Sport and Football

Getting a Lifeguard Certification

2011-11-22T16:40:00.000-08:00

In order to get a job as a lifeguard, you will first have to obtain a lifeguard certification. In fact, there are 3 areas of certifications that everyone needs to have. The first is a Lifeguarding certificate that proves you have passed the basic course. The second is proof of CPR/AED training and the third is first aid training. But first in order to be eligible for a lifeguard certification course, you must be at least 15 years old by the date of the last class.

It is not difficult to find certification classes which are offered through local colleges and aquatic facilities as well as the American Red Cross and the YMCA among many other national organizations. Many courses offer training in first aid and CPR as well so it is possible to get all 3 certificates in only 1 class.

To pass the class, students must complete a physical fitness test to prove that they can meet the demands of lifeguard duties. The tests can vary depending on your instructor or the organization but generally you will be required to swim for 300 yards doing both the front crawl and the breaststroke without stopping to rest. The other part of the test usually requires participants to dive for and retrieve a 10 lb weight at the bottom of the pool.

Before enrolling in a class, you should be aware that there are different certification types which each prepare students for a specific aquatic environment with its own unique challenges. For example, the American Red Cross has 4 different classes. The standard Lifeguarding class is for working at a normal pool. The Waterpark Lifeguarding is needed to work at a waterpark and the Waterfront Lifeguarding course is for water environments like ponds, lakes, and rivers. The easiest of the 4 courses is for the Shallow Water Attendant certification which only qualifies you to work at a pool or body of water 4 feet deep or less.

Many other facilities offer similar classes but if you are dreaming of becoming a beach lifeguard, it is a little harder to find a course that specializes in this area because it is more demanding than the others. You will need to find a school that offers a course specifically in "surf" lifeguarding in order to be qualified to work at a beach.

While the lifeguard certification requirements are pretty standard across all areas of the country, it is helpful to know that there may be some state-specific requirements. To find out if the state you live in might be one with unique requirements, ask someone at the aquatic facility where you are thinking about taking your certification course. They will surely know the requirements and be able to give you more detailed information.

To find more information on the web, visit http://www.lifeguard-certification.net/.

By Michelle L Bowman

Learn to Dive: Start by Perfecting Your Jumps Into the Swimming Pool

2011-11-21T16:39:00.000-08:00

It is very impressive watching the springboard and highboard divers at the Olympics throwing themselves off the diving boards, turning 2 or 3 somersaults with several twists and then entering the water in a perfect vertical shape with little or no splash. But everyone has to start somewhere - even Olympic divers - and the initial steps are to perfect your jumps into the swimming pool or diving pool. Perfecting your jumps will help you learn the correct jumping technique and the different body positions used in diving. It will also help you gain the control over your body necessary when you progress to diving. The jumps can be performed off the poolside or off a low diving board of 1m. Indeed, the learner diver may start by learning the jumps off the poolside and then move on to performing them off the diving board. In each case, the diver should enter the water with his hands straight down by his sides, as this is a requirement in diving competitions.

1) Forward Jumps

The first step in learning to dive is to perfect your forward jumps. In each case, stand with your feet together and your toes on the edge of the poolside, but not over the edge. Remember to always point your toes in any jump. The different forward jumps that should be learnt are as follows:

(a) Straight jump forwards

Start with your hands down by your sides. As you jump, bring your arms up in front of you until they are above your head. Keep your arms straight as you do it. Bring your arms back down to your sides by taking them through the side position and not back down in front of you. Try not to lean in any direction as you do the jump, so that you enter the water in a vertical position.

(b) Tuck jump forwards

Start with your hands down by your sides. As you jump, bring your arms up in front of you until they are above your head. Keep your arms straight as you do it. Then, bring your legs up in front of you so your knees are pressing against your stomach and touch your shins with your hands. Once you have performed the tuck shape, kick your legs down and enter the water in a straight position with your hands by your sides.

(c) Pike jump forwards

This is quite a hard jump, with those with gymnastics or ballet training having an advantage. It is easier off a 1m diving board, although may be attempted off the poolside. Start with your hands down by your sides. As you jump, bring your arms up in front of you until they are above your head. Keep your arms straight as you do it. Then, whilst keeping your legs straight, bring your legs up in front of you so that they are as close to 90 degrees to your body as you can manage. Touch your shins with your hands. Once you have performed the pike shape, move your legs down and enter the water in straight position with your hands by your sides.

2) Backwards Jumps

Once you've perfected your forwards jumps, you can move onto backwards jumps. The backward jumps are the same as the forwards jumps but this time stand on your toes on the edge of the springboard or poolside with your heels raised up above your toes over the water. When you jump, make sure you jump backwards a little bit, so that you do not hit the board or the poolside. Again, always point your toes and make sure your arms are by your sides when you enter the water.

Once you have perfected your forwards and backwards jumps, you can move onto learning to dive.

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By David Valle

Swimming: An Efficient Way to Burn Fat and Remain Healthy

2011-11-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

One of the most popular pastimes is to laze around on a swimming pool deck, soaking up the sun. The best way to burn up fat, swimming is the perfect excuse to throw on your swim suit and rush to the beach. For those of you who love the cool water but hate the sun can check out community pools and health clubs. During winters, people tend to retreat into their houses and avoid all forms of physical exercises. Keeping your body fit is important even when the temperatures outside are freezing. If swimming is one of your favorite pass times, there are many fitness clubs that have indoor pools. This way, you can avoid health problems like stiff joints and sore muscles that commonly occur due to the cold.

Health benefits of swimming

Swimming is a great form of exercise and has several advantages. Detoxification of the entire body is one of the major benefits. Many toxic wastes are released through the skin which results in better circulation of blood through out the body. Swimming is one of the best ways to burn away those extra pounds as the rhythmic breathing and movement of the body contribute to reducing fat tissues in target areas such as stomach, upper arms and thighs.

You can also build muscles while swimming and this is a more effective method compared to lifting weights as the gentle water pressure works on all the muscles simultaneously. When you swim, all the muscles in your body get a good workout. Shaping muscles and increasing upper body stamina is one of the several ways to remain fit even during winters. Swimming not only increases your flexibility but also improves your body posture thus reducing back pain and shoulder aches.

Skin texture and health can also be improved by swimming regularly for a couple of hours each day. The chemicals in the water help clean out pores while moisturizing the skin evenly. Blood circulation is improved leaving you with a smooth texture. Swimming is a great way to banish those acne scars and pimple marks. If you do not like using sun screen or any sun blocking lotions during summer, you can opt for a facility with indoor pools.

Pep-up your swimming

There are many types of swimming which have specific benefits for different parts of the body. You can practice different strokes and moves in your own backyard swimming pool under the guidance of a swimming instructor or you can join one of the classes offered at public community swimming pools.

If you want to try an alternative water sport, consider water aerobics or diving. Aerobics is a form of exercise that tightens and tones all your body muscles. Diving is a fun exercise to add to your normal swimming techniques. Many classes are available at gyms and indoor pools where professional trainers provide guidance. If you are new to the sport of swimming, start slow. By doing this, you can build up your stamina and strength slowly and then move on to more vigorous training methods.

By Jennifer Bolduc

Swimming Teachers Dilemma - Are Fathers Better in the Water Than Mothers?

2011-11-19T16:35:00.000-08:00

In many countries, the major caregiver and swimming partner is the mother. However there is a small minority of teachers who advocate that fathers are better in the water with their children than the mothers.

According to Judy Watts (Australia) "Mother's instincts appear stronger however when the roles are reversed, the father, I believe has the same instincts in the water and are more able to respond to their infants with more confidence" Early swimming lessons are an ideal opportunity for fathers to develop a strong natural bond with their babies.

Even though, over the years I have had many parents in the water with their children, I don't think I could classify any one better than the other. There are just too many other factors like water experience,attitude, temperament etc, to make a judgment call. I have also hired both female and male swimming instructors, who have all been "masters of their swimming trade" and again I could not contribute catagorise any major differences as positives or negatives.

Whilst, I do agree with Judy, swimming lessons are ideal opportunities to bond for fathers. I am just happy to have small children in the water learning these life saving skills with a parent, any parent.

So here is a swimming teachers dilemma, there is growing research that fathers do or should play an enormous part in a child's life during the imprint and modeling period of a child life. 0 - 14 yrs. Yet one must ask, in the western society, Dad's are predominantly the major bread winners and have the responsibility of going to work each and every day. So how can we expect them to also be present for swimming lessons each week? Yes, I know some fathers can manage this commitment but only a small percentage.

Should we, as swimming professionals be trying to address that, by perhaps offering more "Weekend or Evening Classes" or before work classes, so fathers can be involved? I personally find Sundays, offer a perfect opportunity for swimming lessons and recreational time in the water for families. At our swimming schools, Sunday was our biggest day.

I also have witnessed, a very successful swim school at the university in Sydney, Australia who offered 5am to 8am swimming sessions for their babies and smaller children's' swimming program. They were hugely successful and inundated with professional couples, who took advantage of swimming sessions for their tots before they went to work.

Perhaps before any of us swimming professionals can "make a judgment, on whether mothers or fathers are the best swimming teachers, we need to offer more opportunities for young family and really just focus on doing what we do best, teaching the parents' safe water practices, and encourage them to spend more quality time in the water with their children, be it swimming lessons or just play swimming. Perhaps then, we aquatic professionals can spend time observing and recording results.

Discover the secrets of becoming a master swim instructor, swim teacher or master aquatic trainer with Next Generation Aquatics, Kerre Burley.

Sign up for Next Generation's "Masters of the Aquatic Industry" newsletter or unique online membership. Visit the website and be delighted with the innovative and creative resources now available for Swimming Instructors teachers and coaches, from around the world, wishing to improve their teaching abilities and standing in the aquatic industry. Plenty of free content and opportunities for professional development. http://www.kerreburley.com

By K Burley

Cats, Hats, Sunscreen and Swimming Pools

2011-11-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

Ancient Egyptians believed that they could protect themselves from evil spirits by watching their cats. Felines could sense the invisible presence and would react to the threat, warning the living people in the home. Cats can still sense invisible threats. Their senses and their whiskers are more finely attuned to the world around them than yours and mine are.

So, take note when your mouser meows to come in and stretches out on the cool tile floor. He senses the threat of excessive sun and heat and is taking the most sensible action available for a non-swimmer. He came out of the heat and is trying to lower his body temperature. Obviously, you aren't going to spend the rest of your summer lying on the living room floor. Just don't ignore the cat's warning.

Rule #1 - Cover up. When you are outside but you aren't in the pool, cover up with loose, breathable clothing. It might seem odd to wear long sleeves in hundred degree temperatures, but the objective is to create a barrier between your skin and solar radiation. Ultraviolet rays pose a danger even on overcast days and through tinted automobile windows.

Rule #2 - Wear a hat. Three of the most painful places to have sunburn are: the part of your hair, your nose, and the back of your neck. A wide-brimmed hat will take care of these three hot spots. Consider it your hands-free parasol. Cloth hats that can be doused in water are not particularly stylish but are practical if you are fighting the double devils of sunburn and heat exhaustion.

Rule #3 - Apply sunscreen. I know you have heard this before, but it bears repeating. Apply early and often. Try to put sunscreen on 20 minutes before going outside to let it absorb into your skin before you sweat it off. Reapply every hour or so. Choose a sunscreen with a UV physical barrier such as zinc and use it even if you don't plan on being out very long. Plans change. Skin burns. Cancer gains a foothold.

Rule #4 - Drink lots of water. You are approximately 57% water by weight. If you let that percentage drop, your organs will not function as well. Dehydration doesn't just impair your judgment and make you dizzy; it can be a serious health risk. Of course, drinking water will also help you manage your weight and beautify your skin.

Rule #5 - Jump in the pool. It was 104 at 10:30 the other night and the pool water was in the 90's. We took the Solar-Breeze robotic pool skimmer out of the pool and jumped right in. That 10 degree temperature gradient made all the difference! Daytime or nighttime, a dip in the pool goes a long way to lowering your body temperature. A cool tile floor is to cats what a clean pool is to people. With a solar powered skimmer, it is clean and swim-ready 24/7.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, but safely. Even though Labor Day is practically upon us there's a lot of sun and a lot of pool-time left.

By Karen Rogers Sim

Swimming Professionals - Essential Image Tips

2011-11-17T16:31:00.000-08:00

The most important factor in dressing professionally

Potential clients you meet will automatically accept you as a swimming professional if you are dressed correctly. The first step in gaining a credible and professional image for a swimming professional is realizing that you can control the opinions of others, especially concerning what they think you are capable of.

Everyday, dress and act in a way that gives others a great experience of you. Now I have many friends in the swimming industry that disagree with me here and feel that wet swimmers, dripping hair, thongs and a raggedy old towel or sarong is acceptable to their clientele for our "profession".

However, I will totally disagree; perhaps 20 - 30 years ago, we could get away with it, but in this day and age, a level of professionalism is required, whether we are on pool deck or in the swimming pool, like it or not, if we do not create a great impression, then our competitors will.

As swimming school owner, swimming school managers or coordinators, even swimming teachers have to portrait a better image for desired results. Dressing the part is not shallow, vain or phony. You aren't conning people, simply setting and emotional and physical climate to impress.

Ask yourself what are the characteristic associated with the image, you want to project to future clients? The initial impression, you make on other people, comes from 55% Visual, 38% Vocal and 7% Verbal. So here are a few tips, I have put together from my experiences.

Subliminal impressions

The impression you make on others can be broken down into 4 basic components. Each is judge subliminally and by degrees. Not only will you be judged as trustworthy or not, but how trustworthy, you appear to be we'll also be determined. To a parent who is enrolling their children into swimming lesson with you, you must look trustworthy and capable. Their children are their most treasured and valued possession they own.

1. Your credibility

You may have had the luxury of a referral or a good reputation preceding your first meeting with your future clients however your level of believability, apparent qualifications,even intelligence, competence, trustworthiness, honesty and sincerity will be judged within the first 5 to 7 seconds.

2. Your likability

This is why a big smile and a great positive energy are so important to a professional swimming teacher. How likeable, endearing, emotionally, expressive and sociable your appear to be, is important. If you can establish rapport quickly, you future clients, will feel more comfortable. Through your dress, behavior, voice, tonality, seniority and experience, nationality, age, sex all makes a difference to how you are perceived. The day of being a anti-social gruff swimming coach is over. Parents or future students want to see social skills and likability.

3. Your personal attractiveness

It is important for us to present ourselves as the best we can be. I am not talking about how beautiful, slim, young or fashionable you are, but how well you manage and present yourself. Great grooming, posture and dress sense, says much about your level of self-esteem, self-respect and confidence.

By taking the time to dress in a smart polo shirt, tailored shorts and suitable footwear creates the professional appearance of your trade. If you are between sessions, instead of dripping wet with a towel around you, invest in a thick towelling white dressing gown, have it embroidered "specialist swim instructor" on the back, with your name on the front. Impressive and professional.

4. Your confidence.

If you are brimming with positive, warm, energy, it will be felt especially by young children. Again your perceived level of power, ability, personal sureness and authority comes from your appearance and carriage. So pull those shoulder back and walk tall.

Do you know what you look like through the eyes of others?

When building a successful image, let's determine what your current image really is. We all have a current image and the challenge is to develop and accurate picture of yourself as perceived by others. Have someone take several pictures of you during your normal working day, arriving to work, in the pool, behind the counter, leaving after work, all the situations where your clientele see you. I certainly remember, being shocked, when I had a critical look at myself in my work environment, many years ago.

When I was concentrating and studying a students stroke, I was actually frowning and looked very stern on pool deck. I am a very casual bubbly swim teacher so my "visual perception on pool deck" to prospective clients was terrible and quiet the opposite of my actual teaching style. So i had to make a change.

Now where can you improve?

Professional image killers

When dealing with a new parent or children these are definitely things to avoid.
    * Commencing anything with and apology.
    * A wimpy handshake or voice.
    * Being late.
    * Turning up unprepared and muddled.
    * Closed body language.
    * Forgetting names.
    * Ignoring both children and studies until the lesson starts.

As swimming professionals, we should already know the following, however I am going to include them in this articles as gentle reminders, as I often see these mistakes at swim centers' I visit.

Body Language

Swimming Teachers should be aware of the messages that our body conveys. They should also rely on vocal variety, posture and facial expressions. Avoid nervous habits such as clearing your throat, sniffing your nose, holding your hand in front of your face while talking or touching your hair constantly.

Stand up straight

Especially when teaching students be well grounded. Stand with your weight equally on both feet. This will eliminate shifting of the body and fatigue and will make you look more energized. Don't lean on the pool edge or sit down. You lose 50% of your power when you show others, that you need assistance to remain upright.

Always smile

Use open large gestures whenever possible to relax those you are talking too. Appear open, honest and communicable and never stop smiling, even when things aren't going your way. Know what your face says. It is the most controllable non-verbal cue and it also is the one people rely on most to gauge your attitude, feelings and emotional state. Learn to smile with your eyes especially with children. They feel your joy. If you frown when you concentrating, it's not a good look, use your mirror and learn to change.

Vocal Impact and Speak clearly

Speak with clarity, there is an old saying "Brevity is power", so don't talk too much. Articulate and pronounce your words well, peak using a wide pitch range and varying your rate accordingly.

Always be the best example.

Unfortunately proper etiquette and respect is not always taught to children of today, so we as aquatic professionals should always be trying to set the example. Getting along with others, demonstrating good manners and pleasantries should be exemplary. At all times, we should be showing and earning the respect of our students, not in a patronizing way, but out of genuine respect, care and thoughtfulness for others. You never know how impactful you as a teacher can be.

I always had a saying "The pool has eyes! " meaning we should always be consistent however if we are growing to do something slightly unsavory, it should done behind closed doors, away from the prying eyes of others .i.e. Smoking.

Here's to you, the professional swimming instructor creating that perfect professional image and increasing your business reputation and credibility. If you know someone who could use this knowledge, please with my blessing pass it on. Who knows wouldn't it be wonderful to have more "masters swim teachers" over the next few years. This has been Kerre Burley from the Next Generation Aquatic's for the Masters of the Aquatic Industry online Internet membership.

http://www.kerreburley.com/NextGenerationAquatics.html

Discover the secrets of becoming a master swim instructor, teacher or trainer with Next Generation Aquatics and Kerre Burley. Sign up for Next Generation's "Masters of the Aquatic Industry" newsletter or unique online membership.

Visit the website and be delighted with the innovative and creative resources now available for Swimming Instructors teachers and coaches, from around the world, wishing to improve their teaching abilities and standing in the aquatic industry. Plenty of free content and opportunities for professional development.

By K Burley

Swimwear For Toddlers

2011-11-16T16:28:00.000-08:00

Many health professionals and doctors now agree that infants as young as 1 month can be taken to the pool. They also say that initiating children early on to water can be beneficial to them learning to swim. So now you can have fun with your young children in the pool and also have fun choosing the right swimwear for them. Most retailers sell swimwear for toddlers beginning from the age of 3 to 12 months. It is rather difficult to find swimwear for newborns who are less than 3 months.

This may not pose a problem for most parents, as the natural consensus is that children as young as that would be far better swimming without any clothes on. There are many choices of swimwear for children and one of them is swim diapers. This is especially ideal for parents who are worried about 'accidents' that might happen in the pool. Although chlorination of the pool water would take care of any side effects of any 'accidents', parents are still unsure of the consequences. This was especially true if their infants had an 'accident' that was solid waste in nature.

Parents were embarrassed that this might happen and thus refrained from taking their infants to the pool. Thus, swim diapers were introduced. These are cotton cloth lined and are made with a polyurethane material. These diapers can be machine washed and dry-able and put the parents' minds at ease in case their infants were to 'go' in the pool. These diapers can be bought from online retailers or from most stores. There are also flotation devices that help keep children afloat and among these is the popular, 'water wings'. They fit on the arms and help to keep your child afloat. In this way, they can play in the water and splash around having fun.

These are usually not advisable or suitable for infants under 12 months of age. Although there are flotation devices for younger infants, it is recommended that infants of such a young age should be accompanied by their parents at all times. Other options are trunks and swimsuits for children. These types of swimwear are typically full body suits and are similar to the ones worn by adults and older children. In addition, you can also find wetsuits and for the girls, there is the ever popular one or two-piece swimsuits.

You can also buy UV swimwear. These types of swimwear are made with specialized fabric materials that offer UV protection. Another essential for toddlers is to ensure that if the pool is an outside pool, that hats are worn to cover the fact, neck and ears. Cancer can be caused by over-exposure to the sun's rays and one of the ways to avoid this exposure is to be cautious and wear protective clothing. One thing that should never be overlooked is the importance of sunscreen. Since infants' skin is extremely sensitive, sunscreen must be applied to avoid any incidents of sunburn. With all of these in mind and a wide selection of swimwear for toddlers now available, you and your toddler should have no trouble having a fun time at the pool.

By Indy M

Swimming Programs Innovation - Music in Your Swimming Lessons!

2011-11-15T16:26:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, I attended a presentation from a swim school owner from Japan, and was amazed at the innovations, they were using in their children's swim program. By implementing music and musical themes into their professional swimming classes, their results were staggering.

I remember quite vividly, my successful experimentation with music at our swim schools for our younger children. To this day, one of the most memorial "mother and baby classes" I ever participated in, was using the soundtrack of "The Lion King" as background music. It created a most incredible vibe.

Not too long later, at another overseas conference, a Mexican swim school reported similar astounding benefits and more successes from their programs involving music and musical themes. On returning back to Australia. I had to wonder, where are our innovative swim schools in our beloved Aquatic industry gone? Thirty years ago, we were leading the world trends on learn to swim and swimming development; now I seem to be travelling the world in search of new aquatic ideas and swimming materials.

Now, not everyone in Australia follows the same old patterns, but it is very rarely, I see swim schools or an aquatic center, that are willing to experiment or implement something new into their swimming program. Music in a learn to swim program is such a simple thing. Yet there are not many doing it.

Why, there are several swim schools in Brisbane, who have installed underwater speakers but don't use them during their classes? I wonder why? Yes, I will admit in a commercial pool setting, it can be noisy, but isn't it as easy as adjusting volume to have background music at the very least for the smaller children.

