Best Fitness Tracker For Soccer Players

Most fitness trackers are designed for general exercise — we’re talking running, jogging, step class, gym sessions, even swimming. Rarely is a tracker designed to handle the rigor of competitive sports, in which physical contact and impact play an essential role.

Sure, we soccer players could give the typical fitness tracker a go, but they’re not exactly cheap, and with all the collisions, dirt, and weather we play through, it’s just not going to stand the test of time.

What we need are fitness trackers suitable for the rough and tumble of soccer, which is why I’ve composed this article!

I spent the last few weeks researching the best fitness trackers for soccer in existence. With one of these nifty devices, you can enjoy the high-tech health monitoring of your gym-going buddies without worrying about it falling to pieces by halftime. Let’s get to it!

Best Overall – Catapult One

As you can see, the Catapult One is no ordinary fitness tracker, as it doesn’t go anywhere near your wrist.

This little piece of genius is a vest that you can wear during both practice and official soccer matches to track your performance across a wider array of scenarios than you ever could with a standard wrist tracker.

The Catapult One (and other trackers of this ilk) are utilized by professional soccer teams and players to collect precision data during both training sessions and matches, data about speed, movement, intensity, distance, etc.

It’s both comfortable and FIFA-approved, so don’t worry about breaking any rules. The only things you’ll be breaking with this beast are your own boundaries.

But this isn’t just my number one pick because it’s not wrist-bound. The GPS operates with surgical precision, ensuring data is accurate as can be, and the app comes with a soccer-specific “Smart Coach” that reviews your data and offers tailored tips on raising your game — Pretty cool, huh?

As if that wasn’t enough, the battery lasts for a whopping 7 hours, which is much longer than most soccer matches and training sessions, meaning it’s not going to leave you hanging before the final whistle is blown.

Pros

• 7-hour battery — Will last for entire training session
• Vest tracker — FIFA-approved and safe to wear during games
• Smart Coach — Tailored advice to up your game
• Accurate GPS — True tracking leads to real improvements

Cons

• Versatility — Not the best for generals workouts

Best Wrist Fitness Tracker – Garmin Venu

The Venu by industry leaders, Garmin, is a full-blown smartwatch that just so happens to be one of the best fitness trackers in the game… any game!

Of course, as it’s a wristwatch, you won’t be able to use it to monitor your performance in official soccer matches, but for use during training, there’s no wrist-based tracker more suited to the job.

First of all, it’s a sleek, lightweight, low-profile design, meaning it won’t get in your teammates’, your opponents’, or your way. It’s also waterproof, so even if your training session is marred by a downpour, the Venu won’t let you down.

Garmin is renowned for its GPS technology, and the Venu doesn’t disappoint in this regard. It offers up insanely accurate data, and thanks to the super-bright AMOLED display, it’s delivered with clarity no matter the lighting situation.

With the GPS fired up, it’ll last a full 6 hours, plenty long enough for a full training sesh, and the Connect app offers up more performance metrics than you could possibly imagine, allowing you to hone areas of your game you didn’t know existed.

Combine that with the customizable activity parameters, and you’ll be equipped to the nines to improve your performance on the pitch.

Pros

• Features for days — Tons of metrics to help you improve
• Low-profile — Doesn’t feel imposing
• Accurate GPS — No guesswork here
• AMOLED display — Delivers data with clarity
• Waterproof — Rain can’t stop the Venu

Cons

Wristwatch — Not suitable for gameplay

Also available from…

• Garmin

Premium Pick — Garmin Forerunner 735XT

If you like the cut of the Venu’s jib, but have the money for an all-improved variant, allow me to introduce you to the Forerunner 735XT.

Weighing in at a minuscule 1.6 oz, you won’t even realize you’re wearing this thing, which is exactly what you want from a fitness tracker when you’re playing soccer.

Although this watch is a few years old at this point, the heart tracking device is considered the best of the best in terms of accuracy, and speaking of accuracy, the GPS is razor-sharp, so if you’re looking for ultimate precision, you’ve found it, my friend!

Much like the Venu, it has customizable activity modes that you can fine-tune to suit your soccer training, but this time around, the data will be more accurate and even more varied, helping you to improve all aspects of your game.

It’s also completely waterproof, so when the rain falls, play on.

Putting the cherry on top of the low-cal cake, the battery runs for a solid 14 hours, and that’s in full GPS mode, too!

