Objective To evaluate the effect of the school-based intervention "FIFA 11 for Health" program on health and physical fitness in 9- to 12-year-old children in Shanghai.

Methods 174 4-5th grade students were randomly divided into control group CG: n=86, (10.1±0.7) years, (143.5±6.6) cm, (37.1±9.6) kg and intervention group IG: n=88, (10.2±0.7) years, (143.3±6.1) cm, (36.9±7.2) kg. As part of the physical education (PE) curriculum, IG carried out 2 weekly 40 min "FIFA 11 for Health" sessions focusing on health issues, football skills and small sided games. CG continued regular school PE activities. Measurements of body composition, sit and reach test, eye closed and single leg stand balance, counter movement jump, 30 m sprint, T-drill and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Level 1 Children’s Test (YYIR1C) were performed before and after the 11-week study period.

Results During the 11-week intervention period, body fat percentage (−0.4±4.2)% vs. (−1.8±4.3)% and T-drill test (0.2±1.0) s vs. (−0.5±1.3) s decreased significantly (P<0.05) in IG than in CG; lean body mass (−0.2±4.0) kg vs. (1.0±0.8) kg, YYIR1C (42.6±245.8) m vs. (168.3±216.7) m and CMJ performance (−0.2±3.7) cmvs. (1.7±3.3) cm increased significantly (P<0.01) in IG than in CG. Within-group improvements were observed only in IG for sit and reach test and basal metabolism, but this change was not significantly different from that in CG, and balance and sprint fitness remained unchanged in both groups.

Conclusions The modified "FIFA 11 for Health" program has beneficial effects on body composition, muscular performance and cardiovascular fitness in 9- to 12-year-old children, supporting the notion that school-based football interventions can facilitate health of children and serve as a positive step in the prevention of obesity diseases and promotion of physical fitness.