Introduction
Professional footballers undergo an intensive training regime designed to maximise their physical fitness, technical skills and tactical understanding. Training frequency varies depending on the stage of the season, match schedule and individual club and coach requirements. This article explains the key aspects of the training volume of professional footballers, including the frequency of training per day and per week.
training volume and intensity
Daily training
Professional footballers usually train once or twice a day. Daily training includes various components such as technical training, tactical exercises, strength training and regeneration. In the morning, technical and tactical training is often the focus, while in the afternoon, strength and conditioning training and regeneration exercises follow. This division allows players to focus on different aspects of their game while recovering optimally.
morning workout
Morning training often begins with a warm-up program consisting of light running exercises, stretching exercises and mobility exercises. This is followed by technical training, which involves practicing passing, dribbling, shooting and ball control. Tactical exercises and game forms that improve game understanding and team coordination are also part of morning training.
afternoon training
In the afternoon, the focus is on strength and conditioning training. This includes exercises to strengthen the muscles, improve endurance and increase speed. In addition, regeneration exercises such as stretching, yoga or light jogging are important to relax the muscles and prevent injuries.
Weekly training
Professional footballers usually train five to six times a week, with one to two days set aside for recovery. The training week is structured to allow players sufficient recovery while improving physical fitness and tactical understanding.
structure of the training week
- Monday: Technical and tactical training
- Tuesday: Conditioning training and strength training
- Wednesday: Match preparation and tactical exercises
- Thursday: Technical training and game forms
- Friday: Light training and regeneration
- Saturday: Matchday or intensive training
- Sunday: Rest or light regeneration training
Seasonal training adjustments
preparatory season
During the preparatory season, the focus is on building basic endurance and improving physical fitness. Training is particularly intensive during this phase in order to prepare the players as well as possible for the upcoming season. Football professionals usually train twice a day during this time.
competition season
During the competitive season, training is adapted to prepare players for weekly matches while maintaining fitness. The intensity of training varies depending on the match schedule, with the days after a match being used for recovery and light exercise, while more intense training is carried out on non-match days.
transition phase
In the transition phase, between the end of one season and the start of preparation for the next, training is less intensive. This phase is for rest and regeneration. Football professionals use this time to heal minor injuries and prepare mentally for the coming season.
Individualized training plans
The training plans of professional footballers are individually tailored to meet the specific needs of each player. Factors such as position, physical condition, injury history and personal goals play an important role in creating a tailor-made training plan.
Examples of individualized training content
- Goalkeepers: Specific training to improve reaction time, jumping power and hand-eye coordination.
- Defenders: Exercises to strengthen defensive skills, positional play and tackling.
- Midfielder: Combination of endurance training, tactical understanding and ball control.
- Striker: Focus on speed, finishing and positional play in attack.
Conclusion
Professional footballers usually train once or twice a day and five to six times a week, with training adapted to the different phases of the season. Training plans are individually designed to take into account the specific needs and goals of the players. A balance between intensive training and sufficient recovery is crucial for the long-term performance and health of the players.
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