November 30, 2023
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How Does A High School Athletic Program Become Great?

Laura09 mins

I have often wondered what makes excellence in high school athletics? I grew up in an high school that demanded excellence in all of their sports programs, boys and girls. But, it was not always that way. Actually, when I attended this high school, our school was very average in sports. But, during my senior year, something magical happened. It just seemed like all of our sports teams started to get better and better. We won the state championship that year in both boys basketball and football. The next year, the school won state in football, track, cross country and girls tennis. After that, my high school has never looked back. What happened? How did we go from being average to being great? What was the tipping point? Was it just a great class of kids? Was it the coaching staff? What happened?
Well, before I Get There, Excellence In High School Athletics Is Earned…
By comparison, many years later, I know of a high school that is just the opposite. Academics in the school are great. I really believe the teachers, administrators and coaching staff are terrific. And… so are the kids. But, on the athletic field or court, they just don’t have it. They finish at the bottom of the pack every year in every sport. Why? How can one school set records for the number of state championships, while another school sets records for the number of losing seasons?
I have had the fortune of being involved with both types of athletic programs. You would think that being involved with a winning program is much easier. I would beg to differ. Being involved with a winning program is much tougher than being involved with a losing program. It’s tougher on the administrator, the coach staff, the parents, and especially the players.
Excellence In High School Athletics – Here’s Why It’s Tougher…
Being involved in a winning athletic program demands excellence. Everyone in a winning program knows that winning requires a total commitment to excellence. Winners don’t take shortcuts. Winners come in early and stay late. Winners work-out in the off-season. The community demands winning. The school demands winning. The parents, the school administrators, the coaches… they all demand winning. In order to win… everyone must do their job. It’s just not performance on the field. That is actually the end result of each person’s everyday effort to reach the same goal… to win.
But, how does a high school get to that position? How to you go from bad to average to great. I believe it starts with the school administrators. The administrators of the school must develop this attitude. This attitude must then be demanded of the entire coaching staff. Being average is no longer an option. If the coach is not willing to demand excellence, to put in a 110% effort toward the development of their sports program… they are out. The coaches need to develop their current high school players. And… they need to …

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Rock Climbing – Great Physical Challenge and Excitement

Laura05 mins

Rock climbing is an extremely challenging but exciting sport. It has great physical demands and can pose the risk of bodily harm. But for those who pursue this sport, the risks and challenges are part of make this so much fun and rewarding. Here is some further information on this sport along with the kinds of equipment used.
Rock climbing is a sport where people climb up natural rock formations or artificial rock formations. They do so with the objective of reaching the top of these formations.
This sport is an extremely challenging one both physically and mentally. It challenges the strength, endurance, balance and skill of the climber. The sport can be very dangerous since it can result in damaging falls if proper safety equipment is not utilized.
So we will talk about the critical types of equipment used to try to make this sport much safer and reduce accidents from falls.
In its purest form, rock climbing entails climbing up a route using only one’s hands and feet to climb up and along small boulders and hand holds protruding from the rock face.
However as these routes get ever higher, the risk of injury or death becomes greater without using safety measures. To minimize this risk, certain techniques and climbing equipment are used to ensure that climbers can properly utilize a system of ropes attached to anchors which are embedded in the rock face to help break a fall.
There are certain kinds of techniques developed to help provide more safety for climbers. We’ll review a few of the more common techniques.
Top Roping. In this technique, an anchor is established at the summit of a route prior to the commencement of the climb. The rope is fed through this anchor such that one end is attached to the climber and the other end is held by a belayer whose job it is to keep the rope taut during the climb and therefore prevent unnecessarily long falls if this accident occurs.
This technique is regarded as one of the safest ways to climb and it gives the climber a great deal of flexibility in choosing the best route up the face of the mountain.
Lead Climbing. This technique entails using someone who is determined to be the lead climber move up the rocks with a rope attached to him. As he moves up the rope face, he attaches an anchor into the rocks which he then attaches a rope to it.
As the lead climber moves up the rock face, he is never normally more than a few feet beyond the point where he is attached to the anchor. Therefore in the event of an accidental fall, the lead climbers drop should be minimized and hopefully avoid anything more than minor injury.
Rock climbing is a very rewarding and challenging sport. But the use of critical safety equipment is a vital aspect towards making the sport just as challenging but much safer for the participants.…

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What Makes a Great Trophy?

