Saturday, July 23, 2011

Favourite Teams in Cricket World Cup 2011


The cricket fever is the talk of the town these days, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will host tenth edition of ICC Cricket World Cup in February. Cricket is followed as religion in subcontinent and people of this part of globe are passionate about their regional teams as event is drawing near and conjecture are in the air who will win crystal trophy this time. Australia made history by winning consecutive last three edition of the World Cup, but this time history is going to witness some other contenders instead of Australia.
Subcontinent pitches are way different than other countries, they are less bouncy bit slow and supportive for spinners and swing is not what subcontinent pitches are famous for, a graveyard for fast bowlers, all these facts made the long list of winning contenders of this edition of the World Cup.
Bangladesh is a co-host of this edition it doesn't mean they are on the losing streak; they have always produce upsets in earlier edition of this mega cricket event but they are not in the favorites list.
West Indies have won first two editions but never seen again in that touch in earlier editions, they got quality all-rounder in the likes of Ramesh Sarwan and Chris Gayle but winning a World Cup is still a dream for them.
New Zealand have gone through a lot during this cricketing calendar year, after losing to Bangladesh and India at sub continent pitches, its bit hard to expect win from them in this World Cup since losing to Pakistan even at their hometown, winning World Cup is like snowing in the summer for them.
Zimbabwe is famous for digging miracles like Bangladesh, and in news after clean sweeping Indian team at their home ground which is more likely contains players from A side than regulars but still winning this event is out of context for them.
England have named Ashes to them this year with flying performances from bowling and batting department but still their batting revolves heavily around Andrew Struass and Kevin Pietersen performances which are quite low prolific on these subcontinent pitches secondly they lack quality spinner in their team, Monty Paneasr was once their upcoming weapon but ruled out of this event because of injury.
Australia suffered a great loss after departure of Symonds, McGrath, Warne and Gilchrist from their playing eleven but they came back and shocked the cricketing nation by winning some high scorers but still lacking consistency in producing quality cricket.
SriLanka is definitely a strong nominee for this World Cup winners list, their body language is impressive, they are born to deal with pressure situation, Sangakara`s men are famous for their consistent performance in the fielding department.
Pakistan was co-host of the event before being pulled out by ICC because of security measures, since Asif and Aamir are not part of playing eleven, Malik and Yousaf are not selected on discipline grounds, its bit hard to predict anything about this inconsistent team but since home ground advantage may turns table for them.
India is definitely in good touch, after beating New Zealand and South Africa by a fairly good margin, they are strong candidates for this World Cup hall of fame list, in the likes of Yousaf Pathan, Tendulakar, Sehwag and Zaheer Khan they are most favorite team for this ICC Cricket World Cup.
Update all cricket world cup 2011 details and see the every movement of cricket there.

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!
    But make sure you consult your coach/doctor/gym instructor before starting any sessions.
    Discover amazing cricket tips and tricks at Cricket Secrets.com that you can use today to explode your cricket results!
    Or visit our cricket forum at the Cricket Secrets Forum

    Improve Your Athletic Performance With Proper Sports Nutrition


    Nutrition is a fundamental part of any athletes potential for on-field success. Food is the fuel that is directly responsible for powering those spectacular field plays in sports from tennis to soccer to ice hockey. However, it is important that the food you eat is healthy, nourishing, and promotes higher energy levels.
    Athletes will find that they can benefit most from foods that are rich in protein and complex carbohydrates. These basic food types should be supplemented with fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Additionally, sports nutrition can be complemented with factory-made supplements such as creatine or whey protein. These supplements are completely legal and were designed to improve performance or heal sore muscles faster.
    A high protein diet is recommended by most sports nutritionists. In fact, if you lead an exceptionally active lifestyle that includes regular aerobic/anaerobic exercise, the recommended daily protein intake should ideally fall within 1 to 1.5 grams per pound of body weight. Protein plays a fundamental role in building up strength and muscles mass, which could be lost if you were to follow a physically active lifestyle without taking in these basic building blocks essential to repairing fatigued and ripped muscle tissue, and building it back stronger. Stick to lean meats like chicken breasts, steak, cottage cheese, or other dairy products with low quantities of fat.
    Another important part of sports nutrition includes carbohydrates. There are two basic types of carbohydrates: simple carbohydrates, and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbs are those that are absorbed rapidly by your body. In other words, they will be converted into blood glucose rapidly and will generate a quick spike of energy that will last you for a very short amount of time. On the other hand, complex carbs are absorbed by your body at a steady yet constant rate, supplying your body with a stable flow of energy that can keep it running for long periods of time where physical endurance and athletic performance are demanded. For these reasons, try to avoid simple carbs and stick to complex carbs as much as possible. Foods like wholewheat bread, oats, brown rice, and brown pasta can be considered complex carbs.
    As a final note, remember that contrary to popular belief, not all fats are bad for you. Many foods that contain healthy saturated fats are recommended as they can provide your body with Omega 3 fatty acids while helping to keep your blood cholesterol levels in check. You should avoid sugar-laden fatty products containing mono-insaturated fats and hydrogenated vegetable oil at all costs, however. In general, if you follow a nutritional plan built to improve your athletic performance, you will be surprised to see just how drastic the change can be on your on-field game.
    If you are interested in sports nutrition products, be sure to read my reviews on USP Labs and MHP supplements.

