For ambitious youth soccer players, the goal is often clear: play at the collegiate level. However, the roadmap to getting there can be complex. It requires exposure to scouts, high-level competition, and, increasingly, the ability to train alongside players who are already where you want to be. In this player spotlight, we hear from a graduating senior who successfully navigated this journey. After joining St. Croix Soccer Club  during his sophomore year, he utilized the clu

Hydration is often the most overlooked component of a fitness routine. You can have the perfect training plan and the best gear, but if your body is running low on fluids, your performance will hit a wall. In fact, losing just 2% of your body weight in water can lead to a significant drop in strength, focus, and endurance. Understanding hydration isn't just about drinking when you're thirsty; it's about maintaining the delicate balance of fluids and electrolytes that keep you

If you walk past the rowing machine (the "erg") to get to the treadmill, you’re missing out on one of the most efficient pieces of equipment ever designed. Unlike running or cycling, which primarily target the lower body, rowing is a true full-body exercise that builds cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength simultaneously. Whether you're looking to torch calories, improve your posture, or find a low-impact alternative to running, rowing delivers results in half the ti

Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson — every legend in the ring shared one non-negotiable asset: a dedicated coach in their corner. While natural talent is the spark, personalized boxing mentorship is the fuel that turns a beginner into a contender. If you’ve wondered whether private lessons are 'worth the punch,' you're really asking if you're ready to fast-track your athletic development. A boxing coach makes a difference. After all, you wouldn’t be here reading thi

In the world of competitive youth soccer, coaching tenure is often short-lived. So, when a Director and Coach spends 18 years with a single organization, it signals a culture worth investigating. For Colorado Rush (Lakewood-Littleton) , that culture is defined not just by the trophies in the cabinet, but by a deep-seated commitment to mentorship and resilience. This testimonial features a long-standing club director to explore the philosophy that has kept him on the sidelines

We’ve all been there: the "leg day waddle." You go to sit down on the couch and realize your quads have entered a formal protest. The temptation is to stay perfectly still until the soreness fades, but science suggests that active recovery might be exactly what your body needs. The key to working out while sore is distinguishing between the "good" kind of muscle fatigue and the "bad" kind of injury. This guide breaks down the physiological benefits of movement and how to tell

If you’ve ever seen a group of people running around a warehouse or heard someone mention their "WOD," you’ve encountered CrossFit. At its core, CrossFit is defined as "constantly varied, high-intensity, functional movement." But what does that actually mean? It means instead of sitting on a machine that isolates one muscle, you’re performing movements that your body was designed for: pushing, pulling, squatting, and jumping. It’s a program designed to make you a "generalist"

Do you recall the TV series, Mythbusters ? A duo of special effects experts debunked urban legends by directly testing them for our viewing.  Now I don’t have any special effects or anything of the sort. But I do have two wildly common myths when it comes to kickboxing. Yes, kickboxing!  One common myth about kickboxing is that it's only for aggressive or violent individuals. In reality, kickboxing can be a highly disciplined and controlled sport, focusing on technique, strat

For thousands of years, humans moved, hunted, and gathered without the support of high-tech sneakers or arch-supporting foam. Today, the "barefoot movement" is making a massive comeback in gyms and on running trails worldwide. But is stripping off your shoes the secret to better performance, or a fast track to a stress fracture? The truth lies in your proprioception — your body’s ability to sense its position in space. This guide explores the "ground-up" science of barefoot t