Cricket can easily claim to be one of the leading religions in India where people from all communities, casts, religion or race come together with a single cohesive voice without the fear of having to sound politically or religiously incorrect.
The fever pitch of this madness can be best experienced in an Indian cricket
ground where thousands of cricket crazy fans root for one team with one voice.
This voice has been given an entirely new dimension by the Indian version of Twenty20 cricket - The Indian Premiere League (IPL). IPL is a 20 over per side cricket match created by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It is the most watched domestic Twenty20 cricket competition, targeting prime time television audiences in India and around the world.
IPL is based on the lines of the European soccer leagues like the English Premiere League (EPL) where franchise owners in an annual auction bid for the overseas and domestic players. Each team franchise was up for sale in an auction held in early 2008. Bollywood superstars and business tycoons queued up to buy these teams. This in turn has ensured that IPL is not short of any glamour, fashion, beauty and all the fireworks money can buy.
The league comprises of 8 franchise teams affiliated to 8 major cities in India. The total bench strength of each team is 16 players (minimum) plus one physiotherapist and a coach. A team can have a maximum of 10 overseas players in the squad and no more than 4 in the playing XI. A minimum of 8 local players in each squad and at least 2 players from the BCCI under-22 pool need to be in a team.
The inaugural season - IPL1 was held in April 2008 in India and the second season - IPL2 is currently underway in South Africa. This mega event has got the entire nations imagination and adrenalin going. The first round of this event - IPL Season 1, was a thumping success where the result was decided in the last ball of the final match ensuring a nail-biting finish. The second leg of this event - IPL Season 2, is slowly gathering momentum.
If the Season 1 is anything to go by and the Season 2 slowly but surely heating up, fans and loyalties switching sides, victors and under-dogs swapping places on the points table, then I won't be surprised if flights to Capetown - South Africa are already over booked.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
How To Play Cricket
The Greatest Sport On Earth?
I'm sure you'll agree with me that cricket is probably the greatest sport on Earth, well if you are a cricketer like me you will. The fact is for many people all around the world cricket is almost like a religion, every week fans and players go to training and watch matches, dedicated to the sport we cricketers all love.
Learning How To Play Cricket
The problem with cricket is learning how to play cricket, importantly how to play cricket better than your opposition, and team mates, it's a great feeling to be the best player on the team. Many people think they can learn how to play cricket just by going down to nets, batting and bowling for a bit, then playing at the weekends.
The problem with this is that unless you have a good coach or senior players to oversee you, you will pick up bad habits which you reinforce every time you practice. You end up practicing bad habits and trust me this is the last thing you want.
If you are serious about learning how to play cricket you need to do the following things to help ensure your cricket success:
-Join a club with a good coaching system in place and that actively trains players to become coaches themselves, this ensures that there is a good coaching network within the club and so will help you progress and improve.
-Take an active approach to improving your cricket, read books, watch video clips, or even better coaching videos of top players and learn from them. When you go to training, don't just go through the motions, ask your coach or team mates to watch you play and pick out any faults and look to always make improvements.
-If you have the money, pay your local pro or top coach to give you some one-on- one advice and guidance and find out where you need to be improving. If possible get someone to video you playing in a match or in the nets to help with this.
Learning how to play cricket and improving yourself as a player is a great goal to have. However, giving tips on how to play cricket in terms of batting, bowling and fielding are beyond the scope of this article. But if you follow the tips above and take and active approach to improving your cricket you won't go far wrong.
I'm sure you'll agree with me that cricket is probably the greatest sport on Earth, well if you are a cricketer like me you will. The fact is for many people all around the world cricket is almost like a religion, every week fans and players go to training and watch matches, dedicated to the sport we cricketers all love.
Learning How To Play Cricket
The problem with cricket is learning how to play cricket, importantly how to play cricket better than your opposition, and team mates, it's a great feeling to be the best player on the team. Many people think they can learn how to play cricket just by going down to nets, batting and bowling for a bit, then playing at the weekends.
The problem with this is that unless you have a good coach or senior players to oversee you, you will pick up bad habits which you reinforce every time you practice. You end up practicing bad habits and trust me this is the last thing you want.
If you are serious about learning how to play cricket you need to do the following things to help ensure your cricket success:
-Join a club with a good coaching system in place and that actively trains players to become coaches themselves, this ensures that there is a good coaching network within the club and so will help you progress and improve.
-Take an active approach to improving your cricket, read books, watch video clips, or even better coaching videos of top players and learn from them. When you go to training, don't just go through the motions, ask your coach or team mates to watch you play and pick out any faults and look to always make improvements.
-If you have the money, pay your local pro or top coach to give you some one-on- one advice and guidance and find out where you need to be improving. If possible get someone to video you playing in a match or in the nets to help with this.
Learning how to play cricket and improving yourself as a player is a great goal to have. However, giving tips on how to play cricket in terms of batting, bowling and fielding are beyond the scope of this article. But if you follow the tips above and take and active approach to improving your cricket you won't go far wrong.
Cricket Bowling Tips and Hints
When bowling in cricket there are many possible cricket tips or hints that can help improve your bowling.
In bowling, a combination of natural ability, good technique and practice is the recipe for good bowling, whether it is fast, slow or spin.
Here are some tips that will help your bowling and when implemented correctly your bowling speed:
The basic grip to hold the ball is to keep the seam vertical and to hold the ball with your index finger and middle finger either side of the seam with the side of your thumb resting on the seam underneath the ball.
In your approach/run in, try to stay:
Smooth,
Balanced,
Economical,
Rhythmical,
Consistent and stay relaxed and try not to tense up.
During your approach and action, your head position is very important. Make sure that as you approach the wicket you are running at a steady, consistent speed, and increase strides. Aim to keep your head as steady and level as possible, looking towards your target.
Pull your front arm down and through the target area, making sure you complete the delivery with a full follow through.
Try to keep everything in the same direction, towards your target, keep your hips and shoulders parallel/in-line, and follow through the delivery in the direction where you intend the ball to go.
Also as a bowler it is very important to stay in great shape, as you’ll enjoy the game more and perform better in the latter stages if you have good stamina. So incorporating some light weight sessions in to your training is important.
Also aim to try and run 3 times a week to keep your cardiovascular system in top condition and to improve your stamina. South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, is well know for running 10Km every morning, even on match days!
In bowling, a combination of natural ability, good technique and practice is the recipe for good bowling, whether it is fast, slow or spin.
Here are some tips that will help your bowling and when implemented correctly your bowling speed:
The basic grip to hold the ball is to keep the seam vertical and to hold the ball with your index finger and middle finger either side of the seam with the side of your thumb resting on the seam underneath the ball.
In your approach/run in, try to stay:
Smooth,
Balanced,
Economical,
Rhythmical,
Consistent and stay relaxed and try not to tense up.
During your approach and action, your head position is very important. Make sure that as you approach the wicket you are running at a steady, consistent speed, and increase strides. Aim to keep your head as steady and level as possible, looking towards your target.
Pull your front arm down and through the target area, making sure you complete the delivery with a full follow through.
Try to keep everything in the same direction, towards your target, keep your hips and shoulders parallel/in-line, and follow through the delivery in the direction where you intend the ball to go.
Also as a bowler it is very important to stay in great shape, as you’ll enjoy the game more and perform better in the latter stages if you have good stamina. So incorporating some light weight sessions in to your training is important.
Also aim to try and run 3 times a week to keep your cardiovascular system in top condition and to improve your stamina. South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, is well know for running 10Km every morning, even on match days!
Cricket Bowling Tips and Hints
When bowling in cricket there are many possible cricket tips or hints that can help improve your bowling.
In bowling, a combination of natural ability, good technique and practice is the recipe for good bowling, whether it is fast, slow or spin.
Here are some tips that will help your bowling and when implemented correctly your bowling speed:
The basic grip to hold the ball is to keep the seam vertical and to hold the ball with your index finger and middle finger either side of the seam with the side of your thumb resting on the seam underneath the ball.
In your approach/run in, try to stay:
Smooth,
Balanced,
Economical,
Rhythmical,
Consistent and stay relaxed and try not to tense up.
During your approach and action, your head position is very important. Make sure that as you approach the wicket you are running at a steady, consistent speed, and increase strides. Aim to keep your head as steady and level as possible, looking towards your target.
Pull your front arm down and through the target area, making sure you complete the delivery with a full follow through.
Try to keep everything in the same direction, towards your target, keep your hips and shoulders parallel/in-line, and follow through the delivery in the direction where you intend the ball to go.
Also as a bowler it is very important to stay in great shape, as you’ll enjoy the game more and perform better in the latter stages if you have good stamina. So incorporating some light weight sessions in to your training is important.
