Football is one of the most popular sports around the world. FIFA estimates that 265 million people enjoy the sport worldwide, but have you ever wondered what makes football so beneficial for your health?

Read on to discover 7 reasons why you should try the sport!

1. Boost your cardiovascular endurance
   An average player runs 10km in a full 90-minute football match. From sprinting across the football field, to jumping up high for headers, and kicking the soccer ball hard to score a goal, this sport is sure to get your heart rate up and boost your cardio capacity!
   
   
2. Strengthen your muscles
   Despite the name, football can be a vigorous full-body work out! Running, dribbling, passing and shooting hone your lower body, while throw-ins, shielding the ball and guarding your opponents train your upper body.
   
   
3. Keep your bones strong
   Like the rest of your body, bones are living tissue that need exercise to remain strong and healthy. Weight-bearing exercises like football are effective ways to increase your bone mass and improve the strength of your skeletal frame.
   
   
4. Maintain or lose weight
   The cardio workout and muscle toning from football burn a lot of calories. In addition, having more muscle in the body will increase your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which means that you will burn even more calories at rest. This makes football a great choice of exercise for maintaining a healthy body weight.
   
   
5. Improve your coordination
   Body control is a huge factor for success in football. It allows you to control the ball, pass and shoot accurately, intercept other players, and create better positions for yourself on the field. Playing football or practicing with drills will help to train your coordination, flexibility and agility.
   
   
6. Learn to work as a team
   Football is not just about fitness. It’s about playing well with your teammates, formulating and following tactics, communicating before the game and on the field, and working together towards a common goal. Teamwork remains an important life skill even after players step off the field.
   
   
7. Play anywhere
   You don’t need a football field and you don’t have to be part of a football team to enjoy football! It can be played by children or adults, in the backyard or the park, by a full team or just between a couple of friends.

With all the benefits to gain, are you ready for some football action?