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This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of recreational football performed once (LOW) vs. twice (MOD) a week on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy, sedentary men. Body composition, resting blood pressure, blood lipid profile and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were measured at baseline, after a 12-week control and training period, using an interrupted time-series study (study 1, n = 18: n = 8, LOW and n = 10, MOD) nested in a randomized parallel trial (study 2, n = 34: n = 18 LOW and n = 16 MOD). After the intervention in study 1, LDL-cholesterol (−12.3 mg·dLˉ1 [−22.7 to −2.0]) and VO2max (4.5 ml·kgˉ1·minˉ1 [1.2–7.8 ]) changed in LOW whereas differences were found in weight (−2.1 kg [−3.7 to −0.4]), BMI (−0.7 kg·m−2 [−1.2 to −0.1]), total cholesterol (−22.2 mg·dLˉ1 [−36.0 to −8.4]), no-HDL-cholesterol (−17.5 mg·dLˉ1 [−30.5 to −4.5]), LDL-cholesterol (−14.9 mg·dLˉ1 [−23.6 to −6.2]) and VO2max (5.7 ml·kgˉ1·minˉ1 [2.8–8.6]) in MOD. Study 2 showed no evidence of differences between groups. Our results therefore suggest positive health effects of recreational football even when performed at low frequency as it can happen in real context. Highlights Moderate and high amount of recreational football practice (i.e. 2 or 3 h a week) have been shown to be effective to improve health-related factors in both healthy and unhealthy people. Scarce data are present regarding the effect of a low frequency of recreational football practice (i.e. 1 h a week) that is often usual in a real context. Our results showed the practice of recreational football, once a week, is effective for improving some cardiovascular risk factors (maximal oxygen consumption and LDL-cholesterol) in sedentary, healthy middle-aged men. Moreover, practising recreational football once or twice a week seems to lead to similar positive health adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the real‐life magnitude of the heading incidence in children's and youth' football in eight European countries with different "football cultures," a cross‐sectional observational design, in which one match per team in 480 different teams from eight European countries (2017/18‐2018/19), was recorded by video. One training session was recorded in 312 teams. Clubs with Under‐10, Under‐12 (female/male/mixed), and Under‐16 female and male teams were eligible to participate. Heading frequencies and types were analyzed. Results are presented as headers per match/training and per team. Incidence rates (IR) per 1000 match/training hours were calculated. Under‐10 teams carried out the lowest average number of headers per match (8.8), followed by Under‐16 female (17.7), Under‐12 (18.4), and Under‐16 male (35.5). Total number of headers per match and team varied between countries. 80% of the total number of headers were single intentional headers, 12% heading duels, 3% unintentional headers by getting hit, and 5% others (trends apparent in all age groups). Three head injuries occurred during match play corresponding to an IR of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.23‐2.16). The lowest number of headers per training and team was found in Under‐10 (21.3), followed by Under‐16 females (34.1), Under‐12 (35.8), and Under‐16 males (45.0). In conclusion, this large‐scale study presents novel data about the number and type of headers in youth' football throughout Europe. A more precise understanding of the heading incidence, specifically in young players, is mandatory for the debate of restrictions on heading in youth football. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]