AthleteTrax

AthleteTrax provides a cloud-based team management solution to reduce the headaches and hassle of running an athletic team at any level.

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Featured Program: Kirkwood Youth Lacrosse

We asked Giovanni Najarro, founder of Kirkwood Youth Lacrosse, a few questions about his program for our feature this week. Located in St. Louis, Kirkwood (and its advanced derivative STL Elite) has been a game changer for midwestern lacrosse. 

Give us a brief background of how you started.

KYL was formed in 1999 as a result of increasing popularity of lacrosse in the Midwest. The heightened level of competition at the High School level prompted development of Youth level teams to teach advanced fundamentals of the sport to middle school-aged players who intend to play in High School and beyond.  Our objective is to provide expert instruction to players of all abilities within a supportive, fun, and nurturing environment.  We strive to make each player's experience enjoyable, unforgettable and productive.  We pride ourselves on our coach's ability to take personal interests in our players while seeking to motivate each player through passion and excitement our committed staff brings to the field. As a point of clarification, KYL is our youth lacrosse academy, programs year round for Pre K - 8th Graders, while STL ELITE is our Select organization, programs year round for U9 - U17 Boys and girls.

What do you hope to achieve through KYL/STL Elite?

Our goal is to provide first class lacrosse organizations to the St. Louis community.  Based in Kirkwood, MO, we have around 500 players throughout KYL & STL ELITE's year round programs. We focus on developing basic to advanced fundamental skills essential to successful participation in the sport of lacrosse at the competitive high school level. We will give you, regardless of your skill level, the tools you need to, build confidence, fulfill your goals, and reach your fullest potential in a fun and safe environment.

What do you love about being a coach? 

I love the ability to connect with our players and witness, first-hand, their growth on AND off the lacrosse field. This builds the most excitement amongst our coaching staff. Our program is unique because our experienced coaching staff comprises of collegiate players. Through our advanced staff, it is our number one priority to implement the newest and advanced drills and strategies on the field, constantly keeping our players eager to learn more! 

 What is your favorite piece of advice that you like to tell your players?

Live everyday to the fullest because tomorrow is never promised.  Work as hard as your can everyday; don't have any regrets when you leave the field.  You can do anything you put your mind to! Never forget: hard work beats talent everyday when talent doesn't work hard!

What is important in running your organization?

Having a great routine is imperative to running an organization. Communication between our staff, parents, and players is our number one goal in and out of season. Once programs are established, the promoting begins. Keeping a step-up on the competition and making sure our programs are effectively communicated keeps us on top!

Does AthleteTrax help this process in any way?

AthleteTrax’s email and text function has greatly simplified, yet improved, our program. Additionally, the ability to selectively contact members of rosters is intuitive and useful. Designing new programs is very easy to use as well. AthleteTrax has been a hit with parents!

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Thank you Coach Gio! As usual, we stress that the vast majority of a program’s success is the effort the leadership puts in to bring their ideas to fruition. AthleteTrax helps to simplify the dirty work, leaving coaches more time to focus on what matters to them, developing better players.

--- the AthleteTrax team

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Featured Program: Quick Shot Hoops

In this week’s installment of our featured program, we profiled Eric Cooper, founder of Quick Shot Hoops, to learn more about what he does and how he helps to grow youth in his area through basketball.

How did you guys get started?

After spending 10 years overseas playing professionally, my wife and I founded Quick Shot hoops with the intent of serving the youth of Southern California. Since our inception in 1996, we have expanded to serve over 2000 young athletes. Our goal, since the beginning, has been to provide as many kids as possible access to an affordable program to improve their skills. We give them many different options, similar to a 24/7 fitness pass. Our programs are focused around the fundamentals, building both character and discipline.

What are you most proud of as a coach?

Some of my most proud moments include winning back to back state championships at La Verne Lutheran, coaching WNBA team Phoenix Mercury, and coaching in the ABA under head coach Scott Brooks and AC Green as my general manager.

What has been difficult to manage or organize as a program administrator?

As an administrator, I need to schedule and manage practices, tournaments, and fundraisers while organizing out of town tournaments to play in. I also need to purchase uniforms, shoes, t-shirts, bags, and backpacks. Staying connected to team members and their parents is also extremely important.

How has AthleteTrax helped?

AthleteTrax has been instrumental in keeping us connected with its calendars, reminders, text and email capabilities, message boards and contact databases. All in all, its a completely integrated solution that gives me peace of mind when managing a large program such as Quick Shot.

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Thank you to Eric for his excellent responses! Remember to sign up here to become a brand ambassador, earning you 50 dollars for every signed up customer.

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AthleteTrax Featured Program: The San Diego Cougars

The AthleteTrax team could not be prouder of the gains its client are making to empower youth through sports participation. While our tool makes the process simpler, the organizers and administrators are the ones that allow the programs to function and grow. Without their work, sports are often inaccessible to everyone. Jeff Harper-Harris commits himself to the youth of San Diego through his Cougars program. We caught up with Jeff to learn more about his program and how he is using it as a positive lever for change in the region.

Some links to the Cougars and its programs can be found: Here, Here, Here, Here, and Here

How did you got started? What are your goals as an organization?

As the founder of the San Diego Cougars, I have lived and experienced firsthand what is going on in our impoverished and impacted communities. The organization was established in 1993 after the loss of my own two brothers to gang violence. My older brother was killed in 1992 and my younger brother in 1993.  It was at that point that I became dedicated to empowering and helping today’s youth. San Diego Cougars is aware of the risk, challenges, alienation, and violence that today’s youth experience on a daily basis in the inner city, as well as throughout the county.  The program strives to give the children tools to empower themselves and their future.  There are many teenagers in the community who are great athletes, but lose focus and hope due to a variety of circumstances. The San Diego Cougars program offers a safe and viable alternative for the development of the student-athlete.  It is a program that can and will make a difference in a child’s life. Our motto is "Its Bigger Than Basketball." The goal of the San Diego Cougars is to foster both academic and athletic success in a safe and neutral environment.  To accomplish this goal, our organizations outreach seeks youth’s from throughout the county, and offers programs for children whose ages range from six to eighteen.

How does basketball connect to your overarching goals?

Through the use of basketball, the children learn valuable life lessons in a supportive environment.  They learn about focus, commitment, fair play, sportsmanship, teamwork, determination, and working hard to achieve a goal.  Whether they win or lose, they learn valuable lessons not only in success, but also in coping with losses and disappointments.  In doing so, our goal is to foster a positive attitude, and demonstrate to our youth the tools that they will need in order to be reaching the next level in life and become active and productive members of our community and society as a whole.

