Fitness coaches are often asked for their opinion on how many game minutes a player’s fitness levels are good for. Playing too far beyond the point of fatigue not only results in a reduction in performance ?but also an increased likelihood of injury. This is backed up both anecdotally and by research. While it’s difficult to make accurate predictions since there are so many variables that go in to answering the above question (namely the intensity of play) it is obvious that if you can play 45 minutes you can play 60 minutes. The half time break is enough to ‘rejuvinate’ a player that there performance (evidenced in Prozone stats) and likelihood of injury (see attached pic from HERE) return to high and lower levels respectively. After 60 minutes is another question altogether though…

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Mike Young

Director of Performance at Athletic Lab

Mike is the Head Fitness Coach for the North Carolina Courage and North Carolina FC. He is also the owner and Director of Performance at Athletic Lab sports performance training center. He previously served as the fitness coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps and Carolina Railhawks. He has a PhD in Biomechanics, an MS in Coaching Science, and a BSS in Exercise Physiology and has coached Olympic and professional athletes in Skeleton, Track & Field, MLS and NASL Soccer, PGA Golf, NFL Football, MLB Baseball and Olympic Weightlifting. He has lectured around the world and authored 2 books and dozens of research and coaching articles.

Latest posts by Mike Young (see all)

• Brilliant Hamstring Injury Observations from Dave Joyce - September 26, 2018
• Sprint exposure for speed enhancement AND injury reduction - April 4, 2018
• Variance in the Soccer Warmup - April 3, 2018