Archive for March 20th, 2008

March 20, 2008: 11:37 pm: adminSports Hub

Have you ever wondered why certain basketball players don’t measure up to their potential? Players that have incredible skills and abilities but then can’t make it beyond organized high school basketball are a dime a dozen. There are many possible theories out there why this is so but we feel that the reasons are few and simple. Our purpose for this article is to explain those reasons and give players the awareness they need to stand out from their peers and to make it to the level of competition they desire.

Lack of Focus
For most players it is very easy to get bored with details when it comes to fundamentals and technique. Let’s admit, it’s a lot more fun to play pick up games than to work on things like proper foot movement, shooting technique, ball control and etc. Because of this most players neglect to focus on small details of their game. All great players have spent countless hours in the gym working on the fine details of their game and have made the commitment necessary to learn the proper drills and fundamentals that will enhance their skills. At the High School level of competition a good player can still stand out and dominate their competition without focusing on the little things. However once they get to the next level, if they haven’t developed the proper fundamentals and techniques of every facet of the game they will almost always under-perform and have serious regrets. So when you have spare time during the week, instead of organizing a pick up game start focusing on the small detailed fundamentals of your game and work on perfecting them.

Lack of Drive
Playing big time basketball requires a lot of your commitment and time. Many players think they have the passion it requires to excel at the next level when in reality they aren’t even close. Liking to play lots of basketball and pick up games doesn’t qualify you for having the necessary drive. Those that really have the drive give up many meaningful things in their life just to dedicate more time to sharpening their basketball skills. It’s a tough thing to do because when you’re young there are so many things that you want to get involved in. You want to spend time with your friends, you want to go to parties, you want to spend every waking hour with your girlfriend/boyfriend and that’s just to name a few. The reality is, the game of basketball has become so competitive that if you don’t make it your #1 focus and then back that up by setting your priorities around it, you’ll be left in the dust. Certainly we don’t feel that it’s necessarily wrong to have other interests than basketball, we just want to make it clear that those players that really have the drive make basketball their top priority. Once again a player can actually do very well during high school with a lack of drive but once they get to the next level they will face the consequences.

Lack of Intensity
This is sometimes what people are referring to when they say that a player has the “it” factor. Basketball players that are intense almost always succeed because they absolutely hate to lose or perform poorly. A lot of players are extremely gifted and have tremendous skills but because they lack intensity they can never win the big games and will not be able to make it beyond High School Basketball. Some argue that intensity is something that cannot be taught or learned. They claim that it’s something you are just born with. We adamantly disagree with that. A player can learn and acquire intensity if they make an effort to do so. Nobody can do it for them though and that’s what is so frustrating for most coaches. You have to make the decision that you are an intense player and then you must perform with aggression and passion over and over again until it becomes a habit. Once you truly develop intensity you will play with a very aggressive attitude and you will not tolerate poor performances by yourself or your teammates. If it doesn’t bother you very much when you lose or under-perform you have a lot of work ahead of you.

Lack of Confidence
If you don’t think you are going to make every shot you put up you don’t have much of a reason to be on the court. Great basketball players have enough confidence in their abilities and skills to take the shot when it’s there. When players suffer from poor shooting or poor performance it often times has nothing to do with their mechanics or abilities and everything to do with their head. Do whatever you have to do to develop confidence in your abilities. If it requires you to spend hours and hours in the gym so be it. Also work on your mental preparation. Thinking about your shots and imaging you making them is just as important of a pre-game activity as stretching and warming up. Don’t ever go into a game where you haven’t spent a good ten minutes meditating about your performance. Go through scenarios in your head and imagine yourself handling them with confidence. Make yourself aware of the fact that you will miss some shots from time to time but that it won’t hinder your concentration and confidence one bit. It seems silly to a lot of people and that’s one reason why it doesn’t get done very often but it’s something all great players do.

Lack of Humility
It’s one thing to be confident about your abilities but if you’re so confident that you deny the weaknesses in your game you’ve hit a wall that will block your progression as a basketball player. Nobody is perfect. The minute you think you are so good that you don’t need to practice is when you start setting yourself up for failure. If you’ve become better than most players in your school and in your area, rest assured that there are players all over the world that have twice the skills as you and are competing to play at the same level you are.

Summary
Good skilled basketball players exist all over the world. With the game of basketball becoming so popular and so competitive only the best of the best have what it takes to play at the next level. Although it can be very difficult players can turn themselves into stars if they have the focus, drive, intensity, confidence and humility that is required to stand out.

Visit more on basketball skills development visit www.hoopskills.com

: 10:54 pm: adminOutfit

Name virtually any outdoor sport and chances are it requires or at least involves the use of sunglasses - this includes golf. And this makes sense. After all, the game is played outdoors, where the risk of getting a full dose of ultraviolet radiation is the greatest. Golf sunglasses, like many other types of outdoor eyewear, help protect the eyes from these harmful ultraviolet rays. Using the right type of sunglasses often enough would help prevent eye diseases like cataracts, macular degeneration, and photokeratitis. Plus, sunglasses for golfers look very good on them, too!

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” so the old saying goes. And what could be easier for golfers to prevent eye problems caused by sun exposure than slipping on a pair of golf sunglasses? And it looks like a lot of professional players are taking this adage to heart. We’ve seen them on television wearing sunglasses for golfers: Karrie Webb, David Duval, Annika Sorenstam, to name a few. And various types of golf sunglasses have been endorsed by the sports superstars - such as Tiger Woods for Nike. Since golf has become a much higher-profile sport, golfing accessories, apparel and paraphernalia have increased consumer awareness about them, too. In fact, sunglasses for golfers have enlarged their share in the global market for sunglasses.