Pros

• Accurate GPS — Accurate data allows real progress tracking
• Waterproof — Live in a drizzly climate? No problem
• Battery life — 14 hours in full GPS mode!
• 1.6 oz — Featherweight makes it super comfortable
• Color display — Review your data in style

Cons

Price— Not as pricey as it used to be, but still costs a pretty penny

Also available from…

• Garmin

Best Budget Pick — Huawei Band 4 Pro

The trackers we’ve seen so far are amazing, but they’re also quite a drain on the old bank account there, so let’s take a look at an awesome budget option, the Band 4 Pro from Huawei.

It may not be all that flashy, but it’s great for soccer players for several reasons. Take the form factor, for instance. It’s about as inconspicuous and low-key as they come, meaning it won’t get caught on clothing or injure you or other players.

It’s also exceedingly lightweight, and despite the very reasonable price tag, the GPS offers pretty snappy positioning and accurate readings, allowing you to make shrewd decisions concerning your training regime and progress.

The only real downside I can think of, besides a general lack of features when compared to the Garmin specimens mentioned earlier, is that it has a lovely touch screen.

Now, that wouldn’t be an issue for general exercise, but for a contact sport such as soccer, it’s easy to push something accidentally, and send the watch off on a tracking tangent.

Pros

• Price — Awesome value for money
• Integrated GPS — And it ain’t bad either
• Low-profile — Least imposing wrist design on the market
• Fit — Super comfortable

Cons

• Feature density — A little lacking in the advanced feature department, but it has all the essentials

Most Comfortable — Fitbit Charge 5

And now we come to the stalwarts of the industry, FitBit.

Although these groundbreaking fitness trackers don’t have the sharpest GPS in the world, the Charge 5 is definitely a step in the right direction for the company, providing highly accurate results you can use to map out your performance and progression.

It’s also insanely compact and comfortable to wear, so you won’t feel like you’re taking to the field wearing a bulky Rolex. It can also be submerged in up to 50 feet of water, not that you’ll need that during soccer training, but it’ll certainly survive a rainy day on the pitch.

The Charge 5 is jam-packed with tons of features, a ridiculous amount considering the reasonable price tag.

Not only will things like the 24/7 heart rate tracking and GPS help you improve your fitness and soccer abilities, things like sleep tracking and stress management protocols help you to improve all aspects of your wellness.

The 7-day battery life just sweetens the already objectively sweet deal. Of course, you can expect that to drop about 5 hours when utilizing the GPS facilities, but that’s still long enough for one hell of a kick about!

Pros

• Low-profile — Comfortable and non-restrictive
• Waterproof — Don’t let the rain set you back
• Battery life — Will last you a full training session
• Feature-dense — Tons of metrics to mess with

Cons

• Wristwatch design — Not suitable for games
• GPS — It’s great; it’s just not… Garmin great

Buyer’s Guide

Soccer Specific Features To Look Out For

Softness

As I’m sure you’re aware, it’s not a good idea to wear any form of jewelry during a soccer match. Not only is it a danger to you, but it also poses a threat to your fellow teammates as well as your opposition.

No one enjoys being clocked in the temple by a ring or pulled to the ground by their necklace… it’s just best to take off all your hard accessories before taking to the pitch.

This means that for a fitness tracker to be really suitable for soccer players, it needs to be somewhat soft, or at the very least, unobtrusive.

Location

Even if you manage to find a particularly soft tracker for your wrist, chances are, a referee isn’t going to allow you to wear it in an actual game.

Your coach may not even allow you to wear it during a practice match, so it’s worth your while looking for alternative designs that aren’t worn on the wrist.

Size & Weight

A fitness tracker should not impede your performance in any way, so you need to look out for one that weighs next to nothing and doesn’t protrude too far from your body.

Weather & Dirt Resistance

Most fitness trackers have basic waterproofing to keep them safe from sweat, but as soccer is usually played outside, come rain or shine, our ideal tracker needs to be incredibly robust in the face of the elements, and, of course, loads and loads of mud!

Durability

Although football is considered the sport of big hits, there are a lot of high-speed impacts in soccer, so our fitness trackers need to be ready to roll with the punches!

GPS

If you want to track your fitness in the great outdoors, your tracker needs GPS functionality; it’s just the way things are. So, make sure you look out for one with some super accurate and fleshed out GPS appointments.

