June 7, 2023
Headlines

New Sport

How Yoga Can Supercharge Your Soccer Game

Laura05 mins

If you want to boost performance at your next soccer game, it may be time to pull out your yoga mat. Although it may seem counterproductive to slow down and stretch to increase endurance and ability on the field, yoga can work wonders to support your athletic ability.
Yoga Benefits for Athletes
First and foremost, yoga focuses on total mind-body wellness. As a result, it can improve joint mobility and flexibility to greatly reduce the risk of injury on the field. And as your joints become more flexible and strong, it can increase power and agility on the soccer field.
Additionally, yoga is well known for its ability to hone in focus and concentration through the use of deep breathing. With regular yoga practice, you can open your lungs more efficiently and breathe deeply, improving lung capacity as a result. Greater lung capacity brings increased endurance on the field, allowing you to play longer and stronger in your next game.
On top of that, many athletes are surprised to find that yoga is a serious workout when practiced properly. Although the practice of yoga may seem simple and relaxing with deep breathing, chanting, and stretching, holding poses in challenging positions for a long period of time can leave you drenched in sweat at the end of a workout session.
Even if you already consider yourself to be in tiptop shape, make no mistake that yoga will challenge new muscles that you may not use in your regular workouts. As a result, you’ll complete a yoga session feeling relaxed and limber with residual soreness for several days afterward as evidence that you worked your body hard.
Yoga for Soccer Conditioning
Since soccer is a fast-paced sport that demands continuous agility on the field, yoga can be used to condition the body from head to toe, while improving overall flexibility.
A soccer player interested in practicing yoga to improve performance should focus on the following areas:
• Improving flexibility in the quadriceps and hamstrings for improved running with quick direction changes.
• Supporting strong ankles to provide more range with on-field speed and agility.
• Strengthening leg muscles to keep knees safe as the foundation of speed.
• Opening hips to decrease pressure on the knees and prevent strained joints.
• Improving flexibility in the back to provide greater torque when shooting on the field.
When starting yoga for the first time, it’s recommended to work with a trained yoga instructor. For the best results, these foundational yoga poses can be used up to three times per week to support everyday sports performance:
• Seated forward bend
• Lunge twist
• Triangle pose
• Pigeon pose
• Lying spinal twist
• Plank pose with wrist support
• Seated cross leg twist
• Frog pose
While many athletes may never consider yoga a foundational part of a soccer workout, adding variety to your regular training routine can improve performance noticeably on the field.…

Read More

Winter Sports Travel Insurance for Active Travelers

Laura04 mins

If you like traveling around the world, you most likely like to be active and try out new things as well. Winter sports are one thing many travelers are keen to. Snowboarding, sledding, skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, ice paragliding, snowmobiling… Snow and ice can be so much fun! If you travel somewhere where you get to try out these sports, don’t miss the opportunity! Just remember to make sure that your travel insurance is good for covering winter sports as well. It is a well-known fact that regular travel insurances don’t cover anything considered “extreme sports”, but some people still don’t find out about that before it is too late. Winter sports are great but unfortunately also dangerous. Therefore it makes sense to be prepared for everything. You will most likely be just fine, but if something happens, you’ll be happy to know you have an insurance to take care of the costs.

Since the travelers are usually skiers or snowboarders, I’m going to talk about a winter sports travel insurance from a skier’s point of view, but the principles are pretty much the same when it comes to other sports too. Just remember that different insurance companies offer slightly different policies, so all I can do is to give you examples here. Make sure to read your own holiday insurance policy carefully before going!

Here’s an example of the things that can be covered with a winter sports travel insurance:

Accidents.

Medical treatment in an emergency.

Transport costs if you have to be evacuated either by plane or by ambulance.

Your own or hired skiing equipment being stolen or accidentally damaged or lost.

Loss of a ski pass.

Reimbursement of skiing related costs if you fall ill or get hurt.

Transportation costs in case you need to travel to another skiing site due to bad weather conditions, avalanches or lack of snow in your own ski resort.

Just make sure to use your common sense while skiing. No insurance policy allows skiing while intoxicated. You can also lose your coverage if you start to take unneeded risks or go ski to forbidden areas. If you stay within the ski resort boundaries and do things within your own skill level, you should be fine.

