Health & Wellness Programs (Health Kicks!)
Health Kicks! provides year-round access to healthy, active living initiatives that give young people the tools and self-confidence to lead healthier, happier lives. By combining soccer with nutrition education, sports-based wellness, and enrichment activities, Health Kicks! builds lifelong habits that extend beyond our players to their families and the broader Lawrence community.
In addition to regular, weekly exercise through soccer and fitness, which also means pre- and post-PACER testing in the spring and fall, Beyond Soccer offers the following:
Nutrition Education:
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Fuel-for-Performance (#FFP): Every travel player participates in seasonal nutrition classes with their teammates, using Boston Children’s Hospital’s FitKit resources. Topics include fueling for games, pre- and post-practice meals, hydration, and recovery strategies.
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Cooking Courses: 4–6 week cooking sessions bring nutrition lessons to life. Students prepare meals while learning about balanced eating, low-glycemic diets, and how food choices fuel performance.
Fitness & Wellness Training
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Beyond Fit: This 8–10 week off-season program builds cardiovascular endurance, coordination, strength, and speed. With support from Coach-Mentors, the program is especially popular among high school athletes. Relaunched in winter 2023, Beyond Fit continues to grow with strong participation.
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Beyond Fit & Balanced: First introduced during the pandemic, this program offered mentorship, wellness education, and leadership opportunities for middle and high school girls. Relaunched in 2024, it is now incorporated into our new Beyond Resilient Girls Program. See more!
Active Living Experiences
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Alternative Fitness & Outings: Where youth take part in hikes, farm trips, local road races, yoga sessions, and other activities that promote health and balance off the field.
Lead Health & Wellness Partner
Boston Children’s Hospital 2025 Fitness Evaluation
On average, HFZ scores increased significantly in the fall by 42.0 percentage points and in the spring by 32.3 percentage points. Additionally, fitness levels increased substantially among children with high and low starting fitness levels (HFZ ≥ 100), demonstrating that Beyond Soccer Travel Teams effectively improve outcomes for children across all fitness levels. See reports HERE!
