Washington Spirit’s Ali Krieger Inspires After ACL Repair
“Soccer or Basketball?” That’s all I need to ask the girl at the gym. She looks about 16 and she’s got a 4 inch vertical scar down the middle of her left knee. She’s newly post ACL surgery. That goes without saying. “Soccer,” she says. She tore it on Halloween but “just had surgery in […]
Washington Spirit Humbled in the Face of UVA Onslaught
It was a cold and windy night at the Maryland Sportsplex. The first night I could make it out for one of the DC Spirit’s pre-season games. Free tickets online. No excuse not to go, except for the drive and the family schedule. That landed me there on Saturday night, the last game before the […]
Coaching Girls vs Boys – Is it Really That Different? ~ by Mike Mancini
Here is a guest post from Mike Mancini, coach, parent and website owner of “Athletic Training Now,” where he offers health information and training for the youth athlete. Fit2Finish is happy to support others in the field who are leading the way to health in youth sports. Here…..’s Mike! When my daughter was born 13 […]
Core Fitness: Field Exercises to Build a Strong Core
Coaches, I know what you’re saying. Sure, Wendy, you’ve told us core fitness is essential. You’ve shown us how to do core fitness with the exercise ball. You’ve inspired us with your planking ability – oh wait, that was Alan Webb. These are great home exercises for the exercise video set and the really diligent […]
Core Fitness: Plank Exercises for a Strong Core
Don’t have an exercise ball? No problem. All you need is your body and a padded but solid surface. (And I’ recommend securing your pets in another room. My husky sometimes gets a bit “too helpful.”) Let me first distinguish this from the planking fad (balancing face down with arms at sides in tricky and […]
Core Fitness: Fitness Ball Exercises for a Strong Core
In my previous post called “Who Needs Core Fitness?” I made the case for the central role (no pun intended) for core strength in your body’s ability to move efficiently and hold still effectively. Sports require we are both stable and still. There are many exercises to strengthen the core. To make the grade with […]
Who Needs Core Fitness?
At the VYSA convention this weekend I presented on two topics: Game Fitness and Concussion Protection. The common denominator: Core Fitness. Seem strange? Not really. Because strength in your core muscles – your torso, both front and back – allows you to do two seemingly opposite things, move and hold still. How? Glad you asked… […]
VYSA Conference this Weekend
This Saturday, February 2nd, come on down for the Virginia Youth Soccer Association Conference at the Richmond Convention Center. There will be some great soccer workshops and teaching sessions from 8-5 plus vendors and exhibitors with the latest ideas, gear and give-a-ways. Plus, you can meet Caroline Miller, UVA soccer star and member of the […]
Just Don’t Get Hurt – How do you play that game?
When our daughter took the field with the high school soccer team, these words of advice were our best attempt at injury prevention. “Just don’t get hurt.” What a game plan, eh? How do you play the “just don’t get hurt” game? Here are some options: Take the field but don’t engage. Get out of their way […]
Nix the Cardio-loading and Balance Your Fitness This Year
This is gonna be a decidedly low tech Christmas and new year for me. I have just read Lenny Bernstein’s blog in the Washington Post magazine highlighting a couple of “science fitness” options: an ear bud who whispers sweet workout feedback into your ear and a hovercraft that badgers you to stay on pace. Not […]