What has been the most exciting to you as a coach?

In 24 years we have touched over 1500 kids. We have helped kids get to college and the military. To see them coming back to be coaches and mentors is a great thing. What is even better is that they are giving back and being positive people in their communities and making a difference.

How are you guys different as an organization?

For us, it’s not about the wins on the court. It is about the wins in the kids lives. We do more; its not just about basketball. All our kids belong to the organization Athletes and Coaches Against Bullying. We demand our kids have a 2.5 GPA to be able to play. We volunteer at different organizations every month. We have tutors and mentors that take the players different places to bond. We don't have tryouts or cut. We take all kids and teach the fundamentals of the game. We get better over time.

What piece of advice do you like to give your players?

Education First, play hard second. It’s bigger than basketball. Have good work ethics, believe in themselves and know they are all special people who some way will change the world.

How has AthleteTrax helped the Cougars?

AthleteTrax has been integral in the sending of information to all the parents and players via text and email. This feature really helped at a event when the schedule got changed. My team mom Grace just simply went on AthleteTrax and sent a mass text and email out letting the parents know. The parents really appreciated that. A big thank you Jon and the rest of the team!

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A huge thank you to Jeff for his willingness to dedicate his career to bettering youth in his area. While using AthleteTrax has certainly helped him, his commitment to the community and drive to protect the vulnerable members of society have made him immensely successful at what he does. 

--- The AthleteTrax team

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AthleteTrax Featured Program: Maximum Stride Hockey Camps

The second in a series of featured athletic programs around the country, Maximum Stride Hockey Camps represents everything a hockey program should be. The importance Danny Wood places on discipline, intensity, enjoyment, and integrity all serve to benefit his players in both hockey and life. We interviewed Danny to see what keeps Maximum Stride at the top.

Maximum Stride is on Facebook and Twitter. Email them at [email protected].

What is the mission and goal of your program?

We at Maximum Stride want to create a competitive (yet fun) environment for players of all ages to develop confidence and skills. Our program uses the latest skill development methods to ensure we are providing our players with the most up to date information out there. Our goal is to continue to provide a quality experience to players of all skill levels and backgrounds. 

What’s the best part of being a coach?

As a coach it is always great to work with players of all skill levels. It means that no day is the same and challenges me to come up for a custom program for each client. The most exciting part of my job is seeing a player have that "light bulb moment" when everything clicks and makes sense to them. 

How is Maximum Stride unique?

We have multiple programs to suit each type of player from novice to collegiate bound athletes. We provide options including: private lessons, small group lessons, week long clinics, boarding camps, and elite training programs.

What do you like to tell your players?

Character and integrity are key. Academics are extremely important to be a well-rounded student-athlete. Be a good teammate. There are plenty of good hockey players out there but great ones separate themselves by having above average levels of character, integrity, and work ethic.

Is it difficult to manage Maximum Stride? Does AthleteTrax help with the administrative work?

Sometimes it is tough to keep it all together but I make it work. A few late nights and early mornings help get the job done. AthleteTrax has made this entire process easier. Even though I am new to it, it has provided me with a solid platform to host and develop my website and online payments, which were not available to my clients until I came on board with you guys.

Danny has been a great friend and client of AthleteTrax as he has continued to develop Maximum Stride. Remember, now is the time to become an ambassador to Athletetrax by visiting this page. Earn 50 dollars for every signed up customer!

-- The AthleteTrax team

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AthleteTrax Featured Program: Always Basketball

Here at AthleteTrax, we are reminded every day about the tireless effort coaches, managers, and administrators pour into their programs to create a positive developmental environment for their players. We help our clients as much as possible to ease the logistical nightmare programs often become. One of these programs is Always Basketball, directed by Steve Claramunt and Vitor Imbuzeiro. It has quickly become the dominant force for youth basketball in Northville, Michigan, empowering youth throughout the area. We talked with Steve to learn more about his growing programs.

Tell us about your program, Steve. How was it founded, and what are your social media outlets?

We were founded in January 2012 in Northville, Michigan. We began our program to provide elementary-aged children the opportunity to participate in a sport, since they had little to no opportunities at the time. We began with an after school program with a basketball program in their own gym. The idea and concept for this program is from our President Vitor Imbuzeiro. Our website, Facebook, and Twitter.

What are your main goals as a coach and program director?

The main goal we have is to keep developing and providing the best and most fun basketball clinics, camps, teams, and more. We will work tirelessly to become the place where you come to have fun learning and playing basketball.

What has excited you the most about Always Basketball so far?

In only two years of operation, we already have reached over 500 children. Growth is faster than ever! Waking up everyday to more and more ready children has been the brightest point of Always Basketball so far.

What do you like to instill in your players?

I want my kids to have fun while using good sportsmanship. I always tell them, “try your best and you can learn the rest!”

As a director, we know it can be difficult to stay organized with all of the administrative work. What are your duties? How do you balance all of them and keep your program running smoothly?

As the number 2 guy my duties don't differ much from Coach V's. We both are in this and collaborate on new ideas and how to best execute each of our programs. It is something that can be really chaotic because while we work together, we are always doing 92 different things.

Has AthleteTrax helped you with these difficulties?

AthleteTrax is really cool because it keeps all of our participant info together in one place, giving both of us access to all their info. We are able to communicate messages to a complete group. Most important to me is the ability to have sign ups and payments done all in one place. Having all the information for each different sign up and sorted by team has been invaluable.

Anything else you’d like to add?

This spring we started an AAU basketball program that is based on academics. We decided to create a place where kids that are excellent basketball players and have excellent grades can come together in one environment. Always Basketball ELITE, as the team is named, has a strict academic requirement. We felt that the kids we want in our program are often overlooked and not exposed to as many high quality events as others. We believe that with our academic focus and excellent players we would be able to provide our players an opportunity, while also providing college scouts high quality players with excellent grades. ELITE’s website is www.alwaysbasketballelite.com

Steve, like many others, has a demanding position. AthleteTrax works with people like Steve to mitigate some of these demands. Visit us for more information!

If you or a friend would like to receive 50 dollars off our product while pocketing another 50 for yourself, become an ambassador to our product today by clicking here. 

-- The AthleteTrax team

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AthleteTrax League Profile: Boston University Club Hockey

The AthleteTrax team of the week this week is the Boston University Club Hockey Team!  Learn more about them by reading the interview below.  This is club hockey at its finest folks!

Why were you founded?

We were founded around ten years ago because guys at Boston University wanted to play hockey when they got to college. We did not get affiliated with the university until five years ago and ever since then the University has been more and more accommodating every year.

