FOOTBALL AND LIFESTYLE | Football is undoubtedly the most widely played and watched sport across the globe. There is a reason as to why it has such an enthusiastic fan following all around the world. To begin with, the sport in itself is such a thrill to indulge in and also it is undeniably the most exhilarating sport. One hour of football, if you play it or watch it, will leave you completely energized and endorphin-rushed, which is why even FIFA games are so widely purchased by play station users. Apart from all the fun, it is a pleasurable sport that provides an all-round fitness and can be used as a treatment for lifestyle-related diseases.
Here’s how playing football can help change your lifestyle.
1) Football is a metaphor for life.
This game asks players to push themselves further than they ever thought they could go. It literally challenges the player’s physical courage. It shows them what it means to sacrifice and the importance of doing their job well. We learn to put others first, to be part of something bigger than ourselves. And we learn to lift our teammates – and ourselves – up together.
2) Football demands discipline.
Football is hard. It is tough. It requires intense training and the will to put in more efforts to excel at it. Therefore, it demands discipline. It teaches obedience and builds character.
3) Increases Aerobic Capacity:
Running -at any intensity- for 90 minutes requires a high level of stamina. Therefore, soccer players often have a tremendous amount of aerobic capacity- being able to go from walking to sprinting and have a fast recovery to do it again, and again, and again.
4) Increase Confidence and Self-esteem
Building physical strength and endurance help build confidence in a player both on and off the field. Sports provide you with a sense of mastery and control, which often leads to a feeling of pride and self-confidence. Confidence and self-esteem not only impact sports performance, but also performance in school, career, family life and friendships.
5) Teaches coordination and promotes teamwork and sharing
Football is a team sport. It requires coordination among the teammates, communication between the forward, defense and the goal keeper. This, in turn, promotes teamwork and a sense of sharing, skills that are applicable in day to day life.
6) Teaches you to ‘think on the run’
This sport requires the players to be on the run until the game is over. All the strategies need to be thought about during the game and implemented according to as soon as they see an opportunity. This requires quick reflexes and thinking. This enhances the day to day decision-making skills as well.
7) improves your mood
Want a burst of happiness and relaxation? Get involved in football. Team sports, in particular, provide a chance to unwind and engage in a satisfying challenge that improves your fitness. They also provide social benefits by allowing you to connect with teammates and friends in a recreational setting.
8) Improves your concentration
Regular physical activity helps keep your key mental skills sharp as you age. This includes critical thinking, learning, and using good judgment. Research has shown that doing a mix of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities is especially helpful.
9) Reduce stress, depression and anxiety
When you are physically active, your mind is distracted from daily stressors. This can help you avoid getting bogged down by negative thoughts. Playing football reduces the levels of stress hormones in your body. At the same time, it stimulates the production of endorphins. These are natural mood lifters that can keep stress and depression at bay. Endorphins may even leave you feeling more relaxed and optimistic after a hard workout.
10) Playing football improves sleep habits
Indulging in football and other forms of physical activity improve the quality of sleep. They do this by helping you fall asleep faster and deepening your sleep. Sleeping better can improve your mental outlook the next day, as well as improve your mood. Just be careful not to engage in sports too late in the day. Evening practices within a few hours of bedtime may leave you too energized to sleep.
Check out: 8 Different Formats of Football you would come across
11) Playing football helps you maintain a healthy weight
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend sports participation as a healthy way to maintain weight. Playing football which requires you to run helps burn calories and stay fit. Staying within a recommended weight range reduces the likelihood of developing diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension.
12) Football has been linked to leadership traits
Team sports such as football is a breeding ground for leadership traits. Studies done in high schools reveal a correlation between sports participation and leadership qualities. Because of the opportunity to train, try, win, or lose together, people involved in sports are naturally more inclined to adopt a “team mindset” in the workplace and in social situations. The team mindset leads to strong leadership qualities over time.
13) Increases Cognitive Brain Function
Football helps increase skills in concentration, persistence and self-discipline because it is a fast-paced game that requires quick decisions on the field. Even when the tempo appears to slow down, players are constantly looking for territorial advantages, trying to position themselves to receive a pass or to defend an area the opponent may attack.
14) Improves Cardiovascular Health
The average player runs 5 to 7 miles in a full game. The constant walking, jogging and running helps keep the players’ heart rates up, providing excellent cardiovascular exercise. This constant movement helps players strengthen their hearts, resist plaque build-up in the coronary arteries, reduce their blood pressure and burn excess calories.
15) Builds Muscle Strength
Lower body strength is required for kicking, jumping, and tackling, twisting and turning and also forms the foundation for explosive speed. Upper body strength is required for shielding the ball, holding off opponents, throw-ins and also contributes to overall power and explosiveness. Regular soccer playing builds strength by using the whole body
Also read: 5 Golden Benefits of Playing Football
16) Increases Bone Strength
In general, bone density decreases as people get older. The repeated weight-bearing loads on the body during a soccer match are an excellent way to increase the strength of our skeletal frame. Maintaining fitness through soccer throughout a lifetime is a great way to keep bones strong.
17) Teaches bodily Coordination
Due to shifts between walking, running and sprinting, coordination is key to soccer. Body coordination is improved through the complex movements like dribbling, turning and passing, which are performed at varying rates of speed and direction. Hand-eye coordination is improved when players either kick the ball or receive a pass from someone. The better the coordination, the better advantage in a match.
18) Easily accessible
The sport requires very little equipment so it can be played in the backyard or park. It is relatively easy to learn, so beginners can easily join in the fun and play basic soccer for recreation
19) Reduces stress in men
After a long week of working a 9-5 job, indulging in football will definitely help men with stress levels and stay fit.
20) Helps women stay active and form healthy relationships with team members
As opposed to running in groups, playing a team sport such as football helps women stay active and form bond and relationships which are healthy and good for the mind as well.
A regular exercise like playing football can boost your self-esteem and help you concentrate, sleep and feel better. Football helps to keep the brain and your other vital organs healthy and is also a significant benefit towards improving your mental health. There is no end to the list of benefits one can gain from playing this all-round sport. So form your teams, book an arena and get kicking!
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