Why all Fit Girls should consider playing football

As some of you might have noticed, I'm a bit of a football fan! This shouldn't be surprising because it's the most popular sport in the world. I really enjoy watching and playing it and with the World Cup of women's football in Canada, it's totally hot and happening as a sport for women! Playing football is a good workout with loads of health benefits. People of various ages and skill levels participate in a good (friendly) match of football! Lots of women, like myself, also play! So I figured it's about time I explain why all Fit Girls should consider playing football.

Football (or soccer, how it's called in the US) is a teamsport where players use their legs, head and torso to pass the ball and score goals! As a real football lover, from a football loving country, we call it football and not soccer. It's a game that's mostly played with feet hence the name football! There are many benefits from playing a teamsport like football, what I like most about it is that it's really fun and you don't need to have a certain skill level to get started! Fun is my biggest motivation to exercise and play sports :)

Why all Fit Girls should consider playing football

The health benefits are a huge plus though and they definitely make it more interesting for all Fit Girls to start playing. The health benefits of football are:

• improves health due to shifts between walking, running and sprinting.
• increases aerobic capacity and cardiovascular health
• lowers body fat and improves muscle tone
• builds endurance, strength and flexibility
• increases bone strength and muscle

Other benefits of playing football are:

• it is a great way to exercise with friends and meet new people
• is easy to learn, beginners can easily join in the fun and play it for recreation
• requires very little equipment so it can be played anywhere
• is generally a non-contact sport
• teaches you to ‘think on the run’
• teaches coordination
• promotes teamwork and sharing
• helps to increase skills in concentration, persistence and self-discipline
• can provide an opportunity to increase your confidence and self-esteem, and help to reduce anxiety

So as you can see loads of benefits! When playing in teams, you can make the teams as big or as small as you like. Less people on the field equals more running (which is a good thing if you ask me). However, if  your condition isn't optimal yet, make the teams a bit bigger so you get more time to catch your breath! If you want to get started after reading this, the most important thing to keep in mind is; it should be fun, so enjoy it!

xoxo

Safira Audrey

P.S. The awesome Fit Girl you see in the article is named Manou (in duel with her bf Pim, isn't it awesome they play together)! Guess how we all met?! Through football!