Also aim to try and run 3 times a week to keep your cardiovascular system in top condition and to improve your stamina. South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, is well know for running 10Km every morning, even on match days!
In bowling, a combination of natural ability, good technique and practice is the recipe for good bowling, whether it is fast, slow or spin.
Here are some tips that will help your bowling and when implemented correctly your bowling speed:
The basic grip to hold the ball is to keep the seam vertical and to hold the ball with your index finger and middle finger either side of the seam with the side of your thumb resting on the seam underneath the ball.
In your approach/run in, try to stay:
Smooth,
Balanced,
Economical,
Rhythmical,
Consistent and stay relaxed and try not to tense up.
During your approach and action, your head position is very important. Make sure that as you approach the wicket you are running at a steady, consistent speed, and increase strides. Aim to keep your head as steady and level as possible, looking towards your target.
Pull your front arm down and through the target area, making sure you complete the delivery with a full follow through.
Try to keep everything in the same direction, towards your target, keep your hips and shoulders parallel/in-line, and follow through the delivery in the direction where you intend the ball to go.
Also as a bowler it is very important to stay in great shape, as you’ll enjoy the game more and perform better in the latter stages if you have good stamina. So incorporating some light weight sessions in to your training is important.
Also aim to try and run 3 times a week to keep your cardiovascular system in top condition and to improve your stamina. South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, is well know for running 10Km every morning, even on match days!
Cricket Fielding Tips: Improving Your Cricket Fielding
When fielding during cricket there are many things to think about and consider depending on where you are fielding. This brief article will look at a few essential cricket fielding tips which you can incorporate into your game to improve your fielding.
Where ever you are fielding you should always be on the balls of your feet so you can react and change direction quickly. If you are caught flat footed you’ll be slower off the mark and potentially give away more runs.
Try to anticipate where ball will go; you can do this by carefully watching the batters shape and movements. This may be a little difficult at first but after a bit of practise will become second nature and you’ll react much quicker to any shots coming your way and field better as a result.
When you are fielding close to the boundary and have to throw from the deep, try to aim your throw just above the keepers head and the ball should drop nicely in to his gloves, provided you have a relatively strong throwing arm.
When catching close to the wicket, such as in the slips, gulley or short leg, make sure you stance is correct with your feet shoulder width apart or slightly wider. Spread your weight evenly across both feet, resting lightly on the balls of your feet, with your knees flexed. Keep your hands together, close to the ground with your fingers pointing down. Keep your head up with your eyes level and stay alert.
When catching the ball in close, watch the ball all the way into your hands, allowing the ball to come to you; don’t try to snatch at it. ‘Give’ with the ball as you catch, cushioning the impact. When catching in the deep, try and catch the ball at eye level and cushion the ball into your chest.
The ball can come to you at any time so it is really important you stay alert and awake so you can stop that vital run or take a match winning catch.
These are just a few cricket fielding tips that you can incorporate into you game; there are many more cricket fielding tips for specific aspects of fielding. However these are the general cricket fielding tips I’ve found to be the most useful when fielding myself.
Where ever you are fielding you should always be on the balls of your feet so you can react and change direction quickly. If you are caught flat footed you’ll be slower off the mark and potentially give away more runs.
Try to anticipate where ball will go; you can do this by carefully watching the batters shape and movements. This may be a little difficult at first but after a bit of practise will become second nature and you’ll react much quicker to any shots coming your way and field better as a result.
When you are fielding close to the boundary and have to throw from the deep, try to aim your throw just above the keepers head and the ball should drop nicely in to his gloves, provided you have a relatively strong throwing arm.
When catching close to the wicket, such as in the slips, gulley or short leg, make sure you stance is correct with your feet shoulder width apart or slightly wider. Spread your weight evenly across both feet, resting lightly on the balls of your feet, with your knees flexed. Keep your hands together, close to the ground with your fingers pointing down. Keep your head up with your eyes level and stay alert.
When catching the ball in close, watch the ball all the way into your hands, allowing the ball to come to you; don’t try to snatch at it. ‘Give’ with the ball as you catch, cushioning the impact. When catching in the deep, try and catch the ball at eye level and cushion the ball into your chest.
The ball can come to you at any time so it is really important you stay alert and awake so you can stop that vital run or take a match winning catch.
These are just a few cricket fielding tips that you can incorporate into you game; there are many more cricket fielding tips for specific aspects of fielding. However these are the general cricket fielding tips I’ve found to be the most useful when fielding myself.
Cricket Batting Tips - Foot Work
Recently I was asked, “is ‘foot work’ really that important?”
When batting in cricket it is essential to have excellent footwork. As good foot work is the basis for achieving excellence in cricket and is the foundation for good batting technique.
Foot work is absolutely necessary as all successful strokes start with effective footwork.
If you watch Brian Lara, Michael Vaughn, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, all of these amazing batsmen have outstanding footwork, often when these types of players don't perform it is simply due to lack of footwork.
Good footwork allows you to time the ball well and place the ball in gaps. It gets you in the optimum position to hit the ball, so you can hit it where you want and with ease.
If you have been struggling to play a particular shot for some reason it could be due to poor footwork causing bad timing and body positioning.
With faster bowlers it is even more essential to have excellent fast and precise footwork, so that you can get into a balanced position, in-line with the ball, so you can play the ball with control.
Getting quickly into position through footwork therefore is very important.
The more you practice your footwork against both fast and slow bowlers the easier you will gradually find it. Many players do what we call trigger movements just before the bowler releases the ball, this helps get the feet moving into position and into line much quicker and easier, especially against faster bowlers.
Next time you watch a game on TV watch the batsmen’s feet really closely as the bowler is about to deliver you’ll see these small ‘trigger movements’; small foot movements, which help the batsmen get in position and inline early.
As a batsman it is absolutely necessary to develop your foot work and foot movement, as all excellent strokes start with effective and efficient footwork.
When batting in cricket it is essential to have excellent footwork. As good foot work is the basis for achieving excellence in cricket and is the foundation for good batting technique.
Foot work is absolutely necessary as all successful strokes start with effective footwork.
If you watch Brian Lara, Michael Vaughn, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, all of these amazing batsmen have outstanding footwork, often when these types of players don't perform it is simply due to lack of footwork.
Good footwork allows you to time the ball well and place the ball in gaps. It gets you in the optimum position to hit the ball, so you can hit it where you want and with ease.
If you have been struggling to play a particular shot for some reason it could be due to poor footwork causing bad timing and body positioning.
With faster bowlers it is even more essential to have excellent fast and precise footwork, so that you can get into a balanced position, in-line with the ball, so you can play the ball with control.
Getting quickly into position through footwork therefore is very important.
The more you practice your footwork against both fast and slow bowlers the easier you will gradually find it. Many players do what we call trigger movements just before the bowler releases the ball, this helps get the feet moving into position and into line much quicker and easier, especially against faster bowlers.
Next time you watch a game on TV watch the batsmen’s feet really closely as the bowler is about to deliver you’ll see these small ‘trigger movements’; small foot movements, which help the batsmen get in position and inline early.
As a batsman it is absolutely necessary to develop your foot work and foot movement, as all excellent strokes start with effective and efficient footwork.
Summer Olympics 2008 Cities
Summer Olympics 2008, China
China will host the prestigious Summer Olympics in 2008. Already, Olympics fever has gripped China and we'll probaby see another exciting Olympics in 2008. The two cities that will host the Olympics in China are Beijing, which is the nations capital and Qingdao, a seaside city in the province of Shandong, in north-east China. Let's get to know these two Olympics cities better.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital for China. It was also a capital for the last two monarchies that ruled China before being overthrown by Sun Yat Sun in 1911 and has been the capital since Mao Tse Tung declared China a People's Republic in 1949.
Beijing is located in northern China, close to Tianjin Municipality and partially surrounded by Hebei Province. The city covers an area of more than 16,800 square kilometers (6,487 square miles) and has a population of 13.82 million people. Beijing is at its best in late spring and autumn, particularly during the months of May, September, and October when people can enjoy bright sunshine and blue skies.
As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is the nation's political, economic, cultural and educational center as well as being the China's most important center for international trade and communications. It has been the heart and soul of politics and society throughout its long history and consequently there is an unparalleled wealth of discovery to delight and intrigue travelers as they explore Beijing's ancient past and enjoy its exciting modern development.
Beijing is also the tourist capital of China, boasting of favourite tourist sites such as :
Great Wall of China
Forbidden City
Summer Palace
Temple of Heaven
Ming tombs
Tiananmen Square.
Beijing will also be the host for the Summer Olympics in 2008. Already, Olympics fever has gripped the city as construction of new buildings, hotels and stadiums, sprucing of tourist facilities, cleaning up of air and water pollution takes on a fervent pace.
