Health and well-being
Article summary
We use the visibility and popularity of European football to promote the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles for all age groups.
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UEFA’s health and well-being policy underlines our commitment to leveraging the power of football to support healthy lifestyles – from encouraging physical activity across all age groups to ensuring European football venues meet the highest health standards.
Take Care
Developed as part of UEFA’s Health and Well-being policy, Take Care is a programme comprised of six modules which address important and interconnected areas of daily life. Modules are centred around scientific white papers providing in-depth information, complemented by posters, podcasts, documentaries and educational sessions.
Rolling out throughout 2025, this is tailored for key influential figures such as parents or caregivers, teachers, coaches and football staff, all with the goal of inspiring everyone, particularly young people, to make positive lifestyle choices.
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Walking football
On 1 October 2024, in celebration of the International Day of Older Persons, UEFA launched the Walking Football Toolkit, a comprehensive resource that aims to help football organisations engage older people in football and promote an active lifestyle. Made up of three key documents, this toolkit offers recommendations for both recreational and competitive settings.
This initiative reflects UEFA's commitment to active aging and community engagement, aiming for 60% of its member associations to support older people's football activities by 2027.
Healthy, sustainable catering guidelines
Launched in 2023, the first-ever UEFA Healthy and Sustainable Catering Guidelines set a new benchmark for organisers of sports event. Developed in collaboration with ALMA, the School of Italian Culinary Arts, the document offers practical advice on how to make responsible, sustainable food and beverage choices that minimise costs and waste.
The guidelines are part of our Europe-wide efforts to ensure everyone can watch our competitions in a healthy, safe environment. Since 2023, we have made all venues for our club competition finals smoke-free to protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco.
Coaches for Health campaign
We also promote the mental and physical health benefits of playing football, regardless of age or ability. For example, in 2021, our #FeelWellPlayWell campaign mobilised the European coaching community to educate adolescents about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices.
"I have an important message for all young people. Too many youngsters are exercising too little which worries me … Play football. Go running. Climb the stairs at home! Stay active and move for 60 minutes every day."
More than 60 national team coaches, recorded 10–30 second video messages advising 13–17 year-olds about nutrition, physical activity, mental health and substance abuse – especially alcohol and tobacco.