Drive past any baseball field at this time of year and you're likely to see a team practicing or playing a game. And team sports aren't just for little kids. Joining a team -- whether it's baseball/softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball or any other sport -- is a great addition to your fitness routine. When your team is relying on you, you're more likely to stick with the activity. Plus, it's just plain, good fun. Do you play a team sport?


When you're playing a sport, do you count all the sports drink calories you consume? Last week, I asked you about liquid calories.

I challenge you to sign up for a race this year. Ideally, in a distance you've never done. I don't care whether you plan to run it at breakneck speed or want to intersperse some light jogging with walking, but set a goal. And then, get yourself some support.

No, I'm not talking about proper undergarments (although, that's pretty important, too). I mean support for your training. You might have friends who will train with you, or a local running team you can join. But, if you don't, Active.com has several online teams you can train with.

Choose Rookie Runner (which takes you from the couch to your first 5k), First Marathon, First Triathlon, or Bye Bye Baby Weight. Each category has a coach and several runners who are blogging about their training, so you're never alone in your training. And, they have training plans you can download (for a price).

So, what do you say? Will you sign up for a race this year? Let me know in the comments what you plan to run!

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Last month, Maggie gave us the scoop on Ashton Kutcher's new role ... as the assistant coach for a freshman football team. And now, Ashton himself is speaking up about the experience.

Basically, he loves it. On his MySpace Celebrity blog, he talks about how his team has a winning record (4-2), saying his team is "a great group of individuals that understand that the collective force is greater than any individual can ever be."

He also talks a little about why he started coaching. While he always wanted to do it, he admits that he didn't do it earlier for several reasons: "I was afraid of the time commitment. I was afraid that I would look stupid. I was afraid that the players wouldn't listen to my football advice. I was afraid that the advice that I gave wouldn't be very good."

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Ashton Kutcher has a new role, but it isn't in any movie. He's working as an assistant coach for a high school freshman football team. Kutcher played football when he was in high school, and he's decided to put that knowledge and love of sport to good use. Kutcher attends team practices five days a week as well as games.

If you've got kids, you may want to take a hint from Kutcher's playbook. Coaching is a great way to encourage your kids and show them your love of sport. If your kids aren't interested in joining your team -- no problem. Kutcher isn't letting that stop him! If you have knowledge to share and love a sport, consider coaching a youth or high school team. You're helping other kids develop their athletic skills and you're setting a good example for your own kids.

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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.)

It was back-to-school for New York students this week, but there was a new policy in place. This year, a new policy went into effect, and students are being weighed as part of their health certificate. The data will enable health officials to map childhood overweight and obesity trends based on location.

There are 12 other states -- Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia -- with some form of student BMI reporting.

As a parent, I'm not overtly opposed to it. In fact, I remember getting weighed in gym class and during all of my physicals in order to play school sports. I do have a couple of concerns, though. I would hope that student privacy is maintained and their weight isn't being taken in a line where all the kids could see the number on the scale. I would also hope that health and a positive body image is being promoted -- the self esteem of children can be a fragile thing and I hope it's being protected.

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Dick Hoyt, 67, and his son Rick, 46, have accomplished more than many of us could imagine. They've climbed mountains, completed 224 triathlons (including six Ironmans), 66 marathons, a 45-day cross-country bike ride, and more. Obviously, that's inspiring in and of itself.

What makes it AMAZING is that Rick is a quadriplegic and cannot walk or talk -- he was born with cerebral palsy, which kept him from ever being able to control his muscles and limbs, including his vocal chords.

Dick started participating in races and endurance events with his son when Rick was just 11, and the duo hasn't taken more than two weeks off since. Dick continues to train and compete because Rick gets so much joy out of it, and it makes him happy to see his son happy.

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Have you ever been playing a basketball game and it was so intense and fast-paced that you couldn't take the time to look up at the scoreboard?

Well, I haven't (at least not in a long time), but for those of you who have experienced this, you're in luck, or, at least, you will be. An Australian company is working on jerseys that have "electro-luminescent displays" which will show information for the players, like the score and time left.

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If you must allow your kids to watch TV, better to tune them into sports events than questionable programming. Even better? Turn off the boob tube and get them in the game.

Eighty percent of kids ages six to 18 surveyed by Weekly Reader said they'd rather play sports than watch them on television. This means you simply must offer your children the chance to join a team or league.

Here's what else these sports fans had to say:

• 50 percent said their parents urge them to play a team sport.

• 43 percent of six to nine-year-olds said they play their sport because they love it. Just 32 percent of 13 to 18-year olds said the same.

• 10 percent of 13 to 18-year old girls quit playing sports because a coach told them they weren't good enough.

• Girls attend practice in greater numbers than boys.

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Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Want to know the secrets of the stars? Bi-weekly our That's Fit fitness expert Fitz sits down with the celebs we want to know more about, and digs out their great and not-so-great methods to staying healthy.

Hooray for Paige Davis! I just got done interviewing the delightful host of TLC's Trading Spaces and I genuinely like her a lot. We spent an hour blabbing our brains out, and I have to tell you that the girl is as easy, sweet and likable in person as she is on the show. The world of home improvement fans exhaled a collective sigh of relief when TLC announced they were bringing back their beloved Paige.

