F ootball F itness – a new version of football? A concept for adult players in D anish football clubs

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports Vol. 24; no. S1; pp. 138 - 146
• Main Authors: Bennike, S., Wikman, J. M., Ottesen, L. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.2014
• ISSN: 0905-7188; 1600-0838
• DOI: 10.1111/sms.12276

This article explores a new D anish football‐based activity for health called F ootball F itness ( FF ). Data are from quantitative and qualitative methods, and the theoretical framework for the analysis of the organizational form of FF is the theory of path dependency ( M ahoney) and first‐ and second‐order change ( W atzlawick et al.). Theories of P estoff concerning differences between state, market, and the civil society and theories of voluntary associations in a D anish context ( K aspersen & O ttesen; I bsen & S eippel) are applied. This article indicates how FF is a result of the changing landscape of sport and argues that it can be beneficial to target sports organizations and include the expertise of non‐profit sports clubs if the goal is to raise the physical activity level of the local community and make these long lasting. But the organizations need to consider how this is to be done. FF , established by the D anish F ootball A ssociation ( FA ) and managed by the voluntary clubs, is one example in a D anish context. Data indicate that FF is beneficial to the clubs involved in a number of ways. Among other things, it attracts new user groups and improves the club environment, including social activities and parental environment.