Many travelers are traveling on a budget and trying to save money in every possible way, but insurance coverage is not the right place to save. Get yourself a proper insurance and travel and ski worry-free!…

Read More

All About Field Hockey on School Sports Tours to Holland

Laura05 mins

Tucked away in the southern part of Holland, in the western Netherlands, is the village and former municipality of Valkenburg. In 2006 a number of districts in the area were merged together to form the municipality and town of Katwijk, which now includes Valkenburg as one of its districts. Valkenburg offers school sports tours a great location with easy access from the major airports and a larger city, while still providing a village feel. One of the highlights of a trip to Valkenburg is the chance to learn about field hockey and how to play or improve students’ games. While in Valkenburg students will learn about the history of field hockey, some of the most famous players, and even get the chance to spend an afternoon at the Phantasialand amusement park.
Field Hockey – It is thought that depictions from Ancient Greece, circa 200 B.C.E., possibly illustrate one of the forerunners of modern field hockey; players in the images are chasing a ball with a horn. Now, young athletes on school sports tours no longer need to chase the ball with a horn, but instead use modern interpretations of the ‘stick’ that can be made from wood, fibreglass or other approved materials. During their time in Valkenburg students can learn much about the rules of outdoor field hockey and how it differs from the indoor variety. In addition, they will get to try out their new skills on and off the pitches, with specialised coaches and organised matches against other teams in the area.
Famous Faces of Field Hockey – As the second most popular sport in Holland, it should come as no surprise that the field hockey has its own list of famous names attached to it. While on school sports tours to Holland, learning how to play field hockey and improve individual and team skills, students are bound to come across some of them and be inspired to learn more about what made them great. Some of these players are: Australia’s Fergus Kavanagh and Kiel Brown; Spain’s Ram?�n Alegre, who was part of the 2008 Olympic silver medal winning team; and the UK players Simon Mantell, who helped his team finish fifth in the 2008 Olympics, and James Tindall, famous for being named the UK Hockey Writer’s Player of the Year in 2006.
Phantasialand – During school sports tours to Valkenburg, students will also need a chance to relax, wind down and simply have some fun. Just a short coach trip away is Phantasialand. Located in Western Germany, Phantasialand was once a family theme park, but has added a host of thrilling rides in recent years. The park has rollercoasters and shows aplenty. Most match the park’s various themed areas such as: Berlin, Fantasy, Mexico, China, Mystery, and Deep in Africa. Phantasialand is a perfect place for students to take a break from pounding the field hockey pitches of Valkenburg.…

Read More

Why Should You Buy a New Watch?

Laura05 mins

If you’re forever asking people what time it is, or getting your phone out to see if you’re late, then perhaps you need a new watch.
Here’s why else you might need a new watch.
1. Your watch might be old and seen better days. Perhaps the strap is falling apart or is too small for you, or maybe the face is scratched and it’s hard to see what time it is.
2. It might be that you don’t actually own a watch, or maybe you haven’;t got a watch you like. You might have received watches as presents but not like wearing them. By choosing your own watch you can get a design and size you like, and will wear.
3. If you want to look stylish then you might want a more stylish watch than you currently own, Perhaps your watch came from the service station, or a supermarket, and has done well to last this long.
4. Perhaps you’ve had several cheap digital watches, and now you’re fed up of them. They might not last longer than a few weeks, and they might not keep accurate time. Why not treat yourself to something better that you know will last?
5. If you’ve got a stylish watch already, perhaps you want a sports watch so that you can go running, cycling or fishing without fear of damaging your nice watch.
6. If you’ve got a sports watch, you might want a formal watch. You might need to look smart for work, be entertaining clients, or be looking to sell products or services to professionals.
7. It might be that you’ve seen a watch you like, and want to treat yourself. Maybe you want a designer watch, or like a certain brand of watch.
8. Depending on your lifestyle and hobbies, you might want additional features from your watch. Perhaps its needs to be waterproof so you can wear it when you go fishing,or are on the beach. You might want a stopwatch on it so you can time your runs or bike rides. You might benefit from having the day and date on your watch, so that you can be completely organised.
9. The size of your watch might be important to you. You won’t want a heavy watch with a big face if you’re playing sports. You won’t want a slim sports watch when you’re wearing a suit and want to impress people.
10. No matter what sort of watch you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find something that you like, and will give you great value for money. There’s no point in buying a watch that costs a fortune if you’re never going to wear it, and there’s no point in trying to economise if you’re looking for an everyday watch.
Now you know why you should buy a new watch, what’s stopping you?…