At our aquatic centres and swim schools, we used to play old time music 60's and 70's, first thing in the morning for our regular lap swimmers, nursery songs and fun children's music for our morning learn to swim sessions, classical relaxing music during the day for our oldies.

in the afternoon sessions it was just background music until the aqua music got everyone bopping. At any of our fun days, dive in movies or pool discos, we would crank the music up and just let everybody have fun.

The music had a definite purpose. I always had an understanding of the power of music and the invisible vibe it created. Often our clients would say, other swimming pools, just seemed dead or flat and not the same as our center. (It's all in the vibe)

So let's get back to the benefits of implementing music into your professional swimming programs and why I would highly recommend it? There is so much research out there, that I recommend all swimming professionals, do their due diligence but for now let's just stick to the basics.

Music helps small children with patterning, timing and sequencing skills, is scientifically proven to develop temporal awareness skills and much much more. Why aren't more swimming schools using it? Isn't that beneficial to our swimming development in all ages?

Let's look at other benefits: Music also assist children with listening skills, communication and social interaction. It can really enrich the aquatic experience, help children to relax or stimulate or enthuse a child and of course my favorite, music can create the right (invisible) vibe, the right energy for a master swim teacher, a swim school or a successful swimming program. If you don't believe me, just check out your parent's feet, once the aquarobics starts up. (That is, of course if your aqua teacher understands the power of great music)

According to Monica Anzueto (Mexico)

"Many swim programs around the world use children songs in baby and infant swimming sessions, but this is not music, music involves all senses and brings us the opportunity to respond to it through other sensory channels, we combine swimming and music and call it our magic class".

"All countries have beautiful traditional songs, many instructors have already included them in their baby programs but for the many swimming teachers, who do not feel comfortable with singing, couldn't music be used as the perfect replacement?

Why stop at learn to swim lessons?

"The medical profession in America has been using music interventions for years" Music interventions can be designed to promote wellness, manage stress alleviate pain, express feelings, enhance memory, improve communication and promote physical rehabilitation"

So I say why stop at the swimming lessons, if people are coming to your swimming pool for rehabilitation and relaxation: supplement your swim pool environment with music.

(Word of caution though, if you start implementing more music and musical themes into your program, whether you purchase music or make your own compilations, ensure you contact APRA or your countries similar office for all necessary licensing approval prior to staring.)

In my next "masters of the aquatic industry" newsletter, we will discuss music and it's benefits in more detail.

Discover the secrets of becoming a master swim instructor, swim teacher or master aquatic trainer with Next Generation Aquatics, Kerre Burley. Sign up for Next Generation's "Masters of the Aquatic Industry" newsletter or unique online membership. Visit the website and be delighted with the innovative and creative resources now available for Swimming Instructors teachers and coaches, from around the world, wishing to improve their teaching abilities and standing in the aquatic industry. Plenty of free content and opportunities for professional development. http://www.kerreburley.com/nextgenerationaquatics.html

By K Burley

Swimming Instructors Tips - The Importance to Customer Feedback

2011-11-14T16:08:00.000-08:00

As professional swimming instructors and teachers.

Do you seek active feedback from you clients or are you a little frightened too?
Do you reward and thank your customers for their feedback?
Do you have encourage your customers to come forward with feedback?

In our last newsletter we talked about the importance of swimming professionals being in a positive mental state, when we are given negative feedback or criticism from clients or bosses. Today we are going to concentrate on welcoming feedback as part of your daily practice.

So what is customer feedback and do you take personal responsibility for it?

At our swim schools, we saw feedback as complaints or compliments on our products and services. All our swimming instructors came to understand, it is a very necessary open communication and where ever possible, we welcomed it from our patrons and bosses. So allow me to share with you, some of the ways we would do that.

Organizing regular opportunities for feedback from your swimming patrons are a great way to deepen existing relationships with your customers. You may be quite amazed by the insights and snapshots of your customers. As their perceptions, can be quite different to yours.

For example. Not to long ago, we had a policy that, if a swim instructor was not happy with the content delivered in a 30 minute lesson; they had my permission to extend the lesson by an extra 5 minutes. It didn't happen very often, but we felt our parents, would appreciate the extra effort and commitment to the kids, from the swim teacher.

In actual fact, it was through a feedback survey that we discovered, how "annoying" many parents felt "this practice" was, not just the parents who followed these longer classes, whose lessons subsequently ran a few minutes late, but the actual parents whose children, where in these extended classes, as just that extra 5 minutes upset many parents carefully planned schedule, yet not one of those parents had approached us at the reception desk or talked to our pool deck co-ordinator.

Clearly we too, had failed to pick up this vibe and not communicated the reason or benefits to the children why we were doing the extra five minutes. This response was not limited to a chosen few, but largely in the majority. Many parent grateful, but clearly stated in our survey that they would rather the children finish on time. Subsequently, we stopped doing this practice immediately and worked that little bit harder on putting everything into the 30 minutes of lessons

Do you actively follow up complaints?

Verbally or formally! OK, in the bigger aquatic centres and swim schools, often there is a person in charge of complaints, however, I have always felt, it's important as a professional swim teacher to be directly involved with complaints and their procedures. It shows a deeper commitment to your customers.

I love following up a complaint personally either by phone or official letter, as this gives me the opportunity, to thank them again (Yes, I thank all of my customers whether the feedback is good or bad). I am also able to report the actions, we have put in place because of their comments, thereby showing our patrons, that their comments or complaints were valued and acted on. I find often, a complaint equals an improvement.

By implementing a regular feedback processes properly, it may seem little time-consuming yet it can be very rewarding and even accelerate your progress. In fact, I venture to say many swimming instructors today; simply don't bother, therefore just by establishing and acting on a feedback from a customer, you have already established a point of difference from others immediately.

Once the feedback channels with your patrons are open, you will be amazed, how accommodating your regulars will be. A small step, often repeated, can lead to massive changes and improvement. Just some of the ways a swimming instructor, personally can establish opportunities for their customers to comment.

Type up a series of questions (survey) & ask them to complete on pool deck.
Organize a special time to meet & great your parents. Host a morning tea.
Send a "miss you "card & include a survey with a stamp addressed envelope to past clients. Designate a special time that you are available to take phone calls.
Display a small Suggestion box at the pool.
Organize a special "Coloring competition" questionnaire for your children, attach a comments sheet for your parents.

Just think of some ways you can positively use feedback from your customers?

Of course, not all the feedback collected will be useful so understanding what is useful and what's not is another skill but more about that in another article..

Discover the secrets of becoming a master swim instructor, teacher or trainer with Next Generation Aquatic's, founder Kerre Burley. Plenty of free content and opportunities for professional development within the aquatic and swimming industry. http://www.kerreburley.com/nextgenerationaquatics.html

Sign up for Next Generation's "Masters of the Aquatic Industry" newsletter or unique online membership. http://www.kerreburley.com

Visit the website and be delighted with the innovative and creative resources now available for Swimming Instructors teachers and coaches, from around the world, wishing to improve their teaching abilities and standing in the aquatic industry.

"Distance is no longer a barrier for learning" says Kerre Burley.

By K Burley

Can I Get Camp Insurance Coverage for Swim Camp for Pre Existing Conditions?

2011-11-13T16:24:00.000-08:00

Some parents don't buy camp insurance coverage for their kids at swim camp because they think that they'll be excluded from medical expenses because of a pre existing condition. It is true that some plans won't work on that basis; but some will. If your child has an existing illness or condition then coverage could be even more valuable to you and you should be looking at it real hard.

Chances are, your child will get through swim camp with no problems, even if they do have a pre existing condition. But, if they do happen to need treatment or you need to go to camp to pick them up because they get sick, then protection against medical expenses could save you a lot of money.

It's also a shame to lose out on other kinds of protection just because one swim camp policy won't give you medical coverage. Opting out of useful benefits like cancellation insurance, baggage cover, travel delay and missed connections could leave you with a lot of out of pocket expenses in various situations that have nothing to do with the health of your kid.

If you are planning on sending your child to swim camp (or to any other kind of program for that matter) and you're worried about pre existing exclusions, then it may be easier for you to look at plans that will include their illness or condition. Camp Coverage, for example, offers A+ camp insurance policies that can be set up to do just that.

You'll need to do some forward planning to get the right coverage in place so this is worth doing as soon as you can. Camp Coverage will waive pre existing condition exclusions if you pay for your plan within certain timescales so you may want to check their policies out as soon as you can.

Camp Coverage specializes in insurance policies for camps and programs. The coverage offered here may well be cheaper than buying from your chosen swim camp plus it could give you a fuller range of benefits that may be useful. You'll get the peace of mind of knowing that you will get your money back after cancellation for covered reasons. Plus, you'll get - comprehensive financial help for emergency medical expenses, coverage for pandemics and contagious diseases and even help if your child loses equipment or possessions. Please visit our website or call today. http://www.campcoverage.com

By Robert Deck

Two Screens in One: The Double Screen Play

2011-11-12T15:02:00.000-08:00

The Double Screen is a read screen that you can incorporate into a spread offense attack quite easily. The read is on the front side Defensive End. This is a screen play from Gunter Brewer's Effectively Using Screens video.

The Double Screen will have a screen to the running back on the front side with a screen to a wide receiver on the back side.

Front Side Screen

On the front side, the back will flare out. The Quarterback will read the Defensive End, who is the only player unaccounted for here. If the DE ignores the back and crashes hard, we will get the ball to the RB now.

Up front, the front side Guard and Tackle are working outside. The Tackle will kick the force player outside and the Guard will turn up to run the alley. They take two pass set steps and then release to block for the screen. The receivers on the front side will crack down on the backer and safety.

The RB needs to get married to the Tackle, working himself in phase with the tackle on his release. If he gets out in front of the Tackle, he will not get the kickout block that he needs to get up the field.

Backside Screen to the Receiver

On the back side of the Double Screen, we have a receiver running a tunnel screen. The #2 receiver will block the Corner over top of the #1 receiver, who is getting the football. You will want this block in case of man coverage, particularly.

The Center, Back Side Guard and Back Side Tackle will hold for 1 1/2 seconds before releasing to block. The Tackle will kick the force player, the Guard will look up to block the alley defender and the Center will turn back inside picking up trash.

Why the Double Screen is Effective

The Double Screen will be an effective play for you because of the element of "option" football in it. The Defensive End is unblocked, and if he attacks aggressively you are dumping the ball over him to a well-blocked screen on the front side.

But if the DE widens with the screen, the QB has time to turn back and throw the tunnel screen. Ideally, you will be throwing the front side screen, but if you have to throw the back side screen you still have a good chance for a big play despite the primary play being well defended!

You can adapt the Double Screen to a variety of formations and add it into your current screen package for your offense.

Learn more about coaching Offensive Football at Football-Offense.com. For defensive football check out Football-Defense.com!

By Joe R. Daniel III

Which Fantasy Running Backs Give the Best Risk Reward Ratio - LeSean McCoy and Darren McFadden

2011-11-11T15:00:00.000-08:00

Until Houston Texan Arian Foster's injury and Tennessee Titan Chris Johnson's holdout, both were considered Top Five Fantasy Running Backs, with a typical list as follows:

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Arian Foster
3. Chris Johnson
4. Ray Rice
5. Michael Turner

The next five from the conventional wisdom community are equally predictable:

6. Jamaal Charles
7. Rashard Mendenhall
8. Maurice Jones-Drew
9. LeSean McCoy
10. Frank Gore

Picking according to conventional wisdom is a big bore. The way to win big is to take a big risk, and perhaps go down in flames. If all of the top five were available on your draft board, and it was time to draft a RB, then Adrian Peterson would be the conventional take, but wouldn't you rather take a bigger risk for a bigger potential reward? Everyone will take Adrian Peterson as a number one, and if he has a bad year or is injured, then everyone is out of luck.

LeSean McCoy or the Philadelphia Eagles is looking at a breakout year. Opponents will have DE's, LB's or Safety's shadowing Michael Vick, which is sure to open up running lanes for McCoy. Also, a major way to get to Vick is to get pressure around the edge. Vick will have problems getting passes away, and this will lead to more running for McCoy. Big risk, but big reward if he pans out.

The Oakland Raiders will be running and running and running as a set up to lot's of play-action passing. Darren McFadden will be operating as an old-fashioned single running back, and he will put up yards upon yards upon yards. And with 6 games in the AFC West (a.k.a. the "No Defense" Division), he should put up some decent numbers.

With RB's anyone can get hurt, and anyone can see reduced playing time if their team's second back shows some promise. Fantasy RB, like the position itself, is very risky. But other than Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, are there RB's you can really rely on? Is Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens really that much better than LeSean McCoy? And, is Maurice Jones-Drew really going to deliver more than Darren McFadden. I don't know, but I repeat: the higher the risk, the higher reward.

If you get stuck without one of the top five available RB's, give LeSean McCoy and Darren McFadden somewhat more than a passing thought. http://sportadore.com/nfl/ - latest YouTube videos and NFL news

By James D. Silver

Taking Risks on Your Fantasy Football QB - Matt Ryan and Colt McCoy

2011-11-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

We all have the lists that are published by the "experts". Here's a typical Top Five QB list in the world of Fantasy Football:

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Drew Brees
3. Tom Brady
4. Philip Rivers
5. Michael Vick

Plus or minus, this is what just about everyone has. The next list of five is equally predictable:

6. Peyton Manning (barring injury)
7. Tony Romo
8. Ben Roethlisberger
9. Matt Schaub
10. Matt Ryan

If everyone simply sets their draft based on the list, then the efficient market holds (see Eugene Fama and the University of Chicago) - to put it simply - when everyone makes decisions based on the same knowledge, risk associated with things such as injuries and fluky bounces of the ball will yield the key performance differentiators.

The way to win big is to take a big risk, and perhaps go down in flames. If all of the above quarterbacks were on your draft board, and it was time to draft a QB, then Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers would be the conventional take, but wouldn't you rather take a bigger risk for a bigger potential reward?

What about Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons? He has a new receiver in Julio Jones. He has another year under his belt, and he now has some playoff experience. He looks today to be at a stage comparable to where Aaron Rodgers was last year.

Colt McCoy of the Cleveland Browns is rated no better than 20 within the conventional wisdom community. Depending on your league, this guy is going to score some points. Yes, the Browns will depend on the running game a lot, but with a west coast offense you can look at play-action TD's coming out the wazoo! If you are a Browns fan, Colt McCoy is a no brainer.

Keep in mind that with the addition of Mark Ingram to the New Orleans Saints roster, Drew Brees is going to have a better running game this year than last, so look for his numbers to be down. Also, the New England Patriots running game will take a step back, which when combined with a weak offensive line, will mean that more people can T-off on Tom Brady, making passing more difficult and potentially leading to a higher risk of injury. Further, at this writing, Peyton Manning is falling below 20 on the list because of his neck and Michael Vick is an injury waiting to happen. Risks abound even with the top five.

So, have fun, take a little risk, and think seriously about Matt Ryan and Colt McCoy for your Fantasy QB.

http://www.sportadore.com - latest sports news and updates.

By James D. Silver

PAC-12 Expansion: Nevada, UNLV, Boise State, New Mexico and Hawaii

2011-11-09T14:56:00.000-08:00

With Texas A&M leaving the Big XII for the Southeastern Conference (SEC), some experts are predicting another round of conference realignment and expansion. With the SEC at an asymmetrical 13 teams, they are largely expected to add an Eastern school such as Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Florida State or Louisville in order to maintain balance in their two divisions. This could trigger the other conferences in a position of strength (PAC-12 and Big Ten) to add schools to keep up with the SEC's number. However, the sense of urgency does not seem like it is at the level it was in the summer of 2010. For this reason, it is quite possible that the PAC-12 and Big Ten will not immediately add teams. They may even wait five or more years before the next round of expansion.

The PAC-12's geography puts it in a difficult position. The current schools are well clustered along the West Coast and Mountain Time Zones. There are three strong conferences that are under no threat of losing members and are well-positioned to add schools from other BCS and non-BCS conferences: the SEC, PAC-12 and Big Ten. However, the schools that are most likely to be targeted by the strong conferences are along the East Coast and Mid-West. These would include schools in the Big East, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big XII, as well as the major independents Notre Dame and BYU.

The Big East and ACC schools are so far away that they are out of the question. Big XII schools that could be added do include Texas and Oklahoma. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State do not add anything to the PAC-12 but might be given a bid if necessary to get their state's flagship school on board. For Texas to come on board, their Longhorn Network would need to be scrapped or significantly diminished; which isn't likely in the short run. Oklahoma by itself would be a total geographic and cultural outlier with virtually nothing in common with the existing members; while much weaker football programs, Missouri, Kansas, and Kansas State would be even more out of place.

The SEC is ideally positioned to add whatever schools it chooses, be it from the Big XII (Missouri, Oklahoma State, etc.), ACC (Virginia, Virginia Tech, etc.), or Big East (West Virginia, Louisville, etc.) The Big Ten could also choose from some of these schools, although you have a geographic proximity problem once you get beyond the North schools of the Big XII and certain Big East schools like Connecticut and Pittsburgh.

Because super-conference expansion might be five years off, the PAC-12 would be well-served to telegraph to the certain Mountain West schools that they have a shot at membership. In order to be considered, they need to raise and invest a tremendous amount of capital in their football programs and they need to become extremely competitive on the field, like recent BCS busters TCU and Boise State.

Unlike your traditional Midwestern and Southern college towns, the PAC-12 has a more urban footprint with schools located in or very close to major cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix and Salt Lake City. Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, New Mexico and Hawaii also are located in or extremely close to major Western cities (Boise, Reno, Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Honolulu). Accepting the fact that all major conferences, even super-conferences will be regional, selecting some combination of these schools will give corporate sponsors and advertisers a way to target customers in a tight geographic footprint. This will appeal to advertisers that are willing to pay to market to customers in Western states, but reluctant to pay significantly more to get some exposure to an outlier state where they may have no stores or where they employ a different marketing strategy. On top of that, basketball and Olympic sports will benefit student-athletes from a cost perspective and ability to perform on the field and in the classroom with less jet lag and more convenient major city destinations to fly to.

Copyright Donald Plunkett. Build your own PAC-16 lineup of football helmets at http://www.footballhelmets.com.

By Donald Plunkett

Cougs Could Be This Year's Surprise Team

2011-11-08T14:53:00.000-08:00

One team that I feel has been overlooked as a potential turnaround team in the upcoming college football season is the team that calls Pullman, Washington home: The Washington State Cougars. Paul Wulff took over a moribund program when he arrived as the new head football coach at his alma mater in 2008. The fact that he has just five wins under his belt in his first three seasons at WSU is of great concern to the fans of the program.

In fact, a very vocal fan base did not want him to return for a fourth year. Fortunately for him and his program, athletic director Bill Moos saw enough progress being made behind the scenes to bring him back for his fourth year. He will now have a chance to lead a team that is comprised of a majority of players he brought in.

The newly formed Pacific-12 conference did not do the Cougs any favors when they decided to split the divisions geographically into North and South, leaving them with two potential top five teams nationally (Oregon & Stanford) in their division. Still, despite all of the 'expert' prognosticators predicting that the Cougars will finish last in their division, with a losing record, I think this is the year that they turn the corner and win at least six games making them eligible for a bowl game.

The reason I feel optimistic about the Coug's chances are as follows: Paul Wulff did not make the mistake of blindly going after the best players available, but rather looked for the best players he could find that possessed both the mental and physical characteristics he wanted to build a team around. The character of the team is not quite where he wants it to be yet, but I have seen positive changes in the direction they are heading.

I was shocked by the response I got when I was speaking with a couple of current players during the off-season. I mentioned that I looked at their schedule and that I could see them winning eight games this year if things fell right, and they looked at me like I was crazy and said "just eight?" That attitude has been missing from this program for several years, and the fact that they believe again should be a cause for celebration among Coug fans.

I also think their schedule is favorable this season. I often said it starts with belief and nothing helps belief more than a little momentum. Looking at their schedule, it's not unrealistic to think that this team could be 5-0 heading into their game against Stanford. A top Pac-10 coach said to me years ago when USC was dominating the conference, "Every season, there's USC on top and the next six teams are not that different; what separates them is who gets off to a fast start and begins to believe in themselves." This could be the year that this benefits the Cougs.

Of course the Cougs are not without issues. The team is still short on the kind of depth necessary to sustain a number of injuries and still reach their potential. It would also be immensely helpful if WSU receives a waiver for defensive lineman Brandon Rankin, who is practicing but ineligible for game action after failing to meet ongoing NCAA eligibility requirements.

Despite those concerns I have few reservations in predicting a bowl game at the end of this season for the Cougs. Best of all, if that does happen I suspect the Coug fans' belief will start to catch up with that of their team's players.

Posted in The Mind Side Blog Supertao.com

Sam Obitz is a leader in the use and development of mental skills that help you achieve peak performance. Visit The Mind Side Blog at http://supertao.com/category/the-mind-side-blog/

By Sam Obitz

6 Steps to Successful Football Practice Plans

2011-11-07T14:51:00.000-08:00

Now that the season has started for many of us, and will soon for the rest, we have to consider our practice plans. How efficiently and effectively you plan your practice is how good your practice will be.

Do any of these sound like your football squad?

You have no football practice plan. You wing it. Sometimes the things that need to get done, get done. Other times, you forget. You run completely on instinct.

You spend tons of time creating a practice schedule, sometimes as long as the practice itself will be. But when your football practice starts, you find yourself extending periods, cutting special teams, and losing the focus you had earlier that day.

You have a great football practice schedule and fully intend to follow it. But you get so into your drills that you forget to look at your watch, almost every day. You run over on periods and scramble to get caught back up.

If so, there is good news and bad news. First, the good news: There are great programs, Championship teams, all over this country that are just like you.

Bad news? There are a whole lot more teams out there who run a tight ship, follow a schedule, get the job done on time, and win championships.

