The soccer fever around the globe
In the past few months we saw world experiencing the FIFA fever, symptoms include clubbing in Groups, wearing same jerseys and yelling in front of television screens or at the stadium and going crazy over your biased team. Though craze for soccer is common for the rest of the world but for us Indians we are experiencing it very often, once in every four year to be precise.
The FIFA world cup was kicked of few days ago with Argentina’s historic win against France, the atmosphere around the world, where people celebrating the victory like crazy and chanting Messi’s name, known as the GOAT ( Great of All Time ) of soccer, was just charismatic.
The Indian football
Not as much as the western countries, but Indian’s are also interested and invested in “football”, that’s what we call it here. Though not popular as Cricket, football also has its place in Indian subcontinent, especially stated like Kerala, West Bengal and other north eastern States are very much into football and many people from rest of the country also incline their interest towards it.
Though Indian national football team is yet to enter the FIFA championship , it is doing great internationally with captain and celebrity star player Sunil Chettri mastering the sport. The football fans in India are really proud of Mr Chettri is in top five international players with most goals along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Indian football team and other enthusiasts which includes state-level teams, coaches, and celebrities from the entertainment world, actively promote football as a sport excellent for overall development of mind and body. Sports ventures are also part of promoting health via football in India.
Football and health
The fever of football has aroused a thought and left us brainstorming about the health benefits of playing this beautiful game. What are the hundreds of competing players putting their bodies, and minds, through while playing? And what effect could this have on long-term health?
Football is a combination of running, walking, sprinting and kicking all at same time, isn’t is amazing. What really amazing yet simple thing about football is it is not an expensive or prohibitive sport. All that's needed is space and a ball. Your local school, gym or leisure centre will most likely have facilities to play football
Yet taking so less of resources from you it tends to give you ample of health benefits. This can bring benefits including:
- Increased stamina
- Improved cardiovascular health
- Reduced body fat
- Improved muscle strength and tone
- Increased bone strength
- Improved coordination
The intensity of training undertaken by a player make them utilize their both aerobic and anaerobic energy system during a game. Aerobic exercise is when the oxygen you breathe is carried to your muscles via your lungs, and heart - to give them the energy they need to perform the activity. Aerobic exercise is therefore associated with lower intensity activity. However, when the activity is performed at high intensities, the Anaerobic system becomes the predominant energy system. This is because your anaerobic system can produce energy much more rapidly.
Playing football or any regular field sports is also thought to help improve symptoms of some mental health issues like depression and stress. This can increase confidence and self-esteem and can help to reduce anxiety.
Time for some fun fact
A footballer's entire body needs to be engaged during a match strength is required to defend, tackle, sprint, jump up and, of course, strike the ball, while also reducing the risk of injury.
Football players tend to perform a mix of high intensity - like sprinting - and low intensity - like jogging - exercises during a match
- 25% of time is spent walking
- 37% of time is spent joggings
- 20% of time is spent performing high intensity running
- 11% of time is spent sprinting
- 7% of time is spent running backwards
Doesn’t it sounds like a full session of cardio!?
So you must have prepared your new years resolution list for your health. Do not forget to add this beautiful game on it.
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