    Friday, July 22, 2011

    Japanese Wrestling - A Little More Variety


    Japanese wrestling, sometimes called Japan Pro Wrestling, is a relatively recent arrival in Japan when compared to its more ancient counterpart Sumo wrestling. As an adaptation of standard American pro wrestling, Japan Pro Wrestling wrestling never really kicked off in its home country until RikidMzan made it big by inspiring his countrymen right after World War II. From then on, the sport practically snowballed into a national sport that saw the rise and stay of professional wrestling in the Japanese culture.
    RikidMzan's death in 1963 had split the once-unified professional wrestling organization of Japan into two main factions, with two successors each taking a different approach to wrestling. One faction focused on turning wrestling into a simulated combat sport, while the other faction focused more on storytelling and performances.
    Japanese wrestling would be associated to a few fights and names under them. This would include: manabu nakanishi, shinsuke nakamura, taguchi & prince devitt, black tiger & jado, togi makabe & tomoaki, makabe & tomoaki honma, takashi iizuka & tomohiro, iizuka & tomohiro ishii, and many others.
    Combat Wrestling 
    Being the 'left-wing' style of wrestling, combat (or shoot) wrestling incorporates moves you would rarely see on American wrestling: kicks and punches accompany a wrestler's plethora of moves; aiming primarily to create a 'fight' rather than a 'show' to its fans. This makes combat wrestling a notch more dangerous and realistic than its flashier and more dramatic counterpart.
    King's Road 
    If you ever watched American wrestling, then you would be familiar with how the King's Road approach to wrestling took off: submissions, brawls and some background stories all work together to create a cinematic effect - traditional America wrestling in its purest form.
    The End Result 
    Neither side of pro wrestling in Japan actually 'won' as time passed. In fact, the lines differentiating both styles of Japan Pro Wrestling blurred; resulting in a style of wrestling that is uniquely Japanese in nature.
    Watching most American pro wrestling matches is like watching a noontime soap drama - except with more muscles and testosterone attached. Japan Pro Wrestling is a bit more different: the matches are designed as actual wrestling matches with a very real interest in victory rather than some fabricated personal agenda for the wrestlers.
    Even the energy of the matches is different - Japan Pro Wrestling has a more competitive and edgy feel to it than its American counterpart. This edgy feel is not generated by the fluff surrounding the matches, but by the wrestlers themselves as they duke it out for the titles. It would be really convincing if you didn't know from the beginning that the matches were scripted all the same.
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    Football Popularity


    Football is the most popular sport in the world; in South America, Brasilia, France, U.K people play football, visit football matches, watch football games on TV and discuss them with friends and read updated football news. The games of elite football groups attract thousands of people. For instance, the capacity of Salt Lake Stadium in India is 120,000 people, and of Beaver Stadium in U.S.A - 107,282 people. In World Championship the stadiums are often full, and many people don't manage to get tickets in time.
    FIFA includes 208 different national federations. Many countries consider football a part of their national heritage, and refer to football games as to representative of the country's national ideas. Football fans create special magazine, which presents latest football news and events, such as transfers of the players, and of season, changing of managers and coaches et cetera. Publishers and editors of fanzines often receive no financial compensation; fanzines are often distributed free of charge or for nominal cost only.
    Football popularity often leads to rivalry, which sometimes develops into hooliganism. Fights between supporters of different teams usually occur after football matches. Sometimes football rivalry brings to tragedy on stadiums. At the mass brawl in May 2007, hundred Liverpool fans fought each other in Athens, hoping to get a ticket for the game. Another tragic event took place at the Hillsborough stadium on April 15, 1989, causing the death of 96 people. The unprecedented influx of fans through a narrow tunnel leading to the stadium has caused a major crush.
    Football has always maintained a foothold in the fans' enthusiasm. Most of the largest stadiums in the world are used for football, because of its enormous popularity. One of the main interest in this sport is the football transfer rumours part. Raising awareness of the violence among football fans might help to reduce the danger of tragedies and save the rightfully owned popularity of the game.
    Read more about football in the leading Football blog - Caughtoffside.com
    Submitted by Content Editor Internet Marketing Company - Inter-Dev, on behalf of Caughtoffside.com - Football news site.