How many people participate on your team?

This past season we had 30 student athletes on our roster

What division do you play in?

We participate in the ACHA D2 and NECHA leagues .

What is your website? Social media name on facebook/twitter?

Our blog name is: blogs.bu.edu/clubice

Our website is: https://buclubicehockey.wordpress.com/about/

Our Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/BUClubIceHockey

Our twitter is: https://twitter.com/buclubicehockey

Our Instagram is: @buclubicehockey

2) What has been your teams greatest success thus far?

Before this past year, our team had won no games in our Patriot East league since we became affiliated with the university. This past season, we not only got our first league win, but we won 6 - finishing 6-4 in our league.

3) Which hockey college club teams are your biggest rivals?

Our biggest rivals are Boston College and Northeastern University.

4) What is your favorite part about participating in college club sports?

My teammates. It is a privilege to play such a great game with the group of guys we have on our team.

5) What is something unique about your team or any players that people would not know?

This past year, we had no seniors on our team, and our junior class has 12. This sets us up to have a strong season next season. We also have players from all over the country and a few international players as well.

6) As a team manager, we know it can be difficult to stay organized with all of the administrative work on top of school. What are your duties?  How do you balance all of them and keep your program running smoothly?

My duties range from scheduling games and practices, planning our trips across country, coordinating our office events, and just overall managing the whole aspect of the team. It's all about time management - you have to budget your time in a way that you can get everything done efficiently and effectively.

7) Given the last question, how has AthleteTrax helped you manage your tasks as a team/league manager?  What tool(s) have helped you and your team/league the most?

AthleteTrax takes care of communication on my team. Instead of everyone calling and texting me daily about times, it is very simple for the players to get onto the site whenever they have a question about scheduling. Also, the texting feature is great. It is awesome to be able to send out a text to the whole team at once so that everyone is on the same page.

It was awesome to hear from the Boston University Club Hockey team!  Be sure to share their story and follow them on social media.

If you’re interested in being featured in the AthleteTrax team of the week profile, email Marketing Coordinator Maksim Horowitz at [email protected].

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AthleteTrax League Profile: Core Athletics

This week, AthleteTrax features Core Athletics as the league of the week!  Core Athletics provides strength and conditioning programs and competitive baseball leagues for athletes of all ages!  Get the inside scope on how they operate using AthleteTrax here:

Give us a brief background on your program.  Where and why were you founded? How many athletes/coaches participate in your program? Is there a specific purpose or mission of your program? What is your website and social media names on Facebook or Twitter?

Core Athletics calls No Offseason Sports Training Facility in West Deer home. Our program builds healthy habits through strength and speed training for all ages and abilities. We train all sorts of athletes from a variety sports. Very specifically we operate a competitive baseball program that we call Core Athletics One Team.  Each year we have thousands of athletes take part in our programs. This includes strength and speed classes, year round camps, private and group baseball lessons, and of course our One Team program. Our One Team program alone has 100 players participating, all receiving professional baseball and strength training, during practice and at all games.  The mission is simple: we want to make a healthy impact through healthy habits with our strength training. It is about functional movements and training correctly. Our Core Athletics One Team program adds an additional element specific to baseball. We believe that players need to understand what it means to be a team, commit to a team, fail and succeed as a team, but not have the conflict of playing on multiple rosters. Our program provides players the opportunity to get as much practice (with their coaches and on their own) as they need. This is their home and together all ages make up our Core Athletics One Team. More information on all of our programs and coaches is available at www.THECOREATHLETE.com.

What are the main goals and aspirations you have for your organization?  As a coach, what has been one your most exciting moments or achievements so far?

Core Athletics began in December 3, 2012, but we did not add our One team program until September of 2013. That fall was a trial run so to speak since our clientele has really pushed us to make that a larger part of what we do. The spring of 2014 we viewed our teams as the expansion teams in Western Pennsylvania. For us, it was quite the accomplishment to have all of our teams that year make championship games and most won a championship at some point!

What makes your program unique compared to other leagues?  What is your favorite piece of advice you to instill in your organization?

Winning is not the focus of the program though, winning is the goal that helps everyone involved understand the work needed. Our coaches stress what it means to compete. How to compete is often what gets lost in the obsession with winning. This is the most unique part of our approach. As coaches, we love to win as much as anyone. We also realize that competing, training to compete, and the thrill of the competition is what fuels us most. In life you lose more than most people care to admit. The best baseball players fail more than they succeed as individuals. For us winning provides the goal, competing fuels the fire, and managing the failures and successes makes us better people (players and coaches alike).

We pride ourselves in making all of our programs as affordable as possible relative to the quality and comprehensiveness of what you get. Our strength training sessions have been so successful for that very reason. Athletes of all ages are given the opportunity to engage in fun workouts for a fraction of what it would cost elsewhere. The One Team program includes professional coaching, practices and games, and a facility membership for times where your team may not have scheduled events. We give players significantly more for a competitive price.

As a league manager, we know it can be difficult to stay organized with all of the administrative work.  What are your duties? How do you balance all of them and keep your program running smoothly?  How has AthleteTrax helped you manage your tasks as a league manager?  What tools have helped you and your team/league the most?

We have been fortunate to work with Jon Halpern, and his team to really understand the depth of what AthleteTrax offers. AthleteTrax provides Core Athletics with a valuable platform that allows us to spend more time coaching and less time dealing with “paperwork”. AthleteTrax’ scheduling, communication, and payment processing allows us to engage with our members in an efficient manner.

Feel free to share anything else about your organization that you would like us to know

Every one of our coaches takes pride in knowing the ins and outs of all the athletes in our program. Core Athletics is a family. Our One Team stretches beyond players and coaches and reaches into the household of every player and coach.

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AthleteTrax Team Profile: Ohio State University Club Football

This week we interviewed the Ohio State Club Football team!  Check out their story below.  

1) To start let’s learn a little bit of history about the Ohio State Club Football team’s history:  

When were you founded and how many people participate on your team?

The team was founded in 2009 with 22 players. Since then there have been as many as 60 people on the team depending on the year!

What division do you play in?

We compete in the National Club Football Association (NCFA), which is a part of CollClubSports. The other teams in our division are Miami, Wright State, Oakland, UM-Flint and Michigan State.

What is your website? Social media name on facebook/twitter?

Our Facebook fan page is called Ohio State Buckeyes Club Football and our Twitter handle is @ClubFootballOSU. Our website is: http://ohiostateclubfootball.org.ohio-state.edu/

2) What has been your teams greatest success thus far?