Qingdao
Qingdao is a bustling city located in Shandong province, in the North East of China. Qingdao will be the site for sailing events for the Summer Olympics as Beijing is not by the sea.
Qingdao city lies on undulating hills with luxuriantly green trees and buildings noted for their attractive architectural styles. The red colour of the tiled roves, green colour of the trees thills and blue of the sea contrast beautifully. All this along with its beautiful climate, make the city well-known as a summer and health resort.
The city occupies an area of 10 654 km2. The city is located in flatlands, with mountains spurring up nearby. The highest elevation in the area is 1133 m above sea level. The city has a 730.64-kilometer coastline. Five significant rivers that flow for more than 50 km can be found in the region.
Qingdao is estimated to be the home for more than 7 million inhabitants, of which around 2.6 million is residing in the Qingdao urban area.
Qingdao enjoys mild summers and relatively warm winters, with the average July temperature at 23.8°C and the average January temperature at -0.7°C. The city gets most rain in June and July, at an average of 150 mm.
Qingdao has very strong German influence in the 19th century and many German influenced buildings can still be seen. In fact, Qingdao beer is famous throughout the world, and every year, hundreds of thousands of people, both local and overseas gather in Qingdao for the annual Beer festival.
Qingdao attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and excellent weather. Parks, beaches and sculpture -- as well as some unique architecture -- line the shore. Qingdao's major attractions include:
* Ba Da Guan, the older area of town with some surviving German architecture.
* Laoshan, a famous Taoist mountain.
* Lu Xun Park, named after Lu Xun, a famous modern Chinese writer.
* Qingdao Beer Museum, on the site of the old brewery.
* Qingdao Naval Museum
* Qingdao International Beer City, the primary site of the annual Qingdao International Beer Festival.
* Qingdao Underwater World
* St. Michael's Cathedral, a Gothic/Roman cathedral designed by German architect Pepieruch, completed in 1934.
* Zhan Qiao (Zhan Pier)
* Zhanshan Temple, Qingdao's only Buddhist temple.
Qingdao has such nice weather and scenary that the China ruling party has a large rest and retirement santuary in Qingdao for it's retired cadres.
China will host the prestigious Summer Olympics in 2008. Already, Olympics fever has gripped China and we'll probaby see another exciting Olympics in 2008. The two cities that will host the Olympics in China are Beijing, which is the nations capital and Qingdao, a seaside city in the province of Shandong, in north-east China. Let's get to know these two Olympics cities better.
Beijing
Beijing is the capital for China. It was also a capital for the last two monarchies that ruled China before being overthrown by Sun Yat Sun in 1911 and has been the capital since Mao Tse Tung declared China a People's Republic in 1949.
Beijing is located in northern China, close to Tianjin Municipality and partially surrounded by Hebei Province. The city covers an area of more than 16,800 square kilometers (6,487 square miles) and has a population of 13.82 million people. Beijing is at its best in late spring and autumn, particularly during the months of May, September, and October when people can enjoy bright sunshine and blue skies.
As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is the nation's political, economic, cultural and educational center as well as being the China's most important center for international trade and communications. It has been the heart and soul of politics and society throughout its long history and consequently there is an unparalleled wealth of discovery to delight and intrigue travelers as they explore Beijing's ancient past and enjoy its exciting modern development.
Beijing is also the tourist capital of China, boasting of favourite tourist sites such as :
Great Wall of China
Forbidden City
Summer Palace
Temple of Heaven
Ming tombs
Tiananmen Square.
Beijing will also be the host for the Summer Olympics in 2008. Already, Olympics fever has gripped the city as construction of new buildings, hotels and stadiums, sprucing of tourist facilities, cleaning up of air and water pollution takes on a fervent pace.
Qingdao
Qingdao is a bustling city located in Shandong province, in the North East of China. Qingdao will be the site for sailing events for the Summer Olympics as Beijing is not by the sea.
Qingdao city lies on undulating hills with luxuriantly green trees and buildings noted for their attractive architectural styles. The red colour of the tiled roves, green colour of the trees thills and blue of the sea contrast beautifully. All this along with its beautiful climate, make the city well-known as a summer and health resort.
The city occupies an area of 10 654 km2. The city is located in flatlands, with mountains spurring up nearby. The highest elevation in the area is 1133 m above sea level. The city has a 730.64-kilometer coastline. Five significant rivers that flow for more than 50 km can be found in the region.
Qingdao is estimated to be the home for more than 7 million inhabitants, of which around 2.6 million is residing in the Qingdao urban area.
Qingdao enjoys mild summers and relatively warm winters, with the average July temperature at 23.8°C and the average January temperature at -0.7°C. The city gets most rain in June and July, at an average of 150 mm.
Qingdao has very strong German influence in the 19th century and many German influenced buildings can still be seen. In fact, Qingdao beer is famous throughout the world, and every year, hundreds of thousands of people, both local and overseas gather in Qingdao for the annual Beer festival.
Qingdao attracts many tourists due to its seaside setting and excellent weather. Parks, beaches and sculpture -- as well as some unique architecture -- line the shore. Qingdao's major attractions include:
* Ba Da Guan, the older area of town with some surviving German architecture.
* Laoshan, a famous Taoist mountain.
* Lu Xun Park, named after Lu Xun, a famous modern Chinese writer.
* Qingdao Beer Museum, on the site of the old brewery.
* Qingdao Naval Museum
* Qingdao International Beer City, the primary site of the annual Qingdao International Beer Festival.
* Qingdao Underwater World
* St. Michael's Cathedral, a Gothic/Roman cathedral designed by German architect Pepieruch, completed in 1934.
* Zhan Qiao (Zhan Pier)
* Zhanshan Temple, Qingdao's only Buddhist temple.
Qingdao has such nice weather and scenary that the China ruling party has a large rest and retirement santuary in Qingdao for it's retired cadres.
Equestrian Sports at the Olympics
The ultimate competition in any sport is, of course, the Olympic Games where Equestrian Sports are one of the oldest categories. The horse's involvement in the Olympics dates back almost 3,000 years. Horse sports were incorporated into the Olympic Games shortly after their initial inception when the four horse chariot race was introduced. In fact when you think of the Olympics, the huge stadium or hippodrome is one of the most powerful images. The word "hippodrome" which describes an open air sports stadium with a track around the edge, comes from the Greek word "hippos" for horse and "dromos" for racecourse. The equestrian events are made up of three disciplines - dressage, show jumping and the three-day event which includes both the other disciplines together with a grueling cross country ride over testing jumps. Each of the disciplines has both an individual and a team competition.
Dressage is often referred to as 'horse ballet'. It is a training method designed to develop a horse's natural abilities and responsiveness to instructions from the rider. The original intent was to train the horse to make it easy to ride in any circumstances, and to enhance the horse's natural gymnastic abilities. The earliest roots of modern dressage go back to very clearly defined sequential training methods used by riding masters in Europe and classical dressage techniques are still viewed as an important part of the sport today.
Show jumping is probably the most commonly recognised of the principal equestrian sports - who has not tried to mentally lift a horse over a huge jump when watching it on TV? Competitions vary in style and type but basically the horse and rider have to follow a prescribed path around the ring, jumping each of the obstacles in turn. Most exciting are the Puissance events where the fences grow ever higher round by round, or the mad dash around the shortened courses when more than one horse has had a clear round and a winner has to be found.
The Cross Country event is both an endurance test, and an examination of the teamwork developed between horse and rider as they make their way around a long and varied course with demanding obstacles. Event horses have to be at the peak of physical fitness as do their riders - they are the decathletes of the equine world. Horses are carefully monitored to ensure that they come to no harm during these events.
Equestrian Sports are one of the very few Olympic events where men and women compete on equal terms. In fact over recent years the number of women competing has dramatically increased with around 80 percent of the competitors now being female. This has brought about many changes in the way the sport is developing. Far more emphasis is being placed on fitness, diet and exercise for both horse and rider, rather than just sheer physical strength. Equestrianism is one of the ultimate in team sports, a horse and rider work together for years to develop their skills, combining grace and delicacy with endurance and strength in a way that no other sport can, it is the only Olympic sport where man and animal are established team-mates on an equal footing as the one cannot take part without the other.
Dressage is often referred to as 'horse ballet'. It is a training method designed to develop a horse's natural abilities and responsiveness to instructions from the rider. The original intent was to train the horse to make it easy to ride in any circumstances, and to enhance the horse's natural gymnastic abilities. The earliest roots of modern dressage go back to very clearly defined sequential training methods used by riding masters in Europe and classical dressage techniques are still viewed as an important part of the sport today.
