Physical Demands of a Soccer Midfielder

by Joshua Smith
(Cape Town, South Africa)

To be successful as an elite soccer midfielder, one requires a high level of fitness to cope with the "many physiological stresses associated with competitive play" (Reilly, 1996). Wisloff et al (1997) stated that successful and unsuccessful teams can be distinguished by their aerobic capacity and functional strength (2).

In terms of fitness components integral to soccer, the following apply - aerobic capacity, muscular strength & endurance, speed, speed endurance, anaerobic power, agility and flexibility (3, 4).

Soccer can be seen as a hybrid sport, with each energy system being used; this due to it being characterised by high intensity, short duration actions, and pauses of low level, moderate intensity actions (3, 4) - Reilly (1997) noted that sprints occur every 90 seconds and high-intensity efforts every 30 seconds (1).

These high-intensity components are related to anaerobic fitness (speed and speed endurance). Midfielders require a high aerobic capacity - contributes 70-80% energy in a match (4) - in that they are always moving to cover for team mates and support them, as well as dictate movement of the ball.

They act as a link between defense and attack. It has been illustrated that they have VO2max values close to middle distance runners, while Reilly (1997) noted that they cover the largest distance out of all the positions – 10km/game.

Masked within the 10km covered per game, we find that there are various movements, such as sideways and diagonal movements (agility), and skills which have energetic consequences – jumping to win a header, tackling, kicking, etc (anaerobic power). (1).

Agility allows them to “make rapid changes in direction in response to a moving ball or opponent” (3). Flexibility of the back and hamstring muscles is extremely important as it has a link to the improvement of speed (3).


- References -

1. Reilly, T. Energetics of high-intensity exercise (soccer) with particular reference to fatigue. Journal of Sports Sciences, 15, 257-263, 1997

2. Wisloff, U., Helgerud, J. and Hoff, J. Strength and endurance of elite soccer players. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 3, 462-467, 1997

3. Polman, R., Walsh, D., Bloomfield, J. and Nesti, M. Effective conditioning of female soccer players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 22, 191-203, 2004

4. Casajus, J.A. Seasonal variation in fitness variables in professional soccer players. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 41, 4, 2001