Our best season so far was in 2011 when the team finished with a perfect 8-0 record!

3) Which football college club teams are your biggest rivals?

University of Michigan-Flint is a huge rival because of the intensity of the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. We also have intense rivalries with our in-state foes in Miami and Wright State.

4) What is your favorite part about participating in college club sports?

The opportunity to continue to play collegiately. A lot of our players thought that their playing days were over after high school because not many people have the ability to compete on a Division 1 national championship caliber team. Being able to strap up the silver helmet in the shadow of Ohio Stadium is an incredible feeling!

5) What is something unique about your team or any players that people would not know?

I think that the diversity of experience within our team is something that people outside of the program realize. There are some players who have played their whole lives and were great high school players. A few players, including myself, transferred to Ohio State from division 3 programs. We also have have guys on the team who have never played football before but are great athletes, so they are able to compete.

6) As a team manager, we know it can be difficult to stay organized with all of the administrative work on top of school. What are your duties?  How do you balance all of them and keep your program running smoothly?

My duties have ranged all over the place from communicating with other teams and the league for various reasons, to organizing team functions, to things like ordering and managing uniforms and equipment. We split up most of the administrative duties between myself (vice president), our president, and head coach. All of this is on top of on-the-field duties. It is a lot of work to balance with school but it all comes down to the ability to manage my time and be flexible when something urgent comes up.

7) Given the last question, how has AthleteTrax helped you manage your tasks as a team/league manager?  What tool(s) have helped you and your team/league the most?

The biggest thing that AthleteTrax has helped us with is communicating with the team. Before AthleteTrax, pretty much all of our communication to the team was through a Facebook group. One issue with that is that there are always a couple of players on the team without a Facebook or who rarely use it. The bigger problem was that anyone can post on it so it was easy for messages from officers or coaches to get lost. Being able to text the entire team without running into the issue of players replying to everyone in a group text has made it so much easier to get important messages out.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the Ohio State Club Football team!  Don’t forget to like them on Facebook and Twitter, and support their fundraising campaign:

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If you’re interested in being featured in the AthleteTrax team of the week profile, email Marketing Coordinator Maksim Horowitz at [email protected].

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AthleteTrax Team Profile: University of Cincinnati Women’s Rugby Club

AthleteTrax is re-launching it’s  team of the week profile series!  These profiles give us a chance to highlight some of our most active member teams and leagues.  Each interview is 8-10 questions long, providing insights to how our most successful teams operate, and how they use AthleteTrax to do so. Without further adieu, read about the University of Cincinnati’s Women’s Rugby Club team, questions were answered courtesy of team leader Kate Yoder. Enjoy:

1) Let’s learn a little bit about the University of Cincinnati Women’s Rugby Club:

The University of Cincinnati Women's Rugby Football Club was founded to promote the sport of rugby and empower women at the University of Cincinnati through active competition.

How many people participate on your team?

Participation varies but anywhere from 15 to 30 women.

What division do you play in?

Ohio Valley Division II

What is your website? Social media name on facebook/twitter?

Our website is ucwrfc.wix.com/ucwrfc. You can like us on Facebook at Cincinnati Women's Rugby Football Club. and Follow us on twitter @UCwrugby.

2) What has been your teams greatest success thus far?

Our team's greatest success was in our Fall 2014 season we were ranked number one in the Southern Division of the Ohio Valley Division II league and we finished second overall in the Ohio Valley Division II league at the state competition. Since we were second in state ranking we got invited to Nationals! 

3) Which rugby college club teams are your biggest rivals?

Eastern Kentucky University and Notre Dame College

4) What is your favorite part about participating in college club sports?

My favorite part is having the opportunity to meet so many amazing women and to build life-long friendships with them through playing rugby.

5) What is something unique about your team or any players that people would not know?

Our team is only in its third year as an official club sport at the University of Cincinnati.

6) As a team manager, we know it can be difficult to stay organized with all of the administrative work on top of school. What are your duties?  How do you balance all of them and keep your program running smoothly?

As Team Manager, I send out a weekly agenda of what our executive board members are doing. I also make sure the rest of the team members know important information including dues, fundraising events, practices, information about the week's game. I make sure that the club sports director is in the loop everything our club is up to. Another one of my tasks is keeping good connections with our vendors and sponsors!

7) Given the last question, how has AthleteTrax helped you manage your tasks as a team/league manager?  What tool(s) have helped you and your team/league the most?

AthleteTrax has made it much easier to notify our team members about upcoming events and commitments. I use the Messages tool the most, but another one of my favorites is the Calendar tool. Our team also uses AthleteTrax as a contact sheet!

8)  Feel free to share anything else about your organization that you would like us to know ​

We're small but we're starting to get a head of steam and any boost to our awareness would be helpful so that we can get our name out there so that more people get interested in the sport and in our club!

Hope you enjoyed reading about the UC Women’s Rugby team.  Be sure to follow them on social media and contribute to their fundraising campaign, http://fnd.us/c/frZE6! >(function() { var d = document, fr = d.createElement('script'); fr.type = 'text/javascript'; fr.async = true; fr.src = ((d.location.protocol.indexOf('https') == 0)? 'https://s-' : 'http://') + 'static.fundrazr.com/widgets/loader.js'; var s = d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(fr, s);})();

If you’re interested in being featured in the AthleteTrax team of the week profile, email Marketing Coordinator Maksim Horowitz at [email protected].

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8 Ways to Avoid Being “That Guy” at the Gym

by Bryan Greene

The gym is supposed to be an enjoyable environment. While this may not be true for everybody – i.e. the 8-year-old boy whose overbearing father is forcing him to lift for football season – the majority of us go to the gym because we actually enjoy working out, or at least the results that we get from it. Whether you’re going because you enjoy the runner’s high and want to burn off some steam after work, or if you’re going because Spring Break is in 6 weeks and you haven’t seen your abs since Thanksgiving, we can all agree on one thing that we dislike about the gym – the people there.

While most gym-goers fly under the radar with the exception of a friendly “hello” or an uncomfortable encounter in the locker room, there are always a couple of people who find a way to get on your nerves. The worst part about it is that you’ve probably been that person a few times in your life. Whether you’re new to the gym atmosphere or you just really love the “burn” you get on the elliptical, the odds are that somebody has been watching you with an evil eye.

