Professional Athletes as Role Models

Tiger Woods in 2007

Image via Wikipedia

Basketball player Charles Barkley once said ” I’m not a role model… Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” He’s got it right, at least partly. The last few years were riddled with athletic scandals. Most recently, the truth about Tiger Woods secret life came to light and shocked the country. This is proof that talent does not often equal character and not every athlete is worthy of the “role model” title.

But does a person get to decide whether he or she is a role model? Usually the youngest fans are often the ones to choose who they want to be like and or listen to. Amazing talent may blind a teenager to serious issues and prevent them from seeing an athlete through real world lenses.

Our culture approves of “being real.” but mature athletes should understand that there is more at stake in their career than the amount of games won. Tiny eyes are watching every move they make and teenage minds are digesting every decision. Superior athletes hold an enormous power to influence a whole generation. At the end of life’s journey what does an aging person want to hear? “Because of you I went to college, I worked hard at my marriage, I decided to be there for my kids” or “I took steroids to be the best like you and I cared more about partying than I did about my family” This is a burden that all athletes should take seriously.

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The Mental Game that is Golf

Certainly golf is more interesting to play when there are others to compete against. But unlike other sports, golf is 60 percent mental, 40 percent physical. Of course it helps to be in good physical shape, but this is not a game of brute force. There are those who play with a caddy, who helps with the selection of club and provides advice on the lie of the ball. Somewhat akin to how a catcher advises a pitcher in baseball, but it is still up to the player to provide the play.

Golfers spend four to five hours, literally knocking a small ball around challenging terrain. Being successful means being able to interpret the lie of the ball, pick the right club, and swing with accuracy. Driving the ball down the fairway is very different from pitching it out of a sand trap. It takes iron concentration and steely focus on the swing to get it right. You might see the pros swinging perfectly on www.direct.tv sports specials, but this sport is not as it easy as it looks.

Players like Tiger Woods or John Daly make the swing look effortless and easy, when it is anything but. Developing a consistent swing is achieved through muscle memory and constant practicve. It’s just about impossible to walk up to the tee and drive a ball 300 yards on the first go out. The reality is, it takes years to get a swing as good as the professionals. Next time a game of golf on the TV, watch the players for their elegance and grace when driving the ball while keeping in mind what it took for them to gain that ease.

Filed Under: Golf, Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Top Reasons to Put Your Child On An Organized Sports Team

Soccer Kids

Image by chipgriffin via Flickr

Organized sports teams are not just about molding children into becoming professional athletes, but rather about helping children gain interest in new things.  They also can help with developingthe child into being a more positive personthroughout their life.  Even though organized sports may not be for every child, there are many benefits to these teams, so every parent should consider signing their child up.

Great Exercise

In past generations, most children tended to spend most of their time outside riding their bikes and playing with friends.  Nowadays, most children would rather spend their time on the computer or playing video games on the couch, which is one of the reasons why childhood obesity is such a big problem.  By signing up for organized sports, children can have fun while getting a bit of exercise.

Meet New People

Even though children have the opportunity to meet other kids in school, a child can never have too many friends.  Organized sports allow children to get together outside of the classroom setting and get to know each other.

Learn and Develop New Skills

A kid will never know if they like baseball or even if they are good at it if they never learn to play.  By placing children in organized sports, they can learn how to play some of their favorite sports, and hopefully excel at them in the process. You don’t need to keep them isolated with home security systems, this might just be a hindrance to their learning.

Competitiveness

Having a competitive edge can be healthy.  That need to want to win and succeed does not just have to exist on the basketball court, but it can stay instilled in a child for the rest of their life.

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Choosing Fashionable Sports Attire

Choosing ideal clothing for sports activities allows you to feel comfortable and makes the activity more enjoyable. Whether dressed in designer Coogi clothing or a simple t-shirt and shorts, your sports attire should match your environment and activity.

Gauging the Temperature

In regions where the outdoor temperature changes every hour, dress in layers. Invest in a waterproof sports jacket in a rainy region. Layering up will mean wearing a short-sleeve t-shirt and adding multiple layers, depending on how extreme the temperatures get. When choosing from Coogi clothing, a bright colored t-shirt or a Coogi hoodie are good options. You can add layers and then remove them as you get warmed up in your sports activity or as the weather changes.

