The benefits of football

What are the health advantages of playing football?

We tell you the five benefits of football for body and mind.

The benefits of football

Football: the benefits

Football is a simple, universal sport. More than just a ball sport, it's an activity that works on endurance and cardio through repeated running. Football moves and skills are physically demanding and help build tone and coordination. And as a good team sport, football has many benefits for your mental development!

Running in football

Improve your endurance with football.

You may not get to the point where you're doing bicycle kicks on the pitch, but you can still improve your endurance, particularly by running.

Football is a team sport based on running.

In the senior category, you run nearly 10 km each match. In addition to sending free kicks into the top corner, or tackling anything that passes midfield, you'll benefit from a great endurance workout.

Regularly doing matches and training sessions will help to improve your cardiac and respiratory capacities.

Endurance in football

Football: get tougher

The tempo of a match is anything but steady. In football, you have to keep up with the pace!

Although you run during a football match, it's not a mere jog!

Unless you're spending the whole time on the sidelines, which we hope isn't the case, you'll spend the match at the whims of the many changes in pace. Depending on your position, you might find yourself sprinting forwards or shuttling back and forth in your corridor. No time to catch your breath: you'll have to wait for the next stop in play!

This repeated acceleration and sprinting helps to improve your resistance as well as your endurance.

Fitness in football

The benefits of football for your body

Football works all of your physical capacities. So, jump high, speed up and stay balanced.

In football, you don't just play with your feet!

As with many team sports, you're using your entire body. When saving goals, in the case of goalies, or during aerial play for the rest of the team, you draw on your springiness and your balance. Running and accelerating develops your speed, which is one of the keys to the sport. Lastly, playing a ball sport without your hands will do wonders for your dexterity!

Teamwork in football

The team benefits of football

Football keeps you in shape not only physically but also mentally. And to stay in form, you need to stay in formation!

That's right: football isn't just a question of fitness. It's also a matter of formation.

Whether 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, football requires team spirit and everyone working together. Respect for tactics and your team-mates, as well as communication on the pitch, all strengthen your team.

It's a sport that teaches you that the quality and potential of a group is more than the sum of its parts. In a solid formation, working effectively together, you can win against a stronger team. And that feels pretty awesome.

Reflexes in football

Football: technical and physical benefits

Skills, tone and fitness: your entire body will benefit from football.

With football, you perform a number of moves and skills that improve physical fitness.

First of all, running and controlling a ball with your feet at the same time improves your coordination immensely!  Running, jumping, and striking help to strengthen your thighs, glutes, and abs. What's more, all those technical movements help foster your proprioception and flexibility. And as a goalkeeper, you stimulate your reflexes, anticipation and agility.

Whether it's muscle tone, flexibility or coordination, your entire body benefits from football.

In conclusion...

For endurance or agility, for your body or your mind, football is as beneficial as it is fun. And you? What benefits do you get from football?Share the benefits of your sport!

Watch our football videos to improve:

Taking a penalty

Taking a penalty

How do you find the back of the net from the penalty spot? Watch our video on the art of penalty-taking and practise beating the keeper from the spot.

Taking a direct free kick

Taking a direct free kick

Want to learn how to score from a free kick? Watch our video and you'll soon be turning your direct free kicks into genuine goalscoring opportunities.

Dinking the ball over the keeper

Dinking the ball over the keeper

So you're a goalscorer and you want to broaden your finishing skills? With our video you'll learn how to dink the ball over the keeper.

Getting up in the air to head the ball

Getting up in the air to head the ball

Looking to take your heading game to the next level? Our video will show you how to hang in the air and head the ball.

Kicking the ball with the outside of the foot

Kicking the ball with the outside of the foot

Looking to bend the ball more when you shoot? Reluctant to shoot with your weaker foot? Watch our video and learn how to bend the ball with the outside of your foot.

Heading the ball

Heading the ball

Want to work on your aerial game? Watch our video and learn how to head the ball home.

Curling the ball

Curling the ball

Want to work on bending or curling the ball? Our video shows you how to put spin on your shots so you can score in style.