How often do footballers do cardio?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 08, 2026
The general rule when training in-season for any sport is to perform two high-intensity cardiovascular workouts in a week. The game is considered one of these high intensity days.
How much cardio should a football player do?
This equates to between eight and nine hours of physical exercise per week, including one 90-minute game.”
Do footballers do cardio everyday?
Professional soccer players do not run everyday. They do run during the majority of the week days, but not everyday. Soccer players are usually given rest days where they do not attempt any sort of training including running sessions.
Do football players do cardio?
However, football is also a game of endurance. When you see the players tackling each other, it is easy to forget all the running that most likely preceded the hit. Because football players spend most of the game running, cardio is of the utmost importance.
How much cardio do you need for soccer?
Your cardiovascular activity—ideally, running or jogging—should last between 30 to 60 minutes a workout, which can help you develop the necessary stamina to run or jog throughout your game.
36 related questions foundIs 20 minutes of cardio enough?
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that adults should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity 5 days per week OR engage in 20-minutes of vigorous activity 3 days per week.
How do footballers last 90 minutes?
How to Keep Your Energy Levels High Throughout a 90-Minute Football Match
- Eat a carb-rich meal the evening before a match. ...
- Always eat breakfast on match day. ...
- Prepare some snacks for the match. ...
- Drink water! ...
- Use energy drinks.
How do footballers build stamina?
5 steps to build endurance for football
- Build a base with running.
- Do interval training.
- Use props like speed ladders, cones and boundary poles.
- Do compound exercises with lower weights and higher reps.
- Practice with 5v5 games.
How do footballers have so much stamina?
You can jump on the treadmill; you can go swimming; or you can even go onto a soccer field to work on getting into game shape. The most popular stamina exercise for soccer players is the endurance sprint. It is a very simple drill in which you run 100 meters and then jog back those 100 meters to your starting spot.
Do you need cardio for football?
Though it may not seem important, the aerobic energy pathway is absolutely essential in football. While the alactic side of the energy spectrum is responsible for fueling high-power, short-duration events, the aerobic system is needed to provide energy for basically everything else.
How fast can footballers run 5k?
The 5,000m world record is 12:37 and belongs to Ethiopian track star Kenenisa Bekele. Chelsea posted a screenshot on Twitter showing the England midfielder ran 5.2km in an incredible 16 minutes 11 seconds... an average pace of just over 3mins per kilometre.
How many km do footballers run a week?
“If you look at the weekly mileage of the average footballer it's about 20-30km,” says Chris Barnes, a football performance consultant who has 20 years of experience working with a host of Premier League clubs. “If that's a game week, you've got 10-12km from the game, plus the four-day training week.
How many km should a footballer run?
Average Distance Covered by a Footballer
Outfield Premier League footballers run an average of 10.14 km per game, although this varies greatly by position. Central midfielders tend to cover the most ground (11.2km), while central defenders cover the least (9.4km).
How fit should a footballer get?
The max for an average man is generally between 35-40ml, whereas for an elite footballer a score of 60-70ml is normal, suggesting a substantially higher level of fitness. Body fat percentage is another area. Among the male population of the UK the average is 25-30%. Top footballers will tend to measure between 6-10%.
Is jogging good for football players?
To get aerobic fitness, players would have to jog often and for long-distance. However, while footballers do need some aerobic fitness, jogging and long-distance running is not an effective method of training. In fact, footballers should not go jogging at all.
Which footballer has the most stamina?
The top 10 footballers with the highest stamina in the world –...
- Dani Alves.
- Fernandinho. ...
- James McCarthy. ...
- Mark Noble. ...
- Blaise Matuidi. ...
- N'Golo Kante. ...
- Shane Long. The Irish frontman is well known for his ability to keep running at defences and pressing defenders high up the pitch. ...
- Ramires. Remember him? ...
How much exercise do footballers do?
Aim for between 6 and 8 hours of sleep every night. Hydration: On average, a footballer will run between 8 and 12km per game.
How can I improve my cardio for soccer?
How to Develop Speed Endurance- 6 Soccer Stamina Drills
- Shuttle Runs. Shuttle runs are among other popular speed endurance soccer drills that coaches use to train speed, acceleration, and anaerobic fitness. ...
- Stop and Go Soccer Endurance Drills. ...
- Stairs Workout for Stamina and Speed. ...
- Speed Hill Sprints. ...
- Dribble and Run. ...
- Planks.
How long does it take to improve stamina and fitness for football?
An increase in running stamina comes from consistency, that means running multiple times per week for multiple weeks to accumulate fitness – there are no quick fixes if you want to increase running stamina. It's generally accepted that it takes 10 days to 4 weeks to benefit from a run.
Can you build endurance in 2 weeks?
Bottom line: “As long as the exercise you're doing is difficult enough to stress your body and force it to adapt, you can definitely see changes in a week or two,” says Van Pelt. “They may be small changes, but depending on the level you're starting at, I'd say up to a 10-percent increase is possible.”
Is soccer a cardio?
There's a reason why soccer players often grace the cover of fitness magazines. The world's most popular sport is also one of the toughest cardiovascular activities. Soccer players can run up to 12km in a single game, and the movements include a combination of aerobic and anaerobic actions.
Does jogging increase stamina?
Jogging, rather than sprinting, allows you to run longer, conditioning your heart, lung and muscles to adapt to longer bouts of stress. If you are a beginner continue to work at the same pace as you build stamina, adding minutes or miles to your runs rather than trying to increase your speed or decrease your time.
How far do footballers run in training?
Soccer players can run up to 8 miles per game and this is replicated during training. They often run more than this in training because a training session is between 2 and 3 hours long. It must be noted that running constantly with stopping and turning to replicate a game does not fully prepare you for a game.
How do I not get tired while playing football?
Tired? These 9 Tips Will Help Increase Your Game Day Stamina
- Don't forget to sleep. Get some good rest the night before a game. ...
- Start with a good breakfast and lunch. ...
- H20 is your friend, so drink lots of it. ...
- Sports drinks to the rescue. ...
- Beware of energy drinks. ...
- Keep snacks on deck. ...
- Halftime = break time. ...
- Practice makes perfect.
What drinks do footballers drink?
Top Five Drinks For Football
- Water. Ask any sports scientist, they'll tell you the best drink for any sport is water. ...
- Fruit and vegetable smoothie. ...
- Chocolate milk. ...
- Isotonic sports drink. ...
- Protein shake.