Get ready to clean your cleats and round up a team! If you want one of the best ways to get and stay in shape, a new study reveals that soccer is it. As part of the Soccer, Running and Health for Women project, researchers studied the numerous mental and physical aspects of women who play soccer vs. those who run. Their findings? Soccer players tend to be more fit, more motivated and more likely to stick with the sport than their running counterparts.

As a runner who is very protective of my sport, when I first read this, I thought there must be some mistake. How can any other sport compare to the hard work and sweat equity of running miles upon miles at a time? But as I thought about it, logic kicked in.

Soccer offers many things that running doesn't (sorry, running). Twists, turns, jumps, sprints, kicks and dives are typically seen on the field. Sixty minutes alone of chasing after a ball can easily turn into a fat-burning, muscle-toning, heart-pumping fest that running at a moderate speed can't touch. Soccer can burn up to 680 calories an hour, and it has been shown to rid the body of more fat and build more muscle than running alone.

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hi Fitz! I've come across a couple articles recently that are dead-set against prolonged cardio multiple times a week. They suggest that High Intensity Interval Training or low intensity activity only a few times a week at most, alongside regular weight training, is the only way to lose fat and stay fit. I don't think I could live without long runs or my favorite aerobics class. What do you think? Thanks, Samantha

A. Hi Samantha! Thanks for the great question. I'm sure it's on the minds of many. Bottom line, the folks who said that are over-opinionated. Think about Lance Armstrong, the guy does massive amounts of cardio each week and is the picture of health. So do I ... and so do most runners, cyclists, boxers, kickboxers, soccer players and more.

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Enrolling your kids in sports can improve their self esteem, get them in shape and help them develop a life-long habit of being active. These are some very good reasons to get them on some sort of team, yes? But there's another good reason they should get on the playing field -- playing ball as a teen can help keep their bones healthy for up to 40 years.

According to recent studies, sports like basketball, baseball, volleyball and soccer can help keep kids' bones strong well into old age, even if they don't keep the activity up. That's not to say they should give activity up as they age, but it goes to show that what you do in your teenage years can have lasting effects on your health.

So come spring, get your teenager active -- if you can, that is.

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Childhood obesity affects the other side of the pond as well; it's estimated that 20% of kids in the EU are overweight. In an effort to teach kids how to eat more healthfully, some of Europe's top soccer stars have banded together to create a recipe book.

The book, Eat for Goals!, contains 13 recipes with easy, step-by-step ingredients. Not only are the recipes kid-friendly, they're simple enough for kids to prepare themselves. And getting kids in the kitchen is one of the best ways to pique their interest in nutrition and form healthy habits.

There are lots of kid-friendly cookbooks to inspire your kids. Check out the gallery for some ideas.

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In the Netherlands, women's soccer just got a bit more glamorous. An Amateur team has received approval to ditch traditional shorts from their uniform and instead play in skirts, according to this article. It's not the first time such a request has been made by regulating officials, but it's the first time it's been approved. Of the decision to switch to skirts, team captain Rinske Temming says, "We think they are far more elegant than the traditional shorts and furthermore they are more comfortable because the shorts are made for men."

There's one catch though -- shorts must be worn underneath the skirts, but 'hot pants' (I'm guessing these are really tight stretchy shorts) are acceptable.

I've mentioned before that I personally didn't like the idea of running in skirts, but what do you think?

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My son loves playing sports. There was a lull between baseball and soccer season this year. By the time soccer season rolled around, he was practically bouncing with excitement. He had really missed the fun and camaraderie of weekly practices and games.

But not all kids love team sports as much as my son ... and that's OK. Any activity that they enjoy is beneficial for their health and good for their social skills. I'm not a believer in pushing kids into activities they don't want to participate in. But making the sport more fun and encouraging your child can be a great thing ... for both of you.

