1 star is even too high to give for this awful league. We wanted to play in a men's league this…read moresummer, were ok with the fee stated online, and registered early. Before the first game, which was moved to a later date than stated online because they wanted to wait for another team to join (which screwed the entire scheduling over), the league came up with referee fees that needed to be paid in addition to the original fee. This was never stated anywhere and was simply made up for the referees to breath fresh air for about an hour and stand in one place the whole game. Not following the rules of soccer and concussion protocols is another issue. We emailed Ryder, the Program Manager for this league, who often did not answer emails that had simple questions from our team. His scheduling was awful, originally stating that games would be between 8-10, and then scheduled us two games at 7, knowing that adults have work on weekdays. Everything that is written online is fake, and is only used to get you to sign up. None of these people can run this league normally. During our third game of the season, half of our team could not continue and finish the game. One of these injuries is was a Torn ACL (meaning no soccer for our teammate for over a year), another was a hamstring injury for about a month, another was a groin injury for about a month. None of these injuries were even called to be a foul. The refs just stand in one spot and could not care less about what happens on the field. Our teammate said that he heard his knee pop, but did not even hear a whistle. Two games after that, our goalie saves a shot and has the ball in his hands. The other team just runs at him and kicks it out of his hands, hitting him in the head while doing so, scoring a goal after that, while our goalie is down. Do these refs even do concussion trainings, or any trainings at all? Do they know what can happen if someone gets kicked in the head? Then in the playoffs, we played a team we faced twice already. We know every player on that team already. The game is already starting late as the previous game went to penalties, but the ref calmly waits until some of their players are getting dressed. They have more than enough players to start the game, but he waits until their new players get ready. These new players don't even have the team jersey (which is required as stated online, don't have shinguards, which is also required as stated online, and have shirt colors that conflict with us). Then when they win by cheating, they go and have very very poor sportsmanship while we simply quietly go back to our bench after losing (I know sportsmanship policies are also stated online). All of these games, the ref uses very very bad and insulting language to one of our registered players who is on the sideline, who partially acts as a coach. Overall, terrible communication throughout, rules online that are not followed at all, and the league runs a month later than stated online. If you want to have fun playing soccer, please find another league. You will thank me later.

Absolutely awful soccer league and awful people to deal with…read more The league started late, finished a month later than promised. Games were cancelled. Hidden fees came out. Little communication. Emails are not answered. Referees are just there to get paid. Lots of injuries, including many serious ones, as a result. Teams cheat by bringing unregistered players for playoffs. One of our players forgot the jersey and could not play, but in the next game the other team had 4 players in different jerseys (who were brought in for the playoff game and not part of the team) and they were allowed to play. The worst league ever encountered. Find another league. And the field is very small to play soccer, because BSSC tries to fit lots of games on a small field to maximize $$$. On top of that they just change the rules to accommodate their agenda and manipulate key calls to let the teams they know players on win.

ever since I joined the mystryde community a few weeks back I have enjoyed it so much. I am trying…read moreto get back into running and this was a perfect introduction. the trainers are very welcoming and made me feel at ease in my first few classes. I highly recommend!!!!!

Mystryde is Barry's bootcamp for less intense people!…read more I've come here a few times and I love power stryde. It's an interval based class but you use your own body weight more than actual weights(only kettle balls here). I definitely prefer this class to Barry's because it's a more go at your own pace atmosphere. Erin has been my favorite teacher so far. She gives good instructions and has an awesome floor workout (burpees, planks, squats). My abs were definitely sore! I also had Becca and she was excellent as well. The studio is fine but the mats are kinda gross. They should update them... Also switching stations is a bit confusing because the mat stations aren't numbered. Some teachers will have you pick someone to switch with which makes the process much easier. I don't like running for long periods of time so I didn't like stryde plus core. It was literally 35 min of running and 5 min of core. Most classes are 50 min but some are 45 which cuts things short. I highly recommend taking a class here! You will leave happy :).

They will not offer a refund under ANY circumstances. I had to unexpectedly move out of state due…read moreto unforseen and uncontrollable circumstances, and despite me giving them over a month's advanced notice of my cancellation, they were still unwilling to refund my money. Now they are profiting off of my cancellation because they have my money and are still able to sell my spot to somewhat else before the league starts.

