The impact of recreational football on body composition, functional and motor abilities: Systematic review

Recreational football is a versatile and intense form of physical activity that can be considered an excellent alternative to traditional continuous exercise forms such as running, cycling, and swimming. This type of exercise offers numerous health benefits, including improvements in body composition, functional abilities, and motor skills. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of existing research on the impact of recreational football on body composition, functional, and motor abilities. By analyzing data from relevant scientific databases such as Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and the Serbian Citation Index, studies examining the effects of recreational football in different populations, including children, adults, and the elderly, were included. The results of numerous studies indicate that recreational football can lead to a reduction in body fat, an increase in muscle mass, and improvements in cardiorespiratory endurance. Additionally, this form of physical activity contributes to enhanced coordination, speed, agility, and explosive power. The conclusion of this research is that recreational football is a highly effective form of physical activity that can contribute to the improvement of health and physical abilities, regardless of age, gender, or fitness level. It's diversity makes it an attractive type of training that not only enhances physical parameters but also encourages social interaction and the long-term adoption of an active lifestyle.