    The World's Most Popular Sports


    The choice of sport varies from individual to individual. Many people follow family trend, i.e. the sport their family used to watch from years but at the same time, many individuals make a choice of their own. When we conclude as which sport can be considered the most popular sports in the entire world, finding a perfect answer to becomes quite daunting. Today, with the help of internet, making quick online research and exploring sports world becomes easy.
    Whenever such an online survey is conducted, soccer / football is always found to be on top; no matter what the criteria for the list are. The problem exists when it comes to clearly defining the variable for the list. For many, the most popular sport is one that is most played, most watched and the most talked about, but certainly, this is not the truth. Popularity of sports can be known by analyzing the number of spectators, the number of national associations, the number of registered participants, the number of people play the game, tournaments held in stadiums and facilities worldwide and merchandise sold. All these factors together influence the popularity of every individual sport in the entire sports world. However, to include all these factors in a single list is quite difficult, but then many of them should be included to find the answer.
    Soccer or Football is always leading the list is followed by cricket, basketball, volleyball and many other versions of football. But it all depends upon the criteria being used for checking out the popularity. Reason behind soccer being the most popular sports in the world is its number of fans. Yes, when the list of popular sports is formulated based on number of fans than football is rightly at the top position. After football, comes cricket. Cricket in spite of being played in many parts of the sports world (not everywhere), has a great fan following. With 1 billion Indian fans, it has set its place amongst the top most popular sports of the World. And then is hockey; which is widely spread around the world by the English.
    Today, most of the viewers sit back home and watch the play on internet. This is the reason why online audience has greatly grown as compared to the number of viewers who physically go to watch sporting events. Therefore, is it really fair to confirm the popularity of a sport depending upon the internet data? No, because this way, physical viewers or those watching the play on television, would be left out. Also, another limitation of using the online audience is that they do not represent a worldwide view. The information available on internet is generally US biased and therefore US popular sports like baseball, basketball and American football are highly represented.
    Therefore in a nutshell, the popularity of sports is not at all uniform around the world. It keeps on varying depending upon various existing factors.
    Find out everything you need to know about Football at The Sports Mirror.

    Thursday, July 21, 2011

    Golf Tips In Your Bag


    Golf tips are a "dime a dozen", and every hack is willing to give his "2 cents worth" at any given moment. The problem is the people giving the tips can't play a lick of golf themselves, so why should you listen to them? You shouldn't! Instead you must find a credible source that you know can help, not hurt your golf swing. A good golf tip can literally change your game overnight. I know, as it's happened to me on a few occasions.
    How many times have you been on the course and your swing has gone south, and you were just yearning for a tip that would turn it around? I know I have more times than I can count for sure. If you don't get that tip, usually the game gets worse, and you walk off the 18th tee disgusted just like any other day on the golf course right?
    Well, your options are few and far between. You don't have your instructor with you, telling you what you did wrong and how to fix it. You can't figure it out yourself, because if you did, you'd be a scratch golfer and we both know that's not the case.
    So what choices do you have left? I guess you could lug around a big, golf instruction, tips book. But how funny would that look when you pull it out of your bag and all your buddies tease you, and tell you this is golf, not Barnes and Noble.
    How about hand written notes? Well, maybe, but they would not wear well, and soon be illegible to read. I know I've written a few done after a golf lesson, but my hand writing is so bad, I couldn't read it anyways. So much for that brilliant idea.
    How about something on your iPhone? That's pretty cutting-edge, and hi tech. Well, if you're like me you don't have an iPhone, so that really cool idea is out the window now. Man, what's left then? Are there any options you have to helping your golf game, especially when your playing, and playing badly?
    There's got to be other alternatives, but you've got to get creative, as you'll find many golf tips online, but some of them are not credible, so you wouldn't want to apply them to your game and make it any worse. But, with the right resource that one tip can dramatically improve your game.
    If you're looking for a golf tips guide that you can carry in your bag, you'll want to head on over to the golf swing aids site at Perform Better Golf.

    Batting Coaches for Everyone


    Batting coaches can be very helpful for baseball players of all ages. These coaches specialize in hitting, without having to worry about all the other aspects of baseball. Because of that, they are able to devote more individual attention to players and their hitting techniques.
    The problem is, there aren't a lot of batting coaches out there. Many teams can't afford to hire a batting coach or they can't find someone willing to volunteer for the job. If you have a batting coach on your team, consider yourself very lucky. Take advantage of the situation and learn as much as you can from this coach.
    For those who don't have a batting coach, there are other alternatives that are just as good. First, you have a head coach and while he may not be able to give you a lot of his time, he will have a lot of knowledge on batting. Show an interest and effort and he will be more eager to help you.
    A parent is also an excellent alternative. Since parents personally care for you, they will have more patience and words of encouragement for you. If a parent wants to help you out, let them. Your teammates can also benefit your hitting as you can bounce ideas off of each other. Just be willing to help them in return.
    Watch tapes of you hitting during a game to see how you look and how you need to improve. The tape doesn't lie. If it's possible, it would even be a good idea to review tapes of pitchers you'll be playing against to see exactly how they pitch. This will prepare you for the games against those pitchers.
    Finally, read baseball hitting books and watch videos about hitting. Most successful players have at one time or another invested in educational materials to better their hitting. Who better to get help from than the experts?
    Considering using any or all of these options to improve your hitting and be a better player. Anyone can benefit from these examples, no matter what your age. You can even go so far as to say these are your many batting coaches. They will help assist in developing proper hitting skills.
    So, even if you don't have a batting coach, there's no excuse to not improve on your hitting. Seek help from those around you who know what they're talking about. No one makes it big without the help of others.
    Remember that the reason to practice with batting coaches is to give you skills and talent to become the baseball player you want to be. Download free hitting videos with tips and instructions you need to get started quickly by visiting Baseball Hitting and learn how to hit the baseball better.