To plan an effective practice, you need to consider 6 steps (maybe 5?):

Warm-Up: Get your players loose, work on flexibility and movement issues, relieve tightness, and in general prevent injury - do it all with a good warm-up. A mixture of dynamic and static stretching, with a focus on hip flexibility, will do the trick.

Individuals: This is your money portion of the practice. I know that many of you have so few coaches that focusing on position-specific skills is difficult, but find a way. At least work on blocking, defeating blocks and tackling - those apply to every one! Have a good staff? Take care of your E.D.D.s - Every Day Drills that your players must be able to execute to be successful. After that, work on specific skills for your upcoming opponent.

Teaching: Install new fronts, formations, plays, stunts, blitzes, etc. This may be within an individual period or as a team, but take time to teach at a slow pace.

Group: Split the parts of your team up. We work 3 drills at once: Inside, Outside Weak, and Outside Strong drills. We may be working against Inside Trap or Iso with the Mike Linebacker and two tackles inside, while working with the End, OLB, Safety and Corner on either side against outside running plays. We are maximizing reps here - the backside OLB is not learning anything in Team when you run a sweep away from him!

Team: Put it all together. Show a variety of looks, try to recreate the game for your kids. Show them your opponent's best plays, try to sequence them the way your opponent would, mix up calls and get them aligning and attacking! This is the only portion of our practice that is at actual game pace, by the way. Most of our day we will not even go to the ground. I hope that this year our team will be good enough to stay off the ground in team, too!

Conditioning: We do not condition (this is where the "Maybe" comes in!). I do not think it is wrong to run a few gassers at the end of practice. But if your kids are in shape coming in - probably due to your off-season program - and you run an upbeat, fast-paced practice with minimal standing around, you should not have much need for conditioning. If you are still running gassers in the last week of your season, you do not understand the human body. Sorry for offending you, but you need to change. But feel your own kids out, and if they are out of shape coming into the season, throw in some extra running here (no more than 40 yards). To be more effective, use a Pursuit Drill or some other football-related conditioning that will help you much more than straight-line work.

Need to know how to organize all of this? Check out a sample practice, both filled in and blank:

Sample Practice Plan

Now, we have solved the problem for the folks in the first group.

If you fall into the second category and frequently ignore your practice schedule, you need to commit to it. FORCE yourself to follow the practice plan. At the end of the week, evaluate your progress. What could you have done to better your football team? Work that into your next week's schedule. Constantly tell yourself during practice that you will adjust the next schedule, not the current one.

For those folks in the third group, find someone on staff with an Android phone and get them to visit the Android Market. Search for CoachTime. CoachTime is an Android Application developed to keep you on schedule. Put the number of periods, length of period (we use 20 Periods for 6 Minutes each in a normal 2 hour practice), and insert the names of your periods.

An alarm sounds every period to tell you to switch drills, focus, etc. Try out CoachTime and get on schedule!

To help keep your team on schedule in any sport, use CoachTime for Android or search CoachTime on the Android Market on your phone. Learn more about great football practices at Football-Defense.com.

By Joe R. Daniel III

Are College Football Superconferences Dumb?

2011-11-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

The push since the summer of 2010 has been to expand BCS automatic-qualifier conferences from the 8 to 12 team size up to a 16 team super-conference. The idea is that a 16 team super-conference is worth more to a television partner like ESPN, Comcast or Fox than two 8 team conferences would be worth separately. The PAC-12 (formerly PAC-10) put the ball in motion by aggressively courting Texas and Oklahoma, while ultimately settling for Colorado and Utah; the Big Ten around the same time added Nebraska. Shortly thereafter, the PAC-12 signed a $3 billion 12 year TV contract with Fox and ESPN and this seemed to give some credence to the conference expansion idea. However, there is a feeling that the TV deals were simply undervalued in recent years and that even had the PAC-12 not expanded, they would have received a rich deal. Utah had previously earned less than $2 million per year as part of the Mountain West Conference and Colorado earned about $9 million per year in the Big XII. They were now going to make about $21 million a year. Had adding these schools netted the PAC-12 Conference that much more money? Probably not.

Twelve schools is the ideal football conference size. It allows schools to play all 5 other teams in their division and 3-4 crossover teams in the other division. This guarantees that you will play every school in your conference at least every other year. If you go to 16 teams, you will have 7 division opponents and a maximum of 2 crossover games. There will be teams that you only see once every 4 years. That is ridiculous. How are the teams in the same conference if you never play them? The WAC in 1996 was the original superconference with Utah, BYU, Colorado State, Air Force, Wyoming, Hawaii, San Diego State, UTEP, UNLV, TCU, SMU, Rice, Tulsa, Fresno State, San Jose State, and New Mexico. It was a failure and resulted in 8 of the older members leaving to form the Mountain West. They cited the excessive travel costs, the diminishment of traditional rivalries and history, as well as having 16 teams to spread revenue around with.

The PAC-12 is probably the potential superconference to have the most disjointed structure. The PAC-12 looks down upon the Mountain West schools which make the most geographic since in their existing footprint and is more likely to target Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Missouri, or Kansas from the Big XII. This will result in bringing upon schools that are very different geographically and perhaps culturally than their existing member-schools. This will also move Arizona and Arizona State into an Eastern Division and separate them from the schools they have played against since 1978.

Currently there are about 110 Division I FBS schools and a few schools in the pipeline to move up. The potential superconference commissioners seem to think that four 16 team superconferences will be elevated into a new upper tier division. This will leave behind 50-60 schools. Is the television pie going to be bigger by kicking out 50-60 schools? Are the schools lucky enough to be in the SEC, future PAC-16 or BIG Ten(16) that much better than everyone else? Is it fair that West Virginia, Boise State, Kansas State, or Fresno State probably will not make the cut but Vanderbilt, Washington State, and Indiana will? Is it really a good thing to crush the Mountain West, ACC and Big East? TCU has cited a 100% increase in application due to their success and national exposure in football. Maybe Texas and USC should double their student body size along with the 50-60 team contraction plan in order to soak up this demand. College football superconferences are dumb. But they will happen, sooner than later.

Copyright Donald Plunkett. Build your own superconference at http://www.footballhelmets.com

By Donald Plunkett

Best NCAA College Football Player of All Time

2011-11-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

Herschel Walker is the greatest college football player of all time. Why? Because no one ever transformed a college football program the way Herschel did for the Georgia Bulldogs. And, he did it in only three years of college play. In that relatively short time, Walker gained more yards than any other player ever at the University of Georgia -- or at most other colleges for that matter.

Herschel Walker was born in Georgia, where he would subsequently rule the college football world, on March 3rd, 1962. At first, you would not have thought that Walker would turn into an animal on the football field because, when he was young, he did not show any desire to play sports. Actually, Walker was an ardent reader, and he wrote poetry a lot of the time too. However, when Herschel was 12, something occurred that made him take on an unbelievable exercise program. Throughout the following year, Walker ran thousands of miles, and notched up 100,000 sit-ups, and 100,000 push-ups.

In 1979, years before Walker graced the field for the Georgia Bulldogs, he led Johnson County High School to the state championship game, where he was recognized by Parade magazine as the national "High School Back-of-the-Year". The University of Georgia was already monitoring his progress in the background, and they would reap the benefits of a National Championship, in 1980, with Walker as their number one freshman star. Some of Herschel's other college achievements included winning the Heisman Trophy in 1982, and three All-American awards.

Spectators admired Walker's physical presence and football talent. By the time he was 18, he already had the physique of an NFL star. When he left the Bulldogs, in 1983, to become a professional football player, and joined the USFL team the New Jersey Generals, he had set 141 records for the University of Georgia, 6 SEC records, and 11 NCAA records.

When the USFL was disbanded, Herschel became the 114th pick in the 5th round of the 1985 NFL draft. During the 1988 season, while he was with the Dallas Cowboys, he led the league (NFL league) in rushing.

Herschel Walker's incredible athletic abilities went far beyond the football field. He ran track at UGA. He was in the 1992 Olympics - on the Bobsled team.

Amazing, simply amazing. No doubt, Herschel Walker was the best player in the history of college football.

By Mo Johnson

College Football Superconferences - What Is Hawaii's Future?

2011-11-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

In December 2010, Hawaii finally received a bid to become a football-only member of the Mountain West Conference and later received conference membership for all other sports in the Big West Conference. This gave Hawaii the ability to follow fellow Western Athletic Conference (WAC) members out the door to the Mountain West (Boise State, Fresno State, and Nevada). While the WAC was teetering on life support, the Mountain West was a major shot in the arm to the program while reuniting the Warriors with traditional foes like Wyoming, San Diego State and Air Force. While BYU, Utah and TCU were gone, the remaining schools were unlikely to go anywhere.

But superconferences threaten to upset this new found stability. By leaving the Big XII for a potential SEC invitation, Texas A&M once again set a potential domino effect in motion. Worst case scenario, Oklahoma and other schools could leave the Big XII and the remaining schools like Kansas State, Baylor and Iowa State could keep the Big XII shell intact while selectively choosing a portion of the Mountain West schools to come onboard. While schools like Boise State and Colorado State might be targeted in this scenario, Hawaii most certainly would not be. With the PAC-12 unlikely to go after any Mountain West schools, another scenario would actually strengthen the Mountain West. If most of the Big XII schools found homes in the SEC and the PAC-12 and the Big XII crumbled, it is possible the Mountain West could actually be strengthened by being able to add 2-3 Big XII castoffs such as Iowa State or Kansas State. Combining these additions with some combination of additions from Conference USA (Houston, SMU, UTEP) and the WAC (Utah State, UTSA), the Mountain West might actually end up in a better position as a Superconference "Light". While they would lack the firepower of the PAC-12 or SEC, they would have enough political clout and programs with 50 plus years of Division 1-A experience to ensure that they had some type of seat at the table if the four 16 team superconferences left them out.

On the outside chance that the Mountain West would be poached so severely by the Big XII survivors or the PAC-12 that it would crumble, Hawaii may be reluctant to re-join the WAC, even though some programs such as Wyoming would almost certainly be forced to do that. A more likely scenario would see them remaining in the Big West for all other sports and pursuing football independence. Hawaii would need to use its time zone to an advantage by signing some type of deal with ESPN or Fox to be the last game every Saturday. There are college football junkies that want to keep watching football even if it is 10:30 on the east coast. A mid-season game of Alabama at Hawaii or even UNLV at Hawaii would certainly appeal to them.

Copyright Donald Plunkett. Seen the new Hawaii football helmet? Visit http://www.footballhelmets.com

By Donald Plunkett

Best NCAA College Football Program of All Time

2011-11-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

What comes to mind when you think of the best NCAA college football program of all time? Notre Dame; USC; Michigan? Sure, they are all up there. But, at the very top, in my book, is the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Bama is, without a doubt, the greatest NCAA college football program ever.

Why do I say that? Well, of course Alabama football is right up there when it comes to wins and losses (ranked #8 with an all-time record of 802 - 319 - 43 (.707); championships (arguably the champ in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1991, 1992 and 2009); legendary coaches and players (over 90 first team all-American's); etc.

It's also important to note that Alabama plays in the Southeastern (SEC) conference; the toughest college football conference in America. How do I know that? Well, for starters, the SEC has won the past five BCS National Championship titles. Every year the SEC leads the pack in attendance, bowl games, recruits, and wins on the field. It's second only to the Big Ten in money earned (and this is debatable).

Ultimately, the reason I pick Alabama over the others is simply that no college football program has impacted as many people as much as the Alabama Crimson Tide football program. Indeed, its win over the Washington Huskies at the 1926 Rose Bowl gave pride to the entire southern region of America. Thanks to Alabama football, the state of Alabama was transformed and millions of lives given a new sense of pride and respect. No other football team can say that.

The height of the college football season is bowl season. The Crimson Tide has appeared in 52 Bowl games and claimed 30 bowl victories (with 3 ties) in it's history. That represents more victories and bowl appearances than any other NCAA team.

One last stat: which college has produced the most Super Bowl winning quarterbacks? Yep, you guessed it. Alabama with 3: Bart Starr, Joe Namath, and Ken Stabler.

So, for all these reasons, and more, I say the Alabama Crimson Tide has the overall best college football program in history.

Obviously the debate over which college football program is the best will never be settled. Some argue for Notre Dame; some for USC; and some for Michigan.

For my money, no NCAA football program has had as much impact on a state and region of the country as the Alabama Crimson Tide. That's why I pick Bama as the best ever.

By Mo Johnson

Best All-Time NCAA College Football Coach

2011-11-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

The admiration for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team, and their appeal, as well as most of their success, is due in no small part to Paul "Bear" Bryant (born September 11th, 1913 - died January 26th, 1983) - the all-time greatest NCAA college football coach. His famous houndstooth hat, and steely gaze, is instantly recognized by Alabama football fans of all ages.

Bryant effectively steered his players to many prestigious college bowl and championship games, winning the trophies and awards that permanently changed the Alabama football program. College Football dominates in Alabama, and forever when people think of Alabama football they will think of Paul Bear Bryant.

Before returning to coach his alma-mater, the Crimson Tide, Bryant had previously coached at Kentucky, Texas A & M and Maryland. He did great things at all three schools, particularly UK and A & M.

Bryant was head coach for just one season at the University of Maryland, in 1945, and he took them a 6-2-1 record. After that short stay at the Terrapins, he went on to coach the University of Kentucky for eight seasons, and they made their first bowl appearance in 1947 and also won their first and only SEC title in 1950. Bryant moved to Texas A & M in 1954 and became their athletic director and head coach. He improved the Aggies from 1-9 his first year to winning the Southwest Conference championship two years later.

When the 1957 season finished, Bryant went back home to Alabama, and took up the posts of athletic director and head coach at the University of Alabama. Bear Bryant is recognized as perhaps the most successful NCAA college football coach of all time because of the work he did with the Alabama football program. In 1959, he was responsible for the first victory in six years over Auburn, which led to their first appearance in a bowl game in as many years. Two years later, in 1961, Alabama had an 11-0 season. They went on beat Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl and bring home a National Championship.

Bryant subsequently guided quarterback, Joe Namath; developed his wishbone offense; and led Alabama to 24 straight bowl appearances. He also achieved a total of six National Titles (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, and 1979). Bryant turned around the Alabama football program with his tough love and charming personality. His players sweat blood and tears for their coach.

In his quarter century at Bama, Bryant racked up a record of 323-85-17 (.780); won six National Championships; made 29 Bowl Appearances; had 15 Conference Championships; three times was named the National Coach of the Year; and became a respected member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The University of Alabama honored the "Bear" even further, in 1975, by naming their stadium and a major campus street after him. The state of Alabama also named a high school after Bryant.

By Mo Johnson

2011 San Francisco 49ers Season Preview (Part 1 - The Offense)

2011-11-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Time certainly flies and it just seemed so recently ago when Mike Singletary was still patrolling the 49er sideline with that intense scowl on his face as he watched his Niner team consistently lose games with poor execution, a lack of aggression, and being outsmarted by the opposing coaches. We seemed like the only football team last year that reached multiple 3rd and 1 situations only to attempt a pass down field for 20 yards when 1 measly yard would do. Or perhaps you remember the countless situations where Alex Smith would face intense pressure and develop his customary, escape hatch short outlet pass to Frank Gore who would then subsequently gain 6 yards and then get dropped 13 yards short of a 1st down since it was 3rd and 19. Oh, these were the fond memories all Niner fans had last year. What will happen this year? More of the same? A complete turnaround? I'm not going to lie. I can't predict the future, but I may as well try.

Let's start with the men in the trenches.....

1) OLine: One of the major strengths of this team. Joe Staley and Anthony Davis are solid young tackles who will be counted on for protection. Staley is an absolute mauler by the way. He's the kind of guy you wouldn't want to bump into at the bar and spill your 7 dollar Corona all over. And since Staley is protecting Alex Smith's blindside, he will have the most important job to do. No worries there though, he's done a fantastic job thus far. The middle of the line has seen some changes with David Baas, last year's starting C now being replaced by Adam Snyder. Iupati and Rachel, two young and super sized guards should continue to improve and help the running game. Alex Smith was only sacked 25 times last season and despite our utter surprise, he's actually only fumbed 6 times in the past 22 games. This is the by product of a solid line. Should be no issues here.

Position Grade: B+

2) Wide Receivers: Another massive strength for the 49er team and now with the big free agent signing of Braylon Edwards, it should give this team 3 strong wideouts with Edwards joining Josh Morgan and an emerging Michael Crabtree. Look for Crabtree to slowly emerge as the go-to guy for Alex Smith. I've seen enough desperate 3rd down passes Alex Smith heaved blindly towards Crabtree's way last year to know that. The contract holdout last year hurt Crabtree's readiness and preparation, but I see a hungry player looking to prove himself after a mediocre at best rookie season. Josh Morgan is another intriguing player who has the physical gifts to make an impact. Whether he'll get the ball enough with both Edwards and Crabtree commanding most of Smith's attention is another question. I also still haven't given up on Ted Ginn Jr. as of yet. Yes, he has the hands of a 12 year old schoolgirl, but he can also run faster than 90% of the players in the league. Another key player to watch is Dominique Ziegler. He might not even make the team, but he's had a strong camp thus far and could be the 5th wideout added to the opening roster for 2011.

Position Grade: B

3) Tight Ends: Well look at this, it's another strength for this team, if not possibly their biggest strength out of all the positions. Vernon Davis will continue to be a perennial Pro-Bowler for many years to come. He has all the physical tools, and now that he's starting to gain the football IQ necessary to be a smart player as well, he will eventually take Antonio Gates and Jason Witten's throne as the best TE in football hands down. Look for more 80-90 catch, 900+ yards, and 8-12 TD seasons for many more years to come. If I had a man crush on this team, it would be for VD and his chiseled body with soft hands. (getting creepy I know). Can't ignore any man with a FOURTEEN PACK of abs. Don't sleep on Delanie Walker as well. He's a solid backup who can also catch the ball as well as get in the trenches on 3rd and inches to throw a key block for a first down.

Position Grade: A

4) Running Backs: Can Frank Gore stay healthy? That is the million dollar question. No, that should be the BILLION dollar question. Considering he's not considered a big back, he's definitely been used quite heavily in the past couple of seasons and Gore is approaching that dark dark place for running backs. (And no, I"m not talking about Spearmint Rhino). As he enters this 2011 season at the ripe age of 28, he's starting to reach the twilight years of any RB's career. He hasn't played a full 16 same season since 2006 and his carries have started to decrease every single year. In the past 5 years, he's had carries of 312 in 06', 260 in 07', 240 in 08', 229 in 09', and 203 last year in 10'. See a pattern here? I certainly do. Still don't believe me? Look at what happened to the likes of LT and Shaun Alexander once they got close to 30. Turned from heroes to zeroes, although you could argue LT still has a serviceable career. So I can't believe I'm saying this, but it may be time in the next year or so to start grooming a successor. Let's hope Gore can have a full 16 game season this year and turn back those critics. I'd like to see him with less than 250 carries this year to preserve his body and mind. If he can stay healthy, and it is a big IF, I see a 1200 yard, 10 TD season for Gore.

Anthony Dixon is a change of pace back who at 6'1, 235 pounds, can be the bulldozer in the likes of a Jerome Bettis, Brandon Jacobs, and Peyton Hillis. He's still maturing physically and developing his game so give him a little bit more time. I do think if you give him enough carries, he's good for a 6-700 yard season with several TD's and that would be fantastic for all Niner fans if Dixon and Gore develop into a potent 1-2 punch. Remember that Coach Harbaugh is a fan of smashmouth football since his days at Stanford with Toby Gerhart so I forsee Harbaugh using Dixon quite a bit to give the Niners more of a downhill running, helmet jarring, style of attack this year. And last but not last least is fullback Moran Norris. Although he probably gets lets publicity than a pimple faced, skinny computer geek at high school prom, Norris is a fantastic blocker who has done an excellent job helping out on blitzes and run packages the past several seasons. Look for more of the same.

Position Grade: A-

5) Quarterback: I'm guessing I have it all backwards. Normally you save the best for last, but in this case, I've saved the worst. As we round-up our Part 1 preview of the Niners with the offense, we encounter the mother of all evils (according to rabid Niner fans), Mr. Alex Smith. Alex can't throw. Alex can't run. Alex is a pussy. Alex has no leadership qualities, and hell, Alex couldn't even spell WIN. While some of this may indeed be true, I tend to be the optimist and point to the good things Alex Smith has done. In the past 2 seasons, Smith has maintained a QB rating above 80 and while that's nothing to be proud of, that's still better than a 1/3 of the qb's in the league. Also, his completion %s last year around 60% was better than Mark Sanchez of the Jets who finished at 54.8%. In fact, Mark Sanchez's stats last year, a 75.3 QB rating, 54.8% completion %, and 13 int's were all inferior to Alex Smith's numbers. So why do we persecute Alex Smith so heavily when a player like Mark Sanchez actually did worse? One word. WINNING. Two numbers. 11-5. (Jets record last year.)

The bottom line is the NFL is a league where only one thing matters. Whether you were Trent Dilfer with the Ravens in 2000 or Rex Grossman with the Bears in 2007, you have to win. If your team is winning despite the fact that you are putting up piss poor numbers, all tends to be forgiven and nobody cares. Dilfer was applauded in 2000 for not LOSING the Super Bowl and Grossman was the starting QB for the Bears just because they somehow kept winning with him at the helm.

Alex Smith simply has not won in this league so we tend to over exert too much criticism on his overall play. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying his talent is the second coming of Montana either, but c'mon, would you have rather him or Bruce Gradskowski? I'm not condoning the fact that winning IS the most important ingredient and probably the only thing Smith should be proficient at first and foremost, I just truly feel he never really had the pieces around him to consistently do so. Think about it. This guy has had 5 offensive coordinators in the past 5 years alone, and now with Harbaugh at the helm, 3 different head coaches as well. Give him some continuity. And no, I'm not defending Alex Smith because I believe he's great. I'm just stating facts.

