Baseball: .046 miles
Football: 1.25 miles for receivers and cornerbacks
Basketball: 2.9 miles
Tennis: 3 miles
Field Hockey: 5.6 miles
Soccer: 7 miles
Each sport uses the body’s three different energy systems to various degrees. What are the three systems?
Phosphagen
This system does not require oxygen and it is activated when there is a sudden increase in energy demand, such as when you initially start running or swing a baseball bat. It provides the largest burst of energy, but it’s very limited in supply, lasting only seconds. It relies on creatine phosphate for energy production.
Glycolysis
This system doesn’t require oxygen either and it is activated after the body uses up its phosphate supply. It provides enough energy for activities that last 1 to 3 minutes in duration. Glucose (sugar) is converted to ATP, which fuels the muscles. It produces a waste product called lactic acid, when the body cannot keep up with its energy demand. When lactic acid accumulates in blood, muscles begin to fatigue and performance is diminished.
Aerobic
This system relies on oxygen and it’s activated during periods of low energy demand. The power generated is less than the other two systems, but this system is more efficient. The body relies on fat and oxygen for fuel when this system is activated. Essentially, the body has unlimited supply of oxygen and fat, so this energy system can sustain athletes for long distance sports, such as marathons.
Even though we have three different energy systems, they all work together simultaneously. Below is a breakdown that shows what percentage of each system is used during various sporting activities.