From the Guidelines
The average resting heart rate for a professional soccer player is typically between 40 to 60 beats per minute (bpm), as indicated by recent studies on athletic conditioning and electrocardiographic interpretation in athletes 1. This lower resting heart rate, known as bradycardia, is a beneficial adaptation to regular intense cardiovascular training. Professional athletes develop this efficient heart function because their hearts become stronger through consistent training, allowing them to pump more blood with each contraction. Some key points to consider include:
- Sinus bradycardia and moderate prolongation of the PR interval are recognized features of athletic conditioning 1.
- A resting heart rate of 30 beats/min or a PR interval of 400 ms may be normal in a well-trained athlete, but should prompt further evaluation for cardiac conduction disease 1.
- Resting sinus bradycardia is common in athletes, depending on the type of sport and the level of training/competition, and heart rate is generally lower in endurance sports such as long-distance running 1.
- Marked bradycardia less than 30 b.p.m. and asymptomatic sinus pauses greater than 2 s are not uncommon during 24 h ECG, particularly during sleep, in highly trained athletes 1. Individual variations exist based on factors such as age, genetics, training status, and overall fitness level, but most elite soccer players will fall within this lower range when properly rested.
From the Research
Average Resting Heart Rate for Professional Soccer Players
- The average resting heart rate for a professional soccer player is not directly stated in the provided studies.
- However, study 2 mentions that the measured maximal heart rate (HR max) for soccer players is 197.6 ± 9.4 bpm, but this is not the same as resting heart rate.
- Study 3 discusses the relationship between resting heart rate variability and sportive performance in soccer players, but does not provide a specific value for average resting heart rate.
- Studies 4, 5, and 6 do not provide information on average resting heart rate for professional soccer players.
Related Information
- Study 2 provides a formula to estimate HR max based on age: HR max = 212.3 - 0.75 × age.
- Study 4 discusses the use of heart rate monitoring in soccer and provides information on exercise intensity during matches and training sessions, but does not provide a specific value for average resting heart rate.
- Study 3 highlights the importance of heart rate variability in monitoring training adaptations and performance in soccer players.