Show jumping is probably the most commonly recognised of the principal equestrian sports - who has not tried to mentally lift a horse over a huge jump when watching it on TV? Competitions vary in style and type but basically the horse and rider have to follow a prescribed path around the ring, jumping each of the obstacles in turn. Most exciting are the Puissance events where the fences grow ever higher round by round, or the mad dash around the shortened courses when more than one horse has had a clear round and a winner has to be found.
The Cross Country event is both an endurance test, and an examination of the teamwork developed between horse and rider as they make their way around a long and varied course with demanding obstacles. Event horses have to be at the peak of physical fitness as do their riders - they are the decathletes of the equine world. Horses are carefully monitored to ensure that they come to no harm during these events.
Equestrian Sports are one of the very few Olympic events where men and women compete on equal terms. In fact over recent years the number of women competing has dramatically increased with around 80 percent of the competitors now being female. This has brought about many changes in the way the sport is developing. Far more emphasis is being placed on fitness, diet and exercise for both horse and rider, rather than just sheer physical strength. Equestrianism is one of the ultimate in team sports, a horse and rider work together for years to develop their skills, combining grace and delicacy with endurance and strength in a way that no other sport can, it is the only Olympic sport where man and animal are established team-mates on an equal footing as the one cannot take part without the other.
2008 Summer Olympics
How is it possible for one young man to win so many Olympic gold medals? Is he genetically engineered better? Is he more intelligent? Is he a god-send for America? Well, I will not speculate on any of those things, but one reoccurring theme is how much food he eats, how often he swims and why sleep is so important for this swim superstar.
Food
I don't know about you but I had cereal, toast and juice this morning. I have my fingers crossed that I am not going to gain weight from eating just that. Then you have boy wonder that eats 12,000 calories a day. What the heck!
I feel for his mother. I complained about my grocery bill when my daughters were growing up. What does a grocery bill look like to feed this young man? Never mind don't tell me my heart can't take it. Anyway, check out what Michael eats in a typical day.
Breakfast: Three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise, two cups of coffee. One five-egg omelet, one bowl of grits, three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar and three chocolate-chip pancakes.
Lunch: One pound of pasta and two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread, plus 1,000 calories of energy drinks.
Dinner: One pound of pasta an entire pizza and even more energy drinks
Swimming
Michael trains every day including Sundays, figuring it gives him 52 more days a year in the pool than many of his competitors - did I say this kid was motivated. In peak training, he will swim nearly 50 miles a week. That adds up to two practices a day, sometimes three when he's training at altitude. On top of all of that he began lifting weights in 2005, which has given him a more powerful push off the wall.
Sleep
During the February 2008 Missouri Grand Prix Phelps' drowsiness took center stage. He fell asleep on a diving board platform. His coach stated he was suffering insomnia. Yes, our boy wonder was exhausted due to a lack of sleep. So, to combat a repeat of this during the Olympics he faced his problem head on. He had to tell his friends to stop texting him during the middle of the night, so that he could sleep. He had to let the anxieties take care of themselves. He refused to dwell on races down the road only the one in front of him. By letting each day take care of itself he was able to sleep like a charm.
Michael's coach says that single minded focus and the ability to shut out the expectations not yet beheld and the Olympic atmosphere is what allowed him to climb out of the pool each time with an eye only on what was next.
Food
I don't know about you but I had cereal, toast and juice this morning. I have my fingers crossed that I am not going to gain weight from eating just that. Then you have boy wonder that eats 12,000 calories a day. What the heck!
I feel for his mother. I complained about my grocery bill when my daughters were growing up. What does a grocery bill look like to feed this young man? Never mind don't tell me my heart can't take it. Anyway, check out what Michael eats in a typical day.
Breakfast: Three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise, two cups of coffee. One five-egg omelet, one bowl of grits, three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar and three chocolate-chip pancakes.
Lunch: One pound of pasta and two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread, plus 1,000 calories of energy drinks.
Dinner: One pound of pasta an entire pizza and even more energy drinks
Swimming
Michael trains every day including Sundays, figuring it gives him 52 more days a year in the pool than many of his competitors - did I say this kid was motivated. In peak training, he will swim nearly 50 miles a week. That adds up to two practices a day, sometimes three when he's training at altitude. On top of all of that he began lifting weights in 2005, which has given him a more powerful push off the wall.
Sleep
During the February 2008 Missouri Grand Prix Phelps' drowsiness took center stage. He fell asleep on a diving board platform. His coach stated he was suffering insomnia. Yes, our boy wonder was exhausted due to a lack of sleep. So, to combat a repeat of this during the Olympics he faced his problem head on. He had to tell his friends to stop texting him during the middle of the night, so that he could sleep. He had to let the anxieties take care of themselves. He refused to dwell on races down the road only the one in front of him. By letting each day take care of itself he was able to sleep like a charm.
Michael's coach says that single minded focus and the ability to shut out the expectations not yet beheld and the Olympic atmosphere is what allowed him to climb out of the pool each time with an eye only on what was next.
No Golf in the Olympics?
Watching the 2008 Olympics, I'm constantly bothered by one thing and it isn't the horrible commentary. I'm baffled by the absence of golf. I know what you might be thinking and I'm thinking the same thing, 'Does the world really need another sport added to the Olympic roster?' but the answer should be a resounding 'YES'.
Golf is, after all, a legitimate sport, giving it a clear advantage over half the current so-called 'sports' accepted by the Olympics. Take ping-pong for instance.
If you're reading this thinking ping-pong is legitimate, then I have no problem telling you that you're a complete moron. Ping-pong, which is not a sport, is a miniature version of tennis, which is a sport. There is no disputing this fact. If we're forced to accept ping-pong as a legitimate sport, then why don't we allow other miniature versions of other sports into the Olympics as well? What about foosball? It looks a lot like a tiny version of soccer to me and is a hell of a lot more fun to play than ping-pong. What about miniature golf? Who wouldn't want to see a completely serious American team putting for gold on the draw bridge hole?
I honestly don't have a problem with ping-pong. I'm just saying I want some consistency, which brings me to my main gripe with the Olympics. Ping-pong has no business in the Olympics, but I do believe it has more of a right to be there than dressage or gymnastics, because ping-pong, while still not a sport in my opinion, is at least a 'Finish Line' sport.
What's a 'Finish Line' sport you ask?
There are two kinds of sports in the Olympics: 'Judged' sports and 'Finish Line' sports. Examples of Finish Line sports include: running, swimming, fencing, archery, soccer (Football) and pretty much everything else. In a finish line sport someone crosses the finish line first, or jumps the highest or scores the most points. There is no question as to whom the medal should go to. In my opinion this is the essence of a real sport, two teams or players competing for the win.
Examples of Judged sports include: diving, dressage, all gymnastics, sometimes boxing if a decision is required, synchronized swimming and a plethora of other lame sports. In a judged sport there is no clear winner and a third party decides which of the contestants did the best. Even if these are the most qualified experts, they're still just people with opinions.
One such event is called 'Dressage'. In case you missed this prestigious sport it involves a horse, a jockey and prancing. Yes, prancing. 'Judges' sit on the sidelines and actually weigh the performance of prancing horses and pick the best one, because in dressage there in no finish line for the horses to cross. There is no bar they must jump over. There are no points other than the completely bogus points the judges award. There are only prancing horses, and a bunch of expert morons, judging the whole shebang.
How can this 'Sport' get Olympic recognition while other real sports, such as golf, are completely ignored? What else will the Olympics Committee approve over golf? I can only imagine it will be some stupid judged sport where moronic women prance around with hula-hoops like cheerleaders on steroids. Oh ya, that's an Olympic sport as well. It's called Artistic Gymnastics. Really, I'm not lying. They actually award medals for it.
The problem could be that many people have hang ups with golf being in the Olympics. I'll address some of these hang ups right now.
Some say that golf is already a global sport with many international competitions to decide who is the best. There is no need for it to be in the Olympics. Soccer is more of a religion than sport to half the world. It has a global following and many international competitions, with one such competition that is arguably more popular, if not more important, than the Olympics. Has anyone heard of the World Cup? So why is soccer allowed in the Olympics, certainly not because it already has a global presence.
Some say we shouldn't have pros compete if golf becomes an Olympic sport. Fine with me. So we only allow amateurs to compete. Who really wants to see Tiger bending over to accept a gold medal on top of everything else the guy has won? Not me. So okay, fine, lets hand the reins over to some amateurs and let the games begin.
Some feel that golf has no place at the Olympics. William K Wolfrum had this to say, 'Head over to the Louvre one day and check out the statues of ancient Greek athletes. You'll notice that very few of them depict naked guys holding a five iron with a caddie next to them checking the wind. By all means golf is a great game, but it's just not Olympiad worthy.'
