How Far Do Soccer Players Run in a Game?
How far do soccer players run in a game? The beautiful game 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 match can be astonishing and in this blog I will explain 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. 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 equipment to start playing, but how does the endurance required compare to other sports? According to 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 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. In no particular order, these are 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
Frequently Asked Questions
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 learn more about the game?
To learn more about soccer the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts, watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, tv shows, and anime.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 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.
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