When it comes to football, there’s nothing quite like running out on to the pitch, taking a big breath of summer day’s breeze and getting stuck in during a game, release the endorphins peepz. On this blog, we’ve promoted the idea of the small-sided game as a major factor when it comes to fitness. We’ve highlighted the benefits, some of which are better than cycling, which I found surprising.
BUT I do feel that it’s important to say that some foundation level of fitness is required for 5,6 and 7-a-side football. It’d be naïve of me not to mention this and at the worst, irresponsible.
Once you start your first game, you’ll realise quick sharp how energetic it is. Within minutes you will be sweating profusely, and those stitches will start to kick in soon after.
Don’t worry though, we’ve all been there. Myself more than anyone. If your fitness is non-existent like me in the past, you’ll feel that a lot of the enjoyment can be sucked straight from the game. This in turn can be a major turn-off. We don’t want that! We want you to be coming back for more like our fave nightclub BeAtOne on a Friday night!
Yeah, I’ve had some tough experiences when I’ve let myself go, from a physical level, and then stepped straight out for a game. By the end of it, I feel like the whole match has passed me by, pain is the primary emotion rather than fun, and the experience wasn’t great.
Since my op and subsequent tumble where I knackered up my ankle, I’ve been limited when it came to physical movement, let alone full on exercise. In the first 3 months, I could hardly walk without a crutch and then my ankle was troublesome. It felt weak, prone to twist again and some days the pain was significant, it would come and go. Luckily, I reached out to our resident Dr Kim at work, and she gave me some really useful physio tips you can try doing everyday tasks, walking to the station, climbing up the stairwell etc. That helped me loads and the pain started to subside. I could feel it strengthening every day but then the lockdown came.
After a couple of weeks just getting used to our new environment, I realised there was nothing stopping me from exercising, if done in a safe manner, so I thought this would be the perfect time to start venturing out and working my fitness up so I could hit the ground running for our return, so I could enjoy a game of footy and make some meaningful contributions too.
Anyways that’s some of the background for my next post, which will be my interpretation of the Couch to 5k, I’ll be adding to that post over time, as I haven’t hit that 5k just yet! Keep an eye out for it. I’m not an expert by any means, and I’m no Joe Wicks, not qualified in any type of fitness training, this will just be an honest review on what I’ve found works for me, so may not apply to everyone. I just thought it would be a good idea, for everybody to see someone like me, who has never run before, log my journey, explain my ups and downs, from a complete beginner POV. I’m hoping a lot of you reading it will relate to my trials and tribulations.
Ultimately, we will get you ship shape and proper, for that first game of football. From then on, adding a kickaround to your fitness regime, will help you mix it up and even replace the running from your routine.
Good luck everyone and hope you find it useful!
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