    Real Hitting Tips For Baseball Players


    Hitting tips are meant to help baseball players. And while there are many different tips, some are more effective than others. In order for any hitting tip to work, you have to commit to it and practice it often. Even if you're hitting a.300, don't stop practicing your hitting because practice is sure to make you better and better.
    The hitting tips listed here are the most common and the most helpful for baseball players. First, you have to be a confident hitter. If you have doubts about your skills and capabilities, you are more likely to fail and get more strikes than hits. Trust that you can and will get the job done.
    You also have to be familiar with the strike zone. If you know this area you will be able to judge whether a pitch is a strike or a ball. This will lessen your chances of striking out.
    Baseball is as much mental as it is physical. So, you must be prepared mentally while you're at bat. Ignore what's going on around you and just focus on the pitcher and what he's throwing.
    You must have a consistent, smooth swing every time you swing the bat. You also need a good batting stance. If you don't feel balanced and comfortable, you will not be able to hit the ball.
    Recognize each pitch and practice adjusting to changes. If you are able to recognize the difference between a curveball and a fastball, you will be better prepared for the swing.
    Every baseball player has a hitting slump occasionally. Learn how to shake the slumps and get back in the game physically and mentally. A slump isn't the end of the world, but how you react to slumps determines how quickly you get out of them.
    Situational hitting is necessary to learn. Before you even step up to the plate, you need to have a goal and know what your mission is. Do you need to move a runner over? How many outs are there? If you have any questions about what you should do, talk to a coach.
    Remember that no matter where you are in the line-up, every position is important for winning games. You have been put where you are because of your strengths. Trust your coaches and just focus on helping your team win.
    Lastly, take care of your body on and off the ball field. To be the best player you can be, you need to eat healthy and exercise. Of course, you also need to have fun.
    Think about each of these hitting tips and practice them as often as you can. If you need help in any area, ask a coach, teammate or parent.
    Remember that the reason to practice your hitting tips is to give you skills and talent to become the baseball player you want to be. Find out why you need Baseball Bats that are comfortable in your hands.

    Wednesday, July 20, 2011

    The History of Snooker


    Snooker history goes back a great distance, in fact to the late nineteenth century. Among the British military officers stationed in India, billiards was one of the in style night games. It was around 1874 or 1875 in an officers' mess in Jabalpur that one of the officers determined so as to add a variation to the normal billiards recreation by adding colored balls to the present red and black balls. Thus the game of snooker originated.
    Snooker historical past says that even the secret originated from the defence forces. There's a model of this history that says that when Sir Neville Chamberlain was playing this new game within the Devonshire regiment he referred to as his opponent a "snooker" when he did not pot a ball. The word snooker is definitely used to indicate inexperienced military personnel or first year cadets of the army.
    The sport of snooker grew to become so in style that it quickly grew from its time of inception to the early twentieth century. The first World Snooker Championship was held in 1927. Joe Davis, a professional billiards participant, organized the match in a bid to convert snooker from a recreation for amateurs to 1 performed by professionals.
    Joe Davis was not only the primary organizer of the world championship but he additionally gained every championship until his retirement in 1946. Through the Nineteen Fifties and the Sixties the game became stagnant and generated little curiosity among the many outside public. Joe Davis tried to reinvent the sport by introducing Snooker Plus in 1969 but it surely didn't have any impact.
    1969 additionally saw a breakthrough for the sport when Pot Black, a snooker championship was introduced by David Attenborough, one of the prime BBC officials. His objective was to promote color television and show the world how attractive the game appears when shown on colour. This tournament was a resounding success on BBC2 and in 1978 the world championship was fully broadcast on TV.
    By this time, the game had really caught on among the Commonwealth countries. The success path that was established in 1969 continued on and snooker is now ranked among the many high watched games on TV throughout the world. The Snooker World Championship is televised throughout the world and there is no dearth of spectators.
    Snooker history is fascinating indeed. The more you read about the approach in which the game has developed by means of the years the more you get into it. Initially a British recreation snooker now enchants players from all over the world. Go through snooker history on-line and you'll generate so much curiosity about the game in you that you will itch to strive your hand on the game. And very soon you will start taking half in like a pro and wow others.
    If you desire to read more with reference to the times gone by of the sport of snooker why not pay a visit to: Snooker History