She's sweet, she's smart, and she happens to have a smoking body. She's been professionally dancing for a very long time, and has some terrific advice to help get the rest of us in super shape as well. Paige's perspective on both life and fitness seems to be on track. Her enthusiasm is contagious. If you'd like to catch a case of her 'perfect life' germs...read on!

Fitz: You've been gone from Trading Spaces for a few years, and just finished shooting the first half of the new season. How'd it go?

Paige: Great! We've shot 13 episodes so far. It's been different, but great! It's wonderful to be back working with all of my friends who were there before. It is so much fun working with Frank. And Doug is like a sibling to me. We have this silly chemistry, and we just poke fun at each other and have a blast all the time. Plus, I've made lots of new friends. I love it.

Fitz: Moving is really hard work. The audience may wonder of you're just the cute perky girl hosting the show, without having to actual pitch in to the tasks. How much physical labor do you actually do while filming?

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My littlest boy is about to play soccer. Not just backyard soccer. Real, organized, coached soccer. I signed him up yesterday and he is thrilled about the prospect of becoming a real star on the field. Well, maybe it's the required shoes, shin guards, and ball he needs that have him so pumped up.

"Will my shoes have bumps on the bottom," four-year-old Danny asked his daddy at breakfast the other day.

"Yes, they will," John told him.

"Will the bumps be blue?" Danny continued.

"I'm not sure," replied his chuckling father.

Danny can't wait to go shopping. I can't wait to get him into the game.

My mini-athlete begins his soccer career on March 22 . For eight weeks, our family will report for Saturday practices and games. Our first chance at sitting in the kiddie sports stands, cheering on one of our own, I am giddy with excitement and bursting with pride that my spunky little man wants to take on this new endeavor. And while his motivation might have more to do with accessories than athletic performance, I just know soccer will be so healthy for him. I'm imagining the possibilities -- physical fitness, teamwork, camaraderie, competition, pride, and of course a fair amount of frustration, crying, and quitting too, I'm sure. I can't wait.

Soccer could be a fleeting activity for Danny. It could also be the start of a life full of fitness -- and cool shoes.

Welcome to 2008. It's you're year to get fit this time around, I can feel it. So what are you waiting for? We're coming up on the third week of January. Most of us are back to the grind at work, so let's get back to the grind of the gym too. Or if you're just starting out, start looking around for gyms or fitness programs in your area that fit with your schedule and lifestyle.

Not sure what to do? Here are some suggestions of things you should try in '08

Many people who establish fitness routines do it alone, and that's very commendable. But let's face it -- sometimes exercising alone can be a drag. Not only do you not have anyone to commiserate with and share your triumphs with, but when you're going at it alone, you have no one to be accountable too and unless your ultra-motivated, that can lead to laziness sometimes. Team sports are a great way to get active and not only that, but you'll meet new friends and have lots of fun in the meantime. Here's a list of some fun team sports. Ask around and you'll probably find a league you can join in you're area.

• Dragon boating: Dragon boating has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and most cities have an annual dragon boat festival in the summer. Dragon boating teams consist of 22 people, 20 of whom are responsible for rowing the team to victory, and while you might think you can slack off because there are so many people, think again. Dragon boating is hard work, and can burn up to 800 calories an hour. I first heard about it from a family friend who participates in races regularly. She is in her 70s and a cancer survivor, so I think that if she can do it, you can too.

Participation in sports during adolescence is supposed to be good for self-confidence but often the opposite happens, sometimes with fatal consequences. What I'm referring to is an article e-mailed to us by one of our readers, Jeremy. It documents a study that explores the prevalence of eating disorders in athletes. Strong, healthy bodies are required of most athletes, but sometimes being lean seems more important than being strong, and in serious athletes -- people who by nature are accustomed to setting their sites high and sacrificing for the ultimate goal -- the desire for the perfect body can lead to cases of anorexia and bulimia.

In fact, the statistics are so alarming that it's being said that among female college athletes, a third of them suffer from some sort of eating disorder. A third. That's truly frightening. What's also scary is that in fit individuals who are already thin, the disorder can sometimes be overlooked because being thin and being highly active are linked.

Read the article and let me know your thoughts.

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Last night I watched and cheered as my Alma mater's basketball team won the Big Dance. Again! It was a spectacular feat which was well earned. I've had the luxury to sit court-side at many games this year, and as wonderful as they look on television, they're even more impressive in person. I have tons of respect for this team.

The Gators are composed of incredible athletes who play selflessly every second of every game. Each Gator works hard in the gym and on the court more for the guy next to him than for himself. They are quick, agile, strong and smart. Each player is a coach's dream. Since they play for one another, they never made excuses or trained half way.

If you're looking for fitness role models, the Gators are it. If you're a parent, child, or spouse choose your precious family members as your "team". Pursue fitness as desperately as this magical team pursued two national titles in a row. You have the ability to live a champion's life of longevity and health if you put your mind to it. Live to truly enjoy your golden years with the special people in your life, and allow them to enjoy you.

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