Introduction to Blog
Football is a sport
played between two teams of eleven players each, who try to score goals using
their feet. There are no rules regarding how close the ball should go over the
goal line; however, the game is often stopped if a player goes out of bounds
(i.e., outside of a defined area) before scoring a goal. Each team consists of
11 players, 9 on offense and 2 on defense. One player serves as a goalkeeper
while three substitutes may replace any outfield player at any time. Goals are
scored whenever a player kicks the ball toward the opponent's goal (see diagram
below). A match ends once 15 minutes have elapsed without either team scoring,
or if one team has already scored 14 goals, or if a player is injured and cannot
continue playing.
How does football affect human health?
The primary concern
of football is injury. Injuries tend to occur from collisions between players,
tackles, and falls. As injuries increase due to contact sports, they can lead
to long-term problems such as arthritis, back pain, and heart disease. Because
of these injuries, football causes many deaths each year. Young children are
particularly susceptible to traumatic brain injuries, while athletes and older
adults are more likely to suffer concussions. Collisions can cause serious head
injuries including skull fractures, concussion, brain bleeding, and spinal cord
injuries. Most of these injuries are preventable with proper training and
equipment.
Why do we play football?
In addition to its
physical dangers, football also promotes unhealthy activities among young
people. Many teenagers spend hours watching television and playing video games
during their free time. When combined with inadequate nutrition, these habits
can result in poor academic performance and behavioral issues. Sports like
football are a good way for children to get enough exercise and stay physically
active, but it’s not necessary to engage in them unless you enjoy the activity.
Increased muscle mass
Football players have
increased levels of testosterone than non-footballers. Testosterone is
responsible for increasing muscle size and strength. Research shows football
players have higher levels of testosterone than soccer players. Sports such as
basketball and baseball may cause less extreme increases in testosterone than
those playing football. Soccer players may benefit from lower amounts of
testosterone due to their body structure. A study in the Journal of Applied
Physiology showed male soccer players had reduced testosterone compared to male
rugby players. Female athletes were not studied.
Decreased risk of heart disease
A 2008 report
published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation stated that men
who play football face a significantly decreased risk of heart attack.
According to the researchers, “the results of this study confirm previous
studies showing football players have a lower incidence of coronary artery
disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI).” High school football players were
three times less likely to suffer from CAD. Also, these same players were four
times less likely to develop MI. College football players faced even lower risk
of both conditions. Researchers say physical activity alone does not account
for this lowered risk; they believe the protective effects stem from
improvements in cholesterol levels. In addition, they point out that the
football games played do raise blood pressure levels in college students.
However, this effect appears to dissipate after graduation.
Reduced risk of certain cancers
According to a 2010
study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, football players had
lower rates of some forms of cancer than people who did not participate in
sports. Specifically, the researchers found that football players were 40% less
likely to suffer from prostate cancer than those who did not participate in
competitive athletics.
Better sleep quality
A 2012 study
published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests high school
football players have improved sleep quality over time. Researchers found that
the number of hours slept was no different between high school football players
and non-athletes. However, the quality of sleep was better among the former
group. They suggest this is related to the fact that football players are
healthier than non-athletes and therefore experience fewer bad dreams. Another
possible explanation is that being constantly active while awake makes it
easier to fall asleep at night.
Improved aerobic fitness
Research conducted by
University of South Carolina researchers states that high school football
players show greater improvement in cardio respiratory fitness than
non-athletes. They suggest this could be attributed to the physical demands
placed on their bodies by tackling, blocking, running, and jumping.
Greater bone density
Another study
published in 2007 shows football players have greater bone density than
non-athlete males. The researchers state that this may be due to the weight
bearing nature of football. The repetitive force applied to bones during
contact drills may be the contributing factor.
Lower BMI
The above study finds
that high school football players have a lower Body Mass Index (BMI).
Researchers explain that having a lower BMI means football players weigh less
than non-athletic individuals. Additionally, this study demonstrates that
football players maintain a low BMI throughout their adult lives.
Muscles
Muscle mass is what
determines how strong you could potentially become, and therefore is a big
factor in football fitness. To increase muscle mass, you need to have endurance
training. Endurance training refers to activities where you work out at low
intensity for longer periods of time, or high-intensity interval training
(HIIT). HIIT involves working out in intervals, where you exercise intensely
for short bursts, then rest for a few minutes before repeating the cycle. This
type of training increases the amount of oxygen going to your muscles. Another
way to build muscles is weight lifting. Weight lifting increases the size of
your muscles, but does not change their number. You should do both forms of
physical activity for maximum effect. If you want to lose fat, cardio exercises
are best. Cardio exercises burn calories throughout the day, rather than just
when you exercise. Examples of cardio exercises include running, biking,
swimming, rowing, elliptical machines, etc. These activities put your body
under strain, increasing the amount of calories your body uses. Your muscles
need protein to repair themselves after workouts, so eat plenty of foods like
eggs, chicken breast, fish, lean beef, pork, soybeans, nuts, seeds, beans,
tofu, milk, yogurt, cheese, peanut butter, cereal, bread, and pasta. Protein is
also good for maintaining your bones, teeth, skin, hair, and nails. Eating lots
of fruits and vegetables helps to prevent many illnesses, including cancer,
heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, stroke, and kidney stones.
Nerves
Your brain controls
everything in your body, including how you feel, think about things, remember
things, move, talk, dream, and even make decisions. So your brain is extremely
important when it comes to being fit. When your brain works right, you feel
great, think clearly, remember things, and are able to perform well
athletically. There are two different types of nerves: sensory nerves are
responsible for feeling, hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling, touching,
temperature sensation, pain, balance and movement; and motor nerves are
responsible for your voluntary actions, like moving your arms, legs, tongue,
lips, fingers, toes, eyes, ears, nose, breasts, penis, vagina, bowels, kidneys,
bladder, rectum, and anus. A lack of nutrition, especially protein, can affect
these nerves and cause problems. Most people don't get enough protein,
especially while they're young. In fact, only 6% of Americans eat adequate
amounts of protein according to the USDA.
Heart and Blood Vessels
The heart is a
muscular organ located in the chest cavity that provides blood flow to all
parts of the body. Your blood vessels carry blood away from the heart and
around your body. Healthy blood vessels help keep your blood pressure down. A
person's blood pressure is the force of blood pushing outwardly against the
wall of blood vessels. An unhealthy blood vessel may break, causing bleeding or
swelling. Excess cholesterol plaque buildup in the arteries can block off some
of the blood vessels, causing blood clots and leading to strokes. Therefore,
eating a diet rich in fiber and low in saturated fatty acids can reduce.