    A Brief History of Cricket World Cup


    The first Cricket World Cup was played during 1975 in England. The first three matches were also recognized as Prudential Cup with the sponsorship of prudential plc, it is a pecuniary services company. The cricket matches consisted of 60 overs per players and it was played with established white uniform and with red balls. There were matches held only during day and the event is held ever four years.
    Till the 1992 Cricket World Cup, only 8 teams participated in the Cricket tournament. Later on, the numbers of teams were certainly increased and in Cricket World Cup 2007, 16 teams would take part. In 1975, England, New Zealand, India, East Africa, Australia, West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka took participation and during 1979 Canada were replaced by East Africa. In 1983, Zimbabwe made an entry arena and Canada was out of the court. The same teams took part in the 1987 Cricket World Cup.
    In 1992, South Africa made an entry in the group and pertaining year 9 teams took part in the Cricket tournament. By the year 1996, the number of teams even increased more up to 12 with the participation of three fresh groups UAE, Netherlands and Kenya. Bangladesh and Scotland were replaced by UAE and Netherlands during 1999 Cricket World Cup.
    England successively hosted the first three matches and during 1987 match became the first World Cup to be hosted outside England. Cricket World Cup 1987 introduced unbiased umpires. The 1996 Cricket World Cup started the first look of third umpire in front of the TV monitor.
    All the 9 cricket world cup matches played have also contributed more records in the Cricket World Cup History. The records are on most excellent batting strike rate, maximum individual scores, and uppermost run-scorers, top bowling analysis, best bowling financial system rate, finest bowling strike rate, chief wicket-takers, premier team totals, lowest team totals, all major cricket catches and actually the most dismissals.
    Though initially the cricket world cup confined the attention of only hundreds of spectators, it has now fascinated millions who are keenly waiting to watch this year's tournament.
    Prasanna Moorthy is a cricket coach having intense knowledge in the field. To contact him mailto: prasanna.moorthy@gmail.com and for further cricket updates, info and to buy best cricket equipments visit http://www.procricketgear.com

    History of Cricket


    The cricket is a sport of unknown origin that is played in an outdoor stadium between two teams of eleven players each, using a bat and ball that is slightly smaller than the ball of the baseball game. The rules that govern this game were drafted in London, Great Britain, by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1788. From then onwards, the rules have been subject of subsequent updates.
    Cricket is played in Annual International Series, although there are also games between colleges and universities teams, including the traditional games held in Cambridge and Oxford every year.
    It is believed that Cricket is a name coming from the English word Crick, which meaning is "stick" or "stick pastor". This reference could be associated to the first bats that were used to play in the 18th century. However, the first cricket match ever recorded, as we know the game today was held in Melbourne, Australia, in a test match between England and Australia during 1877.
    In the United States, the first cricket game was held between this country and Canada in 1844 and took place in the grounds of the St George's Cricket Club in New York. However, it was not until 1859 when the first team of English professional cricket players visited America for the first overseas tour before embarking in their first Australian tour in 1862.
    Incidentally the first cricket team that toured England in 1868 was a team of Australian Aborigines and their visit achieved huge success that later would be the leading force to bring South Africa as the third Test nation after England and Australia in 1889.
    The cricket bat is currently paddle-shaped, but flat and made of wooden willow. A cricket bat measures 96 cm long and 10.8 cm wide, having a handle of cane. As per the cricket regulations, the dimensions of the playing field can range from 133 by 152 m or 160 by 168 m. The cricket ball weighs between 156 and 163 g and is made of twine rope coiled around a core of cork and covered with leather.
    Cricket is actually considered the national sport of England. When it comes to cricket records, the launcher Kapil Dev from India, downed 434 wickets in his 24 years of racing, the highest cricket score ever, although the Australian Allan Border made 11,174 runs between 1978 and 1992.
    Actually, the only Cricket team that has won the Cricket World Cup twice is the West Indies Cricket team, who won the championship in 1975 and 1979. Although cricket is mostly popular in Europe, the majority of the Commonwealth of Nations has professional cricket teams.
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    The Fundamental Skills of Basketball


    To get better skills in basketball players need to first understand and master the basics of the game.
    In basketball, there are 6 different fundamental skill areas that players should concentrate on in training.
    Dribbling 
    Dribbling the basketball is done to move the ball around only when a passing isn't a better option and a lane isn't available. Both new and experienced players make the mistake of dribbling the ball when it isn't needed. Ask any collage or professional basketball coach - they will all tell you the same thing. Dribbling should be done when the player (you) have some purpose to forfill. Dribbling while looking for an offensive option is a good way to lose the ball. When you are looking for that option, take the ball in a firm grip and put your body between you and the defender. Regardless of how good you are at dribbling, the defense will always have a greater chance for a steal if you are dribbling the ball instead of gripping it in both hands.
    Passing 
    Passing is the number 1 option for moving the ball around the court on offense. Passing is quicker than dribbling and so it is a deadly offensive tool for reaching that open man so they can have the shot. Good passes are the hallmark of good teams because most offensive plays are set up by good passes.
    Shooting 
    Shooting is probably the most practiced skill for new and experienced players. Yet so many people still practice it wrong. In practice all drills should be done at game speed and done as you would under pressure. Players are usually too lazy to do this and instead of practicing the sweet jump shot that they are constantly doing in the game they lazy-it-down to a hop-shot. Instead of jumping to give power they use their arms for the power and the legs give the rest. Practicing the wrong way to shoot is something that players do all the time yet they do not understand why they miss all their jump shots during the game...
    Rebounding 
    Rebounding can come in two forms - offensive and defensive. Lots of newer player look at rebounding and immediately think that it is a big mans area. Yet this is not so. Rebounding is more than just being big. It even surpasses just jumping ability. To be good at rebounding you need skill and dedication. Skill is mainly the ability to position yourself and read the shots - something that comes quickly with practice. Dedication is probably the most important factor in rebounding. The person who gets the ball is the one with the most hunger for the ball and who is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
    Offense 
    Offense is a fundamental which encompasses all aspects of the offensive court. Shooting has already been covered (and is covered more in the basketball website listed below). Yet moving off the ball to give offensive options to the player with the ball is another thing that is essential for good offense. Supporting your team mates with screens and being able to locate the best offensive option and get the ball to them are also essential things on offense. These skills are often overlooked.
    Defense 
    The best defensive teams in the NBA are often the ones that make it into the playoffs. This is seen year after year so a simple conclusion can be made here - defense is key to victory. Defense is not only about getting the steal or block but also about intimidation of the opponents.
    Paul is a university graduate involved with health sciences.
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    How to Jump Higher in Basketball and Slam Dunk