My son and I have a habit of practicing the soccer drills he learns in practice in our backyard. We also go down to a local soccer field and I blast kicks at him so he can work on his goalie skills, then he takes a turn aiming for different areas of the net to improve his ability. (Admittedly, I don't present much of a challenge as a goalie.)

Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Hey Fitz, My name is Sarah and I'm almost 16. I have always been involved with sports including: hockey, basketball, soccer and you name it! Now that I am older, I have slowed down a bit and only play basketball for high school and travel. This is what is bothering me: I can't seem to run as long as I used to. I get tired easily and run out of breath. I'm not fat or anything, and I am even really fast. But by the time I run one length of the court I'm pretty much dead. What am I doing wrong and what do I need to do to change this? It seems like I get more out of breathe each season. Thanks, Sarah

A. Hi Sarah, Thanks for writing. I have two thoughts on what may be happening with you, the first being more probable than the last. Most likely, you've just become out of shape. That doesn't mean you're obese or in horrible shape, it just may mean you're not capable of doing as much as you were two years ago when you were involved in three sports! You take pride in the fact that you run fast. That's great! But, the fact that you like to go all out probably makes you more likely to suck wind at the end of one lap.

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It's a widely accepted belief that color affects mood. According to a recent German study, color can also affect the decisions referees make. The study found that tae kwon do competitors who wore red had the favor of the referees. Competitors who wore red were consistently awarded more points than competitors who wore blue, even when their performances were virtually identical. The lead author of the study, a psychologist at the University of Munster, suggests that color "triggers a psychological response in referees."

Other experts say that the study wasn't complete because it didn't take hue and brightness into consideration. In addition, some experts state that wearing red isn't always a positive for athletes. For example, soccer players who wear red may have more fouls called on them.

I don't know about this seeing-red thing. While red is certainly an eye-catching color, I'm not sure if I buy the fact that it makes that much difference in sports. Particularly in team sports, where an entire group is wearing red. To me, it has the distinct ring of the old cops-ticket-more-red-cars urban myth. What do you think?

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The Jonas Brothers are one of the hottest acts around, with a huge amount of influence on teens and tweens, which is why the fact that they're actively talking about diabetes is such a big deal. Nick Jonas was diagnosed a couple of years ago, and instead of letting him get down about it, the brothers have used it as a platform to help others. That rocks!

Kate Hudson tends to look fabulous in whatever she wears -- haute couture, jeans and a tee, or a bikini. She doesn't just rely on genetics to keep her looking hot, though -- she incorporates all kinds of workouts into her fitness routine to stay in shape.

Everyone needs a way to get rid of their stress, and Raven-Symone is no different. The actress relies on boxing to keep her self-proclaimed "anger issues" at bay.

My son is starting soccer practice soon, and I can't wait. Last season, he had so much fun... and I did, too. Parents aren't required to stay at practices, but I attended every one. I think it was good for my son, because I got to observe the drills and skills the coach was teaching the kids. Then, my son and I practiced them at home. It's end up being extra practice for my son and great exercise for me!

Tournaments and games were fun, too. I loved seeing my son work so hard and excel at a sport. It's such a positive environment to encourage his love of sports, work on social skills, and bolster his self-esteem. And I had fun getting to know all the other parents and cheering on our team.

But, except for in the younger set, soccer doesn't have quite the following that other sports have in the US. Caught Offside lists seven reasons that Americans should learn to love soccer.

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Soccer great David Beckham, at age 13 was told: "You'll never play for England, because you're too small and not strong enough." This from another young player who obviously had no idea just how big and strong Becks would become.

Now, all these years later, the superstar says the soccer field is one of his favorite places. It's where he escapes it all.

"There is this madness around me, around my family," says Beckham. "Without a doubt, out on the field is where I'm most comfortable, where I'm happiest, because I know what I'm doing, and I know I can do it."

I know how he feels, in my own small-world kind of way. Whenever madness of any sort descends on me, I run. How about you? Does your sport help you wind down?

