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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Three Social Health Benefits of Soccer for Youth Athletes - Yahoo! Sports

There are a lot of health benefits that soccer can provide a youth athlete, including many social health benefits. Soccer is one of the best sports for a youth athlete to get involved with, because it can help him or her maintain positive health and wellness. When it comes to soccer for a youth athlete, the social benefits can outweigh the physical benefits, which might be why he or she decides to participate.

Here are three of the best social health benefits that soccer can provide a youth athlete, whether he or she is on a team at school or through another organization.

Can Teach Teamwork

Soccer can help a youth athlete develop teamwork skills, which is very important for social interaction during school, and during his or her adult years. Teamwork is built through soccer by the fact that it only takes one person to mess up, in order to potentially destroy the play, and create a score for the opponent. Youth athletes that participate in soccer will find they can build off of each other, help each other learn, and create an environment built around winning. Not all sports are centered on teamwork, but soccer relies on each person doing what he or she is supposed to at all times. Soccer can also teach a youth athlete to be more positive to his or her teammates, and it can help him or her develop constructive criticism skills, which is also important for social interaction.

Can Help Develop Communication Skills

A youth athlete that is playing soccer is also going to have better communication skills, which can help him or her in many social situations. Communication is needed in soccer because each player has a role to play, and needs to fulfill the role successful, in order for the team to win. A youth soccer athlete is also going to have to communicate with coaches when there is a problem, and be able to communicate his or her specific needs. Communication is also a part of teamwork, because without effective communication skills, the soccer team will not be cohesive. A youth athlete will also need to know how to communicate physical limitations and strengths, in order to become successful at soccer. As a youth athlete becomes more involved with soccer, he or she will increase communication skills, which can enhance performance, and also help him or her bond with other players.

Can Teach Equality

Equality is also a very positive social benefit that a youth athlete can learn while playing soccer, which can help him or her learn about relationships. Both men and women can play soccer, but sometimes a younger youth athlete does not realize this, and often lacks equality skills needed in society. While playing soccer, a youth athlete can learn that women and men are similar, and that regardless of your gender, you can play sports. A youth athlete can also learn that equality means that no matter what you look like, you can become successful, and be very productive at soccer or other sports. A youth athlete is also likely to find out that having physical or mental disabilities does not exclude someone from sports, and it can help him or her learn to treat people in those situations as equals. A youth athlete will meet a lot of people while playing soccer, and this can help him or her learn about equality as a social issue, and can help him or her succeed later in life.

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

Women's Pro Soccer Sanctioned for 2012, Time for Teams in the Northwest: Fan View - Yahoo! Sports

The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors sanctioned Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) as a Division I league in the United States for 2012. The WPS had requested a waiver from the standard eight team requirement, and will operate with only five teams. There are stipulations to the agreement.

WPS must add a team in 2013 and another two in 2014 to be in compliance and keep their sanction. That's something the league says they are committed to doing, and U.S. Soccer made a choice to help them get it done.

"We are pleased U.S. Soccer and it's board of directors acknowledge the significance of women's professional soccer," said Jennifer O'Sullivan, WPS CEO in a statement. "There is a tremendous amount of potential for growth both for our league and the women's game on a global scale that could have gone unrealized without a fourth season for WPS."

The Pacific Northwest just the place to do it

WPS needs to add three teams by 2014, and I know just the place they should be looking. If each current city in the Cascadia Cup rivalry in the MLS added a women's team, that would make three. The Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps make up the best rivalry in the MLS.

There's no reason to think a great deal of the intensity found now in the Cascadia Cup wouldn't transfer over to the women's game. If the WPS is truly to expand and succeed, there's no better place in the country to do it. Pacific Northwest fans are the most soccer savvy in the country, and Vancouver definitely fits in with that as well.

The U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) will be playing in the Olympic qualification tournament in Vancouver in January, and so will the team from Canada. What better way to seed interest in a professional women's team?

The distance problem solved

If just one team came into the league in the Pacific Northwest, there would be a problem with travel, that would also translate into a problem generating local interest. All five teams that will be playing in the WPS in 2012 are back East.

The Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC, and Western New York Flash will be the WPS next year. A solo team in the Pacific Northwest might be a logistical nightmare. Make it three, and suddenly it's a doable proposition.

Just the prescription the league needs

A women's version of the Cascadia Cup rivalry at the professional level could be the best thing that could happen for the WPS. If they cross-marketed with the MLS sides, both could benefit. As a fan, I know I'd love to see the greats in the women's game play here on a regular basis. I hope management of the current teams, or newly interested persons considering ownership, are aware of the huge untapped potential represented.

Jeff Musall is a lifelong fan of soccer in all it's incarnations. He would welcome a Cascadia Cup rivalry in the women's game.

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US Soccer Announces Roster for November Friendlies: Fan's Reaction - Yahoo! Sports

On Thursday, Nov. 3, U.S. Soccer released the national team's 22-man roster for this month's friendlies against France and Slovenia. Here are my thoughts on head coach Jurgen Klinsmann's selections:

Omar Gonzalez still doesn't have a call up

I have a serious problem with Klinsmann's decision not to add Los Angeles Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez to the roster. Klinsmann has seemingly given everyone else and their brother a chance to play on the national team back line except for Gonzalez, and I'm not sure why. He's been one of MLS's best defenders for the past three years now, and Gonzalez is also a scoring threat on set pieces. These are both areas in which the U.S. needs. What does he have to do to earn a chance to play for the national team? Gonzalez is eligible to play for Mexico, and if he's not going to get a call-up from the U.S., I can't say I'd blame him for going elsewhere.

Choosing Michael Orozco Fiscal is a poor decision

While Klinsmann continues to dismiss Gonzalez, Michael Orozco Fiscal continues receive playing time on the American roster. I don't understand Klinsmann's obsession with Orozco Fiscal, but the young defender has been awful almost every time he's set foot on the pitch in a U.S. uniform. Why put him on the roster now when there are other young defenders out there that should get a look before World Cup qualifying begins next year? How many chances is Klinsmann going to give this guy?

Where's Freddie Adu?

Apparently, Klinsmann has forgotten how Freddie Adu performed for the United States during the Gold Cup. It's the only reason I can think of why he'd leave Adu off the roster. I don't understand how he can ignore Adu, yet call up perennial disappointment Robbie Rogers. Adu offers much more to a team both off-and-on the ball than Rogers does. It just doesn't make much sense to leave him off the roster.

I was one of Adu's detractors prior to the Gold Cup, but Adu proved that not only did he belong on the U.S. national team, but that he could be a playmaker and centerpiece for the Americans. I don't understand Klinsmann's reasoning for leaving Adu off the roster.

Finally

The rest of the team is made up of players most American fans should already be familiar except for Alfredo Morales and Fabian Johnson. I'm looking forward to getting a look at them in the upcoming friendlies against France and Slovenia. Hopefully, both players will establish themselves on the roster. The U.S. team needs as much young blood as it can get.

Derek Ciapala has been a fan of international soccer since the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994. His favorite moment in international football is Landon Donovan's last minute goal against Algeria in the 2010 World Cup. You can follow him on Twitter @dciapala.

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