It’s no secret that footballers need a mix of technical, tactical and physical skills. As well as good technique, endurance and speed are the key to good performance on the pitch.
Players are expected to run for long durations, interspersed with small rapid sprints throughout a 90-minute period – or even longer if extra time is needed.
Football can be a gruelling sport, with players afforded very few rest periods during the game. Their endurance is impressive – especially in comparison with other sports where there are plenty of opportunities to rest and gear up for the next portion of the game.
For many teams, exhaustion can lead to players flagging in the second half, but Arsenal is consistently proven as one of the fittest teams in the game and can often be found scoring goals late in the game, demonstrating remarkable endurance.
During the season, players are expected to perform at peak at least once a week, although the daily training sessions can be just as demanding and are just as important in the fight to become the best players in the league.
Training sessions will involve ball work, strength and resistance training as well as cardio and fitness work designed to improve players’ endurance.
To celebrate these feats of endurance, we’ve teamed up with Ladbrokes Poker and their September Endurance Challenge to give away a copy of FIFA ’14.
We might be in awe of the fitness of footballers, but it takes a whole different kind of endurance to play a 12-hour run of FIFA!
To be in with a chance of winning, just email editor[at]younggunsblog.co.uk and tell us why you think you should get the game.
A winner will be chosen at random after the closing date of Monday 23rd September 2013.
This promotion is open to UK residents only.