I love this article about The effects of Soccer on Health.  Exercise via soccer has a great impact on cardiovascular health and bone mineral density (and more) when played 2-3 times per week.  Also, exercise in this method probably has a higher rate of compliance and follow-through.  So what what can I glean from the sport of soccer and take it away to my particular exercise of choice?  Enjoyable, group experience, stop and start cardio, movement out of one spot…..  Maybe its the variety within the sport that makes it something a person wants to do multiple times a week.  This goes back to my mantra of cross-training as a lifestyle.