Laura05 mins

For those of you who still think that trophies are things handed out to kids at the end of football season, think again. Whilst trophies have never been out of favour when it comes to children’s sports you might be surprised to learn that they are highly prized by adults too and not just in the sports arena.
These days corporate events are being built around trophy presentations and these events are used not simply to present awards but to highlight corporate endorsements. It’s a well-known fact that companies compete to sponsor large scale, well-publicised events such as the Brownlow medal, but it is becoming increasingly common for even small businesses to get involved in their local communities by sponsoring local events, and what better way to do this then with the presentation of a trophy?
There is no doubt that corporate sponsorship is a very effective method of reaching a target audience or, on a broader scale, establishing a brand name.
While many companies simply dream about having their business or product name become a household phrase, many do not realise that this may not be as difficult as it seems. When you think about it, every well-known trophy in the land had to start somewhere and although well-known sporting personalities have tended to dominate, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a local business could establish itself as a household name simply by sponsoring a popular local event.
This need not be limited to local sporting clubs but can stretch much further afield into things like cultural events, locality awards for community service, or hosting a park event were trophies can be presented for achievements in a wide variety of fields. Great trophies have emerged out of great sporting performances but there is no reason why this cannot be repeated at a local, community level.
We all know the value of trophies when we witness the reactions of our children when they are fortunate enough to win something. Just about every business in the land also rewards their best performing staff with a trophy or some form of perpetual recognition. This stems from the long held belief that all human beings cherish the recognition of their peers and will seek this by delivering a performance that is needed to achieve the esteemed result.
Smaller businesses would do well to emulate the actions of large corporations in this respect especially when you consider that if they have a good name in their local community, their business success is similarly assured. No amount of media advertising can equal the free publicity that stems from being associated with their local communities in a positive way.
It is far cheaper and far more rewarding to endorse a number of trophies which can be awarded to local heroes or champions in any field, not just sport. Schools are a prime example especially when you consider that children are rewarded not only for their sporting achievements but also for community service and …

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Great Gift Ideas for Sports Fans

Laura04 mins

We all know an avid sports fan in our lives. They’re the ones who can’t step away from the television set because their team is playing yet another crucial game of the season. The next time an occasion arises where you need to give them a gift; take the chance to give them something they will truly love.
Why burden yourself with giving someone a gift you’re unsure on whether they will like or not? If given the chance, always take the safest route. In this case, it’s giving a sports fan something sports related. It doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. Here are some of the most popular gift ideas for sports fans.
All sports fans want a chance to watch their favorite team or player play in real life. Why not give them that chance by giving them tickets to the next event? The best way to do so is to find the next time their favorite team plays a home game and book those tickets.
Another option is for fan paraphernalia. Any true fan would love to show off their team pride. In order to do so, they’ll need the team jerseys, hats and shirts. Find out what that person may already have and work around it. Add a unique touch to the gift by having their name to the personalized jersey.
Jewelry can be a great way of showing team pride. Charm bracelets are the best choice for this. There are literally thousands of charms to pick from. Many of them are sports dedicated charms that you can create a bracelet with. Many of these charms could be engraved and personalized for that special someone.
Some sports are both enjoyed watched or played. If you know someone who loves playing a sport, equipment could make a great gift. Options include giving gifts that upgrade their existing equipment or giving entirely new things. Use your best judgment based on what that person may already own.
Sports make a great interest and hobby. A great way to introduce someone to a new sport is by giving them a gift that relates to it. How about tickets to a game? Seeing a sports game in real life opens many doors for people who have not been introduced to the sport.
Whatever gift you may choose to give, look to make it special with a personal touch. You can do things like imprint a name on a jersey, engraving a message on a cup, or even leaving a note with the gift. Sports may make up a significant part of someone’s life. You can show them you recognize that with a great gift.…

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Follow This Great Article About Baseball To Help You

Laura05 mins

Baseball has really grown in popularity all over the world in recent years. If you are confused as to why baseball is such a great sport, or you have been following it for awhile and just want great tips, the following article is just for you. Keep reading for solid tips about baseball.

