Position Specific Fitness..who is the most fit?

[coachjginn]

Nearly ten years ago I read an article in Sports Illustrated. The article explained how each sport has its own spefic needs in regards to fitness. I found it interesting that when they listed the most fit sports position (example= Football Quarterback, Soccer Center mid, Basketball Center, etc.) that the most fit position in all sports was water polo goal keeper. It made sense, as i grew up in southern California where H2O Polo is Huge! But I was shocked that S.I. listed the soccer Goal Keeper as number two.

My Question is this: Does anyone have any information on sports positions and their level of fitness? or an article similiar to this? If not, how about specifically soccer positions?

Thanks for your help in advance. If you do not know of any such thing, your thoughts are welcome as well.

[bosterosoy]

there are obviously excepts but i would ahve that that the fittest was the Mids, then the defenders, the forwards and last the goalkeeper

[Monkey Boy]

It depends on how you define fitness IMO. A keeper needs to have the power to make big dives, the speed to quickly react, the speed to cover the box and the strength to block shots. Generally a gk needs more upper body fitness compared to any field player.

I would tend to agree that a 2-way center mid needs to have the top level of fitness, but if the definition includes whole body fitness, then a gk makes sense.

Basically it's all about how the criteria are defined.

[GeordieInExile]

Actually, just to throw a wrench in the works - I would suggest that an attacking fullback needs to be the fittest overall. He/she has to work both up and down both ends of the field.

Depending upon the teams style of play, I wouldn't say the centre-midfielder would be the fittest if they play two defensive holding roles.

[Monkey Boy]

Actually, just to throw a wrench in the works - I would suggest that an attacking fullback needs to be the fittest overall. He/she has to work both up and down both ends of the field.

Depending upon the teams style of play, I wouldn't say the centre-midfielder would be the fittest if they play two defensive holding roles.

That falls in line with a wing midfielder position, which requires a lot of running. Without a true winger in your formation, the attacking fullback is required to do a lot of that running.

Basically you are correct that it depends on a team's style of play.

[impactsoccer30]

With how my High school plays, it would be hands down the outside mids. Which is what i play. We have to get up on the attack then sprint back to get even with the defense. but my club team doesnt play that way. So just for my High school Outside mids run way more then any other position on the field.