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.

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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