Read More

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Secrets – Draft Day Do’s and Dont’s

Laura06 mins

Last year was definitely an off year for wide receivers, and while this year looks a little deeper, you do not want to pay too much for your WR’s production. Follow the Do’s and Dont’s below, and you will greatly improve your chances of hefting your Fantasy Football League Championship Trophy.
Do…
one of the big ones if you can, without disobeying the 2 RBs in the first 3 rounds rule. If you pick 10th, and the top 6 or 7 primary backs are off the board, picking Larry Fitzgerald with your first round pick may be the way to go. Kurt Warner is back, Boldin is signed, and the Cards face the most favorable matchups for a passing game in the NFL this year over 17 weeks. Same goes for Randy Moss, Andre Johnson, etc. Just make sure all the marquee RBs are off the board.
Do…
…check schedules! A quick look at Buffalo’s schedule shows only one home game in freezing bad-weather December at home, and that is against the lowly Oakland Raiders, so maybe Trent Edwards to Terrell Owens will be okay. But do not overlook the fact that this game is a week 15 4:00pm game, meaning playoff time for us Fantasy Footballers. You would hate to end your championship run because there was a blizzard in Denver and the Broncos handed the ball off 40 times.
DON’T…
…draft teammates! Kurt Warner / Larry Fitzgerald or Michael Turner / Roddy White may seem enticing, as your mind starts extrapolating all the huge numbers they could put up any given Sunday, but the downside is too great. Stick with players on separate teams, and you will limit your downside, and bye weeks will not be so hard to manage.
DON’T…
…waste time on Rookie WRs unless you want to roll the dice in a late round! Yes, DeSean Jackson was great last year as a rookie WR for the Eagles, but seriously, do you want to risk a mid-round pick on Darrius Heyward-Bey just because he was the 1st overall receiver to go in the NFL draft in April? “Crazy Al” and the Oakland passing game can be counted on for one thing only … inconsistency. If you do look to sneak a winner late, take a peak at Michael Crabtree in San Francisco. They have a very favorable schedule against week passing defenses, and Crabtree should start.
Remember, Wide Receivers can be the most up and down performers in the Fantasy game. All a QB has to do to get the RB the ball is turn around and hand it to him. A lot has to go right for a WR to get the ball. That is why it is so important to get consistent performers at this position. And when you are looking for great stats, head on over to the NFL website for all your stats, schedules, and info. Sporting News Fantasy Football guide is also indispensable. All the stats above, and all my …

Read More

Sports Supplements – How To Get Natural Strength And Boost Performance

Laura04 mins

When it comes to natural supplements, there are many different products on the market that you can choose from. For athletes, supplements that are created and geared towards sports can often give them the extra boost that they need to play better and last longer during their favorite activities.
From high school athletes to professionals, sports supplements have been used for decades without any major issues whatsoever. Keep in mind that chemical supplements are not the topic of discussion here. This article is specifically focused on all-natural health supplements that can help with sports performance and strength.
When it comes to performing in sporting events, you have to have the right balance of fitness and vitamins in your routine. If you are working out too much, you will need more carbohydrates. To do this without eating terrible food, you can take supplements.
If you need antioxidants because your body is stressed, you can take a supplement. There are a variety of naturally-occurring substances that athletes of all kinds rely on for their various health and performance needs. Sometimes, people use certain products regularly, while other times they may only use them here and there as needed.
If it works, it doesn’t matter. Sports supplements can offer increased strength, stamina, endurance, and more ability to accomplish the various sporting goals that people have. These are not offering any enhancements that would be considered cheating or unfair, but are simply helping to create better, healthier bodies so that sports can be played much more successfully.
Like nutritional supplements, these are not a magical cure that is going to make everything better overnight. They can be very effective, but supplements will take time to work and will only do so much. Your body has to do the rest.
It is very important that you get supplements from a brand that you know and trust. This is especially true with sports supplements because you could risk your entire game, season, or career on taking something that you aren’t really sure about.
These natural supplements aren’t FDA regulated so it is up to you to find a credible resource for the supplements that you need so that you can get the products that work without spending a fortune or buying from the wrong company. Take the time to learn about sports supplements and your different options so that you can get the best products every single time.…