With that being said, here are 8 things to avoid doing at the gym:

Tip 1- Don’t treat the weight room like your bedroom floor

I’ll start with this because this is the first lesson I was taught at the gym. Fresh out of high school and hoping to impress some college girls, I cruised into the gym with a windmill of fury. On my first day, after performing an embarrassing set of bench press, I walked away only to have a 250-pound mountain of a man grab me by the arm.  Based on my twig-like, soccer-boy build, he was very correct when making the assumption that it was my first time lifting.  He gave me a heck of a lecture, and it’s safe to say that I will never leave weights all over the gym floor again.

You aren’t the only person in the gym. Make sure that you put your dumbbells away and clean up your workout area when you’re done so that it’s clearly available for use.

Tip 2- Keep it quiet

Every gym has one or two guys who sound like they’re passing a kidney stone every time they hit the squat rack. I understand some heavy breathing on a maximal lift or a taxing cardio day, but I despise nothing more than the guy screaming like Maria Sharapova to make sure that everybody knows he’s lifting more than you. It’s a distraction and there’s an easy fix – just don’t do it.

Tip 3- Keep it quiet (part 2)

This is the person who talks your ear off in between each set to tell you all about their new workout program and diet. Instead of sitting around and talking until your body recovers for your next set, try super-setting your exercises (performing two exercises of opposing muscle groups back-to-back). When I spent time working with a former MLB strength coach, this was one of the first things he stressed. When working your upper body, mix in some leg and core exercises in your downtime to target muscle groups you typically ignore (obliques, glutes, calves). When working your lower body, mix in your bicep and tricep exercises instead of spending a full day lifting arms. However, not everybody can be as efficient as the guy below eating pizza while he works out.

Tip 4. Don’t send out an open invitation to the gun show

Unless your name is Ron Burgundy and you’re finishing up a set of 1,000 bicep curls, you have no reason to be standing in front of the mirror all day long. We all check ourselves out. It’s typical human nature, but mirrors are in the gym for two reasons – to create the illusion that the weight room is bigger than it actually is, and to be able to watch your form as you work out.

Side Note: The local YMCA is not an appropriate place to take your shirt off and practice bodybuilding poses in the mirror. I’ve seen it happen and hope to never see it again.

Tip 5. Don’t ride the elliptical at warpspeed

We’ve all seen the infomercial of the guy with a ponytail riding an elliptical into the next dimension (see below if you have not) but that doesn’t mean that it’s an effective workout method. Try incorporating rowing into your workout – it’s a tremendous full body strength and cardio workout. However, if you prefer to ride the elliptical, turn up the resistance a bit to increase your power output because, otherwise, you have a better chance of dislodging your legs from your pelvis than you do of making significant progress when you have the elliptical on overdrive.

Tip 6- If you can’t lift it, just don’t try it

Virtually any time that you go into a gym, you’re bound to see a guy trying to curl his body weight, swinging his entire body to get the bar up and ultimately defeating the purpose of the exercise. There’s no reason to try to lift more weight than your body can handle unless you’re trying to impress everybody around you, and if anything, you’re more likely to make a fool of yourself than impress the person next to you. Too often, you see somebody hurt himself trying to squat or power clean more weight than his body can handle. Just take it slow, your body will thank you for it.

Tip 7- Do not correct somebody’s form if they don’t ask

Unless somebody asks for your advice, do not correct his or her form. While you may mean well, this is a big gym no-no. There are two exceptions to this rule – 1. They are putting themselves and the people around in danger (i.e. the guy above) or 2. You are completely sure that he or she is a beginner who has absolutely no clue what he’s doing (i.e. the guy below)

Tip 8- Clean up before you come

This can also double as a general hygiene tip, but there’s nobody worse than the person who smells at the gym. Yes, everybody is sweating and nobody smells good, but if you manage to stand out in a room full of people who smell like a mushroom farm, then you’re probably due for some more deodorant. Thankfully, the days of people wearing five-finger shoes appear to be coming to an end. If you never had to experience anybody walking around in a moldy pair of “barefoot shoes”, consider yourself lucky. Just remember, you aren’t the only person in the gym.

[athletetrax]

One Dollar, Two Dollar, Three Dollar...Four Thousand

Bryan Greene recently joined the AthleteTrax team after deciding it was time to hang up the cleats following an underwhelming endeavor into the world of sports.  

“Kids these days.” That’s a statement I truly hoped I would never make. And as a 22-year-old, it is definitely one I should not be making. Fresh out of college, there are few things that scare me more than knowing that I am financially responsible for myself. One of those things is being financially responsible for another human being.

Yes, we’ve all heard how much it costs to pay for a child’s everyday expenses – food, education, babysitters, and if they’re anything like I was, a lot of diapers. What you do not hear about is the cost to participate in youth sports. According to a TurboTax report, the average American parent spends $671 annually on sports-related activities for their children, equivalent to more than $1,300 per couple. Now I know why my dad was so mad when I decided to quit playing hockey shortly after he bought my equipment for me.

For some, that annual cost may be significantly lower than the statistic above. It may even be non-existent. There is also a chance that the number can be much higher, however, as being a member of many club sports teams carries  a registration or dues payment in the thousands of dollars. And don’t expect that number to go down anytime soon. Contact sports are seeing prices skyrocket with the costs of safety equipment, and sports that were supposed to be “cheap” like soccer and basketball are becoming a financial nightmare with sneakers and cleats costing well over $100 for the opportunity to dress like the pros.

However, there are many steps you can take to limit your costs and ensure that sports for yourself or your children will not burn an unnecessarily large hole in your pocket. Between fundraising and some simple creativity, it is quite possible to cut these costs down by 50% or more.

1. Take it Old School

No, I’m not suggesting that you start a fraternity with a group of middle-aged men. Some of the most successful fundraisers are the simplest, no technology needed. Head on over to a high-traffic area around town and ask a local gas station if you can hold a car wash in their lot. More often than not they’ll say yes, and there’s no better way to fundraise than face-to-face. Not everybody driving by will need a car wash, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t want to donate. Send a few of the players along the sides of the street with signs and donation buckets; it is an easy way to add a few hundred dollars to your fundraising total.

Hint: Don’t be afraid to get creative. People appreciate humor and are more likely to donate if you make them smile. I raised quite a bit of money with nothing more than a smile and a sign that read “Wet Boys Washing.”

2.  Get Off the Couch

Get up and explore the neighborhood. Neighbors constantly have odd jobs to do for money, whether it’s mowing the lawn, pulling the weeds or babysitting. Many will give a donation just by seeing somebody take the initiative on their own. It’s no secret that people have a soft spot for children. It is simply harder to say no to a child than it is to an adult, and that is why the Girl Scout Cookie business is booming (or at least that’s what I tell myself as I polish off a box of Thin Mints). While this method may not result in a large payout, it is a nice way to have the athlete actively contribute to league dues or a new pair of cleats.