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America runs on Dunkin', at least that's what the advertisements for Dunkin' Donuts coffee tell us. And if it's not Dunkin' Donuts, it's Starbucks, Seattle's Best, The Coffee Bean, or Tim Horton's that provides us with our daily cup of joe. However, our friends across the pond apparently still prefer to get their caffeine fix from the more traditional spot of tea. Perhaps making this switch is something us Yanks should consider, since researchers have discovered that drinking tea may help reduce stress.

In a U.K. study, researchers had a group of men drink either 4 cups of black tea daily. Another group drank a placebo beverage that contained the same amount of caffeine. After six weeks, the men were asked to engage in stressful activities while scientists kept record of their behavior and anxiety. It turned out that the tea drinkers had 20 percent lower stress levels than the men drinking the caffeinated placebo. What's more, the tea drinking men stated that they also felt more relaxed.

Don't worry, if you make the switch to tea, it doesn't mean that you also have to start calling soccer football, using the letter U when spelling certain words that normally wouldn't contain it, or insist that Oasis is still the greatest band in the world.

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Shannon Boxx was part of the 2004 Olympic gold medal-winning soccer team, and she's back this year, ready for more. Leading up to Beijing, the team lived and trained together, and believe me, these girls have been working hard. Fortunately, they've also been working smart, and Shannon shared some of her fitness tips with Women's Health.

She does a lot of upper body strength training because, in soccer, just playing works the legs, but their arms need to be strong in order to fend off opponents. She also works her core because it makes her faster, more agile, and allows her to come back from an injury quicker. The teams uses ice baths from the waist down after practices to help with recovery.

Because she burns so many calories working out, Shannon doesn't have to watch what she eats too much, but she eats four or five smaller meals instead of three large meals, and doesn't overdo on anything. If she wants dessert (and she normally does), she'll have a bit of ice cream, but everything is in moderation.

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We're almost set for soccer to start in September. The Sweetie Pie is signed up, birth certificate faxed, volunteer coach appointed (my husband) and the hunt for tiny shin guards is about to commence. Shin guards. For a 3-year-old.

But, hey, it's a chance to get out in the back yard, run around and practice kicking goals into a mini goal sent by Gramma and Grampa as a Father's Day gift. It made for a great goal-kicking contest at her birthday party. Great way to wear down nine kids.

We also watch the bigger kids on the field down the street, and attempt to mimic their moves at the park. For my husband and I, it's more of a mental workout than anything. Getting into a toddler's head in an attempt to figure out the best way to convey the rules of a sport and work as a team. My husband's definitely got his work cut out for him as coach. I figure it's also a chance to start building the habit of exercise in our child. Every Saturday morning, we'll have soccer. Every Saturday morning, we'll have soccer.

One of the biggest stress inducers for me lately has been finding enough activities to keep my young daughter occupied. Structure and focus seem to be requirements to prevent afternoons filled with whining and crying. Park and pool trips, walks, craft projects, Play Doh and coloring books, and when all else fails, TV. Usually Dora the Explorer.

And then there's her birthday party coming up. She'll be 3. And about 10 other 3-year-olds will be joining her to celebrate. An afternoon of whining, crying 3-year-olds would take more bottles of wine without the "h" than I can afford. So I've come up with the following ideas to get me through the afternoon sober:

• Strategy No. 1: A goal contest with a soccer ball and a Diego doll strategically placed as goalie. They can kick to their heart's content and everyone will get a handmade ribbon for their efforts.
• Strategy No. 2: Craft project. Ten foam sun visors in the same color to prevent fights for favorites. Foam stickers to decorate as well as foam letters to spell out names. Cost for supplies: $28. Value of a few minutes of peace at the party: priceless. Added bonus: the kids have a favor to take home.
• Strategy No. 3: Cupcakes. No ice cream. Save yourself from cutting and serving and scooping. Enough said.

More good news: The first two can be used any old time. And you can find more ideas here. So good luck. And hang in there until September!

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