2.4.2. Workload

Player Workload

Workload imbalance in football is detrimental to players and the game itself

FIFPRO is extremely aware of the effects the football calendar can have on player wellbeing and is committed to protecting them from the expectations and demands of the modern game. The concepts of match overload and underload are related to the imbalance between the load induced on players (such as competition and international travel) and their recovery time. Both an overload and underload of matches can be detrimental to a player's overall health and career prospects and are likely to lead to injuries and an impact on performance. In order to provide an evidence-based overview of player workload at a global level (and to help manage the future development of adequate player safeguards) FIFPRO monitors men’s and women’s player workload, season breaks, and the impact of travel and injuries through the FIFPRO PWM platform . The FIFPRO PWM platform includes key metrics related to player workload (e.g. number of minutes played, number of timezones crossed) and recovery (e.g. number of recovery days between matches, duration of off- and in-season break).

What you should know

An unbalanced match calendar puts players' health and career at risk

An unbalanced calendar puts the health, and therefore the athlete’s career prospects, at risk. It can threaten to diminish peak sporting performance and as a result, the quality of the competitions. This is an increasingly critical issue both in men’s and women's football and FIFPRO is committed to monitoring workload of players through the PWM platform.

Their earning potential is being unfairly impacted

The career of a footballer is relatively short, and imbalances in the match calendar can impact players to the point of being unable to achieve their full potential. FIFPRO extensively researches this issue to provide a framework for best practice, in order to protect players and advocate for a balanced match calendar that takes into consideration the impact of overall workload, rest and recovery periods and international travel on players.

Players must come first

Current match calendar management shows little regard for player’s overall wellbeing and requires urgent reconsideration, with regular revisions by competition organisers to ensure that player health, performance and career are the centre of decision-making.

2.4.2. Workload (2)

FIFPRO PWM Flash Report 2022 - A Calendar That Respects Players' Health

This edition of the FIFPRO PWM Flash Report focuses on the findings of two recent surveys - FIFPRO Global Player Survey and the FIFPRO High-Performance Coach survey.

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PWM Flash Report 2022 COVER

2021 FIFPRO Player Workload Monitoring-Annual Women's Report

A new FIFPRO report shows a lack of competitive matches and uneven scheduling are affecting most professional women’s footballers, and limiting the potential development of the women’s game. A sample of leading players participated in an average of fewer than 30 matches last season. The FIFPRO Player Workload Monitoring report (2021, women’s football), in collaboration with KPMG Football Benchmark, covers the last three seasons and is based on a sample of 85 players including Christiane Endler, Alexia Putellas, Crystal Dunn and Sam Kerr.

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2021 FIFPRO Player Workload Monitoring Annual Women's Report
MEN'S FOOTBALL

Player Workload Monitoring Report

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PWM MEN2

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Player Workload Explainer

Professional footballers want rules to guard against heavy workload, survey shows

FIFPRO survey results released today show professional footballers are clearly in favour of new regulations to address the increasing match congestion and travel burden at the top of the game.

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PWM Flash Report 2022 Cover