3.  Look For a Scholarship

Yes, many clubs offer scholarships for athletes who either cannot afford league dues or perform at a skill level high enough to garner scholarship money. If your club does not offer this service, many organizations maintain a strong alumni base, and it is not out of the ordinary for alumni to “sponsor” players who may not be able to afford their membership fees. Don’t be afraid to ask!

4. Test the Waters

Yes, technically this is not a “fundraising tip.” It is a great way to save money, though. It is no secret that kids are spontaneous. After watching The Mighty Ducks trilogy as a kid I wanted nothing more than to play in the NHL, so I asked my father to sign me up for hockey. After assuring him that I was serious about it (or as serious as a 6-year-old could be), he bought me the basic equipment – skates, stick, helmet, the whole nine yards. I proceeded to quit three days into training camp after watching Space Jam and deciding I liked basketball instead.

The reason I share that story is because kids do this all of the time. They demand to play a sport, ask for all of the cool equipment, and then decide they would rather play something else. So, when your kids come to you asking to sign up for a sport, ask around for any used equipment that neighbors or friends have used, or check Craigslist and your local thrift shop. This is a great way to ensure that you are not spending hundreds of dollars on equipment that could go to waste.

5. Hit the World Wide Web

This may be the most efficient way to fundraise in this day and age. Through many online fundraising platforms much like the AthleteTrax platform, teams and players can upload pictures, add a compelling story, and quickly share this information with their family and friends. These services allow for quick e-mail blasts that can be sent out at the click of a button to reach anybody with Internet access. Between the ease of electronic donations and reaching a far broader audience, this is a great method to earn some money towards travel, dues or equipment.

[athletetrax]

AthleteTrax Team Profile: Penn State Women's Club Softball Team

Three years retired from the great game of baseball, Maksim Horowitz returns to the diamond, this time not to play but to write.  With 12 years of competitive baseball under his belt, the once highly esteemed athlete has switched gears to recognize and record the incredible feats of a sport similar to his own, softball, specifically those of the Pennsylvania State University Women’s Softball Club.  A group of young women whose passion on the diamond is only matched by their benevolence off of it.

Competitive sports at the collegiate level may seem daunting to many amateur or high school athletes.  You come in as a freshman, face to face with a new group of teammates, who may be light years ahead of you in terms of maturity and skill.  You come in looking to take some of their playing time that they worked so hard to call their own.  It doesn’t make for a very friendly environment to build a team around, does it?  Well, the Penn State University (PSU) Women’s Softball Club (PSCS) seems to have found a way around these tensions, and along their way they have created a recipe for success that reaches outside of the softball diamond. 

After being founded in 2000 by a group of young women looking to continue their passion for softball, they soon discovered that their “niche” had a much larger following than expected.  By 2007, the club almost doubled in size and joined the National Club Softball Association (NCSA), where it began competing in the North Atlantic Region-West Division.  They soon formed rivalries with club teams from University of Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Kent State, and Bloomsburg.  With the added benefit of national legitimacy and the hunger to be the best, Penn State Club Softball took a step towards a dynasty—even if they didn’t know it yet.

From the start the club was run by the athletes for the athletes.  The President of the club runs practice alongside the Vice President.  And while that may take away from their individual improvement on the field, it doesn’t seem to bother these team leaders.  

“What makes my job fun is that I am a student, and I get to be in a leadership role that few people have the opportunity to be in....I am one of those people that puts the teams success before my own, and seeing these girls grow in both skill in passion inspires me to keep doing what I'm doing as President," says current President Jessica. Selfless leadership just like this is exactly why the team is a success.

Off the field, these club softball players are also hitting everything they put their mind to out of the park.  At a recent PSU charity event, Dance MaraTHON, the team raised over $28,000 for the Four Square Charity fund.  That’s is $1750 per athlete, which is no small feat.  Through actions like these, PSCS is constantly redefining the word “teamwork”.

Now onto what the team does best: domination on the field. Since 2007 this team has won the Club Softball World Series 5 times.  Did someone just say dynasty?  Last year they finished third overall to cap off another phenomenal season.

This past year the PSCS team entered the season with a young team, boasting only 4 seniors on the roster.  But of course this didn’t get in their way, as they placed third in the their season opening tournament.  Impressive?  Well in post-season play the team breezed through the North Atlantic West and North Atlantic regional playoffs and gained another bid to the Club Softball World Series.  After a long road trip going 3-3, the PSCS were eliminated.  Jessica says that although her team had a great year, they expect to reclaim the championship next season. These lofty expectations are well within reach, Veteran Outfield and Vice President Taylor Huckfeldt even says, “Developing unity among players during the offseason will help PSCS dominate during the upcoming season.” She has high hopes for her teammates next year.

With another season in the books, the athletes of the PSCS team will rest up, recharge, and revamp for another fun and passionate year on and off the field.  With their 14th year now behind them, the PSCS team has accomplished what most teams only hope to: create a legacy of great play on the field and make an impact in their communities off the field. And this is all because of the driven group of individuals at Penn State University who understand what it takes to be part of a team.

[athletetrax]

AthleteTrax Introduces Crowdfunding - A new way for Athletic Clubs to get Funding.

Pittsburgh, PA: AthleteTrax announced today that they are now offering a direct crowdfunding solution for their athletic clubs Powered by FundRazr, a global leader in online funding.

AthleteTrax, a free community hub that allows clubs to effectively manage their entire team, league/organization, or camp, is now allowing clubs to fill gaps in funding by creating a crowdfunding campaign directly at athlete-trax.com. Raising money for uniforms, travel, equipment, and more, has never been easier.

“AthleteTrax is excited to partner with FundRazr, a tool that is the perfect addition for athletic teams and organizations to take their programs to the next level” said Jon Halpern, CEO of AthleteTrax. “Teams can now reach friends, family, fellow students and their local communities in an innovative new way. They can build support from their community and raise the funds they need for their team.”

The partnership is, no doubt, going to improve teams efficiency by taking the stress out of managing a club. In addition to the scheduling, mass communication and on-the-go tracking already offered by AthleteTrax, their new crowdfunding solution (Powered By FundRazr) allows users to focus on the game instead of gaps in funding.

Over the past few years athletic clubs have been on the chopping block in terms of budget cuts. Creating a crowdfunding campaign allows teams to grow their community of supporters by adding online donations to their offline fundraising efforts.