Talent wise, this is finally the season where I truly feel Alex Smith has absolutely no excuses. This is the best offense we've had in the past 5 seasons that Smith has been here. Edwards, Gore, Crabtree, Morgan Davis, Walker, Ginn, and Dixon hopefully will be the names you remember that belong to a dynamic 49er offensive attack. I'm also hoping for better playcalling this year, and Harbaugh hopefully can figure out that 3rd and 1 down the field throws aren't exactly high percentage. Look, I know that Smith has had plenty of chances and we've all heard the saying. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Well let's hope that Alex Smith doesn't fool anybody in 2011.

Position Grade: C

Overall 2011 49er Offense Grade: B

That rounds up the Part 1 of my 2011 preview. Part 2 which covers the defense will be out shortly. Be a champ. Stay tuned for that.

P.S.- I didn't forget about Colin Kaepernick btw. He's an interesting player with very intriguing tools, but as long as Harbaugh is the coach, he'll be in favor of a much more Pro-Style type QB than a QB that solely operated in the Pistol offense in college. And no, Kaepernick does NOT remind me of Michael Vick. (I know some Niner fans keep saying that) Until Kaepernick can prove he can play in the pocket as well, he won't be starting any time soon. Well that's my thought anyways. Feel free to make me eat my words if something changes.

Article can also be seen on Blazing Banter sports blog: www.blazingbanter.wordpress.com

Blazing Banter, "The Xs and Os from the Insatiable World of Sports". www.blazingbanter.wordpress.com

By Garrick Jang

Playcalling in Youth Football - Making the Defensive Tackle Wrong on Every Play

2011-10-31T14:36:00.000-07:00

Reading Defensive Tackles When Calling the Offense

Many youth football coaches read Defensive Ends or Linebackers when they are trying to figure out the optimum play to call on offense. While that may make a lot of sense, don't forget to pay attention to Defensive Tackles. They seem to come in many varieties, King Kong, king of the jungle man children who play very aggressively. Then there is Average Allen who plays hard and tries to read the play. Most youth football teams also have Nicky the Nosepicker the non aggressive minimum play kid trying to get a few snaps in and not hurt his team.

Each of these type of players needs to be attacked differently to get the most efficient result for your team. The King Kong kid can be stalemated with a Double Team block, but you're going to get beat if you try and handle him one on one with a drive or reach type block. If you crab block him with one player, you can get a stalemate if your splits are tight enough that Kong can't outflank your crab blocker. The most effective block for King Kong is the trap block. Let King Kong come through and use his aggression against him by running right under him and having a pulling Guard earhole him from the side with leverage and momentum. The trap often times slows these beasts down a bit, they will stop charging in hard once they get suckered a time or two. We have been able to wedge behemoths like King Kong and on a very rare occasion we have not. Quite often these men among boys play very high which makes them very wedgeable. Keeping King guessing is the key with a variety of traps, powers, wedges, crab blocks and passes will help keep him at bay.

For Average Allen, the Double Team block will take him to Linebacker level and require the Linebackers to run the hump and off of their normal pursuit path. You may even be able to handle Allen one on one and then get your outside Lineman to go the second level. For us, that is a "special" call. Trapping Allen may be a little tough if he isn't very aggressive, he may sit in the hole or try and read the play instead of coming upfield. That makes for a trap play that gets clogged up, not a good call against Allen. Allen is usually very wedgeable.

Nicky is easy to spot and usually comes in for just a few plays or maybe an entire series late in the first quarter or early in the second. He is very wedgeable. While there is no need to Double Team Nicky, doing so will put him in the laps of the Linebackers which is always a good thing. Forget about trapping him, he won't come upfield enough for your pulling Guard to find him and he will be standing right in the hole, unblocked, his only chance to make a tackle that day. Run at Nicky with Powers, Wedges and even Counters. Know that many times defenses will overcompensate for Nicky by putting their best Linebacker behind him. That means a "special" call for us makes sense, blocking Nicky one on one while the Offensive Lineman to the outside of the player blocking Nicky goes to the second level. On Powers either put Nicky in the Linebackers lap with an aggressive Double Team Block or send someone to the second level along with your pulling Guard and Wing.

Make sure someone has an eye on the Defensive Tackles when you are on offense, so you have the right play and blocking scheme called for the type of player playing that position. What works great against one type of player may be the absolute worst call for another.

By Dave Cisar

Cooling Your Youth Football Team Down on Hot Days

2011-10-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

Dealing With Sweltering Heat in Youth Football

If your weather is anything like ours, it is 100 degrees and 83% humidity right now, making it miserable for anyone trying to practice. I won't bore you with all the regular advice on keeping your kids hydrated and keeping your eyes open for heat stress. Most of us are well versed on the subject, so what are some other tips for beating the heat?

Consider moving practice to an area of the field or another field that is in the shade. Several years when my teams were faced with an unusual blast of heat, we moved to practicing behind the outfield fences of a local baseball field, which was 100% in the shade. Another year we used the outfield of a local church softball field that was surrounded by tall pines, which provided good shade if we stayed in the corners of the field. The shade was more than 10 degrees cooler than when we were in the sun. While 10 degrees may not sound like much, there may be a psychological factor at play as well. The kids just seem so much fresher when they are practicing in the shade.

If you can't make it to shade to practice, at least do it during breaks. We practice at a field that has a large shelter that is covered that doubles as our water break meeting area. If we didn't have that, there are a few trees that provide enough shade for an entire team to get under.

During unusually fierce heat blasts, you may even try practicing indoors. On several occasions the local High School allowed us to use their gym to practice. A local church also volunteered their gym space for the same purpose. Always remember to leave those places cleaner than when you found them and leave a nice thank you note for whoever made the gym use possible.

Another nice way to cool off at the end of a broiling hot practice is to have a water balloon fight at the end of practice. Have the kids and parents bring a stash of water balloons in coolers, choose up sides and have a good old-fashioned water balloon war to cool the kids down and build enthusiasm for the next practice.

While all of our kids will need to acclimate themselves to the heat, we can ease them into it a bit and give them some relief when unusually hot temps are causing havoc.

By Dave Cisar

AFC North Predictions - Yes, The Browns at 10-6!

2011-10-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

1. Let's assume the Cleveland Browns lose all four games to the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. Let's also assume they win all the games they should, but lose to the Houston Texans. and St. Louis Rams, teams that may or may not be better than them. Bingo. 10-6.

Now let's assume that they improve so much that they split with the Ravens and the Steelers. This would allow them to lose to the Texans and Rams, as well as to the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. Bingo 10-6.

While 10-6 seems to be the best the Cleveland Browns can do, both 8-8 and 9-7 certainly seem feasible, and both would be considered an excellent move forward for the up-and-coming team.

The offenses will continue to improve, with Colt McCoy, Joe Thomas, Payton Hillis and Benjamin Watson getting better throughout the season. The defense, led by Scott Fujita, Phil Taylor, TJ Ward and Joe Hayden, will also improve.

Unfortunately, the Browns won't make the playoffs, as both the Ravens and Steelers will have the same or better records, and both will be better than the Browns in any tie breaker.

2. We could be wrong, but the Baltimore Ravens' defense is old. Ray Lewis is good, but the defense is no longer the NFL's best. Look for the Ravens to go 10-6, same as the Browns.

Assuming the Ravens split with the Browns and Steelers, lose to the New York Jets, the Indianapolis Colts after Payton Manning returns, the San Diego Chargers, and one team they should beat, then the Ravens will be 10-6.

Joe Flacco is a good quarterback, but his receiving corp is not as good as it could be, and his running backs are overrated. But, at 10-6, the Ravens will make the playoffs.

3. The Cincinnati Bengals will win only 2 games this year, beating the Carolina Panthers and the Buffalo Bills. Andy Dalton will be a pleasant surprise. Mike Brown will be highly criticized for not trading Carson Palmer (or at least for not creating an environment where a quarterback like Carson Palmer would want to play). Look for spectacular catches from A.J. Green and for Cedric Benson to have a decent season after he gets out of jail. But, the defensive is as porous as the Niagara Falls.

In the "you heard it here first" department, if the Bengals get the first pick in next year's draft, Andrew Luck will pull an Eli Manning and tell the Bengals that if they draft him, he won't play for them. Mike Brown will stand on principle, draft him, and then have two quarterbacks who refuse to play for him!

4. The Pittsburgh Steelers are good but are due for a letdown. Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have the "me against the world" mentality this year that helped him so much last year. So, we're expecting the Steelers to have a similar season as the Ravens and end up at 10-6.

It would not be inconceivable for the Steelers to split their games with the Browns and Ravens. And it would not be surprising if they lost to the New England Patriots. And, losing to some highly motivated, upstart team like the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals or Kansas City Chiefs is also possible if the Steelers are having a downer year. So, don't be surprised if the Steelers match the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens at 10-6.

But, also, don't be surprised if the Pittsburgh Steelers go 14-2. But, they would have to beat the "We lost the Super Bowl funk" that is typical. In any event, they will make the playoffs.

Get the latest Cleveland Browns news and Cleveland Browns videos on our site - http://sportadore.com

By James D. Silver

Maryland Football Helmets

2011-10-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

For the first time in years, people were talking about Maryland football. In the first game of the 2011 season, Maryland took the field against Miami will all new white uniforms, and a stunning football helmet with the state flag seeming to be wrapped around the helmet. The uniforms were white, which is somewhat atypical for football uniforms where most teams wear their white uniforms on the road and a solid dark color at home. The numbers were in red with a frenetic pattern of shading.

The shoulders had black and red patterns that matched up with the helmet. The helmet, however, blew everyone away. The Maryland flag is based on the English heraldic banner of George Calvert. Looking at the flag like a compass, the northeast and southwest corners have a cross with all four ends crossed in offsetting red and white. The northwest and southeast corners have a strange disproportioned yellow and black checkerboard. The overall pattern is striking and very eye-catching. Taking these two patterns, the cross and the checkerboard, and painting them on either side of the Maryland football helmet was a brilliant move. A school known more for basketball if anything, in a conference (the ACC) mostly known for basketball, was suddenly front page news for football.

When Under Armour designed the new uniforms and helmets, they knew that they would attract attention to the program; look at what cool, modern uniforms have done for the University of Oregon Ducks. There is no way they could have anticipated just how much attention the uniforms, especially the helmets, would attract. The helmets were the buzz of the web for days and lit up Twitter with comments, mostly negative. Everyone from LeBron James to the talking heads of ESPN tweeted about them. Articles on major newspapers like the Washinton Post and USA Today received hundreds of comments. The saying, "There is no such thing as bad publicity," kept getting repeated over and over again.

Colin Cowherd commented that even though old guys like him might have hated the Maryland football helmets, he knew that high school recruits all up and down the Eastern seaboard were probably lining up to try them on. Realizing they had perhaps struck gold, a few days after the first game, Maryland announced it was 10 game-worn football helmets and uniforms with starting bids of $500 for the helmets and $200 for the jerseys. Not only had Maryland received a lot of publicity, they were now being able to turn the publicity into money for their athletics programs.

Copyright Donald Plunkett. View Maryland football helmets and many more at http://www.footballhelmets.com

By Donald Plunkett

Speed Drills to Get Faster For Football

2011-10-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to be the fastest one on the football field? Well I'm sure we all have at some point. There are different types of speeds when talking football, so it is important to do a wide array of football speed drills. I want to give you few tips that will help you increase your speed and improve your performance on the field. Then I will show you a few exercises to get you started.

As I mentioned above there are different type of speeds in football, you have to be consistent with straight ahead and lateral speed training. To be a great football player you have to have the ability to move in any direction with a split second notice. Just because you fast runner on the track team, doesn't mean you will have the same status on the football field. There are many other factors that come into play, like length of endurance and cardio ability. Football speed drills will master all these concepts and help you in other areas of performances.

You should adjust your football speed drills program to your specific need, take into consideration your position and what your expectations are for yourself. There are many ways to adapt a program to fulfill your needs, and it is vital that you combine different techniques into your workout.

Now it's time to start your football speed drills, below you will find a few examples.

Football Speed Training

Lunges Do three sets of 20 reps on each leg. Be sure to bend your knee in a steady controlled movement, getting as low as possible. You will see great results and notice the difference in your leg power.

Short Sprints Identify 3 stopping points in a straight line, approximately 20 yards apart from each other. Start sprinting towards the first point, come back to your starting point and go to your next point, continue this process approximately 10 sets.

Long Sprints You will do the same as above but make your distance between points approximately 50 yards apart from each other. This will push you a little further but will see great cardio results.

This should get you started on football speed training, if you keep it up you will see great results on and off the field. These are simple drills you can do just about anywhere, so good luck with achieving a higher level of fitness out at your next game.

Stay up to date with some of the most current health and fitness trends at http://plyometricsworkouts.org

By Brandon Peterson

How to Jump Higher in Football

2011-10-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

How to jump higher than ever before is a vertical movement which can be learned, polished and turned into an athletic ability. Leaping activities are not an exclusive dominion of basketball alone. Vertical jump is also practiced in some other sports such as football where team members have to undergo a rigorous vertical jump training just to make a goal. This explains why the goalie can fly and dive in order to intercept the ball and the sight is truly awesome!

It is quite difficult to be the goalie or goalkeeper. The same is true for the quarterback and other football fielders. Every player must be able to attain vertical mastery to be ready to engage in immediate turnovers. There are cardinal rules in this type of sport, but the so-called Turnover Rule is one that must never be broken by all means. Turnover refers to the loss of possession of the ball which must be avoided by any member of the team.

Vertical mastery, in terms of applying the Turnover Rule, proves to be a great advantage against the opposing team on the field. When it comes to football, the best tips to jump higher is rolled into a single word and written as EXERCISE which is heavily loaded! It comes in many variations, each with a specific purpose, to help football players stay in perfect shape.

Jumping rope

This exercise is the easiest and the most essential form vertical activity to improve vertical jumps.

Leg strengthening exercise

Football players are required to build power legs to help them in rendering explosive vertical jumps. It is very common to see them practice with the padded suits on and on wet grounds with spiked shoes. Running on a wide, rain-soaked muddy field in padded uniform is already a tremendous action, but that is part of the vertical training program.

It is really hard to imagine the factors adding more strain on the exercise? That is why cramps are not unusual at this point yet they have to bear it as part of the leg strengthening exercise. In order to spice up the training, football players need to show their highest and maximum vertical they can render.

Exercise for the quadriceps

The leg extension exercise is an isolation movement that focuses on the quadriceps. The quadriceps or quadriceps femoris which is derived from Latin literally means four-headed femur muscle refer to the large group of four dominant muscles on the front side of the thigh. Some of the other quadriceps endurance exercises include leg press, squatting, as well as calf strengthening exercises.

Hamstring Training Exercises

The hamstrings training exercises are especially designed physical fitness activities for the lower parts of the body which is highly characterized by the curling of the knees.

Working out Using Weights

Pulling up weights is another important part of the vertical explosion program for football players. Weights here are just for the purpose of twitching the muscle fibers and not for becoming weight lifters. Thus, the trainees use weights according to their capacity but not to overdo this in order to prevent tearing of the muscles. The classic example is the Romanian dead lift or RDL which is considered as a formula for training the hamstring to strengthen muscle strength.

Aside from the regular physical rigor, football players have to be watchful about their weight. A body with a light weight is easier to carry in order to jump higher. However, it does mean that they are not allowed to eat because food is very important since it is the source of energy for the body. It must be stressed that what must be eaten are the healthy foods with proven nutritional values.

It is of common knowledge that football is indeed a very rough game. But the players keeping in mind the Turnover Rule makes it even tougher thus you can witness how they smash, hit, kick and jump against an opponent in the field just to hold on to that ball. Everyone out there is practically explosive!

The vertical explosion program as well as a diet program are truly important in this type of super rugged sport. You can learn more from online resources many different maneuvers and techniques and how to jump higher in football.

Feel free to post your questions, comments, suggestions or recommendations. Thank you for dropping by. http://www.howdoijumphigherreview.com

By Gigi G Villanueva

Watch Aston Villa Live in Action

2011-10-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Four men, Frederick Matthews, William Scattergood,Walter Price and Jack Hughes were the founders of this club. They also had the membership of Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in Birmingham. The club came in the limelight when they won the Birmingham Senior Cup in the captaincy of George Ramsay in 1880 and later on won their first title of FA cup.

William McGregor, the director of Aston Villa, is considered as one of the founders of the soccer league in 1888. In that year, there ware twelve teams that played the initial soccer league competition and Aston Villa was one of them. They won three FA Cup and five league titles from 1894 till 1900. They shifted to Villa Park, also known as Aston Lower grounds during that era. Since then the Villa Park is their home ground.

The fans love to watch Aston Villa live in action but many people believe that at the moment being a Villa's supporter is just like being a patient who is on the waiting list of a hospital, knowing that ultimately something is about to happen but don't know what it can be. The loyal supporters of the Aston Villa remain bound to this kind of uncertainty all the time and mostly these matters are related to off the field life.

We should be optimistic about the future of the club; certainly there is a hope for the improvement because after a very poor start the performance of the club is quite impressive now especially away from their home ground Villa Park. At Middleborough they certainly look out of color but they showed the will that they really want to take the match away. I think when you have faced such a poor start then no one can deprive you of the happiness of watching the opponents crying and fans just throwing their tickets at the management.

This may be cruel but it opens up the way to our fortunes and also identifies the differences between us and the other teams which are below us at the points table at present.

Because of the poor form we have in this league, I am still doubtful that whether we will be able to go up on the points table or we will end up with 5-10 position. I think that our coming clashes are favorable and hopefully we will be able to secure a relatively better position at the points table.

We would be at the lower part of the points table if our performance, away from home, had not been so impressive and unexpected. What we need is to perform well at Villa Park and we are focusing on our upcoming clashes there, with the heightened anticipation. Our ability to perform well away from home together with some good home results will anticipate the whole Europe.

If you ask some one outside the Birmingham to create a complete list of English soccer clubs that is a winner of the Champions League, they will surely be find it difficult. They will come up with the names of Liverpool and Manchester United and then don't forget Brian Clough's double titles with Nottingham Forest.

Villa is still a name that can attract the people and to watch Aston Villa live can be a dream of many people. And they are perpetually up there with the big names of European soccer. It is not true that the Aston Villa won the Cup when it was in its early years, it was 1982. German monsters Bayern Munich were defeated by the Birmingham team, thanks to a goal scored by Peter Withe;a great English center forward.That goal provided him the everlasting renowned status.

Aston villa was considered as one of the finest teams of Europe when they won the two league titles during 1990s and an InterToto trophy in 2001. But now after a long time the team is performing well under the seasoned Martin O'Neill and now looks ready to join the high-class group again.

As each season comes closer, English soccer lovers spend a lot of time discussing about who could be the 'Big fours' of the league, given the necessary amount of fortune with new signings and injuries. Every year, the fans of Everton and Tottenham declare that their club will surely prove, this time, that they are of the same caliber as Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are. But last year, after a long period of time, it did look that Aston Villa might be the one who deserves that breakthrough.

Of course we know, now, that they failed at the end. Aston Villa showed some high energy performance at the start but in the last weeks their energies just ran out because of a much longer season, as Aston Villa started much earlier than the other sides because of their qualifying matches, and comparatively small squad.

So the million dollar question is that will they be able to go just a little bit further in the approaching season? Truly, it will never be easy. Millions of fans of Manchester city are very hopeful to see the improvement; Tottenham, again, believe that this time they will be able to create some drama in the middle and Everton needs only a couple of players to build a world-class side.

But don't worry Villa's fans, villa surely has the potential. A mixture of current young attacking players - Agbonlahor, Young, Milner- and a few with strong work ethic can create much discomfort for the league's 'Establishment'. As long as their recognized manager can invest his funds wisely and Martin O'Neill continues his high-class work, it can be expected from Villa to show some good performance.

Villa Park is surely a good place to watch Aston Villa live in action; a lively atmosphere and the energetic spectators feel close to the clash. The villa spectators have got a side that is showing the signs of improvements. This side could be the nearest to that they have had since 1982.

By Rana Ateeq

Premier League Live

2011-10-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

For many years, the premium league of England was extensively recognized as the greatest soccer contest in the world and it was a dream for many people to watch the premiership football live. They not only have the utmost television deals to get the more revenue but also have the clubs with across- the-board brands. Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are few of them.

The clubs in premium league performed constantly well against European teams and thus would have a large number of supporters. These things naturally brought in more profits from merchandising and as well as from gate receipts. The clubs, with the collective economic rewards and the transmit rights started to attract better quality players from all around the world, consequently providing them more opportunities for improvement.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal have dominated the premium league in the last decade. These teams used to be the favorites for the title, with Liverpool considers as the fourth best for the title. Since the beginning of this elite kind of soccer, Manchester United is the club that has won the greatest number of tournaments, separating the era of Jose Mourinho who arrived to start a new track. Under the supervision of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United has been the undoubted masters of the soccer.

Public love to watch premiership football live, due to this many individuals and business men are now investing in it. Due to increasing economic investment by the other clubs could be a threat for the throttle-hold of these three clubs. The self adequacy and nourishment is still a debatable topic in the Premium League for the clubs like Portsmouth, but there is no stopping to the multimillionaire individual and businessmen to invest in the league. Investing in the soccer clubs has become a very profitable business now-a-days. Chelsea was the club who introduced the concept, when years ago, a Russian multimillionaire came to the town and provided his billions to Chelsea and put them on a way to success.

At the moment, the group of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester city and to a limited extent Aston Villa is up-lifting the markets in putting down their dare to the aged guard of the league. The most profligate of them is the Eastlands club who is spending millions of pounds hoping to put United out of the space in Manchester as well as in the world and to put themselves into the elite. As compared to the Manchester United, the Manchester City enjoys the more support locally, their accomplishments have paled by comparison. But the fans of Manchester city are much used to the stumbles of their team because it has become a habit of them. The strike of jokes and the self insulting nature of its fans also reflect this.

After taking over by a Middle East capitalist Sheikh Mansoor, Manchester City have shown a few bold declarations and now they are ready to snap up the high-class players from all over the world on massive transfer fees. So far their big highlight is to sign Carlos Tevez from their town contender united in a contentious move last season, as a result Argentinean were able to score 20 goals in the season. They are also consistently in the headings for placing gigantic bids for the good players from other football clubs. They are in a mood to pay enormous amounts to the best players in order to fabricate an unbeatable team so this will surely not be the last summer in which they will chuck money around. Their main target will surely be the next title of the English premium league and they are willing to back their dream with huge cash.