    Learning how to jump higher in basketball is something all basketball players want to do in order to improve their overall game. If you can jump higher, not only are you able to dunk but you are also able to block shots better and get rebounds and shoot better. If you would like to increase your vertical jump then check this out.
    Before I tell you how to jump higher in basketball there is a huge factor that will ultimately determine how successful you are, and that is your attitude. If you stay committed to a routine and put the work in consistently then you will get a huge vertical, period. If you slack off and do things not 100 per cent then you won't get the results you're looking for. Ready? Ok let's go!
    Strength training is a vital component in your quest to improving your vertical leap. If you are mainly using your legs to jump higher then it makes sense to build up and strengthen the muscles in your legs, in particular your fast twitch muscle fibres which gives you more explosion. To do this, you need to lift heavy weight and perform high intense workouts.
    My favourite strength training exercises are squats and calf raises. Squats will mainly target your quads whilst calf raises will obviously target your calves, which are the two most important muscle groups in the jumping process. I suggest you do strength training no more than 3 times a week to give your muscles time to recover. If you train right then your muscles should be pretty sore the next day!
    Now whilst strength training will build up muscle, plyometrics are important to improve your flexibility and movement when you jump. You should perform plyometric exercises a few times a week on the days you are not strength training. Remember that repetition is a great way to increase you vertical because your muscle builds up memory thus moves more efficiently and easily.
    When I was learning how to jump higher in basketball one of the less common factors I didn't realise was so important was diet. Simply by consuming a high protein diet whilst I was training I was able to massively speed up the process in which I gained muscle and this really improved my vertical leap.
    Now to really discover how to jump higher in basketball not only do you need the right exercises, but you need to understand the science behind jumping otherwise all your efforts will be for nothing.
    Click here to put all the pieces together => how to jump higher in basketball

    History of Soccer

    If you want to understand the history of soccer, you have to admit that for some reason, humans have a natural urge to kick things. Whether it's to release frustration, or simply for fun, we do this even without noticing.
    How many times have you not walked on the street as a kid (and not only), simply kicking that pebble or cone on the ground in front of you out of boredom. It's this natural urge that stands at the basis of the history of soccer.
    - When was soccer invented?
    When speaking about the history of soccer a lot of people regard England as the place that soccer was born and although this could be a true statement in a particular context, the truth is that the English were the first to organize soccer around 1863, however they did not "invent" it per say. So if 1863 is the year the sport got "baptized", then what year was soccer invented and where?
    Since soccer or soccer-likesports can be traced way back to ancient times, it's difficult to pin-point a specific year, but historians of the phenomenon usually chop it down into 3 periods of time.
    - History of soccer during ancient times
    They might not have had our modern commodities, but ancient people sure knew how to have their fun. And, you guessed, kicking a "ball" around (obviously, the balls were extremely rudimentary compared to what is used today) was considered a fun activity in many areas all around the globe, most of them developing at the same time, without interaction from one another.
    In history of soccer the first written statement regarding the start of soccer comes from a Chinese military manual at around 300 BC, which describes a practice called "cuju" that involved the players kicking a leather ball through a hole in a silk cloth stretched between two poles. On the other side of the globe, in the Americas, the Aztecs were playing a similar sport, although some compare it to basketball more than soccer.
    The purpose of the game was to kick the ball through a small stone circle that was placed high up on the arena's walls, hence the relation to basketball. 
    Now I don't know about you, but to me it sounds a lot more difficult to place a small leather ball exactly in the middle of a stone circle that's well high above your head with your foot, than striking a modern "high-tech" ball in an 8 yard goal.
    - History of soccer during the Middle Ages
    We usually think of the medieval era as a time when war was viewed as a necessity and a "job" rather than a calamity. Despite being quite a serious, "dark" period of time, somehow the medieval people managed to take some time for some sports, including soccer.
    The forms of soccer played during this time were obviously incomparable to our current definition of the sport; hence they are usually classified as "mob soccer".
    While their dads were off at war, children would often grab a patched up leather ball, hit the nearby field and start a "war" on the field. The lack of rules often lead to fights and serious injuries and the sport was regarded as dangerous in many locations.
    A clear example of this can be found in the London British Museum, where an engraving shows a group of men struggling to win a leather ball, with a second image showing a man with a broken arm. You do the math.
    - Modern-day soccer
    As mentioned above, although we don't know when soccer was invented, we do know when it was organized as a sport under a clear set of rules. Being a popular practice in England, soccer was played chaotically and oftentimes it would lead to the same on and off-pitch battles similar to the ones occurring during medieval soccer matches. On each match, the two teams would agree on a particular set of rules, but with the lack of a referee arguments would often spark up.
    In order to keep things in order, a few English clubs met in London on October 26, 1863 in order to create a set of well-defined and universal rules for the game.
    The Football Association was born and although their set of rules did not apply to all clubs immediately, in a few decades, as soccer clubs switched from amateurism to professionalism, their laws and conduct restrictions became standard for everyone.
    As you can see, there's really no "right" way to answer the "When was soccer invented?" question and you'll have your fair share of arguments at hand regardless of what period you believe was the spark that caused the wildfire that soccer is today.
    And you'll probably agree with me on this: it's not really that important to know when soccer was invented, but rather acknowledge that we are lucky to be able to enjoy this wonderful sport at its best, as we can in modern times.
    Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer Fans website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, soccer rules, famous soccer players , soccer fundamentals, soccer nutrition and soccer conditioning.