“AthleteTrax is a remarkable new platform that helps athletic teams get organized and be successful. In order for teams to be successful, they need to have a successful way to fundraise, and that’s what this partnership provides,” stated Elizabeth George, Partner Manager at FundRazr. “Powered By FundRazr allows sites, like AthleteTrax, to offer the added feature of crowdfunding to their users, without customers ever having to leave their site.”

AthleteTrax has made crowdfunding as simple as it gets. Create a campaign in minutes and they will instantly help teams reach a broader audience by publishing the campaign on AthleteTrax’s homepage.  Better yet, it is free to start a campaign.

“We care about the success of our customers and this is just one of the many ways we help to support them” said CEO of AthleteTrax, Jon Halpern. You can get involved by donating to one of the many campaigns featured on Athlete-Trax.com

About AthleteTrax

AthleteTrax is a Pittsburgh based company that takes the headache and hassle out of managing an athletic league or team at any level. Our free, cloud-based tool gives organizations the ability to access exclusive discounts, have real-time insight into who is attending team events, automatic event reminders, two-way mass text message communication, improve performance through workout/video tracking, the ability to reach a broader audience to raise funds, and more.

About Powered By FundRazr

Powered By FundRazr offers proven plug & play crowdfunding technology for enterprise, institutions or high traffic websites. They power your community’s funding needs while building community engagement. Co-developed with PayPal, FundRazr has crowdfunded over $47M in 37 countries since 2010. SETI, Save the Children and DC Entertainment, and Healthline, have all been Powered By FundRazr. The Powered By FundRazr crowdfunding-as-a-service solution was created in Vancouver, Canada and launched summer 2013.

[athletetrax]

AthleteTrax Team Profile: Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Men's Club Soccer

Tune into primetime, cue the “Bugler’s Dream”(yes, it does have a name), and wait for Bob Costas or Matt Lauer to say hello. The Olympics are the ultimate display of athletic genius and fierce competition. We watch for particular athletes, follow specific sports, and hope for . But at the end of each night we tally team medals. It is country against country and team against team. It is the collective effort that matters. Whether you are hurtling yourself head first down a track of ice or flipping yourself through the air on two skinny skis, one factor unites the athletes: their team is no longer just a team. It is a nation.

  The Men’s Club Soccer team at Indiana University of Pennsylvania knows that being a team is truly being a family. “We are not just players, we are friends,” says student team leader Brian Luchini. “We do not just see each other at practice and games. We hang out as a squad. We eat as a squad. The comradery is natural.”

  This “team means family” mentality has been a consistent motivating force, seeing the team through its normal ups and downs. “The difference is we rally together to take something positive from a negative,” says Luchini. Starting the fall league at 0-4, the team pulled together and finished second in a local league and third in the state. Vice President Jordan Brown recognizes the hard work he and his teammates put forth both on and off the field. He has watched the team “progress solidly over the last few years.” He is confident that if the team can stay together like they have they will be prepared for the upcoming season.

  IUP’s Men’s Club Soccer is part of the Region One Collegiate Club Soccer League (ROCCSL) and has been competing since 2010. This season, the veteran players from a strong leadership with Brian Luchini as President, Jordan Brown as Vice President, Tyler Gallen as Secretary and Matt Brown as Treasurer. The team looks forward to building its family with a strong crew of new and talented freshman. “The future of the club looks bright,” says Gallen.

  The spring schedule is due to be released in the upcoming weeks and the team looks forward to taking on its biggest rivals, Slippery Rock University and California University of Pennsylvania. “We believe we have built a squad that can make a deep run into the playoffs,” says Brown, “and we look forward to the results.”

  Although the weakest link can always stand in the way of success, a team’s collective bond is the difference-maker . Luchini knows that his team’s strong sense of solidarity and brotherhood will be crucial to high performance during the spring season: “With the talent and the lasting friendships made within the club, I have confidence that our team has a very good shot at the Championship. We are looking to pick up right were we left off [last season] and bring a trophy back to IUP. I look forward to the competition this spring and cannot wait to take the field as a player and a coach.”

  With the everyday scheduling and communicating help of AthleteTrax, the Men’s Club Soccer Team at IUP has a full competitive schedule coming its way this spring. Good luck, boys! Here’s to making some serious team Trax.

  Written By: Sam Smith

[athletetrax]

AthleteTrax Partners with Duquesne University Athletics!

Duquesne University Department of Athletics announced on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 its partnership with AthleteTrax to streamline its facilities scheduling and increase communication amongst staff by utilizing AthleteTrax's robust platform.

"We are very happy to be working with AthleteTrax. Their scheduling feature has added a new way of communicating with our staff and coaches in conjunction with the high demand for our facilities. It has saved several members of our department time and headaches already," said Associate Athletic Director of Facilities and Operations Paul Hightower.

AthleteTrax is a cloud-based athletic team and organization tool that streamlines key information and communications for administrators, coaches, and athletes. The fully integrated platform makes scheduling, communication, fundraising, video/workout tracking and more effortless. AthleteTrax works with teams and departments at all levels, ranging from NCAA to collegiate club and high school competitive teams/leagues.

"We are excited to be working with Paul and the rest of the Duquesne University athletic department. Since AthleteTrax is a Pittsburgh based company, it is great for us to have the opportunity to work with and support the local universities," said Jon Halpern CEO of AthleteTrax. "We look forward to assisting Paul and his staff to make their jobs easier each day through the use of our facilities tool."

Hightower added that customer service is an integral part in quickly and effectively integrating a new tool into day-to-day operations "Jon and his team have been great to work with, as they have been right here with us the entire way. We have taken advantage of their training sessions and video tutorials, which have been extremely helpful."

For more information about AthleteTrax or to set up a product demo, please visit www.athlete-trax.com or e-mail [email protected].

For more information about Duquesne University Athletics, please visit the official athletics website www.goduquesne.com.

[athletetrax]

AthleteTrax Team Profile: WashU Men's Club Basketball

Brian Jeffrey Gross is secretly a basketball fan, mostly because he couldn't make a free-throw if he tried. He has always wondered why people make such a big deal about this Lebron guy in Miami, especially this year when Kevin Durant and his boys WILL make it rain and thunder all over the league down in OKC. The NBA aside, something cool happens three times a week or so at a great university just outside of St. Louis. The WashU Men's Club Basketball team is about more than running two's, they run the floor (and Make serious Trax, too). 

Here’s a tough question: What is the definition of sports?

Forget good-old Merriam Webster on this one, she won’t be of any help. Even though there is a technical answer here, that’s not what we are looking for. To understand what sports really mean, you just have to play. Whether it is Cricket or Table Tennis or American Football, each sport has its own personality. In the same way, each athlete who competes in a sport has his or her own character, too. But something about these unique individuals brings them together, all the same.

