Tag Archives: soccer

Train Like a World Cup Star at Home with This 5-Move Soccer Workout

Who isn’t amped from the excitement of watching our favorite teams compete in the World Cup? We can gain a lot from the drills and workouts of the athletes that compete in these invigorating games. From toning to cardiovascular improvement and weight loss, soccer players know how to gain the most out of a workout.

I’ve outlined five soccer workouts you can do at home with you and your children to get you to your own peak performance. Yes, even the busiest moms can train at home like a World Cup star!

Try these moves to get to the top of your game:

The Toe Tap

The point of this workout is to gain a cardio workout in a small amount of time. Just alternate placing your left toes on top of the ball, dropping your foot to the ground, then repeating with your right. 60 seconds of a soccer toe tap is enough to get your heart pumping. Try it out! (more…)

Posted on July 8, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Soccer Stars and their Out of This World Endorsement Deals

The World Cup is in full swing, so what better time to talk soccer? In the U.S., football and basketball players are everywhere—in commercials and on clothing and other merchandise—but what about soccer stars? Although soccer is still not the number one sport in America, it is top dog in much of the world which means soccer stars rake in the big bucks with endorsement deals. Here, 5 of the most well known soccer players who get paid to endorse products.

David Beckham
Beckham is arguably the most famous soccer player out there, even after retirement, so it’s no wonder that he was paid something like 150 million dollars to endorse Adidas. And he looked so good doing it.

Beckham has also endorsed Motorola, Pepsi, and Gillette, among other brands.

Clint Dempsey

Playing for the Seattle (my hometown!) Sounders, Dempsey is one of the hottest names in soccer today. Dempsey’s most interesting endorsement is with Modelo Especial—athletes do not often associate with alcohol partners! (more…)

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Jessica Tholmer

Work it Off: 3 Ways to Burn Off the 272 Calories in a Slice of Cheese Pizza

As a former New Yorker, I used to live on pizza. (Or, “slices”, as we said in Brooklyn.) I had a handful of go-to spots, places with thin crust that’s been tossed to perfection, savory sauce, and just enough cheese. But when I moved I largely gave up my pizza habit. It’s not as easy to come by restaurants selling slices to go, and the consistency is just different. Or so I thought.

A few days ago I stopped into one of the few local pizza chains that do offer individual slices. Most were piled with artisanal toppings—things like roasted squash and apples—but on that particular day I spied what looked like a classic slice. Fresh mozzarella, a little red sauce peeking thorough, and not much else. I ordered one, sprinkled on a few fresh pepper flakes, and was immediately transported. It tasted like home.

Still, my waistline has been happy to not have to deal with regular stops for slices. Just how many calories had that pitstop cost? Around 272, by my math (and Self.com). (more…)

Posted on March 23, 2024 by Jessica Cassity

Saturday Morning Drill: Soccer Skills

If you’re like me, you’ve already put in at least three or four solid workouts this week. While Saturdays can be a time of rest for some, I say why not get active for 15 minutes before kicking off your weekend relaxation?

As a former soccer player, I know how intense of a workout the sport can be. In this weekend’s Saturday Drill, I’ve taken seven of my favorite soccer practice exercises and turned them into a workout anyone can do – soccer player or not. For this short drill, you’ll need a soccer ball or an object of similar size. Once you have your workout gear on and your ball in tow, it’s time to get started!

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Dana

20 Ways to Celebrate International Fitness Day

October 16 is International Fitness Day! Join people from around the world celebrating the day dedicated to health, fitness and charitable giving to help end the obesity epidemic. International Fitness Day is designed to encourage everyone to get up, out, and exercise at least 30-minutes that day, doing whatever kind of exercise you enjoy doing, and eat healthy all day long.

Need some ideas of activities you can do to join in the festivities? Try one of these on for size:

Go for a walk or run
Create a healthy snack area in your pantry
Put on a workout video and invite friends over for a workout party (more…)

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Carmen

World Cup Fitness: Elite Soccer Training

While I’m an avid sports fan, I don’t know the first thing about soccer. Well, I understand the basics of the actual game, just not who is who on the world stage. So, I had to do a little research on who the high-profile athletes are in the 2024 FIFA World Cup.

Since soccer is the world’s most popular sport, you can say these are the most famous people in the sports world. ESPN put together a list of the top 50 soccer players in this year’s World Cup, and topping the list is Argentina’s Lionel Messi.

(more…)

Posted on June 17, 2023 by Jason

The Many Fitness Benefits of Soccer

Soccer, the most popular sport in the world, is an excellent form of exercise that solidly covers all the bases for fitness. Often referred to in other countries as futbol, soccer was referred to by my kids’ Dominican coach as “continuous running that just happens to include ball skills.”

Soccer is ideal for all ages, skill levels and sizes, and can be played in just about any open space. It’s a team sport, which means that at any time of the game, you may be sprinting, running slow, passing the ball, or standing still.

Because of its non-stop action, soccer is a great all-over workout. It is a form of exercise that targets the whole body, including your thighs, calves, abdomen, buttocks and cardiovascular system.