Soccer is loads of fun. And there are plenty of benefits of playing soccer when it comes to your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Whether it’s increased self-esteem, developed friendships, or improved mood, focus, and empathy, playing soccer can improve your life in many ways. And that’s besides the staggering array of life skills that it develops such as discipline, hard work, communication, leadership, and teamwork.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF PLAYING SOCCER

Soccer can be a great workout and lots of fun. The health benefits include that it:

• increases aerobic capacity and cardiovascular health

• builds strength, flexibility and endurance

• improves health due to shifts between walking, running and sprinting.

OTHER BENEFITS OF PLAYING SOCCER

There are many other benefits from playing a team sport like soccer. For example it:

• is generally a non-contact sport

• teaches coordination

• promotes teamwork and sharing

• teaches you to ‘think on the run’

• helps to increase skills in concentration, persistence and self-discipline

• is a great way to meet people and exercise with friends

• can provide an opportunity to increase your confidence and self-esteem, and help to reduce anxiety

• is relatively easy to learn, so beginners can easily join in the fun and play basic soccer for recreation