While it is true that you may not find naked statues of ancient Olympians holding five irons, there is a long list of other sports you will never see statues of ancient Olympians doing. Diving. Synchronized swimming. Trampoline. Sailing. Dressage. Artistic gymnastics.
My guess is that they would laugh themselves silly if they saw our current Olympics event list. Golf, at least, they might understand. The ancient Olympians practiced only finish line sports like, wrestling, chariot races, boxing that didn't require a decision, and something called the pankration. A sport very much like modern day mixed martial arts cages fights, but these were not light weight matches. The ancient Greeks didn't mess around.
During one pankration match a man named, Arrichion of Phigaleia won the event even though he was dead. His opponent had him in a chokehold and Arrichion, in his desperation to get out, broke his opponent's fingers and ankle. The opponent almost passed out from the pain of shattered bones, and submitted. When the referee untangled the two men, it was discovered that Arrichion had died from the chokehold. Not a country to wimp out, the Greeks crowned the dead man's body with an olive wreath and declared him a hero.
Would these guys understand any of our judged sports?
I realize golf isn't the manliest of sports. When compared to the ancient Olympics, every modern sport would invariably come up short. All I'm saying is at least golf is a finish line sport which makes it more inline with the original idea of the ancient Olympics and therefore, in my opinion, more deserving of a spot on the current Olympics event list . At the very least, why not make a longest drive event? How hard would it be for the host country to install a field of grass, or a single hole? How awesome would it be to see the amazing drives the best of the best would deliver?
Golf is, after all, a legitimate sport, giving it a clear advantage over half the current so-called 'sports' accepted by the Olympics. Take ping-pong for instance.
If you're reading this thinking ping-pong is legitimate, then I have no problem telling you that you're a complete moron. Ping-pong, which is not a sport, is a miniature version of tennis, which is a sport. There is no disputing this fact. If we're forced to accept ping-pong as a legitimate sport, then why don't we allow other miniature versions of other sports into the Olympics as well? What about foosball? It looks a lot like a tiny version of soccer to me and is a hell of a lot more fun to play than ping-pong. What about miniature golf? Who wouldn't want to see a completely serious American team putting for gold on the draw bridge hole?
I honestly don't have a problem with ping-pong. I'm just saying I want some consistency, which brings me to my main gripe with the Olympics. Ping-pong has no business in the Olympics, but I do believe it has more of a right to be there than dressage or gymnastics, because ping-pong, while still not a sport in my opinion, is at least a 'Finish Line' sport.
What's a 'Finish Line' sport you ask?
There are two kinds of sports in the Olympics: 'Judged' sports and 'Finish Line' sports. Examples of Finish Line sports include: running, swimming, fencing, archery, soccer (Football) and pretty much everything else. In a finish line sport someone crosses the finish line first, or jumps the highest or scores the most points. There is no question as to whom the medal should go to. In my opinion this is the essence of a real sport, two teams or players competing for the win.
Examples of Judged sports include: diving, dressage, all gymnastics, sometimes boxing if a decision is required, synchronized swimming and a plethora of other lame sports. In a judged sport there is no clear winner and a third party decides which of the contestants did the best. Even if these are the most qualified experts, they're still just people with opinions.
One such event is called 'Dressage'. In case you missed this prestigious sport it involves a horse, a jockey and prancing. Yes, prancing. 'Judges' sit on the sidelines and actually weigh the performance of prancing horses and pick the best one, because in dressage there in no finish line for the horses to cross. There is no bar they must jump over. There are no points other than the completely bogus points the judges award. There are only prancing horses, and a bunch of expert morons, judging the whole shebang.
How can this 'Sport' get Olympic recognition while other real sports, such as golf, are completely ignored? What else will the Olympics Committee approve over golf? I can only imagine it will be some stupid judged sport where moronic women prance around with hula-hoops like cheerleaders on steroids. Oh ya, that's an Olympic sport as well. It's called Artistic Gymnastics. Really, I'm not lying. They actually award medals for it.
The problem could be that many people have hang ups with golf being in the Olympics. I'll address some of these hang ups right now.
Some say that golf is already a global sport with many international competitions to decide who is the best. There is no need for it to be in the Olympics. Soccer is more of a religion than sport to half the world. It has a global following and many international competitions, with one such competition that is arguably more popular, if not more important, than the Olympics. Has anyone heard of the World Cup? So why is soccer allowed in the Olympics, certainly not because it already has a global presence.
Some say we shouldn't have pros compete if golf becomes an Olympic sport. Fine with me. So we only allow amateurs to compete. Who really wants to see Tiger bending over to accept a gold medal on top of everything else the guy has won? Not me. So okay, fine, lets hand the reins over to some amateurs and let the games begin.
Some feel that golf has no place at the Olympics. William K Wolfrum had this to say, 'Head over to the Louvre one day and check out the statues of ancient Greek athletes. You'll notice that very few of them depict naked guys holding a five iron with a caddie next to them checking the wind. By all means golf is a great game, but it's just not Olympiad worthy.'
While it is true that you may not find naked statues of ancient Olympians holding five irons, there is a long list of other sports you will never see statues of ancient Olympians doing. Diving. Synchronized swimming. Trampoline. Sailing. Dressage. Artistic gymnastics.
My guess is that they would laugh themselves silly if they saw our current Olympics event list. Golf, at least, they might understand. The ancient Olympians practiced only finish line sports like, wrestling, chariot races, boxing that didn't require a decision, and something called the pankration. A sport very much like modern day mixed martial arts cages fights, but these were not light weight matches. The ancient Greeks didn't mess around.
During one pankration match a man named, Arrichion of Phigaleia won the event even though he was dead. His opponent had him in a chokehold and Arrichion, in his desperation to get out, broke his opponent's fingers and ankle. The opponent almost passed out from the pain of shattered bones, and submitted. When the referee untangled the two men, it was discovered that Arrichion had died from the chokehold. Not a country to wimp out, the Greeks crowned the dead man's body with an olive wreath and declared him a hero.
Would these guys understand any of our judged sports?
I realize golf isn't the manliest of sports. When compared to the ancient Olympics, every modern sport would invariably come up short. All I'm saying is at least golf is a finish line sport which makes it more inline with the original idea of the ancient Olympics and therefore, in my opinion, more deserving of a spot on the current Olympics event list . At the very least, why not make a longest drive event? How hard would it be for the host country to install a field of grass, or a single hole? How awesome would it be to see the amazing drives the best of the best would deliver?
Sexism in the Olympics?
Due to me being at work all day every day for the past few weeks without access to my beloved widescreen LCD TV, I have been watching the Olympic feeds on my computer. At the last Olympics the variety and clarity of these feeds would be nowhere near the quality now available to me from websites such as CNN the BBC or the Guardian online. I find I can watch races, interviews and commentary of the games in my lunch break right from the comfort of my desk.
Copywriters (me) spend a lot of time scouring the net for research purposes or reading online newspaper articles for up to date inspiration. Recent net surfing has uncovered an Olympic sized debate about the way that female athletes or their events are reported by the media. Simon Barnes the chief sports writer from the Times Online started it with an article about his 'crush' on athlete Yelena Ishinbayevaand and whether or not he had the right to have an ogle at her body and then write about it (along with her performance) in the sports section.
Sports writers should stick to sport and facts rather than looks and opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and sport is not about looks, it is a job and it is about ability. You would not catch war reporters commenting on the attractiveness of soldiers would you?
Sports professionals have enough to worry about without wondering what journalists are going to write about their appearance. Athletes work to hone their body to perfection not to attract the opposite sex, but to achieve maximum performance in their chosen profession. It would be patronising and beside the point to include comments of a writers individual and personal feelings towards the way an athlete looks.
Many people commented that this kind of 'appreciation' of the female body would be fine if the same attention were paid to men. I disagree with this on two counts. Firstly because the same goes for men when competing in sport; ability and not looks should be the real cause for plaudits. Secondly women are all too often judged for their looks where men are not. How often do you see wrinkly older women present the news alongside dashing young men?
The judging of females on their body, youth and looks is far more ingrained in society than many people realise because they are so used to it. When comments are made about a woman's looks it reduces her to be defined by her sexual appeal rather than by her achievements. In this day and age men and especially women should be encouraged to judge themselves on their personal achievements and to only rely on their looks as a last resort.
Before I am accused of being a bitter or ugly woman with a grudge I can assure you that this is not the case. As a woman I understand that although female athletes want to be appreciated for their looks off the playing field, maybe to their boyfriend or husband or to a good looking young man on a night out with friends. They do not however, want to be examined or sexually appreciated by middle aged journalists whilst they try to do their best and be recognised for their working achievements on the field/track/pool/court.
Leave the leering to the lads-mags and the red tops. No one wants to see this kind of backward outlook coming from respected newspapers that should not patronise their readers by assuming we can't see what we like for ourselves.