    Do you Know the Origin of Basketball?

    Do you know the origin of basketball? 
    The origins of the game of basketball can be traced back to a gentleman by the name of Dr. James Naismith. In 1861, Naismith was born in Almonte, Ontario, Canada. During his early school days, Naismith would play a game called duck on a rock whereby the child would endeavor to knock the duck off the top of the rock with a toss of another rock. 
    Later on, Naismith would go on to McGill University in Montreal and would later become McGill University's Athletic Director. He would subsequently move on to YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts and in 1891, the game of basketball began. 
    Given the cold Massachusetts winters, Naismith needed to find a recreational activity that could be played indoors and he preferred a sport that would develop skill and one that was not exclusively relying on strength. The first game was played with two peach baskets for goals and a soccer ball. 
    Further to his credit, Naismith became a medical doctor specializing in sports physiology and a Presbyterian minister. Naismith was able to see his beloved sport of basketball, gain acceptance in numerous countries through the YMCA since 1893. As well, the sport of basketball was brought forth at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. As we speak, the game of basketball has become a very popular professional sport.
    Catherine Kenyeres is a successful author and publisher for [http://www.best-4u-tickets.com].  Catherine has written numerous articles for the sports enthusiast.

    Tuesday, July 19, 2011

    Professional Athlete - Earning Good As a Performer

    Professional athletes are considered as performers or entertainers, who perform in front of the admirers and audiences and are paid in return for their ability to entertain others. In other words, professional athletes play sports to make it a great source of earning name, fame and above all, the income. It should be noted that amateur players play for their own pleasure and satisfaction, while professional athletes perform for the pleasure of others, with the sole reason of making an earning. Here is a basic guide to help you learn more about the career option.
    Duties Involved
    One of the important duties of a professional athlete is to understand the commercial aspect of being in this field. Apart from this, he or she needs to have comprehensive knowledge and training about the sport chosen as the career line. Apart from that, the professional athlete is required to take care of diet and workout routine for all parts of the year. Finally, the duty of a professional athlete is to perform best of his or her ability to keep the career in a good shape.
    Places of Employment
    The professional athletes can play for schools and colleges, for which the concerned authorities pay them. Clubs are other organizations that hire professional athletes to play on their behalf. Professional athletes can play as the part of the teams for sports like football, basketball and baseball. Also, these professionals can play as individual players for sports like tennis, golf, ice-skating, biking, car racing and so on.
    Becoming a Professional Athlete
    Educational qualification plays no role in making up the career of a professional athlete. However, specialization and participation in a particular sport can bring an athlete to the notice of organizations looking to hire these professionals. Fitness training is offered to these individuals and they are also endowed with required skills in the particular game chosen by them.
    Career Profile
    Extensive workout sessions, sport training sessions and maintenance of diet routine are some of the aspects of the career profile of a professional athlete. A lot of physical as well as mental stress is required to become the best in the competition. Injuries are significant parts of the career of a professional athlete. Salary varies from $40,000 to several million dollars per year, depending upon the level of performance.
    The decision to become a professional athlete must be well-thought. Though, it is a great career option, still one need to evaluate the pros and cons of the career profile. Stateuniversity.com provides relevant facts and information on how to become a professional athlete and other details.