Don’t Let Clothing be an Afterthought

When you’re excited about getting out and enjoying your favorite sport, clothing may be an afterthought. Why not keep it at the forefront of your mind so that you can impress others with your athletic talent as well as your keen fashion sense? Clothes, even sports clothing, can help shape a positive self-image. Abandoning the same old sweatpants may be a good move that will even boost your athletic performance.

Staying on Top of Trends

Keep an eye on your favorite celebrities and athletes to see what sports clothing styles and colors they wear. It’s easy to get out of the loop when it comes to fashion. It’s also easy to stand out in a negative way when your sports attire is out of line with trends. However, with a little effort, you can stay on top of the latest fashions.

 

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Qualities of a Good Coach

Coach Dayna 

Image by TheImageGroup via Flickr

It takes more than a whistle and a clipboard to be a good coach. There are certain traits that need to be considered when evaluating current or potential sport staffing. Many people are surprised what details make the list for a successful facilitator. The list below contains character traits of a lucrative coach.

 

Patience

 

There are few opportunities where being patient is not required and a sport’s trainer is not the exception. A good leader knows that it takes time to develop a rapport with the players. He understands that players do not develop overnight, but allows for expansion of skills. A good coach will not rush in an occasion where time is needed.

 

Discipline

 

A respectable sports leader knows how important discipline is for a successful player and team. The coach needs to display and expect self-control among the team. Restraint is a quality that all sportsman and other successful persons need to achieve their goals. Coaches that display personal control respect themselves, the team and the sport.

 

Be the Example

 

A worthy coach knows that they set the standard for the team. The knowledgeable sports leader will discreetly and intelligently show a shadow for others to follow. A good leader will be the example for the players to emulate and follow. Coaches that forgo this quality are short-siding themselves and the team.

 

Spalding - Baumeister - Bull - Gallauer - Ketc... 

Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr

Motivate Players

 

The best coaches will import encouraging of all players. This type of motivation is not the kind for when they are the underdog; instead, it is to individuals with their specific skills. A good coach will swap-out players to use their best skills furthering confidence.

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Training to be a Well-known Athlete

Becoming an athlete is not for the faint at heart. If you are training to be an athlete the world remembers, then you must choose your trainer very carefully. Watching training videos will give you a lot of inspiration. It takes years of dedication, perseverance and loads of good luck if you want to get to where you aspire to be. The intense training could burn you out but ultimately, it will make you physically and mentally strong. You have to stick to your training regime as strictly as possible and for that to happen; you need to have a supportive family. When your mind is focused, you achieve what you want. If you aim for the moon, you will not have to be content with something less.

You will have to do many agility drills, cardio progressions, keep to a stretching routine, do your strength training exercises, get involved in dynamic workouts, stick to a strict nutritional guide and keep strict intervals between your workouts. When all your exercises are performed in a controlled manner, you become a professional athlete.

If you are planning to be a competitive athlete, then you have to undergo special training. The goals and aspirations of a competitive athlete are different from that of a general athlete. Your body has to be trained hard and you have to endure a lot. You need an expert trainer for this because if done in the wrong way, your body could be harmed beyond repair. A competitive athlete usually plays basketball or soccer games and is known to participate in golf and tennis too.

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Better Youth Sport Coaching

Sometimes it seems like the word “coach” brings up about the same emotions as does “lawyer” or “IRS auditor” in that the first thing to come to mind is how they kept your kid sitting on the sidelines instead of being out in the game. If you are a coach, your best defense against being ostracized is to be the best coach you can be.

One way to do this is to set yourself up with all the tools you can. Sources like the Institute for Sport Coaching (ISC) are very helpful in improving your coaching. Workshops are available to evaluate your effectiveness and to develop the skills necessary to lead your team to victory.

Other organizations such as the Positive Coaching Alliance do more than just help coaches; they also give advice to sports parents so that they can provide the proper support to their children involved in sports. If you are a coach with a parent problem, it might help to nudge them into looking at this organization.

