Author: @nicolejeanette
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Should I Play College Soccer If I Want To Play Pro?
Historically in the United States, college soccer has been seen as the route to a professional contract. Those times are changing. In 2008, 68.8% of the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) players played at least a season in college. By 2018, only 39.8% had participated in any US college program. Historically, the USMNT has recruited…
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Recovery Series: Are Massage Guns Worth It?
Massage guns have become increasingly popular, but they come at a cost. What’s the hype about? Are they overrated? Let’s see what the research has to say. What Do Massage Guns Do? Massage guns (like Theragun and Hypervolt) are percussive instruments that allow you to self-massage. In scientific terms, this type of massage is called…
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Recovery Series: How Do We Educate Players on Mental Recovery?
Man, researchers sure know how to churn out information on physical recovery in athletes. But… something’s missing. Where is all the research on mental and emotional recovery? Athletes don’t just leave the field physically tired… they’re mentally tired, too. Competition is a mental battle. Performance vs nervousness. Pressure vs composure. Even the professionals have trouble…
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Recovery Series: When to Use a Foam Roller (& When It’s Useless)
Welcome to Integrative Soccer’s recovery series, where we give you the most updated evidence for (and against) the most common recovery tools on the market. What’s good? What’s overrated? We’re here to tell you. Let’s check out foam rolling and bridge the gap between what we think it benefits and what it actually benefits… …and…
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Strength Training vs Injury Prevention: What’s the Priority (and When)?
With so many terms and programs in the sport world, how do you know what’s best for you or your player? Many players opt to train outside of their current club with the goal of enhancing performance. This includes individual sessions, group sessions, strength & conditioning, speed & agility, etc. Aside from sport-specific training, strength…
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Want To Play Soccer In College? Think About Recruitment Early
If you’re a youth soccer player, when do you start thinking about college recruitment? Start too soon and you risk distracting yourself from your current development. Start too late, and you risk lowering your chances of recruitment. Where is the sweet spot? The answer is different for every player. But, there is one certainty: starting…
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College Soccer: The Best Way to Earn a Full Scholarship
College soccer recruitment is highly competitive. Only 6% of high school players go on to play collegiate soccer at any level, but only a few will earn athletic scholarships. Athletic scholarships decrease your cost of university. Coaches use athletic scholarship to attract talented players to their program. Usually, a coach’s top prospects will be offered…
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Top Resources for College Recruitment
College recruitment can seem quite intimidating, especially for those who are new to the process. As a parent or player, you want to do everything you can to ensure opportunities are present. But, as you may have found out in your own research, it’s not always a straightforward process. Integrative Soccer has received many questions…
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Athlete Health: About Relative Energy Deficiency
Soccer is one of the most demanding sports in athletics. It’s a rewarding sport, but it takes a lot of physical and mental fortitude. Sports that require heavy physical demands also require adequate fuel and rest. There’s only so much the body can take before warning signs appear. The minor consequences of inadequate fuel and…
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Athlete Health, Wellness, and Performance: A Complete Resource List
It’s hard to know what to trust on the internet these days. Health and wellness trends flood our newsfeed. Conflicting advice clouds our judgement. How do we know what’s legit? The best way to stay informed is by listening to the professionals who are up-to-date with the latest research and/or perform their own. Some of…