Read More

Some Tips For NFL Betting

Laura07 mins

The NFL is, by far, the most watched of sports leagues in the United States. When you also factor in the vast amounts of money in the game, it does not take a master mathematician to work out that it will also be the most bet on sports league as well. As with many sports with a myriad of technicalities and tactical variants, it would be easy for a newcomer to NFL betting to become lost in the maze of technicalities. However, taking account of a few more simple rules can be of immeasurable benefit when deciding exactly how, and where to place your bet.
Firstly, remember that every new season sees changes to the league that will affect teams, which subsequently will affect who you should bet on. Such statistics are useful to a degree, but not infallible, and not as immediately easy to assimilate for the newbie.
A simpler rule is to always go against the prevailing mood of the general public. Most of the general public does not pay sufficient attention to the kinds of details that really make a difference, and so they are likely to be wrong much more often than they are right. Another spin-off of this rule is that, logically, the more people that bet against you, the larger the payout will be when you win.
One can examine this rule particularly in the light of the Super Bowl. Take last year, for example, and Super bowl 42, where the undefeated Patriots were overwhelming favourites to overcome the giants. The game saw the Patriots lose their perfect season record to the universal underdogs.
Also, do not become overly fixated by talk about the previous seasons and related statistics. Many fans are liable to do this, and it can be detrimental in terms of ascertaining odds.
Do not be a slave to last year’s stats, as they are unlikely to be repeated. Look especially at the players and the lines-particularly important in college football, where the lines on each team vary hugely from year to year due to the fact that the teams change when graduates leave.
It is perhaps best to bet in the early part of the season, as many gamblers wait to see how the season will unfold and how teams develop. Some base their own statistical patterns on such things. By using your own knowledge of the teams and players, you can reap dividends in the early part of the season.
Also, pay attention to non-official statistics, such as penalties, non-plays and turnover differential, as these can play a huge factor in games and dramatically influence any betting activity. This is especially true of the turnover differential, as teams that turn the ball over less usually end up winning. Look also for teams that are currently on a losing streak playing a team that has won their last few games, and bet on the team that has been losing. Betting on a team to rebound is a basic in any …

Read More

Still Suffering From Pain? Then Discover the First Step to Conquering Pain

Laura05 mins

Millions of people suffer from pain, be it neck pain, lower back pain, leg pain or reoccurring headaches. Billions of dollars are spent on pain relief. Yet, those who suffer from pain don’t take the first and most important step. Like me, they are in a hurry to get relief and try this and that. And, like I did find most cures at best bring only temporary relief.
Picture this for a moment, you suddenly become aware of a pain in your right foot, it starts out as a sharp pain at first, then turns into a burning pain and begins to ache and throb.
You could take an over the counter painkiller (a first choice for many), or you could have a steroid injection or something similar.
You could even try the latest hyped guru recommended treatment. But the results would invariably be the same. The pain would simply return and the condition would only worsen.
Why would this be the case?
The underlying cause has NOT been dealt with.
The cause could easily have been a sharp pebble in your shoe. Remove the cause (in this case mechanical) and the pain will soon disappear.
Unfortunately, not all underlying causes are this easily discovered. Most pain conditions will require expertise and the right instruments to discover what is really going on and the cause behind the pain.
The single most important step is to find out the underlying cause of the pain. Yet, this often is the most overlooked step or skipped step, often because we may not know who to turn to for help in finding out what that underlying cause maybe.
Who should you turn to in order to uncover the underlying cause of pain? This is where I ran into trouble. Here’s what I did. I found an open-minded healthcare professional using the following as my guide.
1) First, select someone who is recommended by someone whose judgment you can trust. A friend, even a family member that has or is suffering from the same or similar pain.
2) Make sure the healthcare professional is licensed to practice in your province or he or she is not licensed, this is a serious red flag.
3) Make sure the individual is part of a recognized board or professional body that oversees the healthcare profession in your province or state. A regulatory association of that particular healthcare profession.
4) Is the individual willing to work with other physicians as part of your medical team.
5) Uses diagnostic tools such as ultrasound, x-rays and para-spinal digital infrared imaging.
6) Is open to holistic preventative care and counsel, and can provide at least provide some council in this regard, or is willing to recommend some one that can.
7) Doesn’t claim that his or her specialty will cure an alphabet soup of medical conditions.
This is a serious red flag.
The single most important take-away from this short article is: Make sure you have found the underlying cause of the …