SBS Varsity Card is probably the best addition in my wallet and my newest best friend…read more With my varsity card, I have been able to get discounts and/or free admissions to various SBS events such as the Whitewater Rafting trip, the Cinco (or Uno) de Mayo Party, the SBS Birthday party, and the upcoming "I'm on a Boat" party, as well as free drinks or complimentary appetizers during VIP hours. Also as a Varsity Card holder, I get special invitations to private parties with free access and even free drinks! If you play on a league, you receive 10% off your individual team fee. The card can also be used at various venues for no line/no cover access and 10 - 20 % discounts on foods and products. Additionally, the card already comes equipped with $25 from BuyYourFriendADrink.com to use at participating bars! The best part is that I only have to carry one card to get all these discounts and special access, all the while doubling as my BYFAD card. Just a Note: SBS also offers a JV card as well with similar discounts and access.

Esh is the kind of place that is very "Somerville," which basically translates to quirky/unique,…read morewith the right amount of support for people of all kinds. Months ago, I was looking to move my body more, and in a way that didn't feel like a complete slog. I've never liked running or hitting the gym, so I needed something that would feel more like fun to me. I knew Esh existed, and out of the blue it hit me that mayyyybe I could take classes there. That was almost 3 months ago, and I started with 1 class per week. Now, I am up to 2 classes each week and I am considering upping it to 3 classes a week in the fall. The people who work at/take classes at Esh are kind, supportive, and there are many ways to learn new things while taking it at your own pace. There are so many different class offerings - everything from tumbling to contortion, plus aerial arts and much more. If you want to give it a try without the commitment, there are drop-in classes as available, as well as some taster classes and private lessons.

Great staff and experience I would recommend this to anyone looking to try. Very affordable and…read moreclean facility.

Clean 25 yd pool that wasn't too crowded. I went after work and didn't have to share with more…read morethan one person. Also, there's a very large diving well and separate kiddy pool so the lanes don't get full of aqua-joggers or families. Compared to some other local (non-university) pools, it's not quite as over-chlorinated or quite as warm, and definitely cleaner. Cheap entry by day, multiple-session card (I did the 10 entries for $40 which I think is budget-friendly) or gym membership - although I haven't checked out the gym yet. Only complaint is limited hours of lap availability and no AM lap swim during the winter session.

I am trying out several different masters swim programs in the Boston area and this is my second…read moreone I've tried. (See my other review for Quincy masters). So, I have to say, this one is just okay. You get a decent workout, but it's not HARD. And the reason why is not because of the workout itself, but it's because there are no SEND OFF times. Basically, the workout is, you do X amount of sets, but resting wise, you just do 10 or 20 second rests after each set. And so personally I'm not motivated to swim faster because I'm not trying to do anything on a specific time constraint. I find myself a little less focused to go faster without sendoffs. Also, the workout is pretty much the same each time- you start with a warmup, then 2 underwaters, and then the main set, and then an IM set, and the same kind of sprints where you try and do each 25 with zero breath or one, or whatever it is. It's not a bad workout, but I'm incredibly bored because I know it's the same each time. The main set changes each time, of course, but the sameness of structure makes it kinda boring. We get a decent amount of yardage in- anywhere between 2400-3200 per hour and 15 minute workout time. Practices are twice a week. As for the coach, Elyssa, she is a lovely woman. However, she doesn't quite have the enthusiasm I'm personally looking for. I want somebody to yell at me and give me critique. However, in her defense, she does have to coach 6 lanes of people so I understand it's not easy to give personal attention, so I don't blame her. But personality wise, I like a little more spunk in my coach. But everyone is there for different reasons so it's hard for a coach to be everything. The one thing that really bugs me is the staff that works there at the front desk- they are SO unfriendly, rude, impatient and clearly underpaid. They are CRANKY and they are the first people I see when I walk into that building so it makes me want to not be there. The pool is about a 10 minute walk to Harvard T stop (cut off across Harvard campus will save you ample time), so it's not terrible in terms of location. Oh, the pool itself really sucks. First of all, there are bulk heads that's separating the different sections of the pool so there's nothing to GRAB onto when you're doing two hand touches; it's completely awkward and irritating. Imagine finishing and doing two hand touches on a wall. Also, when you get into the pool, they have these blocks that are covered by orange covers that sorta get in the way and make it hard for you to get in- not to mention it is IMPOSSIBLE to get out because of the depth. You have to swim to the ladder to get out of the pool, because there is no way you can get out from the pool otherwise. It's kinda ridiculous. Cost wise, it's $105 for 20 sessions, so that's $5.25 per session, which is pretty cheap. I've looked into many other programs and this is probably the cheapest one. So pros: -Pretty good location if you're in Cambridge -Decent yardage of workout -Nice coach -Inexpensive Cons: -Sucky pool -Unfriendly front desk staff -No real send off times, just go at your own pace (which can be a pro if that's what you are looking for) - A bit dull (atmosphere, people, some of the workouts) If you are in Cambridge and are looking for twice a week workout for fitness, this is probably a good option for you.

