Fotboll fitness är fotboll som hälsofrämjande aktivitet med mer fokus på glädje och gemenskap än taktik och skicklighet. Syftet med studien var att undersöka de bakomliggande motiven till ett deltagande i aktiviteten fotboll fitness. I studien deltog 12 intervjupersoner, tre kvinnor och nio män i åldrarna 25-70 (M=46.6, SD=12). Alla deltagare hade varit aktiva i fotboll fitness minst en månad innan påbörjad studie samt alla hade tidigare spelat fotboll. En semistrukturerad intervjuguide användes. Resultatet klassificerades in i tre huvudteman av motiv för deltagande; gemenskap, positiva effekter av fotboll fitness samt upplägget för fotboll fitness. Gemenskap betyder att deltagarna upplever den sociala tillhörigheten som en av anledningarna till att de deltar i fotboll fitness. Under temat positiva effekter av fotboll fitness berättade deltagarna om att både psykologiska och fysiologiska hälsoeffekter var motiv för deltagande. Även det ostrukturerade upplägget var något som, enligt deltagarna, främjade deltagande i aktiviteten. Baserat på resultatet från föreliggande studie rekommenderas en aktivitet som främjar gemenskap, lyfter de positiva effekter av aktiviteten samt har ett liknande upplägg då detta visat på motivation till deltagande. / Football fitness is an activity developed in Denmark and is football in small teams with focus on joy and community instead of tactics and skill. The purpose of the study was to investigate the underlying motives for a participation in football fitness. The study included 12 interviewees, three women and nine men aged 25-70 (M= 46.6, SD= 12). All participants had been active in football fitness at least one month before starting the study and all participants were former football players. A semi-structured interview guide was used. The result shows that three core motives for participation; relationships, positive effects of football fitness as well as structure of football fitness. Relationships mean that one motive for participation was the experience of social belonging. Furthermore, positive effects of football fitness mean that the participants valued physical activity beneficial in both physiologically and psychologically. The structure of the activity when it comes to rules and the positive climate is the third motive for participation in football fitness. Based on the results of the present study, it is recommended that an activity promoting the community, highlighting the positive effects of the activiy, and also have a similar approach will demonstrating motivation for participation.

Previous research showed that in 2010, only 23% of adults and 81% of teenagers worldwide did not meet the recommendations for physical activity. Physical inactivity is related to increased risk of poorer health and suffering from lifestyle diseases. Football Fitness is a relatively new concept of organized physical activity with moderate and high intensity. The training form combines strength and fitness to suit all ages and gender, regardless of previous soccer experience or physical ability. Being part of a group and establishing social relations have been shown to be related to improved well-being and was one of the main factors for participation. The purpose of the study was, therefore, to investigate whether participation in Football Fitness was related to positive changes in mental health and well-being, and to strive to explore and create an understanding of women's experiences of participation. Method The women (N = 18) aged 15 to 54 years participated in a 6-week intervention, 2 workouts per week, in 90 minutes. The following inclusion criteria were used to carry out the selection: (1) should be less physically active than 150 minutes a week; (2) had not played organized football in the last 10 years and (3) were not diagnosed with any clinical mental health diagnosis. The study was conducted with a mixed method through an experimental design that involved three times to measure women's perceived well-being, current physical functions, social capital and whether participation in Football Fitness felt meaningful. Furthermore, focus group interviews were conducted after the intervention was completed. Quantitative data was analyzed by Bayesian repeated measures analysis of variance (R-ANOVA) and a one pair sample t-test was used as statistical tests in the study and performed in JASP. Qualitative data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach. Results The result of the quantitative analysis showed that Football Fitness had a positive impact on women's well-being (BF10 = 3659,057), and social capital (BF10= 831.785) over time. Furthermore, the result showed that women who participated felt that it was meaningful to participate in Football Fitness (BF10 = 2.570e + 6). The analysis showed support for the null hypothesis that Football Fitness should give effect to women's current functions (BF10 = .0576). The qualitative result showed that women experienced comfort, solidarity, satisfaction, and happiness during participation, which created added value for women without previous experience of football. Conclusion The result of the present study supports the hypothesis that Football Fitness contributes to positive changes in psychological health and well-being. The women who participated in the study experienced comfort, solidarity, satisfaction, and happiness in participation, which are factors that contribute to increased health and well-being. The result of the study showed that women valued group training where they had the opportunity to create social relationships in context with the training and that it was positive with an including leader and a group that contributed to a feeling of comfort. These factors contributed to the fact that women who participated felt that participation in Football Fitness added value. Participating in Football Fitness added value to the women without precious football experience which indicates that further investigations regarding the association between Football Fitness and lifestyle predictors.