Although Tottenham Hotspur, commonly known as Spurs, do not have as much deep assets as the Manchester City is enjoying, but the owner of the club Joe Lewis still sponsor them generously. Because of the unavailability of gigantic funds they may not be in a position to catch the big names, but luckily they have an extra ordinary person named Harry Redknapp as their manager. He always tries to bring out the best in each player under his supervision. The focus of the club is to sign the most talented youngsters, who are actually the up-coming stars, from British as well as from European soccer. Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale are the results of their efforts, who are now booming at White Hart Lane. Under the administration of Redknapp they have shown the progress and especially they have overcome the dangerous mental obstacle they might be having. Their clash with Manchester City for the fourth position of the Champions League highlights their progress. In the past, the spurs were unable to figure out any biggest prizes in the English soccer despite of the fact that they are among the preeminently supported clubs of the country. Because of this, hey were considered as the poor neighbors of the Arsenal in the recent past.

Aston Villa surely never ranked amongst the top richest soccer clubs in the Premium League but still they always manage to make good deals from the players left behind by the rich clubs. In the name of Martin O'Neill they also got a coach who can build a side that is capable of performing well with their unity and teamwork. This philosophy brought them to the edge of Champions League soccer this season although they just fell short again. These circumstances could put the club into the dimness of obscurity or the reverse effect could happen. The owner of the club Randy Lerner is surely a fighter and O'Neil is nevertheless a striving person. In the summer, the club would hopefully get the funds and they would continue to sustain as one of the football clubs approaching the conventional order.

In the next season, the clashes of premier league will be much more interesting; those who will be able to watch premiership football live are extremely lucky. With Liverpool vanishing in the darkness due to the ongoing boardroom confusions and no short of upgrading in stock for Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal at the end of the season, there is the chance that a shift in the momentum could occur towards Spurs, Manchester city or even Villa if they maintain their foundation squad. Although many people in soccer believe that money cannot bring the overnight success, but it can at least revolve the sleeping monsters into dynamic ones. If these two clubs could be able to manage the headlines grasping transfers with the better results in the ground, no one will be there to say that after a few seasons there would be an extensively different team for the fourth position of the premium league.

By Rana Ateeq

NFC North Prediction - Green Bay Won't Make the Playoffs!

2011-10-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

1. Detroit looks good. Mathew Stafford, Ndamukong Suh, and Calvin Johnson lead an up-and-coming team. They are no longer a doormat, and we predict here that not only will they make the playoffs, they will win the NFC North Division outright.

We expect the Lions will split with Green Bay and Minnesota, and will lose to the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and San Diego Chargers. We expect they will have enough momentum to win all the other games on their schedule, which are in fact winnable. So the happy Detroit Lions fans will see an 11-5 record.

2. Yeah. The Packers won the Super Bowl. We predicted they would. Aaron Rodgers, Clay Mathews, Donald Driver, et.al. will naturally be expected to repeat.

But, the Super Bowl Winner almost never repeats, so we can assume something will go wrong. And if things go wrong, don't be surprised if the Green Bay Packers go 9-7 and miss the playoffs.

How can this happen? All that needs to happen is they lose to the Saints and the Falcons, split with the Lions and Vikings, and lose to the San Diego Chargers, all of which is in the realm of reasonable possibility. Then, they just need to lose two more games to highly motivated teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants, and the Packers will be 9-7.

Sorry, Green Bay. Life at the top is tough, and glory is short-lived.

3. The Minnesota Vikings are looking at matching the Packers at 9-7 and also missing the playoffs. Donavan McNabb and Adrian Peterson notwithstanding, the team just doesn't look like a winner. In September alone, look for them to go 0-3 against the Chargers, Bucs and Lions. And it will go downhill from there. They won't be able to beat the Falcons or Saints, and will split with the Lions and Packers, and just need to lose one more game to end at 9-7.

Of course they will be able to gloat over the misery of arch rival Green Bay.

4. We're going against conventional wisdom on the Bears. We think they are awful. We think they are so bad that they will be 1-15 and will win the Andrew Luck derby. They can beat the Denver Broncos in December, but they will lose to everyone else. Jay Cutler will be booed out of town. Lonnie Smith, who is a really nice guy, will be gone.

Get the latest Green Bay Packers news and fresh Green Bay Packers video on our site - http://sportadore.com

By James D. Silver

2011 Bolts Preview

2011-10-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

For those who have been reading these previews for the past few years this may seem like a broken record: The Bolts should win the Super Bowl this season. This year there are several good reasons for making such a claim. The 2010 Chargers finished last season as the number one team in both offense and defense. Despite those heady statistics the Bolts failed to win their division or even make the playoffs. Why? Because their special teams were NFL record type bad and cost them at least two or three games. Head coach Norv Turner and General Manager A.J. Smith deserve all the credit and blame for a forgetful 2010. Smith addressed this team's problems by acquiring some key veterans, drafting special team players, and by hiring several new coaches. If the Bolts can turn their special teams around, then they will win their division again and rejoin the post-season tournament.

BUILDING ON 2010

The NFL's number one offense (in yards) is led by Philip Rivers who is in his prime and considered one of the elite QBs in the league. If one compares his numbers to Peyton Manning's over the past two years Rivers has outperformed his rival and has a better passer rating. Despite injuries that forced him to throw to seventeen different receivers, Rivers still led all QBs in passing yardage in 2010. He probably has the tallest set of receivers to throw to that any quarterback ever enjoyed. If Jackson, Floyd, and Gates can stay healthy, Rivers might even crack the 5,000 yard plateau. Rivers was undefeated in December until last year and is hungry to return to the playoffs. He's a proven winner who has blossomed under Turner and is determined to win it all. I'm sure Turner would prefer Rivers not throw for 5,000+ yards and instead have a more balanced attack for defenses to worry about. After a good preseason second year running back Ryan Matthews looks poised to have his first 1,000 yard season. Injuries prevented him from breaking out last season so fullback Mike Tolbert was called upon to do his best impression of a tailback and he didn't disappoint. Both backs have surprising speed and a nose for the endzone. The same offensive line returns with capable backups so this unit will be scoring a lot of points this season.

The number one rating for the defense was something of a surprise considering that Smith got rid of two Pro Bowl players in Merriman and Cromarte. The secondary actually played better and the pass rush improved without those two. The Bolts were number one against the pass and better than average against the run. Now that two other teams in their division (KC and Oakland) are so good at running the ball the Bolts must improve against the run. The addition of Takeo Spikes and Bob Sanders should help improve the run defense as well as bring veterans leadership to this squad.

As good as the other two units were, the special teams were down right embarrassing last season. It seems that every week they gave up a kick return for a TD or had a punt blocked. As a result a new special teams coach was brought in. Rich Bisaccia, who did a good job in Tampa Bay, seems to have solved the nightmares of 2010. He has one of the best punters in the league in Scifres and Kaeding continues to be the NFL's most accurate kicker. If this unit can avoid mistakes and do it's job of winning the battle of field position, then the Bolts will be playing games in late January.

THE OFFENSE

The same cast returns from last year with the exception of Sproles who is now a Saint. The other backs will pick up the slack as Matthews, Tolbert, and Hester will be catching more screens and dump passes in 2011. Vincent Jackson was franchised so he's making about $10 million more this season than last so he's a happy camper. Floyd, who was allowed to test free agency, came back to bookend this skyscraper receiving corp. Patrick Crayton adds veteran experience while youngsters Goodman, Brown, and Walters bring speed to the mix. Antonio Gates began training camp in pain as his foot problems continue. This may be the most important foot in football as it supports a future Hall of Fame tight end who is also Rivers' favorite target. The biggest question will probably be: "Can he stay healthy long enough to contribute in the post-season?" Randy McMichael is an experienced backup and third stringer Kory Sperry has shown ability to get open. When Smith signed Jeromey Clary to return as the right tackle the GM might have overpaid him, but he maintained the continuity of an offensive line that boasts three Pro Bowl players (LT McNeill, LG Dielman, and center Hardwick). Louis Vasquez continues as the right guard while backups Green, Mruczkowski, and Dombrowski all have spot started in the past. Rivers is not only good, he's also durable. If he does get injured, then experienced backup Billy Volek will step in and get the job done. Matthews, who had such a disappointing 2010, seems primed to have a breakout year. Look for him to not only rush for over 1,000 yards, but also catch more passes as well. Tolbert will be counted on in short yardage situations to pick up the tough real estate. If this squad can cut down on fumbles and stupid penalties, then it should be the NFL's best offense again in 2011.

THE DEFENSE

Greg Manusky replaces Ron Rivera as the new defensive coordinator with the challenge to maintain this team's number one status. That lofty status last season as the number one yardage defense was a little deceptive since they were only number ten in scoring defense. However, they were the best pass defense in the league and tied for second in sacks. They were good against the run (number four), but inconsistent. AJ Smith made his number one draft pick a defensive end to help matters. Cory Liuget seems undersized for the position and has been blown off the line consistently in preseason. The Bolts may do better to have veteran Jacques Cesaire start and use Liuget as a designated pass rusher because he's relentless in his pursuit of quarterbacks. Antonio Garay emerged as the number one nose tackle and had a fine season. He returns as well as Luis Castillo at the other end. Vaughn Martin could break into the starting lineup at either end and Cam Thomas backs up Garay at nose tackle. In another move to help against the run Smith acquired 14 year veteran linebacker Takeo Spikes to play in the middle. Second year man Donald Butler will be a virtual rookie starting at the other middle spot. Butler missed all of 2010 with an injury and is sure to benefit form Spikes' experience. If Spikes gets hurt the Bolts have little experience to back him up because after veteran Ni'll Diggs there are only rookies Mouton and Gachkar left. This is undoubtedly the weakest link in the Chargers defense. The outside linebackers are led by Pro Bowler Shaun Phillips who was the Bolts best pass rusher in 2010. Who starts opposite him is anyone's guess as Travis LaBoy, Larry English, Antwan Barnes, and rookie Darryl Gamble all have a shot. My guess is that LaBoy will start with Barnes in on passing situations and English riding the bench nursing another injury. Smith also added a former Defensive Player of the Year in Bob Sanders. The ex-Colt hasn't played much in recent years due to injuries, but if he can play just half the schedule at strong safety he will add to this unit's toughness and experience. He teams up with free safety Eric Weddle to make one of the best safety tandums in the league. Quentin Jammer returns for a tenth season as one the the NFL's most consistent corners. He's joined by Antoine Cason at the other corner and Dante Hughes as the nickelback. Steve Gregory and Darrell Stuckey backup the safeties while rookies Marcus Gilchrist and Shareece Wright are in reserve at the corner spot. The defense may take a step back due to it's weakness at middle linebacker, but the secondary will hold up against the pass in the fourth quarter when opponents try to catch up to the Bolt's high scoring offense.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Last season the loss of Pro Bowlers Kassim Osgood and David Binn certainly hurt the special teams, but even their exit couldn't explain the wholesale collapse of this unit. New coach Rich Bisaccia certainly has his work cut out for him as he must mold a unit that will protect the punter better, smother kick returners, and open lanes for the Bolts' young returners to set up Rivers and company with good field position. It's not clear right now who the returners will be yet, but Walters, Goodman, and Crayton will all probably get a chance to return kickoffs with Cason as the main punt returner. Mike Windt replaces long time (17 years) long snapper David Binn and has big shoes to fill. He'll combine with Scifres as the holder and Keading doing placements as they attempt to continue Nate's record accuracy. If Scifres gets just average protection he should again be one of the NFL's top punters. Basaccia's boys will be under the microscope for the first few weeks of the season to see if they can avoid last season's mistakes and return this squad to being one of the NFL's best.

CONCLUSION

Many believe the Chargers are one of the best teams in the league, but have yet to prove they can succeed in the playoffs and get to the Super Bowl. The competition in the AFC is stiff as the Patriots, Steelers, and Colts have all won Super Bowls in recent years. One of the things Rivers is missing in his resume is a ring. After this season that will be corrected and the Bolts s will finally earn the name: SUPERCHARGERS.

By Tim Wayne

How to Catch a Football As a Wide Receiver

2011-10-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

The most important skill for wide receivers to possess aside from confidence is knowing how to catch a football. Don't not be mistaken, catching a football is not as easy as it may seem. If it were, there would be less defensive backs out there in the world of football - trust me.

Imagine, a bullet pass being thrown to you by Michael Vick at just a few yards out; Something "simple" suddenly becomes a bit more challenging and requires ample focus. If you aim to be an electrifying wide receivers with the ability to snag any ball out of the air on command, here are the fundamentals to catching a football you must first learn:
   1. Hand eye coordination
   2. Hand strength
   3. Focus
   4. Proper hand placement
   5. Tuck the ball in and protect it

Hand eye coordination is the foundation to learning how to catch a football and is simply the coordinated control of eye movement with hand movement, and the processing of visual input to guide reaching and grasping. In this case we're working on hand eye coordination to reach and successfully catch a football. The better a wide receiver is at looking-in the football with hand eye coordination, the better their chances are to catch a football thrown to them.

Improving your hand eye coordination isn't a complex task to conquer, but it does require ample focus which is the second key component to catching footballs. As we look back at the example of the bullet pass being thrown to you from a few yards out by Michael Vick, you should consider how focus will allow you to control your body and mind to focus on the football and see it into your hands. Your objective as a top wide receiver is to focus and lock your eyes on the football, take a deep breath and see the football into your hands. This step should be a constant with every ball thrown your way. Keep in mind you don't want to attack the football. You want to absorb the football into your hands and away from your body followed by a tight squeeze, which leads me to the next important aspect of a wide receivers ability to catch a football; hand strength.

In organized football the velocity on the ball is much more intense than it would be as you play catch with friends. Moreover, defenses are much more aggressive. In order to compensate for this, you need strong hands. This can be the difference between catching a football to make an important completion and not. You won't always be wide open on a route and you'll rarely ever have a ball thrown to you half speed so you need to be prepared to squeeze the football after any and all passes you catch. This will increase your stats and avoid big drops when a defender lays a hit on you or swipes at your arms and hands after a catch.

Proper hand placement is another important factor in knowing how to catch a football. Luckily this is one of the easiest aspects to adapt to due to natural limb positioning. When a football is thrown directly at you at or above your chest, you want to form your hands into a diamond. When a ball is thrown directly at you anywhere below your chest, you want to position your hands with your thumbs facing up and your fingers angled low towards the ground. Another important hand positioning for a wide receiver where you'll make the big game changing catches is when you're catching the deep ball.

You'll definitely want to incorporate every aspect of how to catch a football when the deep ball is thrown. When a deep ball is thrown over your shoulders you want to position your hands with your fingers spread wide open and the tips of your pinky-fingers overlapping. For the best grip on the ball when catching, aim to grab the end of the ball before the laces. This type of catch requires, strong hands, focus, and proper hand positioning even more so. Big plays equal big focus.

The last key to successfully catching a football is to tuck the football and protect it. After you have completed the steps mentioned above, the final step is to reel in the football and protect it. You don't want to take all of the proper steps and forget this one. This step is the difference between a thirty yard gain and a fumble. So ALWAYS, always, always, tuck and protect the football after every football catch.

To get you started at improving your football catching ability, I've listed a couple good exercises for hand eye coordination and hand strength below. Once you have mastered all of the key components mentioned above, you are sure to be on your way to being a top wide receiver.

Tennis Ball Drill For Hand Eye Coordination:

With a tennis ball you can do several wide receiver drills to improve your hand eye coordination as a wide receiver. This is a great drill that has helped me improve my hand eye coordination substantially.

For beginners, lightly bounce the ball on the ground. As the ball bounces up, look the ball into your hands and squeeze it. Make sure to focus on the ball all the way from its decent to its rise into your hands. Make sure to practice this drill with both hands. One you've gotten the hang of this exercise, increase the level of difficulty by bounce the ball harder and at different angles. Also, try throwing the ball off of a wall, challenging yourself to catch the ball at different points in the air and before it hits the ground all while focusing on the ball from the time of your release all the way back into your hands. After successfully mastering this drill alone, I'm certain that you will have more than 80% of what it takes to know how to catch a football.

Tennis Ball Drill For Hand Strength:

The Tennis Ball Squeeze - Using a tennis ball, simply squeeze and hold for up to 90-seconds. Train both hands with three sets each. This movement heavily targets the forearms. This drill is important because after you catch a football you will be squeezing it so it doesn't get away from you.

For more awesome training drills and tips to improve your football catching ability and to learn what it takes to be a top wide receiver, visit http://www.top-wide-receiver-training.com/how-to-catch-a-football.html

By E. Miller

Top Five NFL Teams 2011

2011-10-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

I think that the number five of the top NFL teams this year is the New Orleans Saints. Although the Saints were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs last year by arguably the worst team in NFL playoff history I think that with some key additions such as Mark Ingram and some very strong returning players from the 2009 Super Bowl team such as Drew Brees that the Saints have a good chance at making another Super Bowl run this year. Out of the top five NFL teams the Saints are the overall #5 and are the least likely to win out of the following teams.

4. At number four in the top NFL top five teams, I have the New England Patriots. Some people may argue that the patriots should be top three or even number one but I don't think that they have as strong of the team that they did when they won their three super Bowls. Also, the Patriots have lost three playoff games in a row. The two main acquisitions by the patriots this off-season were Chad Ochocinco, who by the way recently tried out for a soccer team which I think is kind of weird for a professional football player, The other key acquisition this off-season was Albert Haynesworth who took about five or six tries to complete his physical exam last year. The only reason that I even have the patriots in my top five is because they have arguably the greatest quarterbacks to ever live in Tom Brady.

3. The number three team in the top five NFL teams this year is the Green Bay Packers. At the beginning of the year if you asked me I would probably say that the Saints had a stronger team than the Packers, but after watching the game on Thursday night I think it is evident that the Packers have what it takes to make another Super Bowl run. They have a lot of returning players from last season most notably Aaron Rogers and of course Clay Matthews. Also, they have many other weapons like AJ Hawk and Greg Jennings, so I think that they have what it takes to make a strong playoff run and possibly even make another Super Bowl.

2. At number two in my countdown I would have to go with the Baltimore Ravens. Although they always struggle against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are not in this countdown but I think are very close number six, the ravens will finally get over the hump this year with help from their stars Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Joe Flacco. I think that last year in the AFC divisional playoffs the Ravens had the game and the bag but made a few costly mistakes that cost them the game. I just don't see that happening to them again this year. Out of the top five NFL teams the Ravens have a very good chance at winning this year.

1. The number one team in the NFL this year out of the top five NFL teams is the Philadelphia Eagles. They have the most athletic quarterback in the game in Michael Vick who can also hit his target on any long or check down pass. Also, they have probably the most athletic receiver in the game in DeSean Jackson, but the main reason that I think Eagles will be this year's NFL Super Bowl champion is because of the corner-backs Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers- Cromartie who I think are the two best corner-backs in all of football. Every time I tell someone that I think the Eagles will win the Super Bowl they say that Michael Vick will get injured. I just don't see him getting injured this year and even if he does they have a strong backup and Vince Young. Many people are calling this the dream team and I 100% agree with those people. I believe that the Eagles are definitely #1 of the top five NFL teams.

I think that it'll be very interesting to see how the NFL season unfolds, and in my opinion these are the top five teams this year. I did at the end everything thank you for reading thank you for reading another great post by Ryan Veguilla on the top five NFL teams this year. At the end of he long exciting season we will have many more posts related to the top five NFL teams.

Thank you very much for reading my latest post on the greatest sports website on the Internet. Please visit the sport report at http://the-sport-report.com/ for the latest updates and news on my blog.

By Raymond J Veguilla

Who Will Be in the 4 NCAA Super-Conferences? The West

2011-10-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

The SEC, PAC and Big 10 will clearly be the cores of 3 of the 4 upcoming NCAA Super-conferences. The Big East, ACC and Big 12 will make up the 4th.

For definitional purposes, let's assume the 4 Super-conferences each will have 16 teams and two divisions. There will be a playoff at the end of the year between the two division title holders. Then, the 4 Super-conference winners will have National Semi Finals games, and then there will be a National Final and (possibly) a Runner Up game (4 games). The net result will be that the nation's top 64 teams are involved in a playoff system that, most importantly of course, will make more money for the Universities then the current BCS system.

Plus, it will be hard to argue that the winner in this approach is not the national champion.

Let's do the easiest first and that is the West Super-conference, where the PAC -12 as the core:

There are three ways to split the division.
· North/South
· East/West
· Traditional Rivals in Opposite Divisions

Option 1: North/South

West Division A
California
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
Washington
Washington State
Colorado
Utah

West Division B

UCLA
USC
Texas
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State
Arizona
Arizona State

Option 2: East/West

West Division A
California
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
Washington
Washington State
UCLA
USC

West Division B

Texas (From Big 12)
Oklahoma (From Big 12)
Texas Tech (From Big 12)
Oklahoma State (From Big 12)
Arizona
Arizona State
Colorado
Utah

Option 3: Traditional Rivals in Opposite Divisions

West Division A
USC
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
Arizona
Washington
Oregon
Stanford
Colorado

West Division B

UCLA
Texas
Oklahoma State
Arizona State
Washington State
Oregon State
California
Utah

While the North/South and East/West variations tend to make scheduling easier, given the big money related to each game, the incremental cost of travel on a commercial airline is not that much. So, the West Super-conference is better off splitting along the lines that will make the most money, and this is to split in a way that leads to a possible traditional rivalry ending up in the Super-conference title game.

However, notwithstanding the fact that teams like USC and UCLA would not be in the same division of the West Super-conference, they would still play their traditional rivalry once per year, and it would count in their overall record for their division. In theory, then, one team could beat the other in the regular season game, and both could make the championship game. This would make for excitement, high ratings and profits.

Given the need to have 16 teams, it looks like Boise State is the big loser. However, it is possible that either Texas Tech or Oklahoma State will go elsewhere, in which case Boise State could squeeze in.