What is it, exactly, that keeps these athletes competing each and every day? To find out, let’s dive into the life of the Washington University of Saint Louis (WUSTL) Men’s Club Basketball team. Their passionate group of athletes will make sure you understand what is behind all of the bumps and bruises, balls and nets, and wins and losses.

Jake LaMountain, a then-sophomore who previously played in high school and wanted to keep competing in college, founded the WUSTL Men’s Club Basketball team in 2009. Like LaMountain, there are athletes across the country who have been extremely successful high school athletes. Varsity level sports are not always the right fit for every college student; some want to focus on academics, while others do not want the commitment that playing a varsity sport brings with it. So, at WUSTL, Lamountain paved the way for a team of basketball crazed college students to be able to just have fun playing the sport they love.

Today, the team has remained true to its original identity and is completely student run. No coaches. No mangers. It is the ultimate example of a democracy. After hearing this, most would think that this is a weekend intramural team that “runs twos”, but this is far from the truth.

The team has grown a lot over the past four years, an achievement accomplished by the dedication and perseverance of the club’s members. Peter Suyderhoud started with the team during his freshman year and has been a part of their success ever since. Currently, Suyderhoud serves as the club’s President.

“The most rewarding part has been observing us develop as a team from freshmen year to the point where we are now.”

Where are they now? Although the team is not officially part of a league just yet, they are on the verge of becoming a member of the developing college club sports league in the Midwest of the United States. For scrimmages and games, they have become acquaintances with big-name schools like Northwestern, Marquette, and Missouri.

Even though they do not play a formal season, per say, the boys from WUSTL take their tournaments very seriously. The team has done well in regional tournaments with a number of second place finishes to their name. As true athletes always do, they want more. The team has set their sights on winning their first tournament in the club’s history.

“We've been close in the past, but this is the year where we will finally break through and bring back a championship trophy to WashU”, says Suyderhoud.

Like all former champions have, the team has already faced unforeseen adversity this season. Their lineup had to be juggled when the team’s starting point guard (a former varsity player) became injured before the season even started. This has not gotten in the way of their goal one bit, though. Along with the rest of the team, Suyderhoud has been thrilled with the play of their freshman and sophomore athletes.

“A bunch of the young guys have come through in the clutch and shown great poise in their first college tournaments.”

The team is looking forward to next semester when they will face SIUE (Southern Illinois University Edwardsville) in a home-and-home matchup. SIUE is closest in proximity to WUSTL, which makes for strong competition and a great rivalry. With six seniors on the team this year, they expect that veteran leadership and young talent will help them to not only sweep SIUE, but also bring home that first place trophy for the first time in team history.

Behind it all, though, there is much more to this group of basketball players than it seems. They each have a story to tell and a unique reason for why they take time out of their lives to come together each week for practices and games. For Suyderhoud, his reason is a bit different from the rest of the guys.

“This team is a bunch of kids who weren't good enough or didn't get enough playing time for varsity, but all have a love for basketball and want a competitive atmosphere to continue playing at a high level. My main duty is to make sure this is available for anyone who is looking for this type of environment.”

Now, I think we are finally prepared to answer the question we started with. For some, sports are about sharing a love for something with a group of people. For others, being part of a something bigger than themselves where a common goal is the reason for their existence makes them come back again and again.

For Suyderhoud, it is about making sure that everyone at WUSTL who loves basketball as much as he does can toss on a jersey and lace up their Jordans any day of the week.

That is truly admirable.

[athletetrax]

November Sports Roundup

What would sports be without Kirk Wilson? Nothing. That's right, the World would crumble. He keeps the buckets raining on the floor, the sacks bruising on the field, and even the dangles dancing on the ice. For some, November is about Turkey and Stuffing with an extra side of Gravy. For sports fans, it is prime-time. For us, it is non-stop action. For Kirk, it seems like a dream. Here is your middle of the month sports update!

November is the most beautiful month of the year. Trees are changing colors, snow is near, and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. It literally does not get any better than that.

As a sports fan, there is even more reason to get excited. If you love college football, the BCS is giving us the final, chaotic push to the finish line. We just witnessed the greatest Thursday night in history with Stanford dominating Oregon despite the close score and Baylor just doing what Baylor does best: blitzing opponents with the offensive efficiency of a brand new Benz. We also got to see Alabama and Florida State emerge as clear-cut favorites to meet for the championship. As if that wasn't enough, the legend known as Johnny Football played perhaps his final home game at Kyle Field. As usual, his on field performance was mind-blowing, and the crowd was electric. If that was one of his final performances, he certainly let his mark. As the month progresses, we will undoubtedly see more stellar performances and upsets. That's just the nature of the game, but it is oh-so beautiful.

For those of you who dabble in the NFL, November will be a revealing month. The amazing and postseason-hungry New York Football Giants (no bias at all) will be making their push to the SuperBowl. The Carolina Panthers will try to prove their legitimacy after a streak in which their defense looked like the '85 Bears. Other interesting trends will surround the Dolphins and the Icognito/Martin situation, the Broncos record-setting scoring pace, the surprise Jets, and the "race" for the number one overall pick in next year's draft.

If football isn't your Forte (see what I did there Bears fans?), college basketball can fulfill your daily sports nutrition requirement. The year of the freshmen is already off to an awesome start. We get to see six (6!!!) McDonald's All-Americans from Kentucky take on the mastermind known as Tom Izzo of Michigan State. Right after that matchup, the wickedly-talented young guns will face off when Jabari Parker and Duke play against Andrew Wiggins and the Kansas Jayhawks. We also have the renewed Big East, increased expectations for Harvard, hope for mid-majors everywhere, and just general awesomeness and shenanigans brought to us by the visionary Marshall Henderson.

NBA Basketball provides us with solid weeknight viewing when we should be studying for exams. On any given night we can witness Lebron impose his will on the Universe , Kyrie Irving dribbling his way from Cleveland to China, Anthony Davis making the "unibrow" a new fashion trend, and Kevin Love's attempt to make Minnesota relevant again.

Not to leave anyone out, Hockey will only keep heating up as the temperatures cool down. Everything will be blissful. With what could be the most competitive Olympics for hockey in history just around the corner, all of the NHL's best are going their hardest night in and night out with gold in their sights. 

This month has a lot more in story for us all. What is better than sitting down on a nice couch with a warm glass of hot chocolate while watching athletes do amazing things? The weather outside will surely be frightful, but the feelings inside in front of the TV will be delightful.