Learn how to hit a ball without chasing it by using a batting cage. A batting cage allows you to hit the ball as hard as you can without worrying about an errant ball going through a window. The batting cage has mesh sides so the ball is easily recovered.

If you coach baseball, motivating your players is a good way to push them to victory. Group activities such as pizza parties can help your team bond so they can work well together. Always remember baseball is only a game, and not the most important thing in the world.

If you want to hit with power, you should place your weight on your back foot. If you hit from the right side, the weight will be placed on the right foot with your thigh muscle tightening on that side. As you swing, your back foot will add power.

Always wear protective equipment when playing baseball. Just like any sport, injuries happen in baseball. Especially when batting, you need to protect your head. That means you need to wear a helmet whenever you enter the batter’s box. One poor pitch can mean a fastball hitting you in the noggin. That’s at minimum a ringing headache with the potential for a concussion or worse. Be safe.

For kids in baseball, make sure they their hands are placed properly for hitting. The top hand on the bat needs to be sitting near the same height as their rear shoulder, about 3 to 6 inches from that rear shoulder. Their rear elbow needs to be around 45-degrees. The front elbow needs to be lower and about even with the back elbow.

Do you have any children or grandchildren that are interested in playing baseball? As in other areas of life, we want to do all we can to help our kids experience success. To develop a quick swing, the hands, wrists and forearms have to be strong. You don’t have to buy expensive equipment to help kids develop better muscle strength. Give your child a tennis ball to squeeze on while watching TV. The tennis ball provides enough resistance to strengthen the hand, wrist and forearm.

When batting, don’t be afraid to take a few pitches, especially against a pitcher you are less familiar with. Those pitches will give you an idea of the pitchers speed and the ball’s action to the plate. Plus, the additional pitches will help wear out the pitcher over the course of the game. A tired pitcher makes more mistakes.

After reading the above article, you should now be aware of why so many people all over the world consider baseball to be a great sport. …

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Want To Play Football? Great Tips To Get You Started

Laura05 mins

Football is a wonderful sport that has grown by leaps and bounds all over the world due to its popularity on television. If you are curious as to what makes football much fun to watch, then you will want to read the following the article. Read on for great football tips that will get you excited about the sport.

Understand that there is always room for improvement in your game of football. The competition will improve, and so must you, no matter how great a player you already are. Keep working at becoming even stronger, faster and smarter. When you think you’re on top, that’s when somebody can come along and knock you down.

To increase accuracy as a kicker, learn the proper way to kick the ball. Many kickers make the mistake of kicking with the front of the foot. Instead, they should be kicking with the side of the foot. It will increase accuracy as well as distance and could win the game.

Be smart when playing defense. Don’t try to just out-muscle the offense. Be mindful of runners who might look like they are down, only to see them blow by you. Also keep an eye out for fumbles and yell out “Ball” when they happen. This gives your fellow defenders a chance to get the ball.

If you want to do well late game, make sure that interval training is a regular part of your cardio. This is basically alternating high-speed and low-speed laps or timed intervals within your overall running session. Doing this will help you keep up a consistent energy level throughout the whole game, meaning that coach can count on you in the fourth quarter.

Do at least one basic drill specific to your position on a daily basis. Running backs are wise to work on ball handling drills every day. Quarterbacks should spend at least an hour a day working on throwing accuracy and arm strengthening. Linebackers need to constantly work on their tackling, as well as shedding blockers.

When your coach gives you advice, pay attention. Even if you don’t think he knows what he’s talking about, you are likely the one who will be wrong. He isn’t a coach because he gives bad advice and never played a day in his life, so listen and see what you can learn.

When applying to colleges you want to play for, send a DVD highlight reel to each. Apply to several that are at the level you wish to play at. Once you’ve attained a selection of universities interested in you, you can decide which one is the best for you from there.