Copywriters (me) spend a lot of time scouring the net for research purposes or reading online newspaper articles for up to date inspiration. Recent net surfing has uncovered an Olympic sized debate about the way that female athletes or their events are reported by the media. Simon Barnes the chief sports writer from the Times Online started it with an article about his 'crush' on athlete Yelena Ishinbayevaand and whether or not he had the right to have an ogle at her body and then write about it (along with her performance) in the sports section.
Sports writers should stick to sport and facts rather than looks and opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and sport is not about looks, it is a job and it is about ability. You would not catch war reporters commenting on the attractiveness of soldiers would you?
Sports professionals have enough to worry about without wondering what journalists are going to write about their appearance. Athletes work to hone their body to perfection not to attract the opposite sex, but to achieve maximum performance in their chosen profession. It would be patronising and beside the point to include comments of a writers individual and personal feelings towards the way an athlete looks.
Many people commented that this kind of 'appreciation' of the female body would be fine if the same attention were paid to men. I disagree with this on two counts. Firstly because the same goes for men when competing in sport; ability and not looks should be the real cause for plaudits. Secondly women are all too often judged for their looks where men are not. How often do you see wrinkly older women present the news alongside dashing young men?
The judging of females on their body, youth and looks is far more ingrained in society than many people realise because they are so used to it. When comments are made about a woman's looks it reduces her to be defined by her sexual appeal rather than by her achievements. In this day and age men and especially women should be encouraged to judge themselves on their personal achievements and to only rely on their looks as a last resort.
Before I am accused of being a bitter or ugly woman with a grudge I can assure you that this is not the case. As a woman I understand that although female athletes want to be appreciated for their looks off the playing field, maybe to their boyfriend or husband or to a good looking young man on a night out with friends. They do not however, want to be examined or sexually appreciated by middle aged journalists whilst they try to do their best and be recognised for their working achievements on the field/track/pool/court.
Leave the leering to the lads-mags and the red tops. No one wants to see this kind of backward outlook coming from respected newspapers that should not patronise their readers by assuming we can't see what we like for ourselves.
Vancouver 2010 Mascots Review
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is Canada's time to showcase its exceptional athletic achievements. The spectacular cultural performances show the world that Canada is a community of immense diversity filled with talented people.
Mascots have become important and popular representatives of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They bring warmth, fun, and excitement to the games. Tourists from all over the world delight in the antics of these lovable mascots.
Each host Country and region designs their mascots to represent the culture and ideals of that country. The mascots are often the storytellers of the games and symbolize the values of the athletes. The host province of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is British Columbia but contributing provinces and territories include Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, and the Yukon. The four host First Nations include: Lil'wat First Nation, Musqueam First Nation, Squamish First Nation, and the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation.
The role of the mascot has made significant advancements. Imagination and creativity are poured into mascot designs resulting in a tremendous line of collectables, toys, and other mascot paraphernalia. Canada and the province of British Columbia have carried on the tradition of creating mascots that emanate pride, celebration, diversity, inspiration, and the Olympic spirit.
Vancouver 2010 Mascots
1. Miga is a snowboarding sea-bear inspired by the First Nations' legends of the Pacific Northwest. Miga is part sea-bear and part orca whale and has been described as mischievous and outgoing. Snowboarding is Miga's favorite winter sport. She is a young sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family pod, beyond Vancouver Island, near Tofino, British Columbia. Miga is part Kermode bear, a rare white bear that only lives in British Columbia. The Kermode bear is a rare white or cream-colored sub-species of the black bear located along the central West Coast of British Columbia. According to First Nations' legend, Kermode bears were turned white by Raven to remind people of the Ice Age. Orcas are revered by West Coast First Nations as travelers and guardians of the sea.
2. Quatchi is a young Sasquatch who comes from the deep Canadian forests. The Sasquatch is a well known character in local native legends of the Pacific West Coast. Quatchi enjoys exploring new places and making new friends. Quatchi is a bashful and kind Sasquatch. He has a long brown beard and blue earmuffs. His large size makes him a bit uncoordinated. Quatchi's favorite sport is hockey and his dream is to become a famous goalie. He is eager and understands that working hard is a key component of realizing your dreams.
3. Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. Sumi's name comes from the Salish word Sumesh which means guardian spirit. He has wings of a Thunderbird that allow him to fly and the furry legs of a bear. The bear often represents strength and friendship. Sumi is a leader dedicated to protecting and conserving our water, land, and the critters that make it their home. Sumi loves every sport of the Paralympic games.
4. Mukmuk is a small and sociable Vancouver Island marmot. Mukmuk gets his name from the word 'muckamuck,' which is Chinook dialect for 'food.' Mukmuk loves to eat and cheer for the athletes during races and games. His favorite foods are berries and mountain flowers. He is an honorary member of the mascot team.
These sweet and cuddly mystical creatures symbolize the strength and transformation of the athletes while showcasing First Nation culture. Audiences will find the mascots of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games entertaining, educational, and memorable.
Mascots have become important and popular representatives of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. They bring warmth, fun, and excitement to the games. Tourists from all over the world delight in the antics of these lovable mascots.
Each host Country and region designs their mascots to represent the culture and ideals of that country. The mascots are often the storytellers of the games and symbolize the values of the athletes. The host province of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is British Columbia but contributing provinces and territories include Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, and the Yukon. The four host First Nations include: Lil'wat First Nation, Musqueam First Nation, Squamish First Nation, and the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation.
The role of the mascot has made significant advancements. Imagination and creativity are poured into mascot designs resulting in a tremendous line of collectables, toys, and other mascot paraphernalia. Canada and the province of British Columbia have carried on the tradition of creating mascots that emanate pride, celebration, diversity, inspiration, and the Olympic spirit.
Vancouver 2010 Mascots
1. Miga is a snowboarding sea-bear inspired by the First Nations' legends of the Pacific Northwest. Miga is part sea-bear and part orca whale and has been described as mischievous and outgoing. Snowboarding is Miga's favorite winter sport. She is a young sea bear who lives in the ocean with her family pod, beyond Vancouver Island, near Tofino, British Columbia. Miga is part Kermode bear, a rare white bear that only lives in British Columbia. The Kermode bear is a rare white or cream-colored sub-species of the black bear located along the central West Coast of British Columbia. According to First Nations' legend, Kermode bears were turned white by Raven to remind people of the Ice Age. Orcas are revered by West Coast First Nations as travelers and guardians of the sea.
2. Quatchi is a young Sasquatch who comes from the deep Canadian forests. The Sasquatch is a well known character in local native legends of the Pacific West Coast. Quatchi enjoys exploring new places and making new friends. Quatchi is a bashful and kind Sasquatch. He has a long brown beard and blue earmuffs. His large size makes him a bit uncoordinated. Quatchi's favorite sport is hockey and his dream is to become a famous goalie. He is eager and understands that working hard is a key component of realizing your dreams.
3. Sumi is an animal spirit who lives in the mountains of British Columbia. Sumi's name comes from the Salish word Sumesh which means guardian spirit. He has wings of a Thunderbird that allow him to fly and the furry legs of a bear. The bear often represents strength and friendship. Sumi is a leader dedicated to protecting and conserving our water, land, and the critters that make it their home. Sumi loves every sport of the Paralympic games.
4. Mukmuk is a small and sociable Vancouver Island marmot. Mukmuk gets his name from the word 'muckamuck,' which is Chinook dialect for 'food.' Mukmuk loves to eat and cheer for the athletes during races and games. His favorite foods are berries and mountain flowers. He is an honorary member of the mascot team.
These sweet and cuddly mystical creatures symbolize the strength and transformation of the athletes while showcasing First Nation culture. Audiences will find the mascots of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games entertaining, educational, and memorable.
Scholarships in Football
Are you a stand out high school football player? Are you wondering about scholarships in football and how you can get an opportunity? Scholarships are available, but no one is going to hand deliver one to you, you must learn how to compete for them...just as you compete on the field.
First of all, here are some stats about scholarships in football:
- At the NCAA Division 1A level, 85 scholarships are available - At the NCAA Division 1AA level, 63 scholarships are available - At the NCAA Division II level, 36 scholarships are available - At the NAIA Division I and II level, 24 scholarships are available - At the NCAA Division III level, no scholarships are available, but financial aid is available - At the junior college level, grant-in-aids are available
To get one of these scholarships in football, here are some keys to keep in mind:
1- You must be an above average football player
To play at the college level, you need to be among the best at the high school level. Competition at the college level is very tough.
2- Good grades are essential
Don't bother trying to make it to the college football level if your grades are poor. Coaches want athletes who can stay qualified to play.
