It has become a common myth that professional soccer players train an average of five hours per day.
How Often Do Soccer Players Have Training? There is no proof to corroborate that claim since the top-tier professionals are not obliged to disclose how often they work on their game.
However, it is safe to assume that most professional footballers and soccer stars are trained in practice sessions from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, at least twice per day, with an hour-long break for lunch at 12:00 PM. Although the exact number of training time differs from player to player and team to team, it is fair to say that athletes spend on average about 15 hours per week training.
The average time spent in training sessions for a professional football club is between 1,500 and 2,000 hours. The Dutch Eredivisie league outperforms everyone else with an average of about 1,850 hours per league team, while the English Premier League soccer clubs train about 1,500 to 2,000 hours per season.
Because of the rigorous discipline and hard work in training sessions that professional football players undergo every day of the week (almost six days a week), they have to cross-train to keep their bodies fit for games and prevent injuries from reoccurring. Cross-training is a form of physical exercise that combines two or more forms of workout routine.
Professional football players cross-train by running track and field, jogging, powerlifting, swimming, cycling, tennis, racquetball, soccer training drills (including dribbling and shooting), weight training/weightlifting, etc. At the end of the day, they will have to work on a recovery program to restore their bodies’ energy levels.
Also, including physical recovery sessions such as massage and spa treatments are part of this process. Some football teams also employ a nutritionist to help athletes understand what they’re eating and how it works with their bodies’ needs. This process in soccer is complicated since players must balance their diet based on the game schedule while considering travel schedules.
Players also rest as much of the time as possible during the week, and some opt to play physical games when on vacation. In other words, professional footballers are good at all kinds of physical activities even though they’re trained in only one sport.
The average soccer player usually stays in training camp between 2-3 weeks (between two and three weeks in winter). The team is expected to train harder and prepare for a long series of matches. Athletes need the days to be filled with repetition and constant workouts because they can’t afford a single day without football practices or matches. For example, the National Football League (NFL) players spend about 1,350 hours each season on average training alone.
In addition to physical training, many soccer players also engage in team meetings, film study, strategic planning, and other training strategies in the team meeting rooms. Some teams also play video games during breaks and training session exercises. These video games are used for intense practice on specific areas of skills. At the end of the day, some players also play basketball or participate in other sports activities to stay healthy.
It is hard to find an exact number on how much money professional footballers earn per season, but at least they make millions each year – not bad for a job that involves playing a game!