Three Physical Health Benefits of Soccer - Yahoo! Sports

Soccer is one of the best sports that an athlete can become involved in, because there are numerous health benefits of playing the sport. For an athlete, some of the best benefits he or she might get from a sport include the benefits to his or her physical health.

Here are three of the best physical health benefits that an athlete can gain from playing soccer, which can increase the quality of his or her life.

Can Control Weight

An athlete that plays soccer is less likely to be obese, and can actually help him or her lose a considerable amount of weight. Since soccer is a form of aerobic exercise, and it can help burn a lot of calories and fat, which means that an athlete is likely to maintain a healthier weight. When an athlete plays soccer, he or she is jogging, running, and sprinting for a long period of time, which is a great way to get aerobic exercise. A youth athlete that plays soccer will also notice he or she has a higher metabolism, which can control weight later in life. There are many benefits for an athlete when it comes to controlling weight, since a healthy weight can lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol. If an athlete is looking to shed a few pounds, then soccer is going to help him or her lose weight, and also maintain a healthy weight throughout his or her life.

Can Build Muscle

An athlete that plays soccer will also notice his or her muscles are stronger, since playing soccer can significantly help build muscles. Soccer uses a lot of different muscle groups, which means that an athlete will notice the benefits in more areas of the body. Soccer can help build and strengthen muscles of the legs, thighs, abdomen, and chest. If an athlete plays soccer regularly, then he or she will notice the muscles becoming stronger, which can help reduce the risk of injuries. When an athlete builds muscles through participation in soccer, he or she is also more likely to notice an increase in endurance, which means that he or she will not get lethargic or fatigued as easily. Building muscle and increasing muscle tone is a great way to increase overall health, and it can also help an athlete increase his or her athletic performance.

Can Increase Flexibility and Agility

An athlete will also notice that he or she has become more flexible and agile, which is a direct result of playing soccer regularly. Soccer requires an athlete to be able to move fast in certain directions, move laterally and vertically quickly, and also run forward or backward. The fast motions that are required in soccer will help an athlete become more flexible, which can help him or her become successful. The legs, chest, and arms will all increase in flexibility due to the constant shifting that is required for soccer, which also occurs as the muscles become stronger. Every time an athlete plays soccer, he or she will go through a lot of different motions and positions, which can only increase his or her flexibility as time moves forward. An increase in flexibility will also help reduce the risk of injury, since the body will be trained to move constantly at such a high intensity.

Jeanne Rose worked as a dietary clerk in a hospital for three years, went to vocational school for Allied Health, and obtained certification in nurse assisting.

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