Get the latest NCAA news and predictions, explode college teams and players on Sportadore.com

By James D. Silver

Football Speed Drills to Help Improve Your Quickness

2011-10-18T21:24:00.000-07:00

Any football player knows that speed and quickness are key elements to being the best player you can be. The best way to increase your speed is by doing proven speed training drills that have been shown to increase speed and quickness. Below you will find several of the best football speed drills that you should be doing in your own training.

One of the best ways to increase your speed is by using a principal called "muscle overloading". To do this you need to make yourself run faster than you normally could. The easiest way to do this is by sprinting downhill. When you run downhill you are able to run faster than you normally could and you effectively overload your muscles.

The second way to do this is with assisted sprinting. For this drill you will need a partner and a bungee cord. You will want to attach the bungee cord around your partner's waist and also around your own. Then have your partner stand in front of you and have them take off in a sprint. Once the bungee cord becomes fully stretched you then begin sprinting. The bungee cord will pull you along as you are sprinting allowing you to run faster than you normally could and overload your muscles.

Another great speed training exercise is resistance sprinting. In these drills you create resistance which makes it harder for you to sprint. The easiest way to do this is with uphill running. Just find a hill or an incline and do several sprints up the incline.

You can also use a partner for these drills as well. Again use a bungee cord attached to yourself and your partner but this time you sprint ahead of your partner will they provide resistance making it harder for you to sprint.

Lastly, you can use a speed parachute to provide resistance. Attach the speed parachute to your waist and complete several sprints. The parachute will provide ample resistance to get the desired effect. If you do not have a speed parachute you can also attached an old tire to a rope and then tie the rope around your waist. Do several sprints dragging the tire for resistance.

If you are looking to increase your football quickness and speed then these simple exercises detailed here are a great place to start. Do these speed drills once or twice a week while also doing weight lifting and you will be on your way to becoming a faster and quicker athlete.

If you want to learn more drills and workouts you can do to increase your speed and quickness then take a look at our speed workouts for football as they will help you become faster and quicker on the field.

No matter what sport you play it is critical be become faster and quicker to be the best player you can be. To do this you need to be training properly and doing the correct exercises and drills. Take a look at our speed and quickness training workouts to learn what are the best drills that you should be incorporating into your own training to become faster and more explosive.

By Jonathan Grimes

Jason Witten Biography - Early Years

2011-10-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

American Football player and Cowboys tight end Jason Witten was born in Elizabethton, Tennessee on May 6, 1982. That makes him a Taurus. The 6' 5" tall, 262 lbs # 82 Dallas Cowboys tight end has captured the hearts of many fans, especially those in Dallas. Jason Witten's career in football has been a bright and fast one.

Witten lives in Southlake, Texas, is married to an emergency room nurse, named Michele, and has two sons, and is a proud owner of a dog named Tink. Jason's charity work is well known and recently he launched a program to help families and kids who are affected by domestic violence. The foundation is named the Jason Witten SCORE Foundation. His extensive charity work is the reason he was recognized for the NFL's Walter's Payton Man of the Year (2007) and also for winning the Home Depot award of Neighborhood MVP. He has received many other honors due to his charity work.

Jason Witten's bright performance on the football field dates back to his high school years at the Elizabethton High School where he was a linebacker and tight end. Witten shined as one of the most prolific football players in high school. Jason Witten's college years were spent at the University of Tennessee. As many would have guessed, his college football years were stellar. During that time, Witten managed to chalk up many records after switching from a respectible defensive prospect to a offensive tight end. He established records for receiving yards (493) and receptions (39). His accomplishments allowed him to leave his senior year and enter the NFL Draft in 2003. From there his career skyrocketed and his reputation continues to shine on and off the field.

Looking at back at his early years, Witten's hometown was Elizabethton (a town that is located between Bristol and Johnson City in Tennessee), he was raised by his mother's parents from the early age of 11, when he came to live with them after his parents divorced. Jason Witten had a tough childhood prior to moving in with his grandparents. His parents had problems with various arrests and there was violence in the home. His parents are both still living, although they do not appear to play a significant role in Witten's life.

Dave Rider is Jason's grandfather, a football coach for many years, was a major influence in Jason Witten's football career. Elizabethon high school named their stadium after Dave Rider and is still named Dave Rider stadium.

In high school, Jason Witten was named the Tennessee Player of the Year by USA Today. He was given other honors such as East Tennessee Player of the Year, Mr. Football Runner-Up (by the associated press) and Region Defensive Player of the Year. Witten was a starter during all four years of high school and helped take his team to the state semi-finals in three different occasions.

Today he is one of the most respected players in the NFL. Jason Witten is regarded as a sincere family man, with a down to earth personality and a great influence on our youth.

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By Alison Love

Be a Winning Punter With These Football Tips

2011-10-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

Football enjoys a huge following in the U.K. and avid followers who have developed a liking for football betting have discovered that there are a lot of choices when it comes to domestic games. Ever wondered how successful punters do it? If you are interested in football betting but don't know how to go about it, this article will provide you several football tips to jumpstart your quest.

Betting on any sport is not easy. It is important that you are knowledgeable about the game, in this case football (soccer). You have to do research on all the teams and their respective players, their play patterns, previous game results, etc. Knowing how to play the game is an added advantage.

Learning about the teams playing in upcoming games is critical since you also need to know their lineups. Are their key players injured? Being aware of a team's play patterns will also be a good indicator how a team will fare against an opposing team. Do they have a bad record against these opponents? Do matches between these two usually end in high scoring games? These are just a few factors to consider before making your soccer picks.

Most punters do not have the time to do this, hence the popularity of football tips, whether from the internet or from magazines and newspapers. Free football tips can give you a lot of fun, but do not expect to make longterm profits from them.

If you have the time, have a clear strategy by doing research and statistical analysis. Pundits work around well-planned strategies. They do not just rely on sure-win tips that some people may tell them. They do not act on hunches either. Instead they research the match, trying to find an angle that has been overlooked by the majority.

It will help you a lot if you maintain a betting log sheet. This will simply document all the bets that you have made. This log sheet will also help you identify the type of bets that win and also pinpoint bets that frequently lose. Being systematic is the key to being successful. Losing is really bad but what makes it worse is that most punters do not analyse their losses. Knowing why you lost is the key to finding how you can bounce back with a win.

Gambling is taking chances. If you bet and you lose, it is natural to get disappointed. However, you need to realize that you will not always win and you will not always lose. In betting, you will lose some and you will win some. Successful punters have no room for feelings of disappointment. Losing is part of the game, what you can do is accept the loss, analyse why it happened, and then bounce back.

To conclude, if you want to make more winning bets, make sure to read, to listen, and to discuss every aspect of the football match. Read everything that is written about the teams you are considering a bet on. Listen to the expert's analysis of game results and team performance. Discuss your views with other punters. These are the most important football tips you can ever get.

One of my final football tips is to improve your football results by visiting football betting champion.com

By Howarth Freeman

Football Betting Tips That Will Give You the Profitable Edge

2011-10-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

As the world of football takes the sports betting field by storm, so do the different football betting tips that proliferate the market. What most betters do not know is that blindly subscribing to these tips will not do anyone any good. Granted that there are good betting tips in the market, one would have to practice a high level of cunning in order to find them and to use them. Fortunately, there are certain categories that one may use in order to make this task much simpler and, ultimately, more financially profitable.

First and foremost, try your best to stick to betting tips that will not coerce you to bet a big amount of money on a single bet. After all, you will have better chances of winning if you separate your bets among a number of choices. If done right, betting on football can be relatively harmless yet ultimately profitable. You just have to know how much you should be betting on a particular team, and how much you stand to gain from doing so. There are different tips in the area that will guide you to do this, but not all of them are bound to be effective.

When choosing among the various football betting tips that you may use, check the past history of the tipster. If you want make a decent amount of money off of betting on football games, it is important that you look for someone who has been around for a while and making regular profits. Doing this will not only help you win long term, but will give you the confidence to see it through when the bad times come. And bad times WILL come, as all football tipsters suffer dips in form.

Finally, make sure that you set your own criteria and limits in placing your football bets. While the football betting tips that you get may actually help you increase your chances of winning, you need to set your own limits in order to keep winning. If you are betting with more money than you can afford to lose, you will make bad decisions, leave out some tips and double up on others. This can exacerbate the problem, and very soon you can find yourself on a downward spiral.

If you are paying a tipster to find you football tips, surely it must make sense to follow all the tips. That way you can be assured that when the good times return, you will not miss any winners.

I have been a football fan since the age of 8 and I suggest you follow this link to discover exclusive football betting tips made by an expert in his field.

By Edwin Barrington

Discover the Secret Football Betting Systems

2011-10-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

Quite often you see football betting systems advertised as winning 90% of the bets that they suggest. Usually this high strike rate is achieved by looking at the results in a selective period. Lets look at an example:

A football betting system wins 10 from 11 bets in January, 9 from 11 bets in February, 3 from 12 bets in March and 2 from 14 in April. All up it wins 24 from 48 bets over the 4 months. However the system is marketed using only the results for January and February, and thus the seller can claim 19 winners from 22 picks.

Armed with this knowledge, you should demand that a system be provided with at least 2 years results. However even systems with 2 years of winning picks fail one they hit the market. The reason for this is simple - what was once a closely guarded secret is now out in the open, being used by hundred, if not thousands of bettors. Any value that existed before publication, has disappeared.

Does this mean that football systems will never work? Does this mean that you are doomed for failure in your quest for football profits? The answer is Yes - if you continue to buy the systems being peddled on the open market.

However there is a type of football system that can make you a profit. This football betting system has been highly researched, and hidden trends found that can be exploited. However the creator realises that if this is released to the public, it will soon stop making a profit.

So instead of selling the system to thousands, the picks highlighted by the system are made accessible to a small group of people. These systems can be hard to find, and the groups that use them can be hard to break into. However they are they only way you will make a profit from football betting systems.

So the next time you see football betting systems for sale, don't be tempted. They will not generate long term profits. Be warned that some of these systems can be quite expensive, and come with a promise that only limited copies of the system will be sold. You should take this with a pinch of salt, as there is no one and nothing to stop the creator selling 10 times the promised amount of copies.

Finally, remember if the football system is really good, why would the creator want to sell it? Its just not logical.

To discover the secret football betting system being used by a small group of people to improve their football betting skills, visit footballbettingchampion com.

By Paul Cool

The Thrills and History of Stock Car Racing

2011-10-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

NASCAR racing activities are extremely lively and thrilling. This racing is not exclusively about cars as it is also an occurrence designated with vibrant scenes and deafening sounds of cheering fans and fast paced cars. It is stunning to see individuals of diverse ethnicity screaming and yelling for their various drivers yet finding unity among other fans. There exists an air of aliveness and resonance throughout various locations as thousands of crazed fans feel right at home for each racing adventure. The merchandise and items marketed during NASCAR races are furthermore fine gift ideas which can be presented on any occasion. They also assist as amazing souvenirs with pictures of drivers' faces imprinted upon T-shirts or sweatshirts. There is a gush of fear and exhilaration in every contest. The joy of seeing a NASCAR race is getting fueled all the more by the enthusiasm of watching cars race past each other with extreme risk.

Auto racing is a exciting sports activities game. It is becoming one of the hottest sports currently seen by millions of enthusiasts from over 100 countries. It ranks next to the NFL as far as television ratings in the US and 80 million racing fans will pay over a billion dollars for licensed products.

The idea of NASCAR came about when a man named Bill France Sr. had a fascination with the automobile and how it moved and performed. During his teen years, Bill would skip school, steal the family Model-T Ford and drive very fast. He ended up in Daytona Beach, Florida for the world record automobile trials. These trials on the beach originated in 1902 and really gained popularity by 1930. He participated in and ran various races until the war halted the races in 1941. Mr. France had the first idea of an organization that would govern and promote races and bring technical uniformity to racing and also agree on a set of standard rules. Additionally, there would be a race champion at the end of the season who captured the most overall points. The first National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing meeting was held on December 12, 1947, in Daytona Beach, Florida. France assembled a group of drivers, mechanics and promoters to officially begin regulating stock car racing.

With the end of the war, the large car makers turned their production from tanks and Jeeps to Fords, Chevys and Buicks knowing people would return to purchasing cars, and these cars would be featured in the races.

By Kate Lyn Williams

Mille Miglia - The Romantic Soul of Italian Motor Sport

2011-10-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

The Mille Miglia car race is a part of the romance of motoring history not only in Italy where the race took place but everywhere in the world where there are people who think that cars can be more interesting than mere transportation. It encapsulates the passions of an era when cars were allowed to be exciting and racing on ordinary roads was free to stir the spirit.

The Mille Miglia was conceived as an open road race, that is, it was held on ordinary roads through the villages and countryside of Italy. The spectators felt that they were an integral and important part of the event as they watched beautiful machines going at the fastest possible speeds through their own villages, past their own front doors and down their familiar lanes. The Mille Miglia brought together the Italian people, the Italian scenery and the legendary cars that took part into one memorable event.

The first Italian Grand prix race was held near the city of Brescia, in northern Italy, in 1922 but the Royal Automobile Club of Italy decided to move it to a circuit near Milan. This decision enraged the motor racing enthusiasts of Brescia who retaliated by thinking up an alternative event that would be at least as noteworthy. They wanted an event that would support the Italian motor industry by taking the cars to the people by running the race on ordinary roads and by demonstrating the durability and reliability of the products through holding a long-distance race that would be a test of endurance as well as speed.

There were a number of people who were involved but the main movers and shakers were "the four musketeers" Franco Mazotti, Count Aymo Maggi di Gradella, Renzo Castagneto and Giovani Canestrini. The race was to cover a large area of Italy and would follow a route that went from Brescia to Milan and back to Brescia by a different way, a distance of about 1600 kilometres. When they came to choose the name, one of them pointed out that the distance was approximately 1,000 miles and though Italians customarily used the kilometre as their unit of measurement the Romans used the mile. They felt that by naming the race the "Mille Miglia" they would be invoking the ancient traditions of Rome which was a popular sentiment among the people involved many of whom who were supporters of Mussolini's Fascist party which often referred to the glories of Italy in the Roman period.

Fortunately, among the first organisers there was a lot of expertise and useful experience so the first Mille Miglia event, which took place in 1927, was a great success and attracted a lot of attention. There were only three entries from outside Italy but the event succeeded in its aim of publicising Italian car manufacturers. The race was so successful that Mussolini himself ordered that it should take place annually.

From 1928 to 1938 the race was held very year and it was one of the spectacular world annual motor racing events, which like the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Targa Florio and the Carrera Panamericana, helped established the great names of the grand touring car manufacturers like Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar and Aston Martin in the public mind. These pre-war years were beset by difficulties though. The world economic crash of 1929 affected many of the participating teams and sanctions imposed on Italy after Mussolini's decision to occupy Ethiopia in 1936 led to a severe shortage of petrol and tyres. However, the Mille Miglia grew as a motoring legend with such stories attached to it as the story of Tazio Nuvolari's win in 1930. Nuvolari was driving at night behind the leader and kept his lights turned off for a long distance so that his opponent, Varzi, would not see him coming. He only turned them on again once he had overtaken Varzi and went on to win.

The race being an open road race where the racing cars mixed with the everyday traffic always had always been a safety concern from its very first days. In the 1938 race tragedy struck. A car left the road in Bologna killing ten spectators, seven of whom were children. Mussolini intervened immediately banning the race from ever taking place again.

However, the spirit of the Mille Miglia was too powerful and Mussolini revived it once again in 1940 after the outbreak of World War Two as a propaganda tool in a hollow attempt to show the world that despite the war, life continued as usual in Italy. The race was not held on open roads but a circuit of public roads which had been closed for the occasion and the competitors completed nine circuits of the course. Most of the cars were entered by Italian teams but a few French and German participants were there. The Italians found themselves completely outclassed by the BMW entries from Germany. A BMW won the race and its team mate came third. It was alleged that the second BMW had slowed down on orders from Berlin so that the Italians would not be completely humiliated by their war allies.

After the end of the war, the new democratic government was eager to show that they could run things at least as well as the Fascists and revived the Mille Miglia once again in 1947 thus allowing the event to outgrow the political taint of its origins. It was a problematic undertaking at first because Italian roads and bridges were in a very poor state as a result of the war and there were even bandits at large in the mountains who would attack road traffic. Despite these early difficulties, the race quickly became popular once again attracting international entries.

In 1949 a novel way of numbering the cars in the race was introduced. The smaller engined, slower cars began first leaving Brescia at one minute intervals from nine in the evening. Cars would be leaving all through the night until the most powerful ones would be leaving the following morning. The car's number was the time it left Brescia so, for example, a car leaving at 7:22 am would have the number 722 and one leaving at 10:30 the previous evening would have the number 1030. This system made it easy for spectators to see how well the cars were doing in the race.

The Mille Miglia and other racing events helped to stimulate a new confidence in the Italian motor industry after the war. Not only were the mainstream manufacturers there with a strong presence but there were also a host of tiny sports car manufacturers often affectionately known as the 'etceterinis' These small manufacturers built small sports cars mostly from Fiat components and managed to make them exciting machines which had their following not only in Italy but also in the United States. Among the more substantial of these marques were OM who went back to the early days of the Mille Miglia and Cisitalia whose 202 model styled by the great Milanese car designer, Pnin Farina, was hailed as the very cutting edge of car design when it appeared in 1947 and was exhibited at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Other smaller firms such as OSCA and Stanguellini were also staffed by real enthusiasts who made wonderful little machines. Abarth began as one of the etceterini companies before it was swallowed by Fiat and turned into their in-house high performance department.

The Mille Miglia was always an open road race with the participants undertaking not to break any of the Italian rules of the public road though it was always hard to see how they could take part in a race without doing so. It was not until 1953 that the whole of the route was closed to public traffic while the race was taking place. Memories of the dreadful crash of 1938 were swept under the carpet but tragedy struck again in 1957. A Ferrari driven by the Spanish driver Alfonso de Portago left the road in the village of Guidizzola near Mantua killing the driver, co-driver and nine spectators including five children. This time common sense intervened and the government banned all racing on public roads.

Though the glory days were over the Mille Miglia would not go away. In the years 1958, 1959 and 1961 the organisers ran a Mille Miglia Rally as a kind of endurance test with cars keeping to the speed limits and other rules of the road in between trial stages. The public did not respond to this way of doing things which was seen as rather unexciting and they lost interest.

Still the Mille Miglia was a strong memory in Italian culture and it was revived once again in 1977 as a classic car rally limited to cars made in the period when it was a full-blown race, that is, between 1927 and 1957. This even has many participants from all over the world and the cavalcade of hundreds of impressive classic cars is, in it s own way, as stirring a sight as was the original race. It is now, perhaps, more about entertainment and tourism than it is about motor racing but it shows that the motor car can still be a thing of beauty and capture the imagination just as it did in earlier times.

By Peter RA Atkinson

Facts for Formula 1 Lovers

2011-10-11T21:06:00.000-07:00

Speeding on paved roads through some of the most exciting and beautiful cities in the world are Formula One race cars competing for victory. The races typically take place on winding city streets and are referred to as F1 circuits such as Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo. The races are both attended and seen on TV by people from all over the world. Formula One racing, considered by many people to be the most dangerous and difficult type of racing, requires top-notch athletic drivers, aerodynamic vehicles, an expert team to assist the driver, and lots of money.

The Vehicles
Formula One vehicles, created specifically for top speed, are single-seat, open cars with front and rear wings. The driver can actually manipulate the front wings during a race. The aerodynamics of the cars help drivers to reach speeds as great as 229.8 mph. This particular speed was registered by BMW Williams F1 team member Antonio Pizzonia during the Italian Grand Prix 2004. Two well-known manufacturers of F1 cars who build the entire vehicle are Ferrari and Renault. Independent manufacturers such as McLaren and Williams need to purchase their engines from another company. Popular suppliers of engines include both Mercedes and BMW. The manufacturers can win the coveted Constructors' Championship by basically having their cars win or finish in top positions in most races. The cars which race during the particular season are assigned points that reflect their finishing position. The points are totaled at the end of the season and the manufacturer with the most points wins.

The Drivers
Not just anyone can be a Formula One driver. The drivers of these mighty cars must be extremely fit both mentally and physically. Cornering forces of up to a sustained 3.5 g require the driver to be extremely strong in order to last the entire race. The speed at which the vehicles travel and the fact that the tracks are not always the same shape require the driver's complete concentration at all times. Both stamina and endurance are necessary for the drivers to compete in as many races as possible and in order for them to withstand the extreme heat which consumes the cockpits. According to Formula1.com, drivers can sweat as much as 3 kg (or approximately 6.6 lbs.) of their weight off during a race.

Formula One Grand Prixs exist all over the globe. They have been in existence for many years. The Grand Prix de Monaco was first held in April of 1929. The most recent race in Monaco occurred on May 26, 28 and 29 in 2011. The circuit consists of 77 laps, and the spectators always relish the opportunity to get closer to the cars racing than in most other Grand Prixs. Singapore held its first F1 Grand Prix in September 2008, and it was the first Grand Prix to ever take place at night. In 2011 the Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix will be held on September 23, 24 and 25th. It's the Marina Bay Street Circuit and it consists of 61 laps. The more Grand Prixs a driver competes in the better his chances for success as well as the success of his team. The Grand Prixs eventually lead to competing for the World Championship prize.

By Cecelia Owens

Has The Bahrain Grand Prix Reignited The Sports Vs Politics Debate?

2011-10-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix was originally scheduled to open the season on March 13th, but was called off. In early June it was reinstated and then called off again. Has this incident reignited the debate about the relationship between sport and politics? This article digs into that question...

In the world of Formula 1 racing, the very arena of this subject, I think the answer is no, probably not.

Bahrain has never been a shining example of human rights, let's face it, and no-one had any qualms about racing there before. The original decision to cancel this year's race was based on the safety of the teams, rather than any stand against the regime which has used armed force against protesters.

Then, when it was reinstated, words like 'reconciliation' and 'harmony' were used. Little mention again of the protesters, with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone going out of his way to say it had nothing to do with the millions the sport would lose by not staging the race.