Solid coaching that meets you where you are both physically and mentally. All the coaches I have…read moreworked with have been very supportive in addition to being knowledgeable, and fostered a very encouraging environment. I cannot recommend them enough.

Parkour Generations Boston is an absolute gem. The coaches cater to all ages and skill levels and…read morethey are all incredible movers with so much to share. Their classes are super accessible, build camaraderie, and create a foundation in the spirit of the sport. PKGB's outdoor classes explore movement patterns in all kinds of settings where each component of class builds on the others at all levels. The outdoor dojo is a beautiful and inspiring place to train. Boston wouldn't be the same without this organization. Try it out!

I must have driven by BodyBurn about a billion times before finally giving it a try. I remember…read moreseeing that it was a personal training gym for a while and then suddenly it looked like a club from the outside. A friend of mine became a fan and convinced me to give it a try too. One class and I was hooked! The BodyBurn 1.0 class utilizes motorless cardio machines and strength sets to get you sweaty and basically just want to lay down and die at the end of the class. The cardio machines range from your basic bike and row machine to the coolest climbing wall and ski erg. If you are a new to fitness and this sounds daunting, don't worry. You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to be able to do this stuff. If you are super fit and want a challenge, you can get that here too. There are ways to tailor it to make it a great workout for whatever level you your fitness level. And the best part? The instructors don't make you feel like a big ol' baby when you get nervous on the climbing wall and decide to take it to climb up it rather than run up it like the dude (my husband) that was on it before you. As a matter of fact, they are just encouraging (and not in that really annoying way that some group fitness instructors can be). There is also a BodyBurn 2.0 class that focuses less on cardio and more on strength using weights and TRX. I haven't had a chance to take those classes but it is on my To Do list. In addition to a good class they seem to be interested in building a whole community. They are active on Instagram, have unique sections on their app and seem to remember every client's name. The *only* critique I have of this studio is the price/class packages. Drop-in classes are $30 (first class is $15) and they have some X number of class packages and monthly memberships. If you want to go several times a week, you are looking at almost $300/month. I don't know why, but once you get over the $225 range for monthly membership, I can't justify it in the budget. This critique isn't enough for me to give it 4 stars though. I'm sticking with the 5! Note: I've never had any pressure to sign up for a membership. I've taken 2 other people with me and they haven't had any either. (FINALLY a place that gets it!) Go. Sweat. Enjoy!

An extraordinary place to regain, strength Endurance, and confidence! Ray, James, Ashley, and…read moreBrittany focus more on style and technique. They care more about you doing the exercise correctly than pushing out reps. Transformation begins with one muscle at a time. I recommend Rayfit (Burnin' By Ray)to anyone who wants to live their best life. Patricia

One of my favorite things about our wonderful city of Boston is the abundance of active adults…read more Every day, I see more people running, biking or playing sports per capita than I have anywhere else. I am always quick to applaud the city and surrounding towns (way to go Cambridge and Somerville) for the wealth of outdoor activities, both solo and team-related, available to residents. One of my favorite such Boston-based young-people-centric outdoor activities is my weekly WAKA game at Roberto Clemente Field in the Fens. My team, the Electric Mayhem, has been together for years in the Ironsides League (there are several leagues in town), and through it I have met some of the nicest and most fun folks you can hope for. If anyone ever thinks that it's hard to make new friends, sign up for a WAKA team and you'll have a dozen new ones after a day. The Ironsides League (and I hear the same about the other ones) is just competitive enough to be fun. Teams have a vested interest in winning and playing hard, but not so much of an interest that folks get disgusted and enraged after a loss. Everyone's there to just play and have a good time. The leagues are all well-managed and that management leads to the quality of organization and general spirit of WAKA in Boston. So yeah, in short, get some comfy sneakers on and get to the field. It's game time.

This is a new-comers dream come true. No one likes moving to a new city and feeling completely out…read moreof place. You don't know any one and you find yourself getting excited to do laundry on the weekends just to pass time and loneliness. Ok, I admit, that's slightly dramatic and maybe a bit true. I joined WAKA when my childhood friend moved into the city so she could meet people outside her grad school program. After trying another kickball league, I just didn't want to enroll in a free agent alone. The concept of adult kickball leagues is pretty standard, you play a game of kickball and then you head to a bar to drink. At a previous league, everyone hangs out only with their team mates and hardly any mingling happens between teams. It's quite the opposite with WAKA and I could give credit to the company but the people make the difference. If you're not a person that likes high energy or loud bars, you're best off never joining this league. You really have to be prepare for happy, excited and really fun people. Yes the teams can be very competitive on the field but you may also make friends for a lifetime. It's cheesy, but I've found it to be truth in the making.