Structure of football training sessions: a descriptive analysis of content and time allocation

Abstract

[Abstract] Teaching–learning processes and sports training represent two fundamental pillars in the pedagogy of any sport. In football, coaches integrate both simultaneously across all competitive levels, from grassroots to elite professional contexts. The primary aim of this study was to analyse how football coaches structure their weekly training sessions in terms of frequency, content, and time allocation. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 517 coaches. Data were collected through an ad hoc questionnaire designed to capture the distribution of training sessions. The average session duration was 87.38 ± 18.57 minutes. Technical and tactical components were the most frequently included contents. On average, 2.75 ± 1.50 sessions per week were devoted to technical work (39.28 ± 26.41 minutes per session), whereas tactical work was addressed in 3.70 ± 2.81 sessions per week, with a slightly lower average duration of 28.25 ± 20.67 minutes per session. Overall, the findings indicate that coaches place comparable emphasis on technical and tactical training within their weekly planning.