Shannon and Weaver Model of Communication

Image via Wikipedia

There are many skills that are part of being a successful coach. Effective communication is one of the most important – you can’t get a team to do what you want them to if you cannot communicate with them.

It is also important to recognize that you cannot get different results if you keep doing the same things. Be open to trying new things. Sometimes innovation can produce incredible results.

Recognize that there are often many ways to reach a goal and as long as that goal is important your team will be motivated to attain it.

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The Benefits of Family and Team Sports for Kids: Encouraging Your Kids to Exercise

Obesity is an increasing concern in America today. It has never been more important to instill a love of exercising in your children. People who exercise as children can establish it as an enjoyable pastime for the rest of their lives. Here are a few pointers to instill this love of movement in your child, and engage them in sports for the rest of their lives.

Enroll them in an organized team or class. – Giving some structure to your kid’s exercise can make it second-nature. Whether you enroll them in a dance class, soccer, basketball, swimming, or any other sport, they can enjoy the chance to socialize and begin making exercise and sports a daily part of their life.

Set an example. – As with all other areas of life, children learn not only from what you tell them but from the example you set with your actions. If you want your kids to exercise, you need to exercise yourself, and enjoy it. Join a sports team yourself, and enjoy your own opportunity to socialize.

Save time for family sports. – You do not have to participate in organized sports to instill a love of sports in your kids. You can just as easily play sports at home. Grab a soccer ball and head to your local park. Pass a basketball around in your driveway. Or just put on some music and have a dance-off.

Regardless of which sport you pick, or how organized the activity is, you can instill a love of sports and exercise in your child.

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There Will Be Sports: How to Convince Other People to Join Your Sports Team

If you have joined a local sports league team, you already know the amazing benefits of being on a sports team. Maybe your friends or family members need some convincing to join as well. No matter what objections they may raise, here are some great reasons to use to convince them.

1. Exercise – While this may seem an obvious benefit of joining a sports team, don’t underestimate its importance. Exercise can lead to weight loss, a healthier lifestyle, greater happiness, and much, much more.

2. New friends – If your friends and family are sick of seeing only your face from week to week, tell them about the numerous new friends they can make if they join a sports team! Being in a team is a guaranteed friend-making situation.

3. Camaraderie – Once you have made these new friends, you can enjoy their company on a regular basis. You can laugh at the good times, cry at the losses, and exercise all your cares away. And think of all the time for inside jokes which you will have!

4. Exercise – No, seriously. You can’t underestimate the physical benefits of joining a team. Unlike working out at a gym alone, you will be missed if you do not show up when you are supposed to be there. Your team depends on you and your well-worked-out body to win the day.

5. Victory – After the friendships and the exercise, the taste of victory is the sweetest benefit of joining a sports team. Nothing can replace the joy of winning.

Though they may resist, you know that joining a sports team is best for your friends and family. Strengthen your argument the next time around.

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Learn to Play Poker on Your own Game Table

Learning to play poker isn’t hard, especially if the game is begun with a patient teacher, and it’s more effective at a table that’s made for playing poker. Truthfully, it’ll help to ‘get your game on.’

Having your own poker table has many advantages that can be reaped almost immediately after getting one. For one, the number of friends willing to come to your house increases and that crowd of friends grows in number. It gets more and more fun as time goes on and soon there’ll be a weekly game alternating at someone else’s house each week.

One thing that can add to the festivity of the occasion is having a custom poker table. It has all the right bells and whistles the owners can imagine and some people are very picky about what’s on their custom poker tables. And why not, it’s fine furniture that will last generations if it’s well taken care of, and people will remember a cool poker table longer than the game itself.

A custom poker table mustn’t be a hasty decision — there are important things to consider, such as the felt covering. The playing area should be of the finest felt used for billiard games for durability and appearance. The chip wells can be nice and deep or shallow for quick access, and the person ordering such a table would serve himself well if the table was made to play more than one game.

The table can be round, oval, square or rectangular; whichever the customer wants, and there are different colors of felts, as well. Some of them come marked for player placement, some don’t, which is good for when more than four people play. Plus, it’s really cool to have a custom poker table.

Learn the game at your own table and lead the poker-playing pack.

Filed Under: Sports, Tips Tagged With: , ,
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