Read More

Fun Interactive Family Adventure Attractions Bring Families Together

Laura06 mins

Today’s active families prefer quality time that brings them closer together as it helps them to build healthy minds, bodies, and ties that bind them together. Those seeking fun interactive family adventure attractions in Toronto will find exactly what they need as they tackle exciting new pastimes and play hard together.
Families with younger children will marvel at the variety of activities a day in Toronto delivers. From hands-on museum learning, to parks that bring story books to life, to heart-pumping action that brings each face-to-face with nature, Toronto is an adventure land for kids and their adults.
Among the sites that thrill visitors of all ages is the Royal Ontario Museum. A day at this glorious destination includes stops at several exhibits geared toward smiling kids. Featuring a dinosaur exhibit/ demonstration station and the Discovery Gallery where kids can dress various parts and put their hands to task for more comprehensive learning, ROM is a highlight in the Toronto skyline.
Featuring six miles of trails stretched over 710 acres of land, the Toronto Zoo is a destination not to be missed. Families strolling the grounds to view the glorious denizens of the world will find their hearts and bodies strengthened as well as their minds. One if the greatest things about a family day at the zoo is the discussions such generates among families, and these are the types of talks that bring families closer and help each to understand the unique perspectives of others.
A short train ride from bustling Toronto, families step into the past as they walk Unionville’s Historic Main Street. To heighten the adventure, enjoy a carriage ride and imagine what life was like before automobiles turned roads into race ways.
Older offspring need more intense opportunities to engage and excite them, and Toronto has exciting opportunities for them and their families as well. From the stomach-flipping energy of Toronto’s world-class winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, to the more casual pleasure of days in the basketball or tennis courts, families with teens find numerous ways to connect in this renaissance city.
To enjoy learning more about the sports that make the region so famous, many families head to the Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, a Maple Leafs game, or to a Blue Jays game. Few thongs are as exciting as playing the game for real or watching the pros on the ice or the field, but the Hockey Hall of Fame Museum comes fairly close as it is loaded with interactive exhibits to recreate the excitement of the game.
Heading to a professional sporting event may cost more than a day in the park, but such is an incredible value when one considers the memories to be made at an event that addresses every sense and delivers such enormous emotional pay offs. When children grow up saying, “Remember when we saw that hat trick? That was really cool!” their parents remember, too, the joy of the day or night and never regret the …

Read More

3 Ways Your Sports Fundraiser Makes Your Team Look Bad

Laura05 mins

A fundraiser is an extension of your sports program – anything you are selling or sending out to potential donors reflects on what people think about your organization. With this in mind, you want to make sure your fundraiser makes your team look like a professional and winning organization. People like to support a winner anyways. Below are three things you should watch for to ensure your sports program looks good while fundraising.
1. Branding – Branding is the marketing practice of creating a name, symbol or design that identifies and differentiates a product from other products. In relation to your team fundraiser, this means the logos and colors that people identify with your program. Anything that is being put out in front of donors for your fundraiser should fully represent the logos and colors of your team. Furthermore, make sure every part of your fundraiser looks the same. Your direct mail piece should look like your online landing page so people are sure they are in the right place. The picture to the right shows a a fundraiser done by a team that utilized direct mail and a website. Both the website and direct mail piece look similar while the team’s branding is in check. Overall the fundraiser looks professional, reflecting well on the team.
2. Cheap Products: Is your team selling candy, discount cards, magazines, or candles? Most of this is crap people really do not want. They purchase them because they feel guilty and then these products just sit around their house going unused. I personally have some magazine subscriptions that go unread and pile up in the house. Having the players on your team sell products that people do not want reflects badly on your team. Make sure the products you are selling are quality and something people want. Or you can utilize fundraisers that do not involve selling at all.
3. Commercialized Fundraiser: If any part of your fundraiser involves something being given or sent to potential donors, make sure that it is not over-commercialized. Over-commercialized means that the fundraiser is filled with advertisements, special offers or sponsors. I once received a fundraising letter that was filled with different offers from credit card companies and discounts for local businesses. It had so much of this fluff, that I can’t remember who the team was and what they were raising money for. Make sure your fundraiser sticks to what is important – your team, what your fundraising for and how it will make your program more successful.
In short, before starting your fundraiser, make sure that every part of it reflects well on your team. There are too many fundraisers that involve cheap products and poor design that will make your program look bad. Choose wisely.…

Read More