A professional soccer player spends hours on the field each day, training and playing games. The rest of his or her time is spent on other activities, including staying healthy and preparing for the next season. This post will discuss some of the things pro soccer players do in their spare time.
Recreation
Sometimes professional soccer players try other sports on the side to stay agile. A team might grab their baseball gloves to play a game of fastpitch. Former goalkeeper Petr Čech was able to translate his skills over to the ice hockey rink, which was something he always wanted to do.
While additional sports can be helpful, professional soccer players must find time to unwind from daily practices. Some professionals like to attend movie premieres or enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant. They also might enjoy driving around their town listening to 107.5 FM, working on an art piece, or going for hikes.
Travel
Professional soccer players often find themselves traveling a lot because of their team’s schedule. This means that they are constantly away from friends and family for long periods of time. Many pro soccer players begin to see each other as a second family on and off the field. They may explore different towns together, have fun on the road, and work out together at the hotel gym.
Branding
Many professional soccer players have their own clothing lines and sponsorships. For this reason, they have to manage their image and brand when they’re not on the field. They might be required to meet with their sponsors at promotional events, handle media requests, appear on television shows, or represent their league.
Health
While most soccer players might spend their time on the field training and practicing, they also need to take care of their bodies. Professional soccer players are in their prime for only a few years, so they need to be healthy and fit in order to keep up with a rigorous training schedule. If a player is not in top physical condition, it will become harder for him or her to perform at the level required. Overlooking physical needs can lead to a career-ending injury.
Professional soccer players leave time for training in the gym because they need to stay in shape for the next game season. Soccer is a rough sport where hard hits are normal. Professional soccer players can increase their endurance by doing multiple sets of push-ups, pull-ups, and squats each day.
In addition to staying healthy themselves, pro soccer players also work hard to keep their teammates healthy. That’s because it’s important to stay focused as a team during games! Professional soccer players sometimes eat the same nutritious meals, trade ideas on how to exercise efficiently, and motivate each other to do their best in the next game.
Family
Many pro soccer players have families that they need to attend to. Making a lot of money and mailing it doesn’t suffice in most cases; like anyone else, athletes want to be there for their spouses and kids when needed. No matter how ambitious and successful a soccer player is, most would agree that it’s nice to have a home base to turn back to. Pro soccer players often set aside time to watch their kids’ games, keep up with their house’s needs, and catch up with their significant other.
People who are successful in their field are usually pretty busy. It can be hard to imagine what pro soccer players do in their spare time, but it’s important to know that they have personal lives like anyone else and they need to relax their bodies. The lifestyle of most soccer players is not easy, but they do have some downtime to enjoy. Whether they’re going out to eat, watching a movie, or just taking a walk in the park, athletes know that it’s important to stay primed for the next game season.