3- Love for the game
At the college level, football is a year round game. You are either on the field practicing, playing games, or you are in the weight room getting bigger and stronger.
4- You must let college coaches know about you
If you have all these factors working for you, the most important thing you can do is to make sure your name is known by college coaches. Scholarships in football are available, but I can promise you won't get one if coaches don't know about you or what type of football player you are.
Take control of your recruitment by marketing and promoting yourself. Unless you are the next Tom Brady or Julius Peppers and college coaches are already offering you scholarships in football by camping out on your front lawn, it's the best way to make sure you play the sport you love at the college level.
First of all, here are some stats about scholarships in football:
- At the NCAA Division 1A level, 85 scholarships are available - At the NCAA Division 1AA level, 63 scholarships are available - At the NCAA Division II level, 36 scholarships are available - At the NAIA Division I and II level, 24 scholarships are available - At the NCAA Division III level, no scholarships are available, but financial aid is available - At the junior college level, grant-in-aids are available
To get one of these scholarships in football, here are some keys to keep in mind:
1- You must be an above average football player
To play at the college level, you need to be among the best at the high school level. Competition at the college level is very tough.
2- Good grades are essential
Don't bother trying to make it to the college football level if your grades are poor. Coaches want athletes who can stay qualified to play.
3- Love for the game
At the college level, football is a year round game. You are either on the field practicing, playing games, or you are in the weight room getting bigger and stronger.
4- You must let college coaches know about you
If you have all these factors working for you, the most important thing you can do is to make sure your name is known by college coaches. Scholarships in football are available, but I can promise you won't get one if coaches don't know about you or what type of football player you are.
Take control of your recruitment by marketing and promoting yourself. Unless you are the next Tom Brady or Julius Peppers and college coaches are already offering you scholarships in football by camping out on your front lawn, it's the best way to make sure you play the sport you love at the college level.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
How to Improve Your Basketball Skills
Improving your basketball skills depends on your own will to become better. It takes determination and patience in order to become a better player. As you learn how to improve your basketball skills, you should possess the following mindset and attitude in order to be successful at it.
First of all, you will need focus if you ever want to improve on your basketball skills. The ability to concentrate on becoming better on the type of basketball skill that you are working on is very important. As you go on with the process of learning how to improve your basketball skills, your focus will dictate how quickly you may be able to see the results of your efforts.
In relation to focus, you also need the burning desire to succeed as a more capable athlete. Hard work alone won't get you far if you don't have the passion of doing what you love. You will learn that if you have the desire to get better at basketball, it will be easier for you to make improvements on your basketball skills.
Having a positive attitude is also an important trait to have as you try to get better with your basketball skills. The positive attitude can affect not only as you try to improve on the skills of the game. It can also affect the people around you such as your teammates. Having a positive attitude can help you have enough to get going even if the going gets tough. So if you feel like nothing is going right, positive attitude will help you feel that you still can.
Self-confidence is essential as well. Believe in yourself that you have what it takes to get so much better at the game that you love.
And most of all, the key to improve your basketball skills is to never give up. Keep practicing even though you feel fatigued or think that you have reached what you think is your top-level game. The best players always know that they still have a lot to learn about the game.
There is still a long way to go if you wish to improve your basketball skills. The way to get better at it is having the determination, the proper motivation and the right amount of effort to excel at the game
First of all, you will need focus if you ever want to improve on your basketball skills. The ability to concentrate on becoming better on the type of basketball skill that you are working on is very important. As you go on with the process of learning how to improve your basketball skills, your focus will dictate how quickly you may be able to see the results of your efforts.
In relation to focus, you also need the burning desire to succeed as a more capable athlete. Hard work alone won't get you far if you don't have the passion of doing what you love. You will learn that if you have the desire to get better at basketball, it will be easier for you to make improvements on your basketball skills.
Having a positive attitude is also an important trait to have as you try to get better with your basketball skills. The positive attitude can affect not only as you try to improve on the skills of the game. It can also affect the people around you such as your teammates. Having a positive attitude can help you have enough to get going even if the going gets tough. So if you feel like nothing is going right, positive attitude will help you feel that you still can.
Self-confidence is essential as well. Believe in yourself that you have what it takes to get so much better at the game that you love.
And most of all, the key to improve your basketball skills is to never give up. Keep practicing even though you feel fatigued or think that you have reached what you think is your top-level game. The best players always know that they still have a lot to learn about the game.
There is still a long way to go if you wish to improve your basketball skills. The way to get better at it is having the determination, the proper motivation and the right amount of effort to excel at the game
Energy in Cycling
Fred came to see me for help in improving his energy level for cycling. I asked Fred to explain exactly how this lack of energy happens?
He told me that his energy level was at and all times low and he had a problem completing the race because he lacked the necessary level of energy. So what I did next was to ask Fred to show me how he did deep breathing about 5-10 times. After he demonstrated this deep breathing process I told him I knew what his problem was and I could fix it within a few minutes.
The technique of proper breathing should be done in the following:
1. Firm up your lower stomach muscles (make sure the stomach muscles aren't tight because it will interfere with your breathing).
2. Just focus your breathing into your lower stomach approx. 2 inches below your belly button.
3. Although each breath goes through your chest area, it should be focused in your lower stomach area.
Fred was pleased with my answer but a little skeptical at the same time because he'd gone to see the top experts in cycling and they couldn't figure it out and this was puzzling him a bit because he knew my background was in karate.
I started to explain to Fred that over 98% of all athletes would lose between 40%-60% of their energy by the time they reach teenager. The reason is because their breathing pattern changes in the most negative ways and this reduces the amount of oxygen being diverted in the wrong places within your body.
There is a simple and fast way to solve this and it can be done through a special breathing that is easy to learn and implement in any sport.
I showed Fred examples that showed him how it works and how to use it in sports or in daily life for maximum energy levels.
I then showed him about Mental Focus because the mind can and will control the amount of energy that is needed for athletes. I figured that 80% improvements were due to the breathing technique that I showed him and the other 20% had to do with Mental Focus.
He told me that his energy level was at and all times low and he had a problem completing the race because he lacked the necessary level of energy. So what I did next was to ask Fred to show me how he did deep breathing about 5-10 times. After he demonstrated this deep breathing process I told him I knew what his problem was and I could fix it within a few minutes.
The technique of proper breathing should be done in the following:
1. Firm up your lower stomach muscles (make sure the stomach muscles aren't tight because it will interfere with your breathing).
2. Just focus your breathing into your lower stomach approx. 2 inches below your belly button.
3. Although each breath goes through your chest area, it should be focused in your lower stomach area.
Fred was pleased with my answer but a little skeptical at the same time because he'd gone to see the top experts in cycling and they couldn't figure it out and this was puzzling him a bit because he knew my background was in karate.
I started to explain to Fred that over 98% of all athletes would lose between 40%-60% of their energy by the time they reach teenager. The reason is because their breathing pattern changes in the most negative ways and this reduces the amount of oxygen being diverted in the wrong places within your body.
There is a simple and fast way to solve this and it can be done through a special breathing that is easy to learn and implement in any sport.
I showed Fred examples that showed him how it works and how to use it in sports or in daily life for maximum energy levels.
I then showed him about Mental Focus because the mind can and will control the amount of energy that is needed for athletes. I figured that 80% improvements were due to the breathing technique that I showed him and the other 20% had to do with Mental Focus.
Monday, August 3, 2009
A Golf Fitness Program Will Improve Your Game
Recently, some golfers on the professional tours have finally started admitting that they are trying to get an extra edge out there every week. They are eating better and taking their vitamins, but it is the time spend in the gym that is making the difference. Now, they aren't trying to become power lifters, they are increasing strength in certain areas of the body that will help them swing faster, stronger, more accurately, and with more reliability.
There are some players on the pro tour who are head and shoulders above the rest. Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods come to mind. The one thing they have in common, other than being great golfers, is that they also work out like fiends. When they aren't hitting balls, they are working out with weights, stretching, or building aerobic strength.
You don't have to be a pro golfer to get a competitive advantage out of a golf fitness program. The truth is that golfers of any age and ability can use a well-designed golf fitness program to increase their play on the course. Whether you are looking for more distance off the tee, or a way to get through eighteen holes without pain, a golf fitness program will help. Football - The Defense
As important as the offensive unit is to scoring in the game of football, the defensive unit is just as important for keeping the opposing team from crossing the goal line. In baseball they say good pitching stops good hitting. Well, in football a good defense stops a good offense. We're going to briefly review the roles of the defensive unit for a team.
It's hard to say what the most important part of a defensive is. Each part of the unit has a different function and each function is important in its own way. If any one part of the unit breaks down, it usually ends up in a score for the opposing offense.
