How much weight does a premiership footballer lose during a game?

Answer 1

Generally, a single match will not create a significant difference in the weight of a player. Nearly all weight loss will be through perspiration. If the player sweats one liter (typical average), this would be about 1 kg of weight loss. Bladder voiding during half-time can increase this amount. These are generally replaced through rehydration at stoppages (such as for injury) and the half-time break.

Weight loss due to the exercise is insignificant, especially when compared to water loss. This is because players are often very fit, without much fat to lose. Also, players typically consume extra calories before a match to help give them energy, so that their bodies don't burn fat or muscle.

That said, any minor weight change that might be measured can only be a rough estimate, as different positions have different physical requirements. For example, while the goalkeeper is expected to be very skilled and perform sometimes-acrobatic feats to save goals, they don't do very much running, and so burn far fewer calories. Additionally, not all players typically play the full match (with up to three substitutions), matches may go to extra time if there needs to be a winner (such as in a tournament), and the halves themselves could be extended several minutes for stoppage (injury) time. All of these factors make it impossible to give a reasonable estimate.

The best statement that can be given to answer this question, based on all of the above factors, is "less than one kilogram".