    The Career Athlete: What It Takes to Manage Your Career

    Managing your career, just like managing your life, requires preparation and ensuring that your time is directed meaningfully. Don't wait and see; make things happen. Just like athletes who prepare for the "big game" or a marathon, designing your career requires goals, planning, work, and above all, commitment. Think of yourself as a Career Athlete.
    Being a Career Athlete requires awareness and action. Athletes are aware of their gifts, talents and abilities. They then focus their training on sharpening these skills with the goal of being the best they can be in their chosen area of expertise. Designing your career is no different. What are your gifts? What do you care about more than anything else? What work would allow you to connect to this purpose? This part of the process requires that you are honest with yourself. Once you have answered these questions you need to focus your attention on the "training". What steps do you need to take in order to design a career that honors your abilities? What is in your way that you need to overcome, as you strive for this goal? Remember that fear is a natural and inevitable part of this process, but that it does not have to stop you. Identifying what keeps you from pursuing the career that you want is an important step. Knowing what may become a stumbling block allows you to move through it much easier when it occurs, rather than being stopped by it.
    An Elite Athlete has a four phase training program which can be incorporated in the Career Athlete plan.
    Phase I: Preparation. This phase is crucial in providing you with a firm base. What skills/strengths are fundamental to your success?
    Phase II: Pre-competitive. What is the motivation behind what you want to do? Have you connected it to your value system?
    Phase III: Competitive Peaking. The point at which everything you have been working toward comes together.
    Phase IV: Active Rest. This is the phase of transition. A time when you are under no pressure. Use this time to have fun and celebrate the completion of phases I - III. This is also a good time for self-reflection, self-evaluation and future goal setting. Shape your career, don't let it shape you! Decide what you want and create your opportunities accordingly. Positioning yourself in your career will happen one step at a time with planning.
    About The Author
    Cecile Peterkin is a trained Career/Life Coach and a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF). With over 17 years of managerial, leadership, empowerment counseling and personal development experience, Cecile is a professional with truly inspirational abilities. Cecile is a strong, spicy, stimulating, and cheerfully aggressive individual. She, more than most, is willing to laugh at life's hardships and believes that all things happen for a reason - and that makes others want to find out her recipe for happiness.
    Cecile’s clients benefit from her knowledge base and her intuitive abilities that enable her to cultivate the best in people. Cecile genuinely loves people and others respond to her lively spirit and genuineness immediately. Cecile listens attentively, learning about her clients’ goals and their challenges, and then proceeds to create a strategy that her and client work on to achieve the next higher level. Her objective insights and compassionate style give each client the clarity and confidence they need as they embark on the journey toward new horizons.
    Her formal training includes Mentoring, Train-The-Trainer, Project Management Certificate, How Adults Learn Certificate and Instructor/ Facilitator Certificate.
    With a solid track record of success in working with people from all walks of life and at all career stages, Cecile's coaching enables each of her clients to achieve success - success beyond their expectations in both their personal and professional lives

    Teamwork in Sports

    "The strength of the team is each individual member... the strength of each member is the team!" (Phil Jackson, Coach, Chicago Bulls)
    For a sports team to exist, you need a group of talented athletes, who work together to achieve a common goal of winning the match. There are 4 characteristics that individual members and the team as a whole needs in order to be successful. These can be described by the acronym:
    T - Trust
    E - Enthusiasm
    A - Ambition
    M - Motivation
    Trust allows team members to depend on each other and good teamwork is based on trust. In team sports, the players need to depend on each other. When trust is lacking, the members play as individuals, weakening the whole team unit. Trust is built when team members get to know each other and their abilities and commitment. It grows as the team practice together until and developed team has an almost instinctive feel for one another. In an effective sports team there needs to be trust between team mates, trust between the coach and players and individual athletes need to trust themselves and their own abilities. If an athlete does not trust himself or his abilities it often expresses as fear of failure.
    Enthusiasm is the glue that holds the team together. Most people participate in sport for the fun and enjoyment of the game. If the game is fun, you will be enthusiastic to train and play. The whole sports team needs to share an enthusiasm that is born out of the desire to be a member of the team. Each team member needs to have pride in the team as this creates social cohesion.
    Ambition gives the team direction. The individual team members and the team as a whole needs to have ambition to achieve the goal of winning ethically. When a team is united in their pursuit of a common goal or ambition they have good task cohesion.
    Every member needs to know the team's goals and ambitions and be committed to achieving them. Individuals need ambition to attend training sessions and focus on improving their skills to the benefit of both themselves and the team. Most players have a goal of being recognised as an outstanding player. In order to be recognised, they have to play well over a series of matches. The overall goal of the individual player is therefore determined by performance of the team in matches and in that way the goals of each individual player integrates with the goal of the team.
    Motivation is what drives the team to achieve. Individual players need good motivation before they can perform to their potential. Motivation comes from having a challenge that the player believes he is able of achieving. Teams are also challenged when they believe that they are capable of winning the match. Even the under dog can, on occasion beat the overwhelming favourite. In fact, the favourite can under-perform because the players "go through the motions" without motivation, while the underdog is challenged and motivated to achieve. When all the team members believe that the team can overcome the obstacles in the path to achieving the goal, we say the team has good group efficacy.
    A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.