General Features To Look Out For

Battery Power

Soccer training sessions can be quite grueling, often taking place over entire days, which means your fitness tracker requires a beefy battery to keep up.

I’d be on the hunt for something that can pump out 5 hours’ work in full GPS mode, but 3 hours is probably sufficient for most future soccer stars.

Accurate Data

What good is a GPS system if the data it collates is all skewed and inaccurate? None… is the answer to that question. In light of this, prioritize looking for a tracker with a high-performing GPS system that has plenty of data collecting features.

Display

Although a modest footprint is best for your soccer-optimized fitness tracker, you also want to be able to see plenty of data on the face (if it’s a watch).

You need to be able to see all the info clearly, so if you often play in bright sunlight or poor light conditions, a backlight wouldn’t go amiss!

Modes

The fitness tracker market is incredibly competitive, and to help their products stand out in the crowd, many manufacturers are kitting their products out with lots of different modes and features.

As long as you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, there’s no reason you shouldn’t capitalize on this market struggle, and grab yourself a tracker that can do all manner of nifty things.

If I could recommend just a couple of these extra features, I’d recommend choosing something with solid heart rate monitoring, as well as fleshed-out sleep tracking abilities.

Combining the data collected by these functions, you’ll be able to improve your fitness, and thus, your game, a great deal!

Compatibility

This one often goes by the wayside — If you’re planning on incorporating a fitness tracker into a larger system of devices, before you purchase it, make sure it will fit into the prospective technological ecosystem that you have in mind.

Best Fitness Tracker For Soccer Players: Frequently Asked Questions

Still with me? Excellent. Got time for a quick FAQ session? Double excellent! Let’s go!

Is Accuracy In A Fitness Tracker That Important?

For serious athletes, high tracking accuracy is non-negotiable. In fact, even if you’re more of a casual player, a tracker still needs to provide somewhat accurate data if it’s to be of any use whatsoever.

Data is only going to help you improve your fitness and soccer proficiency if it’s correct. Anything else will be misleading, which may amount to you making the wrong decisions when it comes to training and improving your health.

A fitness tracker with lots of cool features is great and all, but without accuracy, it’s just a piece of fancy trash.

Can You Track Soccer With FitBit?

The FitBit is a favorite of many athletes (soccer players included) for its low-key footprint, price tag, and the fact it is one of the first of its kind. However, in many ways, it’s not the perfect fitness tracking tool for the beautiful game.

Although FitBits do have GPS functionality, it’s not the best for tracking hyper accurate data on the pitch, and as they’re a wrist-bound device, they’re not suitable for anything other than practice games (with your coach’s permission, of course).

Can Garmin Watch Track Soccer?

Garmin fitness trackers are generally preferred to FitBits for tracking soccer, as their GPS technology is superior; however, they’re also quite bulky devices in comparison, which isn’t ideal.

How Do You Use A Fitness Tracker Effectively?

A fitness tracker can be kitted out with all the bells and whistles in the world, but unless you learn how to use them effectively and develop an action plan based on the data, it won’t be of any use to you.

To maximize the efficacy of your fitness tracker for soccer or otherwise, you should…

• Ensure it’s fit for purpose. You’ve already got this down, as you’re reading this article about fitness trackers for soccer specifically, so well done!

• Wear it as much as possible during your exercise. Data can only help you improve if it’s consistent. As is true with anything to do with the sciences, it’s all about repeated measures. This is the only way to track progress accurately.

• Establish clear goals for yourself to work on. It might even be worth breaking larger goals into smaller increments so you can tell if you’re on the right path.

• Use or create some form of log to track your progress over longer periods of time. This will prevent regression, and keep you on the path to glory.
  
  Some fitness trackers come with long-scale data logging as standard, but with others, you might have to take notes manually once you get past a certain timeframe.

Can You Use A Fitness Tracker Without A Phone?

You can absolutely use most fitness trackers without a phone, but a lot do have partner apps that bring even more functionality to the table, so it’s best to just bite the bullet and use a tracker in conjunction with your pocket computer.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, twinkle toes — 5 of the very best fitness trackers for soccer players. Treat yourself to one of these and you stand to fast track your journey to superstardom, or, at the very least, fast track your local team to the cup final. Man of the Match is as good as yours!