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They're closer in physique to middle distance runners. Sprinters are more built - they have more muscle as they need that have burst speed. Makes sense - they need more muscle to have more explosive power. Look at how muscular Olympic sprinters are compared to the typical soccer player. Soccer players are in great shape and tend to be good athletes, they just have different needs than a sprinter does.
Soccer players only need that burst speed for brief periods of time. Soccer players are also not continuously running like some would suggest. Yes they cover a lot of ground in a typical game, but they're doing it over the course of 90 plus minutes. They get a break at half time and there can be large swaths of game time where they get to walk to catch their breath. Midfielders tend to run the most as they need to be up on the attack and back on defense.
They're closer in physique to middle distance runners. Sprinters are more built - they have more muscle as they need that have burst speed. Makes sense - they need more muscle to have more explosive power. Look at how muscular Olympic sprinters are compared to the typical soccer player. Soccer players are in great shape and tend to be good athletes, they just have different needs than a sprinter does.
Soccer players only need that burst speed for brief periods of time. Soccer players are also not continuously running like some would suggest. Yes they cover a lot of ground in a typical game, but they're doing it over the course of 90 plus minutes. They get a break at half time and there can be large swaths of game time where they get to walk to catch their breath. Midfielders tend to run the most as they need to be up on the attack and back on defense.
Some soccer players are quite ripped like CR7, Kyle Walker, Sergio Ramos. A T&F athlete gets more breaks during a Track and Field event than WRs/DBs do in NFL game. Soccer players need that burst much more often.
Midfielders dont have to be the first one back or forward because they the forwards, and backs in front and behind them. Midfielders tend to be able to drift into play or hang further back. Perhaps they run the most ground, but they dont have to be as explosive because they dont need to be the first ones there. That is job of forwards and backs
Are soccer players closer, in physique, to sprinters or middle distance runners?
I always hear soccer players are closer to middle distance runners while NFL DB/WRs are closer to sprinters. I dont believe the latter is true actually. NFL DB/WRs are much heavier than the average elite sprinters. Take Usain Bolt for example. He is listed as 6'5" at 200lbs. While a similar NFL DB/WR in height is Calvin Johnson and he is 230lbs. Much heavier. For all the other sprinters under 6ft or close to it, I have not seen any evidence they weigh more than 180lbs, while any NFL DB/WR is going to try and get as close to 200lbs at least. NFL DB/WRs need to be able to tackle, and take hits, so more weight is better. Darelle Revis is around 5'10" ~ 5'11" ish and is about 195lbs if not more.
At the same time, you have Virgil Van Dijk who is 6'4" listed at 200lbs, Cristiano Ronaldo at 6'1" and ~175lbs, Kyle Walker at 5'10" and probably around ~180lbs and below, Kylian Mbappe same thing etc, etc. I know those are only a few examples but from watching T&F, or elite soccer, you can see each athlete has similar build to the athletes in their same respective sport.
I think you are looking at this the wrong way. I think middle distance runners are closer than sprinters to soccer players, which is the standard.
My guess is it varies by position. Wingers need the burst speed of sprinters, but most players are probably endurance runners. Goalkeepers don't run much; they're probably more bursty. I'll bet they have strong ankles.
This. It varies by position and by individual. A body type like Messi's is very strong at the hamstring/quads level and is built like a running back, can power through and turn on a dime. Whereas Zlatan, being very tall, will often have an advantage at headers, and his long legs give him more reach.
Goalkeepers are typically big in general; you want to take up more physical space as a GK to have a greater chance of disrupting a ball, but you also must be quick. They are very well rounded athletes.
I ran cross country and track (middle distance) in HS.
The soccer players would join the track team in spring to stay in shape for fall soccer. They ran the middle distances (800 and 1600) and/or the 3200. I don't remember any sprinters among the group.
In winter, they were on the swim team - and swam whatever are the middle distances in that sport.
I ran cross country and track (middle distance) in HS.
The soccer players would join the track team in spring to stay in shape for fall soccer. They ran the middle distances (800 and 1600) and/or the 3200. I don't remember any sprinters among the group.
In winter, they were on the swim team - and swam whatever are the middle distances in that sport.
Perhaps that is why America soccer is performing poorly on the international stage. What is the point of 800 plus distances? Soccer players are not running continuously in a circle.
Ask the guy in the video. He recommends 2 mile runs.
His argument is that should not be the extent of your cardio workout for soccer training. You need to incorporate shorter distances that prepare you for bursts of speed and change of direction.
That can be done within a 2 mile road run - long distance runners call it fartlek - speed play.
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