How Many Calories Are Burned Playing Soccer?

If you want to burn a lot of calories and you are looking for an enjoyable and physically demanding workout, then try playing soccer.

Soccer Training

The number of calories you burn playing soccer depends on your weight, the amount of time you play and whether the session is a competitive match or a practice match. A 155-pound person can burn 520 calories in an hourlong practice match, according to the Harvard Medical School.

Competitive Soccer

The increased intensity in competitive soccer provides one of the best all-round physical workouts available. During a 90-minute match a 155-pound person can expect to burn 1,056 calories.

Benefits

Tara Parker-Pope, in The New York Times, emphasizes the potential benefits of playing soccer as an adult. She quotes a study by Peter Krustrup from the University of Copenhagen, who found that sprinting, turning on the spot, getting involved in tackles and kicking the ball with varying degrees of power "were more stimulating to bones than simply jogging or running at a steady pace."

References

• Tara Parker-Pope, The New York Times: Health Gains for Grown-up Soccer Players
• The Harvard School of Medicine: Calories Burned in 30 Minutes
• Nutristrategy: Calories Burned During Exercise