After reading the above article you can now see what has made football become so popular on television. All it takes is a basic understanding of the game to truly appreciate how much fun and enjoyment an afternoon in front of the television can bring. Borrow the ideas from these tips to help encourage a better understanding and love …

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Great Tips To Help You Become A Better Soccer Player

Laura05 mins

You have so much fun playing soccer. But, you want to take things a little further by acquiring some knowledge to help you with your soccer game. Truly, soccer is a great sport, and you are about to learn some great tips. Continue reading so that you can show you are a great soccer player.

Never make the assumption that you’re out of the current play once you’ve passed a ball. Keep up with the action as you may see the ball soon come back to you. If some players never pass the ball again after catching it, do not hesitate to point out their mistakes.

Recognize that how you pass the ball to someone else has meaning. For example, a hard pass indicates a sense of urgency, and it may tell the player that someone is coming up on them. A soft pass often indicates that you want the player to retreat toward you a little. There is much you can say on the field, even without words.

If you are a goalie, you must learn to stay low. By learning to stay low and balanced, you will be able to block most shots. Be ready to lunge toward either side of the goal. This is best accomplished by spreading your legs approximately shoulder width apart and then lunging toward the ball when it is kicked.

Strength training is an important part of any soccer players practice. For effective strength training concentrate on your thigh and calf muscles along with your core muscles. Core muscles help you maintain balance while your thigh and calf muscles help you kick harder and farther than opponents who do not strength train.

Play indoor soccer sometimes instead of outdoor soccer. You will play on a smaller field indoors. The smaller field helps you focus on your ball handling and decision making skills. The practicing of those skills will help you have a better performance when you’re back outside.

When it comes to goal keeping, equipment is important. One of the most important pieces of equipment for a goalie is their gloves. These gloves not only help them catch the ball, but it also protects their wrists and fingers from injury. The gloves should be made of a heavy grade latex for best gripping and protection.

If you are kicking the ball and you notice someone running towards you, do not panic. There is a very simple method of avoiding them. First, kick the ball to one side of your body. Once you do this, quickly kick the ball to the other side. If you do this fast enough, you will avoid your opponent and be ahead of them. As a result, you will be better prepared to score.

You have finished reading this article about soccer, and now you need to go out to the field and put into play what you’ve learned. Do not take the fun out of the sport, but remain dedicated and practiced as well. It is time to …

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Check Out This Article On Soccer That Offers Many Great Tips

Laura05 mins

To truly become a good soccer player you must master the art of passing the ball. If you aren’t good at passing then it becomes impossible to advance the ball down the field. Practice using the inside of your foot to gain the most accurate pass. If you can master this then you’re sure to hit your teammate with that perfect pass.

The part of the ball you kick is crucial in soccer. If you kick too high on the ball, it is not going to go very far. On the other hand, kicking the bottom of the ball will just make it go high in the air. It is best to aim for the middle.

Try passing the ball when a defender is closing in on you. Keep it aa long as possible if you can safely advance and pass to a teammate when the defender is coming at you. The other player will then have a few seconds before defenders close in on them.

You can improve your defense with a simple drill. Dribble the ball in a small space and have another player try taking it away from you. Keep the ball for as long as possible by shielding it with your entire body. Your defensive skills will improve as you practice with this simple drill.

Never pass up the opportunity to practice. Start bringing a soccer ball everywhere so that you can practice your drills during spare moments. It’s also fun to dribble the ball with your feet during normal walking.

Look for numerical advantage on the field. You want to pass the ball to a player who is near others from your team rather than a player who is surrounded by defenders. Talk to your team about this strategy and encourage them to form groups in an empty area so you can easily gain a numerical advantage.

To boost stamina when you play soccer, try training during the off-season via long-distance running. Soccer players usually run about eight miles during a game. Training can help improve your endurance and skill.

When you play soccer, make sure that you make time to practice every day. Try to spend about an hour practicing. You can do this either by yourself, with some friends, or with your coach. This can help you better your form, strengthen your weaknesses and make you faster. One thing that many struggle with that you should practice is keeping the ball low. Just practice tapping it low, then gradually boosting the power.

When you are coaching soccer, it is important that you give all of the players equal attention. If you stop someone from playing because they are not that good, there will be no way for them to improve. Allow them to play, then meet with them after to give them a critique.

AS you can see from the above article that in order to advance the ball down the field you must become skilled at passing the ball. You can achieve …

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Becoming A Great Soccer Player Starts Right Here!

