Physical demands of a matchday
Do physical demands differ depending on a player's position?
Football is a complex activity with physical demands for an extended period where players are expected to run a lot during a game and fight for the ball all over the pitch, however, do you know the breakdown of the actions of a typical football player during a game?
What makes football so demanding?
It is mainly the high-intensity workout periods that are significant, with high-speed running seen to be a distinguishing factor between top-class players and lower-level players. In a football game, the aerobic energy supply is heavily depleted, with regular and peak heart levels of around 85 per cent and maximum values of 98 per cent, respectively, leading to an overall oxygen intake of about 70 per cent maximum. A recent study has revealed that players in the FA Premier League do about 700 turns in a game, of which about 600 are 0–90 degrees.
In addition to the above, players are usually involved in about 100 actions with the ball with marked variations. The number of tackles and jumps depends on the individual style of the squad and ranges from 3–27 and 1–36, respectively, at the top level. On the other hand, the number of headers for Spanish League players in all positions is proven to be smaller than that for clubs in the Premier League.
Who runs the most?
The nature of the task and player's demands are decided by his or her strategic place within the squad. According to a study, central defenders overall cover less distance. They are running less intensively than other positions, which is possibly directly related to their tactical responsibilities and lower physical ability. On the other hand, midfielders are covering the most extended distances. Nonetheless, within the same position, there are marked variations between players, which may be due to playing style. The central defenders and central defensive midfield players cover the least high speed running and sprinting distances while the longest high-speed running distance is covered upfront.
Central defensive midfield players cover a greater distance than central midfield attackers, especially in the English FA Premier League. Other studies have demonstrated that external midfield players cover the most intensive running distance. In addition, central attacking midfielders cover the most distance in high-speed running while their team has the ball.
Oxygenation
Last but not least, another success factor other than the average oxygen absorption during a game might be the increase in oxygen absorption rate over several short, violent acts. In a game, a player's heart rate is rarely below 65 per cent of HRmax, meaning that the blood flow to the exercising leg muscles is consistently higher than at rest, which implies a high oxygen supply.
Physical fitness is key
In conclusion, physical demands are an essential part of football nowadays. Young players are required to not only work on his or her technical skills but also building fitness.
How hard to you work to stay fit and healthy but during, pre and post-season? What can you do to improve your physical fitness to keep up with the demand of a matchday?