The race was then taken back off the schedule after the teams did not agree. Their main reason for complaint though, was the resulting loss of their December holiday rather than continuing concern over the unrest in the country.

Red Bull driver Mark Webber has been fairly loud in voicing his 'discomfort' about the race, but that's about it from inside the sport.

The most famous example of sport entering the world of politics and human rights was South Africa. Various non sporting boycotts and sanctions placed on the South African apartheid regime put pressure on the world of sport.

Various sporting bodies introduced their own boycotts, and South Africa was expelled from both FIFA and the IOC. It was only after the ending of the apartheid system that these boycotts were lifted.

It could well be suspected that money talks in the modern world, maybe more than it ever did, and you only have to go back a few years to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Chinese government made it abundantly clear that it did not expect to be grilled over its human rights record during the games, and in fact journalists were told in no uncertain terms that if they asked any such questions, they would be barred from further press events.

With the Chinese economy overtaking Japan in 2011 to become the 2nd largest in the world, it's an easy question to ask whether the threat of economic reprisals hung over the event.

Yes, I think it's clear that they would.. The communist government has never been afraid to flex its muscle on the economic stage, and that was more important to the IOC and other governments than the human rights of a country staging the Olympics.

I can see the arguments both ways in this age old debate...

On the one side, there is a case that sports people should be allowed to compete in that arena, sport, with no importance attached to their government's policies. After all, if someone is the best in the world at their sport, and they have no control over their government's decisions, then why should they be punished?

On the other side, it's precisely that isolation and punishment which has the aim of influencing a government, and the will of its' people, to change policy.

Whichever side of the fence you are on, I suspect in this day and age, taking the high moral ground will appeal when there is little threat of financial repercussions. If there are potentially huge financial implications involved, then the blind eye will continue to be turned.

It looks like the Bahrain Grand Prix 2011 debate is over - the race is not on. The more general sports versus politics debate? That will rumble on I'm sure.

By Gordon Bryan

Driving Experiences - An Opportunity That Every Person Want To Avail

2011-10-09T21:02:00.000-07:00

Every man has some adventurous nature; however in cases this characteristic become severe and in some cases remains normal. People, who have lots of excitement in their behavior, always want to do something new and thrilling. Actually, they do not want only admiration from people around them; their actual aim behind finding some adventurous activity is nothing, but sake of their extreme natural desire. Driving experiences are the no doubt, the best examples of such highly excited and thrilling activities, which adventurous mind people want to avail at any cost. In fact, a man who is not driver cannot imagine the level of enthusiasm and pleasure, which a driver feels while driving.

It is not compulsory always those only professional drivers can enjoy the thrilling driving experiences alone. If, you are driving your car in routine life, you can also feel that same pleasure and thrill, which only professional drivers feel. Today, a large number of options are available in different countries of the world, which offer wonderful driving experience not only to professionals but to non-experienced as well. You have often heard the names of various car racing competitions and if you have ever watched any one, you will surely like to do that just because of truly amazing thrill behind any car racing. In this regard, Formula One car racing, super car racing and rally car racing are the most significant events.

If we talk about Formula One car racing, then you can also get the chance to drive this single seat racing car. Among all other driving experiences, this option could be the best for you if you really want to drive fast, but alone as well. Don't worry at all, you can not only get the tuition from well-experienced instructors, but can get the knowledge about rules of driving Formula One car and tricks to avoid accidents. If you will search on internet, you will find a lot of options, most probably in your own area, which provide you the chance of driving Formula one car even at very economical price range. If you are thinking about presenting a gift to your loved one, who is crazy about doing some adventurous task, you can offer him the driving experience of Formula One car.

Super car racing involves driving experiences of some internationally recognized fastest cars like Ferraris, Aston Martins and Porsches. You will never forget the peak of excitement and adventure, once you will drive any one car among these. Another startling opportunity in car racing is rally car racing. This type of car racing is much different than all other types of racing. In this game, you remain not only just on the same surface always. It means, your track could be muddy, carpeted road, and zigzag track as well just in a single drive. This is undoubtedly, a flawless option of driving cars and you will always remember this amazing experience during your whole life.

By Sirangi Kalpana

Magical Moments of Driving V8 Supercars

2011-10-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

V8 Supercar driving experience can be great and people love to drive such race cars. The desire to drive these kinds of race cars is on the rise and even women are developing a passion to drive these cars. Watching a racing session would be exciting but how would feel to be in the driver's seat on the day of racing? Is it not exciting? Can you imagine to be on the hot seat and to take out a car to have a total spin at about 165 MPH? Is it possible? Well it is possible to drive these cars even though you are not an expert driver. There are so many driving schools which can give you a golden opportunity to drive these cars.

Very good birthday present

A discount coupon to drive these cars will make a perfect birthday gift to your boy friend or father or colleague. These fast cars and the energized fans will make you go crazy on the racing event. V8 super car racing is one of the popular motor races in most parts of the world. The racing experience might differ according to the package selected. You can select the number of laps required and there will be several other competitors to compete with you on the race day. There will be prior training classes where you can learn the basics of race driving.

The hot seat

The racing event might push up the adrenalin level of the individuals. It is such a rare moment in life and not all will have the opportunity to drive through the tracks in which the famous racers have driven. To start with, the final countdown will give you scary thoughts about the laps that you are going to have. These final few seconds will have a toll on your shoulders. You need not worry about the pressure handling situation as you will have an instructor near you. The green light is on and it's time to race against the time. If you are an expert driver, you have got greater chances to edge over the other drivers easily.

The first few minutes of the start of the race will be very crucial. You can actually hit against other cars in the first few minutes and people might panic at the start of the race. Do not lose your concentration and drive carefully. After the initial few laps, you will get comfortable in the tracks and you will start feeling an expert driver. Do not hesitate to drive faster if you have the guts and wish to face challenges. It will be a unique experience which you can never forget in the life.

The driving experiences of a race car will be highly valuable. There are many schools offering these kinds of driving at affordable cost. If you want to present a unique gift item, it is highly preferred to buy these kinds of discount vouchers and present.

By Sirangi Kalpana

How to Build Your Own Racing Car

2011-10-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

There is a growing market for build-it-yourself racing cars, particularly those which mimic the lightweight Lotus 7-type cars of the 1950s and early 1960s. The market has opened up further in recent years, catering for all sizes of wallet - and ambition - ranging from the GBP£250-budget 'Locost' to GBP£50,000+ Jaguar C and D-type replica racers, and plenty in between.

If you are interested in taking the plunge into the DIY-race car world, there are a few things to consider before your wallet need get involved. Firstly, you will need to consider the various classes of race car, the makes and models that are eligible for with competition, and the dozens of kit car producers who are ready to take your hard-earned money. Some questions to consider for example would include whether or not you intend to use the car for road use, or whether the car is a race-only machine - or, indeed, both.

Once you have settled on a class, make and model of kit race car, you will also want to consider which specific kit specification suits your skills set (and, in most cases, wallet). Most kits are available in built, half built, or component form, with prices matched accordingly. Half built cars, for example, are priced at considerably higher levels than the more basic component form kits, which arrive literally as a box of bits. At this stage, you'll need to balance the increasing cost against the reduced build time and skills requirement. At this stage, it will probably be a good idea to speak to the race series organisers or, at the very least, the car's owners club, about the relative pros and cons of the particular model and specification you are considering.

With the kit ordered, your next task will be to source a suitable donor vehicle. The donor vehicle acts as a 'parts bin' for many of the more mundane components (such as the wiring loom, gearbox, wheels, and so on) which can be expensive and quite time consuming to source brand-new. As a general rule, a good quality donor vehicle will significantly aid the completion of a good quality racing car, so make sure the parts you intend to salvage are of good quality.

With the kit now in your possession, it is time to commence assembly of the car. This will require much patience, so be sure to get a good quality race car handbook before picking up the spanners.

Once the build process has been carried out, you'll need to have the car tested by the SVA if you wish to drive it on the road. If the car passes the test (which is, to all intents, a super-detailed MOT) your car will be issued with all the paperwork needed for it to be road-legal. With adequate insurance in place, it is now time to take the car out on the road - enjoy.

The final task will be to source and install the racing accessories needed to compete. These will typically include a plumbed-in racing fire extinguisher and battery cut-off switches for the car, in addition to race suits, racing helmets and racing boots for the driver(s). You'll need to consult either your race organisers or the MSA for a full list of mandatory safety accessories here, but it is always advisable to speak to both.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company supplying quality racing helmets, quality racing suits and other accessories. Check our our website now or call us on 01327 858349 today!

By Richard Harwood

Karting - Tops Tips for Beginners

2011-10-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in starting out in motor sport, but have been put off by the prohibitive cost of the equipment, licenses and entry fees - let alone the actual cars - then you might want to consider go kart racing. Karting at an amateur level is relatively expensive when compared to the vast majority of car racing and, if care and attention are applied, a entry to one of the junior karting series need not cost the earth.

Further, many entrants - particularly karting's younger participants - view the sport as a stepping stone towards the more senior types of opened-wheeled motor racing, such as the world-famous Formula Ford series - indeed many of today's F1 drivers can trace their careers back to humble beginnings behind the wheel of a go-kart. Karting teach it's competitors a huge amount about how race cars are designed, built, and prepared, not to mention the advanced driving skills which the competitor will develop over time too.

Sound like you might enjoy getting involved? Great - here are a few things you ought to start considering on your road to competing in that first race. The first thing you'll need to look at is which form of kart racing you wish to compete in - this is because as with single seat, open wheeled track racing, there are a huge number of classes and categories to choose from. Despite the temptation to jump into the more powerful leagues straight away, it is usually worth spending some time in the junior karting formulas so that you can learn the basic driving skills and disciplines right from the beginning. If you are particularly ambitious though, and really don't want to hang around in the junior formulas for too long, it might be worth looking at purchasing a used junior-spec kart to begin with - before purchasing a brand-new pro-spec kart for your desired racing series, once you are ready. Whatever your preference, always try not to bite off more than you can chew. A basic kart should set you back no more than £300-£350 on the second hand market, although expect to pay five or even ten times that later on if you want to upgrade to a more professional machine.

There are also a few safety considerations which are well worth thinking about before taking the plunge. Because of the relatively low speeds, karting is inaccurately seen as being a safe form of racing. You should bear in mind however that all forms of motorsport, regardless of engine size or speed, carry risks. Although the speeds are lower, collisions can, do, and will happen - and because of this, it is vital that you are adequately protected. As an absolute minimum, you'll need to look at purchasing a karting suit, a karting helmet and a pair of racing gloves. Together, these could set you back more than the kart - but their price is easily justified. Remember that no matter how good you are, accidents are part-and-parcel of motor racing. Lastly, consider also that you'll need to budget for spares, fuel and tyres. Expect to pay out £250 for these all-important parts, but with these and the racing accessories to hand, you're ready to race - enjoy!

Mode Racewear is a leading supplier of racing seats, race bucket seats and racing harnesses, and stocks a range of racing seats by Sparco, Corbeau, Cobra and Recaro.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company, supplying quality karting suits and other racing accessories such as karting boots, check our our website now or call us on 01327 858349 today!

By Richard Harwood

Racing Helmets - How to Choose the Right One for You

2011-10-05T17:14:00.000-07:00

Racing helmet design has come a long way since their initial development during the early twentieth century. Long gone are the days of the open-faced tin helmets which were used during the early post-war era - instead, today's racing helmets provide levels of protection which were simply unimaginable back in motor racing's glory days of the 1950's and early 1960's. These developments have come hand-in-hand with developments in comfort, aesthetics and style - all of which mean that today, there are a huge number of things to consider when it comes to buying a race helmet. Below, we discuss a few of the key areas for thought.

Firstly, you will need to consider the overall safety levels provided by your helmet. The FIA (Federation Internationale de l'Automobile) approve different helmet designs according to their specific levels of protection in crash situations. As a rough guide, SA-rated helmets have been approved for all types of motorsport racing, whether on two or four wheels (this differs from M-rated helmets, which are graded for motorbike racing only, and do not stand up so well during intense fires).

You will also need to decide on either a full or open face helmet. Clearly, open face helmets will provide less protection to the face itself - but they are undeniably more comfortable for the driver, and in many cases, offer improved visibility for the driver. Ultimately, this choice will come down to personal preference, but it may be worth bearing in mind that most professional series restrict the use of open-faced helmets, forcing drivers to adopt full-face helmets with their superior protection levels.

Next, you will need to consider the material from which your new helmet will be made. There are quite a few options here. and several for each price bracket, but as a general rule, a fibreglass racing helmet will be considerably cheaper than any carbon equivalent. Carbon fibre helmets are, in the main, more expensive to produce (and therefore more expensive to buy) but are certainly more durable, with some arguing that their longer shelf life (or life expectancy) more than makes up for their generally higher purchase cost. In any case, the carbon fibre designs do tend to fair better during heavy impacts, so again, your decision will not necessarily be entirely financial.

Finally, you will also need to check whether the helmet you are purchasing is compatible with any HANS devices you are required to wear. HANS devices, or Head and Neck Support devices, are used to restrain the position of the head, relative to the torso, during a crash. They achieve this by forcing most of the forward pressure onto the chest muscles, rather than neck muscles. If your racing series requires the use of HANS devices, make sure the helmet is drilled such that is compatible with your HANS device.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company and a leading supplier of quality racing helmets and other racing accessories. Check our our website or call us on 01327 858349 today!

By Richard Harwood

A Brief Guide to Karting Safety Accessories

2011-10-04T17:13:00.000-07:00

Karting has become increasingly popular in recent years, offering thrills for all manner of ages, wallets, and skills sets. It's worth bearing in mind however that whilst karting is a relatively cheap form of motor racing, and arguably the easiest form of racing to enter as a newcomer, serious and long-term competitiveness will require serious investment in all sorts of karting gear and accessories.

To begin with, all organised karting events - be it the national championships, or the more humble weeknight practice sessions at your local club circuit - will require the driver to wear a karting helmet. As with regular car racing, helmet designs vary hugely, as do the prices. First, you'll need to decide between either an open-faced or full-faced helmet design, before then deciding on which material your helmet is to be made from. Cheaper helmet designs are, for the most part, constructed from fibreglass, and although the more expensive carbon fibre designs offer superior crash protection, a good quality fibreglass karting helmet will prove adequate for most beginners.

Fireproof race suits are also compulsory in most categories of kart racing. Karting suits protect the ribs and chest against damage caused by racing accidents, and although the will always be the temptation to buy your child a karting suit which is a little oversized - so as to increase its usable life as your child grows - it is very important that the young karters race in well-fitting karting suits at all times.

There are also rules and regulations around the use of karting gloves, which are used to protect the hands from cuts, blisters and abrasions both during the course of racing and in the event of an accident. Well designed karting gloves also absorb some of the sweat from the driver's hands, which will go a long way to maintaining some degree of comfort over a 40 or 60 minute kart race. Therefore, whilst quality karting gloves may seem relatively expensive, their added protection - not to mention comfort - is an important consideration for all kart racers.

Finally, you will also need to look at purchasing a pair of karting boots - and their importance cannot easily be understated. It is widely accepted that a significant number of karting incidents are attributable to one or more of the drivers wearing incorrect and unsuitable footwear. A good set of quality karting boots need not cost the earth, and will provide vastly superior levels of grip and feedback to the driver.

By Richard Harwood

Race Insurance - Top Tips for Taking Out Your First Policy

2011-10-03T23:10:00.000-07:00

If you are starting out motor racing this year, you will almost certainly wish to look at getting the race car insured. This article covers a few of our top tips for taking out that all-important race insurance policy.

First up, consider that you may want the car to be insured from the first date of ownership, rather than from the first race date. In addition to the car itself, racing accessories can be very costly and if they were to become damaged during storage or in transit, this could have severe consequences to your racing campaign. Racing accessories then should also always be fully insured, even if they are separate from or have not yet been installed onto the car.

You may wish to begin by obtaining an agreed valuation for your race car (and any valuable accessories) from the insurer, which will help cover the car or equipment's true replacement value, rather than their standard book value (which could well be naught in the case of some racing equipment and accessories!). Be sure to include the value of any parts which you have with the car, but not necessarily installed at the present time (such as spare engines etc). With this in mind, you'll probably want to check the terms and conditions of your policy for any specific exclusions and limitations.

To bring the cost of the race car insurance down, you may wish to take out a 'parts only' policy rather than a fully comprehensive package. Here, the cost of replacement parts are covered but not the labour cost involved with fitting them. If you are a particularly competent mechanic or engineer, or working on a particularly tight budget, this may be a viable option - provided you are willing and able to carry out the repair work yourself, in house. Any cover for race suits, racing helmets and other race accessories may need to be arranged separately, however.

Finally, you may also wish to check the terms and conditions for what will happen if the car is damaged beyond economic repair and is written off. A policy which includes salvage retention rights will allow you, the owner, to salvage any undamaged parts from the vehicle in the case of an accident.

Liability insurance may be required if you intend to use the vehicle on track during an open day (commonly called track days here in Britain) - whether it be due to a general 'racing incident' or in the case of a component failure, you may be liable for damages. Many racing circuits, track day companies and racing series offer detailed liability insurance as an optional extra to all participants - this is likely to be one of the cheapest ways of getting cover - but these policies are unlikely to cover those all-important racing helmets and plumbed-in race fire extinguishers.

By Richard Harwood

The Rush of a Powerful Engine

2011-10-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

It's the one thing that hits a driver early in his life, probably most everyone. But, a racer feels it deep down in his gut. The power of the engine engulfs him. One day he not only wants to own it, but he wants to control it. He has to overcome it and master it.

That's the dream. That's what takes a hold of us when we are eight and it never lets us go. We hear an engine and we stop to listen. We see an engine and try to figure out how everything works, how it makes the car go! Then as we grow older, we want to know how we can make it go faster.

We want to push the engine and ourselves to the limit. We want to know how fast for how far we can go before the motor cracks and a rod comes shooting through the hood, or smoke simply starts to roll into the cabin and we have to stop before we hit a wall. That's us! That's what makes drivers unique.

I'm no professional driver. But, I love putting a fast engine in a fast car and driving off like Bo Duke through Hazard County. If the engine isn't purring and the body isn't shaking, it's just a car to me. But if I can feel it before even sitting inside, then it's the beast and I have to see what it can do.

Taking it around the track, you can feel the tires hugging the road as the engine pushes speeds you don't see on the highway. The turn comes and the slide is slight. You have to control that or the wall is waiting to welcome you right into it. That's about the time you realize you are in the belly of the beast and the engine can eat you alive.

But, the need for the rush starts to grow as you want to catch air and take radical turns. Now, you are looking at a totally different beast. All terrain vehicles that leave dirt in your face and the only thing clean are your teeth if you've managed to keep your mouth closed.

Taking those turns are an entirely different slide that you have to feel your way through because only if you've done the track enough can you remember, but where is the fun in that? Hit the hill. Take some air. Hopefully, you come back down on the track and not end up in a tree.

All of a sudden, sliding gets your gut. You have to slide everywhere, all the time. You find yourself drifting into parking spaces at the local grocery store. Your cop buddies have told you a hundred times to slow it down, but you can't when you see that stop sign at the end of the cul-de-sac and you have to see how many mailboxes you can leave standing this time.

You'll never grow out of it! They let you feel the power of the engine when you were eight. It transformed you then and it has you now. Why fight it? Before long you'll be racing your wheelchair down a hallway trying to beat your next opponent for your meds. Until then, live life like you were eight!

By Travis Painter

Auto Racing and Practicing Without Going Broke in the Age of Insane Fuel Prices

2011-10-01T23:06:00.000-07:00

Auto racing is a business, and it's not like any other business on this planet. Auto racing is also a small business, and therefore it's getting tougher and tougher every year. No, not the competition, it's always tough, but rather staying in business, making a profit, and continuing your work. Racing cars isn't easy, it isn't cheap, and there are fewer sponsors these days in the marketplace. Much of that has to do with the economy, and the challenges of an economic recession, yes, things are starting to pick up, but it just can't happen fast enough it seems.

Nevertheless, things are what they are, and in the unpredictable realm of auto racing, this is just one more thing to deal with. Call it headwinds if you will, definitely economic headwinds. There was an interesting article the other day in the Wall Street Journal by Chris Maher on June 18, 2011. The title of the article was "Gas Prices Driving a Shift-Small Businesses Adapt by Tacking on Surcharges or by Making Cuts Elsewhere" and after reading this article I realized that many small businesses which use a lot of fuel are having a heck of a time making a decent profit with gasoline prices at over four dollars a gallon, while oil hovering around ninety to a hundred dollars per barrel.

In my younger days, I franchised portable carwash trucks, and mobile detailing units which went to homes, offices, and fleets to clean vehicles. When I was running my business, gasoline went from $.75 a gallon to a $1.35 and now it is up at four dollars per gallon. I remember it used to cost us almost $10-15 per day to run our trucks, and some days $20. And remember that was back when fuel was only at $1.35. Today, running that same business would have our fuel costs at between 60 and $75 a day. That's a huge hit on the expense side of your operations.

Now then, if you want to win in auto racing, your driver needs to constantly be practicing. When the price of fuel goes up, the price of specialty fuels skyrocket. The same is true for aviation fuel, and fuel in the boating industry or marine sector. Running an auto racing business in this present climate is tough enough trying to get sponsors, imagine trying to deal with the fuel costs? No wonder racing simulators have become so popular for training NASCAR drivers these days.

If you are into racing, or perhaps a race fan and you know more about this topic, I'd like you to shoot me an e-mail, because it was a subject of discussion recently at our think tank. So please consider all this and think on it.

By Lance Winslow

Go-Karting Accessories - What You Need to Know in Order to Get Started

2011-09-30T23:04:00.000-07:00

The popular sport of go-karting offers wheel-to-wheel thrills to drivers of almost any age, experience and budget. Yet whilst it's arguably the most accessible of all forms of motor racing, competing within the sport at a consistently strong level will depend on some serious investment in karting gear, equipment and accessories.

