Football, or soccer as it is known in the only country that is famous for failing to recognize the true greatness of the game, is one of the most challenging sports in the world. Whether you play on the street, on a field, or in a stadium, you’ll know how tough the game can be, yet it’s still fun. Football involves a lot of running around for strikers and even defenders (I’m looking at you, Sergio Ramos, your defender-who-keeps-scoring-goals, you). Even goalkeepers have it pretty tough, as they always have to be ready to launch themselves into weird corners of the goal area like human projectiles. It’s no wonder that players soon run out of breath and have to tackle a potentially very long game while already tired. This article will focus on steps you could take to increase your lung capacity and their respective pros and cons.

There are certain postures you can take to maximize your lung capacity. Raising your arms, for example, can give your lungs more room to expand. This can be quite appropriate for goalkeepers, who often have to keep their arms up anyway. However, the immediate demands of the game may make other breath-maximizing poses impractical, or they may just seem silly to you, and you don’t want that in front of a packed stadium.

Other methods to improve breathing involve your diet. For example, some singers try to avoid meat, because the slow digestion process prevents the use of the diaphragm. Unfortunately, it may be unwise for an athlete to try the same thing, because he’ll probably need all the protein he can get. Consult a trusted expert and ask if he can get his protein from other sources, such as soy-based dishes or protein shakes.

In other words, you should always keep the other requirements of your profession in mind when trying to choose a method to improve the way you breathe. You need one that won’t limit your moves on the field, embarrass you in front of fans and opponents, or compromise your nutrition program.

However, don’t let the complications of finding the right method put you off. Breathing well is very important. If your position requires a lot of running, your muscles will need as much oxygen as they can get. More efficient muscles mean you won’t have to work as hard to gain more muscle, which can overwork you or increase the likelihood of injuries like strained tendons. Even if you don’t have to do much running, your breathable clothing is still important. Goalkeepers, for example, must always be alert and focused. Since the brain is a notorious oxygen guzzler, you’ll need a great breathing system so you don’t miss the ball coming at you from some strange and unexpected angle.