Laura05 mins

If you want to learn some more about playing soccer, then this is the place for you. You are reading this article to become a skilled player and the advice that follows will be helpful. Read further to learn better techniques.

Do not hold on to the ball for more than two touches. You are taking risks by taking the ball longer and will end up losing it, unless you are excellent. You can be more useful to your team by passing the ball over two touches. You can try getting the ball again.

Recognize that how you pass the ball to someone else has meaning. For example, a hard pass indicates a sense of urgency, and it may tell the player that someone is coming up on them. A soft pass often indicates that you want the player to retreat toward you a little. There is much you can say on the field, even without words.

Avoid collisions with other players at all costs. Try to anticipate your opponent’s moves to avoid contact. This will lessen the chance of having the ball stolen and will have the added benefit of preventing injury.

Always be willing to practice. Make it a habit to bring along your soccer ball and whenever the moment strikes, take it out and practice those drills. In addition, you can dribble the ball anytime you are walking.

If you are trying to shield the ball in the game, and you notice open space, do not be afraid to move toward it. Push the ball with the inside of your food. Doing so will allow for the most control. As you get better, you will find that you can cut back and forth with the ball, switching from the inside to the outside of your foot.

It is important to practice if you want to be really good at soccer. This does not just mean practicing with the team, but on your own at home as well. Kicking the soccer ball around your yard can really help to improve your game on the field during games.

It;s crucial that you develop a good sense of orientation in soccer. Being able to see the entire game and having good orientation while playing is tough. Know where your opponents and teammates are in order to gain a better perspective. This also helps you better plan your next move.

Practice passing by placing two small cones approximately a foot apart. Kick the ball through the obstacles to help you learn to pass between opponents and get it to your teammate. As you get better at this passing technique go for longer passes and move the cones closer together.

Are you happy with the information you’ve just been given? Do you think you can utilize these tips in your own practice? Now is the time to begin! Grab a ball and head out to the field to practice your new skills. There is more for you to find out, so keep …

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Are You Seeking Information About Soccer? Then Check Out These Great Tips!

Laura05 mins

Do you enjoy playing sports? If so, have you ever played soccer? Soccer is a very fun game for people of all ages. Of course, any sport is more fun whenever you are good at it. That’s why this article is here. Keep reading to learn how you can be a great soccer player.

Adopt an energetic attitude when you play. You should spend the entire game following the ball back and forth and always trying to be in an ideal spot to receive the ball. Do not give up if players do not pass the ball to you and draw their attention if you are in a good position.

Do an Outside Elastico. Use this move to cut inside from the flanks. To practice, start by grabbing a cone, bag, or shoe and then placing it on the ground. Step approximately five steps behind it. Start to dribble towards it. When you approach the cone, lightly touch the outside of the ball and then the inside. The touch outside will trick your opponents. Remember that the second touch should be more forceful than the first.

Always have a plan for what you will do with the ball when it is passed to you. Anticipate the best move, whether it is a short or long pass, or a shot at the goal. Do not be obvious about the moves you will make. The element of surprise is important to keeping the ball protected.

When playing soccer, move the ball more than your body. This can help you save energy. If you’re running down the field frequently, you’ll be tired early into the game. Keep in mind that the ball always moves faster than you do. It’s better move it faster than moving yourself with it. Save your energy for when you need to run.

You need to practice a lot and be dedicated to it to really increase your skills. You won’t become a soccer star overnight. You have to take time out of each day to practice to become good. No matter how difficult a skill is, you should practice it. Also work on your strongest skill set to keep them sharp.

Practice passing by placing two small cones approximately a foot apart. Kick the ball through the obstacles to help you learn to pass between opponents and get it to your teammate. As you get better at this passing technique go for longer passes and move the cones closer together.

If you are playing goalie, talk to your defensive players, particularly during corner attacks. If you see an attacker to the side of your goal, your best possible position is against the actual post, standing as tall as you can. Make sure a defender is covering any center area, just in case.

Hopefully, you now feel better about your ability to improve your soccer skills. Therefore, utilize the great soccer advice presented here so that you can become a better player. Obviously, the better soccer player you are, …

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