How Far Do Soccer Players Run in a Game?
How far do soccer players run in a game? Soccer is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports that is not just about scoring goals; it’s also an endurance test where every yard counts.
The distance covered by soccer players during a soccer game can be astonishing, from running up the length of the field to try to score goals to running back to defense to prevent the other team from scoring. In this blog, I will go over the average distance run by players during a soccer game.
What is the Average Running Distance for Soccer Players?
Soccer matches are 90 minutes long although the actual playing time may vary depending various factors such as fouls, substitutions, and more, which is why the physical demands of a single game are so high. On average, professional soccer players run about 11 km (7 miles) per game but this number will vary based on
How Far Does Each Soccer Position Run?
The distance covered by players varies a lot based on their position on the soccer field and you can learn more by checking out this website: Football-observatory.com
Goalkeepers
Goalkeepers only run around 1 km per game, the least of any player.
Center backs
Center backs run a bit more than goalkeepers and will usually run about 6-9 km (4-6 miles) per game.
Full Backs and Wingers
Full backs and wingers are required to run up and down the sidelines of the field and will usually run around 11 km (7 miles) per game.
Central Midfielders
Central midfielders, such as CMs, CDMs, and CAMs are some of the world’s hardest-working soccer players, covering the most distance among all outfield players. Midfielders will usually run anywhere from 8-12 km (5-8 miles) per game.
Strikers
The strikers’ role usually consists of shorter bursts of intense sprints rather than constant running, resulting in approximately 6-9 km (4-6 miles) per game.
Comparing Soccer to Various Sports
Soccer is the most played sport in the world because it is very simple and requires hardly any gear and equipment to start playing, but how does the endurance required compare to other sports? According to this Source this is the average running time for each major sport.
Baseball: 0.0375 miles
Football: 1.25 miles
Basketball: 2.55 miles
Tennis: 3 miles
Field Hockey: 5.6 miles
Soccer: 7 – 9 miles
Soccer Players with the Highest Overall Distance Run
In professional soccer, certain players have carved out a niche for themselves with their extraordinary average distances run per game. This is a list of some of the game’s hardest working players that are known for being work horses and covering a lot of ground.
- N’golo Kante
- Bernardo Silva
- Nicolo Barella
- Marcelo Brozovic
- Joshua Kimmich
- James Ward Prowse
Summary
To summarize, on average the total distance covered by soccer players per game is about 7 miles, or just over 11 km. This number will vary depending on various factors which were covered in this blog. If you are a soccer player looking to get in shape check out this blog on my best tips to help you prepare for your soccer season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do soccer players wear sports bras?
Sometimes soccer players look like they are wearing sports bras because they are actually wearing the GPS tracking vests, which look like sports bras. These vests are used to measure metrics, such as how long a player runs per game.
How far do professional football players run and how does it compare with other sports?
- On average, professional footballers will run around about 7 miles per game.
- Baseball players will run about 0.0375 miles per game
- In the average NFL game players will run about 1.25 miles per game
- Basketball players will run about 2.55 miles per game
- Tennis players will run about 3 miles per game
- Hockey players will run about 5.6 miles per game
How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?
To begin improving your soccer skills right now, check out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress, contact us or sign an interest form for our private training program.
