The essentials list: Soccer personality Kyle Martino shares his 8 fitness must-haves
Soccer personality and co-creator of Street FC Kyle Martino shares his 8 fitness favorites, from stylish cycling pants to resistance bands.
It's true, Major League Soccer player Kyle Martino hasn't played a professional match in 15 years. "I don't miss playing at all, with the way my body is feeling these days!" He laughs. He adds that he is just as happy sitting on the sidelines and talking about the game, rather than actually playing it.
As part of HBO Max's first ever domestic live sports coverage, fans can listen to him call and analyze more than 20 US Men's National Team Soccer matches throughout the year. He's optimistic about the future, even though the team lost 2-1 to Serbia during his debut on January 25, despite being bullish. He says that the US is a young, exciting team thanks to players such as Christian Pulisic and Gioreyna. The popularity of sports will continue to grow in America, as the 2026 World Cup will be held here.
Martino is speaking from experience. Former University of Virginia All-American, Martino spent seven seasons as a midfielder for the Columbus Crew and LA Galaxy. He provided color commentary for NBC Sports and ESPN. He also contributed to HDNet and Fox Soccer Channel. The father of three was also board chairman of Street Soccer USA which empowers underserved community through the power soccer. He launched The Over Under Initiative a non profit dedicated to improving children's health and wellbeing.
Martino is still able to play his favorite sport. He co-founded Street FC, which allows members to play soccer on hard surfaces at low costs. He says, 'It allowed me to play the game that I love again.' It's also where I do my workouts. Martino shares with CNN Underscored his favorite fitness activities.
True: You do not need expensive equipment to get a good strength workout. Resistance-band training is proven to produce the same results as using free weights. However, the durable latex material means that you can use it with less stress on your joints. He says, 'It may sound simple, but I really love resistance bands.' They're easy to travel with, lightweight and are available in a variety of resistance bands. YouTube has a number of simple demonstrations.