There are various styles and designs to fit every golfer’s need. Golf eyewear with polarized lenses is especially helpful on bright, sunny days because they cut down the glare from sunlight that bounces off some surfaces. Different tints play a role, too, in how golfers view a course. Lenses that are amber in color filter blue light, and these are reputed to enhance viewing of far-off objects. Yellow and orange lenses are ideal for low-light conditions, while clear lenses are good for darker conditions. Some sunglasses for golfers also come with changeable lens systems - just snap in the lenses that are most suited for the current playing conditions. Whether one’s choice of sunglasses has dark or light lenses, it is important to remember that it should have excellent ultraviolet protection; some people mistakenly think that there is little or no risk of ultraviolet radiation on overcast days, but that simply isn’t so. UVA and UVB rays are just as dangerous on a cloudy day as they are on a sunny one.

Certain considerations should also be remembered regarding the frames of golf sunglasses. They need to fit well and be comfortable. Many golfers prefer those whose frames are made of lightweight materials, such as polyamide. The object is to feel that they are not there. It can really be distracting to have to continually adjust ill-fitting temple grips or nose pads just when you’re about to tee off or make your drive. Wraparound sunglasses for golfers are also a good option. They prevent ultraviolet radiation from entering from the top or the sides of the eyewear. They are also helpful in shielding the eyes from airborne irritants like sand, pollen, and dust.

A person who needs corrective eyewear need not feel apprehensive about buying sunglasses for golfers. Many manufacturers offer prescription sunglasses designed for outdoor sports. Just look at their online or offline catalogs, select the desired design, inform them of the needed prescription, and voila! You’ll be wearing them in no time at all. The budget-conscious can choose from lines of lower-priced prescription or non-prescription sunglasses at discount sites or in optical shops - but it’s important to make sure that you are getting value for your money. There’s no sense in buying inexpensive golf sunglasses if they can’t give you the protection you need. For the fashion-conscious golfer who is not averse to shelling out more money for his or her sports eyewear, high-end brands may offer what they want: Tag Heuer, Oakley, Nike, Adidas, Maui Jim, Dior, to name a few.

Players, coaches, caddies, even spectators - all can benefit from the use of golf sunglasses. Looks are important, but they are secondary. What is essential is having a pair of shades that one can put on and forget about, leaving it do its work of protecting the eyes from the punishing sunlight, from flying debris that can cause irritation, and maybe even from the prying gaze of the competition as he or she seeks to divine your playing strategy. Golf sunglasses are perfect for enhancing performance and for preventive eye care!

Sunglassology.com provides you with information on golf sunglasses, where to buy, which are crap and which are slick. From baseball sunglasses to golf sunglasses. http://www.sunglassology.com

: 8:53 am: adminKids

You are thrilled to learn that you will have another child. The happiness that your first child brought into your life is immeasurable and you are certain that the second child will bring as much happiness. But preparing for a second child is slightly different. There are extra responsibilities and things to consider when preparing for the birth of a second child. A large part is to help your older child understand that a sibling is on the way. This can lessen the anxiety for the entire family. Being aware of the changes involved with having a second child is the best way to prepare.

Having two children can be overwhelming to the most capable of parents. Although it may be a challenge, it is best to get organized prior to the birth of the second child. This can pose much more of a challenge that it was the first time around. Most parents with one child have time restrictions. Adding a newborn into the scenario will probably stretch your organized scheduled to the limit. Both meal and sleeping schedules will fluctuate, at least for the first eight weeks while you are trying to get your infant on a feeding and sleeping schedule.

A pleasant aspect of a second child is the parents increased knowledge and confidence in their abilities and knowledge of child rearing. The first time around, things such as breast feeding, changing diapers and handling illness seemed so hard and scary. Now things such as these will be like second nature to the seasoned parent.

Having and bringing home a newborn will affect a mother in several ways, both emotionally and physically. Increased exhaustion and anxiety is normal after having a child. These symptoms are typically called the “baby blues”. Be sure to talk to your family and your medical doctor about this. Your doctor will make sure you have the “baby blues” and not postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that requires medical intervention.

Bringing home a newborn will cause you to be physically sore and quite tired. This is particularly true if you had a cesarean delivery or a difficult birth. If you breast feed your child, the feeding sessions during the night can be especially tough. Some people hire a “doula” to help during the day so the mom can rest. A doula is specially trained to care for an infant and mother during the first few weeks of an infant’s life.

It will seem as if you have no time for yourself the first months after a child is born. The seemingly endless, sleepless nights and tensions of the day can be overwhelming. Try to make “alone time” a priority. It is important to spend time alone with your partner. Be sure to have an occasional “date night” once things settle down.

As a parent, you will try to help your first child adjust to the role of a sibling. Your older child may experience many emotions, from excitement to jealousy to resentment. Younger toddlers may regress when the infant comes home. They may forget their potty training, suck their thumb, or want to drink from a bottle. Older toddlers and children may misbehave, throw tantrums, or just generally try to test your patience. Time has shown that these problems go away and a little preparation will help the older child adjust to his new life. A great way of doing this is to play up the role of the older child. This time is not a good time to introduce other major changes in the life of the older child. Try to include the child in the decision making. Letting him participate in the activities of the new baby will help with the adjustment period.

There are so many positive aspects of having two children in a family. Once the chaos of having a newborn has settled down, you and your family will start to enjoy the benefits of having two children to love.

Michael Russell

Your Independent Baby and Toddler guide.

Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author