Soccercise: FA produce resources to help women get fit with football
Soccercise resources have been developed by The FA following demand from its partners for a football themed workout for women. The resources have been piloted in conjunction with Sport England and Bury Council's 'I Will If You Will' prgramme and with the support of Women in Sport and other key partners across England. This is also backed by This Girl Can. Ultimately The FA is hoping that the resources will encourage more women and girls to give football a try.
The resources support an instructor led aerobic class, typically lasting 45-60 minutes. Designed to be undertaken either indoors or outdoors, Soccercise combines a variety of fitness exercises with a football. The class is delivered to music and based on repetitions of specific exercises (i.e. press-ups, squats, sit-ups). Participants can pair up or create their own workout to do at home.
Soccercise can be tailored for all levels of fitness. It can help introduce you to football, re-familiarise those who haven’t played for a while, form part of a pre-season training programme, become part of a pre-match warm-up or just be used as an alternative way to keep fit. The inclusion of footballs adds co-ordination and core stability to familiar exercises. It builds skill and confidence of working with a football. Footballs are provided and you don’t need specialised kit just trainers and comfortable clothing.
Exercise cards, an advertising poster (PDF) or an advertising poster (Word) and a video below are free for all to download from www.TheFA.com/soccercise and The FA hope that schools, colleges, universities, clubs and community groups will use the resources to run Soccercise sessions for women and girls.
Soccercise: helping women get fit with football
Soccercise enthusiast Kira Johal, 29, said: “It’s a great way to keep fit. I wear an activity tracker during sessions so I can count how many calories I’ve burned and try and compete with myself week on week.”
Tashi Skervin, 18, added: “I decided to come along to Soccercise because some of my mates from college were going along every week. It’s a nice way to kill two birds with one stone.”
Lara Owen said: “I joined Soccercise because I really wanted to learn how to play the game but I wasn’t sure about going straight into a match. “I’m hoping to use Soccercise as a way of building up my skills and fitness so I have the confidence to eventually join my local club.”
For more information on Soccercise please see the FAQ on page 38 of the exercise cards.
For more information on women's and girls' football visit www.TheFA.com/womens-girls-football/participation
This Guide has been prepared by The Football Association Limited.
© The Football Association Limited 2015. All Rights reserved.
Reproduction of any material from this publication is permissible only when attributed to The Football Association
