints at high speed in a soccer match. They approximately run an average of between 9 and 10 kilometers each game with their sharp moves.
Goalkeepers
The limitation in goalkeeper activity occurs as they need to defend the boundary area. To protect the ball from getting into the bar, they run inside the area of six yards. The goalkeeper’s movement is consistent most of the time. The goalkeeper usually dives to confront the opposite team and makes the target area narrow for the opposition. Surprisingly, within this space, the goalkeeper manages to run four to five km each game.
How Much Do Soccer Players Run In Training?
We can see a lot of movement in the soccer match. But have you thought about how much the player needs to run or practice in the training section to get the perfect flexibility?
In the soccer world, athletes need to practice up to 30 hours per week. It is applicable for both the preseason and regular season. As we have discussed earlier, the average distance run in a soccer game is 7 to 9 kilometers. Preseason training can be difficult sometimes with repetitive additional recovery workouts. Though it is needed to be perfectly fit in the match.
The practice session starts mild but progresses to intense workloads, including a lot of jogging. Most players may acquire the necessary endurance by running 2 to 5 miles at a light to moderate pace three days per week. However, the sort of jogging that the teams perform during practice sessions varies depending on the drill. Running, warm-ups, and muscular activation is common in morning workouts.