What Are the Main Health Benefits of Playing Soccer?
If you’re looking for a sport that can get you in great shape, then start playing soccer ASAP.
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the entire world. All that’s required to play is a group of people, two nets, and a ball – that’s all the soccer gear you need. There’s nothing easy about becoming a good soccer player, but there are a number of health benefits even for the most amateur of footballers.
In this post, we’re going to examine some of the main health benefits of soccer. Whether you’re a parent trying to get your child into a sport or you’re an adult looking to get off the couch, keep reading and we’ll tell you some of the many soccer benefits.
Amazing Cardio
Official soccer matches are played in two halves of 45 minutes. During this time, only one or two players will be substituted out of the game, so you’re looking at about 90 minutes of activity. Most of this is running at various speeds around the pitch, which is going to improve your aerobic endurance and capacity a massive amount.
The average soccer match will have players running somewhere in the neighborhood of 5 miles. Moving around this much is incredible for your cardiovascular health, which in turn works to prevent heart disease and all of the symptoms that lead to it. You’re going to sweat a lot, so make sure you’ve got the proper soccer clothes from https://casualfootballshirts.co.uk/collections/classic-manchester-united-shirts.
Metabolism and Muscle Growth
Another thing this amount of activity can do is speed up your metabolism. Your metabolism is essentially how your body converts the food and drink that you consume into energy, so having a high metabolic rate means that you’ll burn calories and fat faster.
Since soccer works out your entire body, through kicking, jockeying for position, throwing, and running, you’ll build more muscle mass all over. Lower body strength, in particular, is important for becoming a good soccer player, but the game itself produces lower body strength.
Bone density is something that starts deteriorating as we get older. If you’re taking up soccer at an older age, it can really help to strengthen your skeletal frame, as you’re repeatedly bearing weight all over your body.
Coordination and Brain Function
It may not look like it, but soccer is an extremely strategic game and you have to be alert to get good at it. Following and recognizing where the play is going requires you to process and make quick decisions, which is hugely beneficial for your cognitive health.
Coordination, another important aspect of brain function, is helped by playing soccer too. When you kick, receive passes, and run with possession of the ball, you’re improving your coordination. If you want to learn how to get better at soccer, it all starts with coordination.
Start Playing Soccer
Now that you know some of the benefits of soccer, you can get a group of friends together and arrange a match. Playing soccer is fun and improves your health in a multitude of ways, so there’s no reason not to pick up a ball, some soccer clothes, and find a pitch to run around on.
If you found this post helpful, come back again for more on health and fitness.