The main line of defense is the defensive line which is made up of tackles and ends. These are the men who rush the quarterback if they see a pass play coming or try to tackle the running backs on a run play before those backs get too much yardage. This is called down in the trenches because the game of football is a game of gaining ground a very little bit at a time. If you need 10 yards in 4 downs to make a first down then that means a running back only needs to gain 2.5 yards for each time he runs the ball. That means the defensive line has to hold him to under 2 yards per carry. Not an easy thing to do. On pass plays they want to get to the quarterback as soon as possible because the longer a quarterback has to throw the ball the better the chance that his pass will be completed. Yes, the defensive line has a very big and important job.
After the defensive line is the secondary unit. These are the linebackers. Should a running back make it past the defensive linemen, it is the linebackers job to tackle them before they gain too much ground. The linebackers also protect against pass plays. Because of the complex pass routes that receivers run, most linebackers play in what is called a zone so that if any receiver enters that zone they can be ready to prevent a pass from being caught. The middle linebacker is the pretty much the coordinator of the defense. He is usually the one who has his eyes on everything that's going on.
The cornerbacks are the ones who shadow the wide receivers on deep routes. It's their job to stay with the receivers every step down the field. Because receivers are so fast, cornerbacks have to be just as fast in order to keep up with them. It's their job to make sure that any pass thrown their way is not caught. If they can intercept a pass, all the better.
Finally there are the safeties. These two guys are pretty much the last line of defense. If anyone gets past the linebackers and cornerbacks, it is the job of the safeties to prevent the opposition from getting into the goal area.
The defense of a football team, if it's good enough, can many times snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Never underestimate a strong defense.
It's hard to say what the most important part of a defensive is. Each part of the unit has a different function and each function is important in its own way. If any one part of the unit breaks down, it usually ends up in a score for the opposing offense.
The main line of defense is the defensive line which is made up of tackles and ends. These are the men who rush the quarterback if they see a pass play coming or try to tackle the running backs on a run play before those backs get too much yardage. This is called down in the trenches because the game of football is a game of gaining ground a very little bit at a time. If you need 10 yards in 4 downs to make a first down then that means a running back only needs to gain 2.5 yards for each time he runs the ball. That means the defensive line has to hold him to under 2 yards per carry. Not an easy thing to do. On pass plays they want to get to the quarterback as soon as possible because the longer a quarterback has to throw the ball the better the chance that his pass will be completed. Yes, the defensive line has a very big and important job.
After the defensive line is the secondary unit. These are the linebackers. Should a running back make it past the defensive linemen, it is the linebackers job to tackle them before they gain too much ground. The linebackers also protect against pass plays. Because of the complex pass routes that receivers run, most linebackers play in what is called a zone so that if any receiver enters that zone they can be ready to prevent a pass from being caught. The middle linebacker is the pretty much the coordinator of the defense. He is usually the one who has his eyes on everything that's going on.
The cornerbacks are the ones who shadow the wide receivers on deep routes. It's their job to stay with the receivers every step down the field. Because receivers are so fast, cornerbacks have to be just as fast in order to keep up with them. It's their job to make sure that any pass thrown their way is not caught. If they can intercept a pass, all the better.
Finally there are the safeties. These two guys are pretty much the last line of defense. If anyone gets past the linebackers and cornerbacks, it is the job of the safeties to prevent the opposition from getting into the goal area.
The defense of a football team, if it's good enough, can many times snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Never underestimate a strong defense.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Pitching Tips For Baseball Pitching
Pitching Tip #1- Be an Avid Student of Pitching:
It is amazing how many questions you can answer yourself by picking up great books, tapes and DVD's about Pitching. You will be light years ahead of your competition if you spend just thirty minutes a day studying Baseball or other topics such as leadership, commitment, attitude, courage, biographies of successful pitchers, setting goals, organization etc. Learning about all of these great topics will help you reach your full potential on the mound. You can't just throw 95 miles an hour and expect to make it far. There's much more to pitching than that; there's much more to you, go find it with proper research and due diligence.
It is amazing how many questions you can answer yourself by picking up great books, tapes and DVD's about Pitching. You will be light years ahead of your competition if you spend just thirty minutes a day studying Baseball or other topics such as leadership, commitment, attitude, courage, biographies of successful pitchers, setting goals, organization etc. Learning about all of these great topics will help you reach your full potential on the mound. You can't just throw 95 miles an hour and expect to make it far. There's much more to pitching than that; there's much more to you, go find it with proper research and due diligence.
Pitching Tip #2 - Set Goals:
Yes! Every successful athlete sets goals and writes them down. They understand how important it is to have a road map to success in their hands. Successful athletes break their long term goals down into daily actions to ensure they can turn their goals and dreams into a reality. For example, goals are measurable, if you want to pitch at the collegiate level and you have five years to prepare yourself fo
r that, you should know where you need to be one year from today to be on pace to reach that goal. Then you should know what action steps you will take each and everyday to ensure that you will. Remember, no professional athlete gets where they are without having a clearly defined goal and having a clear plan of action to accomplish it!Pitching Tip #3- Pitching Mechanics:
Find a qualified pitching instructor in your area to teach you sound mechanics. There are many pitching instructors to choose from. You can go to your local Baseball Academy and find several, but don't just rely on the Academy to choose an instructor for you. Find out who is taking lessons from the instructors. Find out how they've improved. Do they enjoy the lessons? Does the instructor clearly explain what is expected of them? Make sure the pitching coach can teach! This may sound funny, they're an instructor right? A lot of those so called instructors know about pitching, but most don't know how to deliver a message to athletes of all age levels. Be selective in who you choose!
Pitching Tip #4 - Nutrition:
Understanding how your body performs by what you put into it is vital to your success as a pitcher. Choose a well balanced diet. What types of foods will you eat before game day? Learn what types of food will give you the energy you need throughout your workouts and practices. Balance the carbohydrates, proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals etc. Choose not to participate or become involved in Tobacco, Alcohol or performance enhancing drugs like steroids and growth hormones. They will ruin you!
Pitching Tip #5 - Be a Leader:
Pitcher's are leaders! Think about it. A pitcher has control of the entire game. The game doesn't start until you throw the ball. Did you know you can control the attitude of each player on your team just by your demeanor on the mound? If you show frustration on the mound that is exactly what your teammates will f
eel and it will show in their performance. They will tend to make more errors; I see it hundreds of times each year. On the other hand, if you are optimistic, expect to win; confident, excited etc. your team will follow your lead. Success breeds Success! That means you should study successful people right? Study the leaders before you. Learn what makes them so successful. What do they do everyday that makes them a leader? You will find that most leaders share some of the same habits. After you find what makes a leader a leader, it's your job to work on it!How to Fix - Repair Your Baseball Glove
Is your baseball glove stopping you from achieving your potential? You should not have to sit on the bench due to a busted-up glove. That is why i am going to teach you to repair/ maintain your baseball glove!
First, you must diagnose the problem. Usually, in my experiences, the major problem is the strings coming undone or untied. This causes the glove to lose stiffness, so even if the ball does land in the pocket, it will just fall out. Luckily, this is an easy fix! What you will need- Your glove, tweezers, and your own two hands!
Also, it is best to have a properly stringed glove around for an example. First, push the tweezers through the string holes, then place the string into the tweezers, and slowly pull the tweezers back out of the hole. Depending on how many place have become untied, you may have to restring more than one spot. Once you have the glove restringed, the next step is to tie the strings, so they do not just slip back through the holes. The best knot to use is the normal knot! Just simply tie a normal knot, pull the knot really tight, and repeat (if needed, depending on the string length). NOTE: do not pull the strings to tight as they may break, or the glove may become to stiff.
Next, I will talk about maintaining your glove. It really is easy, simply rub your glove with a glove conditioner (some people say shaving cream will work, but I have never tried it), once about every two weeks.
First, you must diagnose the problem. Usually, in my experiences, the major problem is the strings coming undone or untied. This causes the glove to lose stiffness, so even if the ball does land in the pocket, it will just fall out. Luckily, this is an easy fix! What you will need- Your glove, tweezers, and your own two hands!
Also, it is best to have a properly stringed glove around for an example. First, push the tweezers through the string holes, then place the string into the tweezers, and slowly pull the tweezers back out of the hole. Depending on how many place have become untied, you may have to restring more than one spot. Once you have the glove restringed, the next step is to tie the strings, so they do not just slip back through the holes. The best knot to use is the normal knot! Just simply tie a normal knot, pull the knot really tight, and repeat (if needed, depending on the string length). NOTE: do not pull the strings to tight as they may break, or the glove may become to stiff.
Next, I will talk about maintaining your glove. It really is easy, simply rub your glove with a glove conditioner (some people say shaving cream will work, but I have never tried it), once about every two weeks.
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