At a basic level, you will, at the very least, need to source a karting helmet from somewhere before you can even take part in a weeknight practice session - let alone a competitive event or championship. The design of karting helmets may have changed little over the past few decades, but styles do vary according to personal preference and, perhaps more obviously, budget. The less expensive models of karting helmet tend to be made from fibreglass, with carbon fibre versions also available for the more serious competitor. For the beginner, a quality karting helmet - made from fibreglass - should be comfortably good enough.

Karting suits, made from fire-proof materials such as nomex, are also required for most forms of karting. These protect the wearer against the physical injuries which sometimes occur in racing incidents, and whilst prices need not be astronomical, it is worth bearing in mind that a good quality, long lasting karting suit will easily justify any slight increase in cost over a poor or average quality suit. It is, of course, vitally important that the suit fits properly - so try to avoid the temptation to buy larger-sized suits for your children, even if they will inevitably grow into them.

You will also need to acquire a set of karting gloves in the majority of cases. These serve two purposes; first, they protect the hands from damage in the event of a racing incident, or in the case of endurance kart racing where blisters and abrasions are commonplace. The gloves also absorb the sweat produced during kart racing, in an effort to increase both comfort and the strength of the driver's grip on the steering wheel. Karting gloves need not be expensive and will provide the wearer with significant gainst in both comfort and safety.

A final area to consider will be the need to acquire a set of karting boots. These are, arguably, one of the key areas in which one should not compromise on budget. Accidents in karting are generally attributable to the use of incorrect or inadequate footwear, so a good set of high-quality karting boots or shoes will always be a good investment.

By Richard Harwood

Catching the Drifting Bug

2011-09-29T23:02:00.000-07:00

The sound of a roaring engine is the sweetest sound to the ears of any racing fan or car enthusiast. The smell of burning rubber on the road, smoke billowing with every rev, cars whizzing by at furious speeds, it's pure adrenaline. It's the dream of every race fanatic. When the speed is more, the risk is greater, adrenaline pumps faster than ever and the feeling is surreal. Add to it sharp corners and minimal space to maneuver the car and you've got yourself in the world of drifting.

Drifting essentially is a driving technique which enables a driver to round off sharp turns maintaining a significantly high speed by a controlled skid of the car around the turn. During this maneuver the rear wheels lose traction and the front wheels point in a direction opposite to the direction of the turn. To achieve this, drivers lower the gear for greater torque and pull the hand brake while turning the front wheels in the direction opposite the turn.

This technique was developed in the 1970's by a famous Japanese motorcyclist turned racer, Kunimitsu Takahashi. Drifting gained wide attention for the sheer skill and excitement involved. It was perfected and practiced intensively by succeeding racers, both professional and non-professional. Rally drivers in particular could gain a lot of advantage by using drifting in their rallies.

Drifting has developed as a motor sport with a huge fan base and devoted followers. The first drift racing event held was the D1 Grand Prix in Japan. Soon, the West would take to drifting and it would become an international sport. The D1 series held in United States was the first notable drifting event outside of Japan.

The world of drifting is exhilarating both to the performer and spectator. In fact, contestants are even given scores based on the response they manage to evoke from the crowd by drifting as close as they can from the inside of the turn. Drivers are also scored on the basis of their speed, line and angle. Turning at a higher speed and staying in the designated line automatically involves drifting at a greater angle to the sides of the track. This also means greater risk, higher scores and of course a thumping crowd support.

The sight of a line of cars drifting around a bend one after the other in perfect order is simply breathtaking. When a sharp turn is negotiated, engine roaring with utmost power and wheels churning smoke it's hard not to get into it. Your heart pumps with theirs.

Legitimate drifting aside, street drifting races are held around the world. Japan and USA prominently feature this list. But, street racing has in fact become a serious problem for the police in such places as Saudi Arabia.

Street drifting means no immediate medical aid. So, one slip from an amateur racer and not only can he get hurt, but all the people standing by watching can get hurt as well. Yet, that's not the only risk involved. Normally there's a bet. Money is huge, but the cars themselves get put on the line.

To get into drifting, I would suggest entering the legitimate race world and being coached by the better racers. Once you feel the wheels slip under you, you'll catch the bug. It's all about precision and practice. Get ready to go through plenty of cars and never do it while anyone else is around, not when you're just beginning and not until you can keep from busting an egg on top of a cone while you drift by at your highest speed.

By Travis Painter

Choosing Your First Racing Helmet

2011-09-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

Contemporary racing helmet design has progressed a great deal since the early adoption of helmets as racing safety equipment in the immediate post-war era of the late 1940s and early 1950s. The open-faced cloth-covered helmets of yester-year are out - full faced HANS-enabled carbon fibre helmets, are in.

Today there are a huge range of considerations which buyers need to be aware of when buying a racing helmet. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the main areas you'll need to be considering if you are in the market for a new racing helmet.

First, consider the desired safety rating required of the helmet. Helmets which meet Snell Standards tend to provide the greatest degree of protection. Snell have been testing manufacturers racing helmets on an international basis since the late 1950s, measuring helmet performance, always keeping pace with the various advances in both materials and design.

There are two key categories of Snell rating to consider when looking at any helmet - they are the 'SA' and 'M' standards. The SA standard was developed for car motorsport whereas the M standard has been developed for road-going motorcycles and other forms on non-car motorsport.

The two categories differ in three distinct areas. Firstly, the SA standard trumps the M standard in terms of fire safety in that the former requires a flammability test, whereas the latter does not. The SA standard also allows for a narrower eyesight opening - creating a smaller vision field - meaning that certain SA standard helmets are not legal for road use. Thirdly, SA standard helmets have to sustain roll-bar impact testing, where an M standard helmet does not.

A second consideration to make at this point will be whether you are required to (or choose to voluntarily) wear a HANS safety device whilst racing. HANS devices (HANS standing for Head and Neck Support) are generally employed within high-performance motor racing and are used to hold the head in place (relative to the chest) during a frontal impact. The forward pressure caused by a sudden decrease in speed is transferred to the chest muscles via the HANS device, meaning that neck injuries are less likely to occur. When they do occur, they are also less likely to be too serious. According to your specific form of motor racing, you may need to ensure that the helmet you purchase is compatible with a HANS device. Always bear in mind that some helmets are, and some are not, HANS device compatible.

Finally, you will need to look at which material(s) you wish the new helmet to be made from. There are several options here but, generally speaking, your budget will be the key determining factor. Fibreglass racing helmets remain popular with many budget-conscious racers, but the lightweight carbon fibre helmet designs are becoming increasingly popular.

By Richard Harwood

Racing Seat Installation - Tips for Novices

2011-09-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

This article considers the basic steps to installing a set of racing seats to your road or race car. The following is a guide only however and you should always follow the manufacturer's specific installation instructions very carefully. Where possible, seats should be installed by a professional or by someone with some experience working with race car preparation.

Part One - Taking out the stock manufacturer's seats

You'll have to take out the stock seats from the car before doing anything else. Non-race stock seats tend to be secured onto sliding rails which are, in turn, bolted to the floor of the car. You'll most likely wish to commence with the bolts at the rear of each slider, but be aware that access may be obscured if the manufacturer has covered the bolt heads with carpet or some form of plastic capping. Use a spanner or a good quality socket set to remove the bolts, remembering to adjust the angle of the seat back so that it does not fall over once the bolts are undone.

Now remove the front two bolts in exactly the same fashion, before removing any electrical connectors or other items from underneath the seat which may be damaged if they are not correctly removed.
The seat will be easier to remove if it is first laid onto its side, and then removed from the door base-first in an 'L' shape. If the seats are particularly large, heavy or cumbersome you may need another set of hands - especially if the seats are of good quality and you perhaps wish to sell or reinstall them at a later date.

Part Two - Installing the new race seat sliders

Once the standard seats have been fully removed, the next stage will be to install the bracketing systems onto which the new racing seats are to be mounted. You must remember to test the location of the mounted brackets in order to optimise your driving position. Having drilled the necessary locating holes for your seats, the easiest way to complete the installation is to fix the brackets to the seat itself - before fitting the entire race seat assembly the car as a whole. It's always advisable to install the fixing bolts fairly loosely to begin with, before tightening them once the seat is in place and you are satisfied with the positioning.

Finally install the racing harnesses in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications, and its job done!

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company, supplying quality racing seats and other racing accessories. For top-quality race seats check our our website or call us on 01327 858349 today!

By Richard Harwood

Racing Seats - A Buyers Guide for Novices

2011-09-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

Aspiring race car drivers wishing to build and prepare their own car will need to look at buying a racing seat before they can go out on track.

Today there are a great number of suppliers out there - providing packages for every budget, style and buyer preference. For example, the majority have been designed for competition use only - there are, however, plenty of seats which have been designed with mixed use in mind. Cheap items are available, but one must always consider that prices vary greatly in accordance with designs, materials, specification and - ultimately - their intended use. So whilst some cheap racing seats can set you back as little as £100, most quality racing seats will be three, four or five times this amount - with some retailing at well into four-figures.

Racing seats are generally designed with universal fittings in mind, meaning that the unit can be fitted to a huge range of vehicles with ease. This is achieved by the use of universal rails (the brackets onto which the seat is mounted) which can sometimes be specified separately from the seat and which are designed specifically for your make and model of vehicle.

Most use slide-mount bracketry, which is similar to the brackets used to secure most stock road car seats. These rails are held in place by heavy-duty bolts which, generally speaking, will be included with your seat package.

So, once you have determined your intended use and budget, your third consideration will be the type of restraining device you intend to use - both now and into the future. For instance, if you intend to take the car circuit racing, you'll almost certainly need to install MSA-approved racing harnesses (this will ultimately be determined by the rules and regulations of both the motor racing circuit itself and the racing series in which you are - or intend to - compete). Generally speaking, you will need to budget for at least a four or five-strap race harness if you intend to take part in competitive events.

Your final decision will most likely be to decide what comfort level you need - or are willing to accept - from your racing seat. A key factor here will likely be your intended use of the car. If it is to be used as a track-car only, the majority will provide adequate protection over a 10, 20 or 40 minute race. If however you intend to use the car on a daily basis - or even if you intend to drive to and from your racing events in the car - then you may wish to specify a higher level of comfort and padding in your new seats.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company, supplying quality racing seats and other racing accessories. For top-quality race seats check our the website or call on 01327 858349 today!

By Richard Harwood

1971-1988 NASCAR's Modern Era "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!" Pt 3

2011-09-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

In 1971-1972, NASCAR came into what was to become known as the sports "Modern Era". In '71, R J Reynolds Tobacco Co. had been banned from advertising their cigarettes on television. Seeking a new source of advertisement and promotion, the tobacco giant discovered a demographic friendly consumer base in racing fans. Knowing this, R J Reynolds contacted NACAR owners and promoters and engaged them in talks of sponsorship by the company for all of NASCAR's racing events. Having the largest tobacco company in the U.S. as a sponsor was appealing to NASCAR officials and a merger took place. In 1972, the Grand National Series,( as the racing season was known as at the time), became the Winston Cup Series. A new points system was developed and the season was shortened from 48 races to 31. Also, there was now significant cash prizes up for grabs. NASCAR's "Modern Era" had arrived.

Now, along with the pride of the driver's, their teams, and the performance of the cars they drove, there would be a large increase in the prize money sought along with victory lane. This would create new rivalries and fan the flames of old ones. The longtime rivalry between racing greats like Richard Petty and Bobby Allison continued from the late '60's into the '70's. The most notable battle between the two occurred in 1972 at North Wilkesboro Speedway in North Carolina. The rivals swapped paint and metal throughout most of the race. Towards the end, Petty cunningly used a lap car to cut off Allison, but Allison would not be denied. Fans were holding their breath and standing in anticipation, as both men battled for the lead. After hitting the wall once and colliding with each other twice, Petty emerged victorious. Afterwards an angry Richard Petty was quoted as saying, "He's playin' with my life out there. That I don't like."

Another notable rivalry was one between Cale Yarborough and Darrel Waltrip. Yarborough had won the Winston Cup title in 3 consecutive years, '76,'77, and '78. Several drivers tried to unseat the 3 time Cup holder. Waltrip came the closest on the track and was the most verbal about it off the track. In fact, it was Yarborough who gave Waltrip the nickname, "Jaws", because of his verbal assaults. Later, Waltrip would often refer to what he called the "Cale Scale", in which he would describe on the many scales and levels he was going to beat Yarborough. Now retired from racing and a popular commentator, Darrel Waltrip was and still is a very entertaining competitor and man. Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!

All this time, the cars were getting better and faster, the tracks were being improved, and NASCAR's fan base was growing. In the '80's, the rivalries continued. Every fan had their favorite driver and NASCAR fans are among the most loyal. There was a new generation of drivers coming onto the scene. One of these drivers was Dale Earnhardt. From Kannapolis, N.C., Earnhardt began his pro racing career in 1975. He captured the "Rookie of the Year" award for that year. In 1983, Earnhardt joined the Richard Childress Racing Team. He replaced Ricky Rudd in the #3, the number he would have for the rest of his career. In the 1984-1985 seasons Earnhardt made it to victory lane 6 times. He finished 4th in '84 and 8th in '85 in the point standings. Earnhardt would go on to win the Winston Cup championship in 1986, and then defend the title successfully in '87. Earnhardt's style of driving was quite simple, 'If you can't run with me, get the hell out of my way.' He was given the nickname, "The Intimidator", after he spun out Bill Elliot in the final moments of a NASCAR all-star race. That race, and Earnhardt are famous for what became known as the "pass in the grass", when he lost control and was forced into the infield grass. Earnhardt managed to keep control of his car and get back on the track without losing first place. Earnhardt would be a driving force in racing both on and off the track for the next 12 years until his untimely death in 2001, during the last remaining laps of the Daytona 500.

By Jim Serf

ET Bracket Series Results June 18th and 19th - Baytown, TX

2011-09-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday 1/4 Mile Super Pro

Winner - Derrick Patton Runner-Up - Jason Lummus Semis - Eddie League, Jr. Total Entries - 47
Highland's Derrick Patton recorded his second Super Pro victory Saturday, placing him at the top of the points. Derrick decimated the 47 car field by edging out some of the best racers in the area. Most of his victories were earned at the starting line, having rather large reaction time advantages over Earl Thrift in the second round and Jason Lummus in the final. Stephen Hughes laid down a.004 to Derrick's.014 in the 4thround, but Derrick's Maverick saved the day, running right on his 10.34 dial with a 7. Runner-up Jason Lummus made us all cringe in the semifinals when it was clear to us on the starting line that Eddie League's dragster was going to be late to the finish line. Despite everyone yelling and motioning for Jason to slow down, he showed us all how it is done by running 10.050 on his 10.05 dial. Lummus also ran dead on his dial with an 8 in the previous round against a nearly one full second off Robert Gregory. There are a lot of jealous racers out there who wish they could trust their car like Jason did Saturday night. Derrick Patton and Jason Lummus were the big winners in Super Pro, taking home $1200 and $600 and they each get a trophy for the mantle from Royal Purple Raceway. Saturday night's other money winners were Derrick's father, Daryl Patton, Arthur Edison, Ray Martinez, Stephen Hughes, Eddie League Jr., Glen Stepan, Michael Kennedy, Terrance Harrison and Robert Gregory.

Saturday 1/4 Mile Footbrake Winner - Gordon Smith Runner-Up - Bryan Day Semis - Jay Robinson, Bill Arning Total Entries - 53
Round one of the footbrake class started off with 53 drivers seeking the $800 top prize and the mantle-crowding Royal Purple Raceway trophy. Gordon Smith from Crosby took the honors Saturday, driving his '74 Vega all the way to the Winner's Circle. Gordon was solid on the tree all day, besting all of his opponents at the starting line except for Runner-Up Bryan Day. Bryan, fresh off of his elimination of points leader Jay Robinson, took a.025 to.061 green light advantage but was forced out by the 125 mph charge coming from Gordon Smith in the other lane. Smith earned the 2ndround bye with his .004 light against Thomas Ray in the first round, but there was a lot of competition for that honor. Chris Talbot, Drew Porcher and Manuel Rios all recorded double zero reaction times in the first round, and Tommy Huffman of Dayton was triple zero, but was unable to close the deal, running 12.699 on his 12.70 dial-in. It didn't get any easier in the second round of Footbrake, with Donna Lummus, Daniel Martinez and Kendall Eisemann all putting together near perfect runs. Chris Talbot, Drew Porcher and Donna Lummus were able to parlay their great runs into a money winner sticker along with Keenan Eisemann, Robert Penn, Jay Robinson, Brian Gallagher, Blair Nelson, Bill Arning, Reginald Newman and Sheila Day.

Sunday 1/8thMile Super Pro Winner - Stephen Hughes Runner-Up - Brenda Kay Semis - John Winn Total Entries - 46
Despite the unrelenting heat, 46 drivers made the call for first round of Super Pro on Sunday. After the first few rounds, it appeared we were going to see Scott Boyd and John Winn in the final after recording multiple double zero and dead on packages each, but the smart money was on the Million Dollar man, Stephen Hughes. No stranger to final rounds, including 3 in this series so far, Stephen cut through the field with relative ease. Last time out, Stephen faced biker Ricky Kay in the final, this time it was Ricky's wife, Brenda on her 120 MPH (1/8thmile) Suzuki GSXR. Covering the 660' in the mid-5 second range, Brenda was able to end John Winn's viable quest for his third final round in the semi's and footbraker Bryan Day's chase for the gold in the quarters. You'll get it one day, Bryan. Brenda didn't cut any slack (.009) on her husband, Ricky, in the 4thround or Saturday's winner, Derrick Patton or a.004 Glen Stepan. Stephen Hughes' biggest scare came in the quarterfinals, when he faced Saturday's Runner-Up, Jason Lummus. China, TX's Jason Lummus was fresh off of back to back double zero lights when he faced Hughes, but both drivers were off their game a little bit, and it was the 4-second dragster of Stephen Hughes running closest to his dial. The $1200 winner's check pales in comparison to events that Stephen has won in the past, but getting to stand in the Winner's Circle on Father's Day with his wife, Lindsey, and their two young kids is priceless. Other drivers taking home money on this Father's Day were Arthur Edison, Scott Boyd, Greg Roberts, Leslie Meyer, Dewayne League, Ricky Kay and Bryan "000" Day.

Sunday 1/8thMile Footbrake Winner - Jay Robinson Runner-Up - Bubba Dodge Semis - Sheila Day
Start the countdown. With this latest victory, Jay Robinson has all but sealed his unprecedented 6thtrack championship at Houston Raceway Park. Jay only needs to win 10 more rounds in the next 4 races to guarantee his name to be the one engraved on the cup and his entry into the Division 4 E.T. Finals Race of Champions. With that being said, I would like to congratulate Jay on his performance this year, and the rest of us mere mortals will be battling it out for the remainder of the top 10 spots. This Sunday was no different than any other race for Jay, he used killer lights and excellent top end driving skills to annihilate the competition once again. Jay didn't have it easy all day, drawing some of the best drivers Houston has to offer. Blair Nelson and Bryan Day both ran dead on their dials against Jay in the first 2 rounds, then he went on to face a redlighting Dennis Clark, "Mr. Final Round" Drew Porcher, Jamie Haines and then Bubba Dodge in the final. Danbury's Bubba Dodge let off the brake just a tad early in the final, turning on the red light, giving Jay Robinson his 4thvictory in the O'Reilly E.T. Drag Racing Series this season. Up to that point, Bubba was able to catch red lights from Nathan Gallagher and Steven Talbot to start off his day, then he earned the 3rdround bye with his.008 against Talbot, then John Stelly and Sheila Day left early on Bubba in the fourth and sixth rounds. "Coach" Tim Ray had the right idea by somehow managing to go green on him in the 5thround, but it was a little too green, giving Dodge a.028 advantage at the tree. Jay and Bubba took home $800 and $400 respectively, and a couple of nice Royal Purple Raceway trophies. Some others who got to take home some cash and a "money winner" sticker are Robert Penn, Sheila Day, Joey Cram, Jamie Haines, Mike "Drew" Porcher, Brian Gallagher, "Coach" Tim Ray and John Stelly.

By Bill W Arning

Buying NASCAR Nationwide Tickets

2011-09-23T22:36:00.000-07:00

The Nationwide series within NASCAR is also referred to as the minor league circuit just one level below the Sprint Cup Series. It always precedes the bigger races of the Sprint Cup Series but also has a large following from a variety of racing fans. The drivers at this event are usually a combination of aspiring drivers who would want to use this event as a platform for them to be seen so that they can eventually move up to the big leagues and veteran drivers who are preparing for their race in the top circuit..

To be able to attend the NASCAR Nationwide series race you will need to buy NASCAR Nationwide tickets early in advance so that you do not miss out on them as you will not be able to watch the races live in person. These tickets can be purchased through a number of avenues which include buying online through NASCAR sites, through a ticket broker or from the official ticketing office at the track.

The NASCAR Nationwide tickets are pre-sold annually because the races take place over 9 months, therefore enabling fans to save enough to buy a ticket for this fun filled race event. This is a good plan for anyone who is not able to afford the tickets at a go because they can save for a whole year to be able to attend the nationwide series.

The purchase of a NASCAR nationwide ticket enables you to also see other drivers who participated in earlier events like the sprint cup series but did not do well, have an opportunity to race again. This makes them stay competitive even though they were not successful in the earlier racing series.

If you are planning to buy NASCAR Nationwide tickets online it is important to be aware of the variety of websites that either buy or sell these tickets so that you only deal with the Masters Badges genuine ones. Many websites claim to be selling genuine tickets but some are out to fraudulently obtain money from unsuspecting ticket buyers. If you feel the website is offering a deal that is too good to be true then it probably is and it is better to buy your tickets from another website that looks sincere. It is important to check the details of the ticket before you purchase it as well.

Overall, the NASCAR Nationwide series is a must attend event for any avid race car fan who wants to experience the thrill of seeing cars racing on the track at break neck speed.

Welcome to Mastertickets.net - A safe & reliable way to purchase tickets for Masters Badges championships. We also offer masters packages for masters tournaments and assist your organization with best planning.

By Nathan Cyril

Furious NASCAR Fervor

2011-09-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

Those who are not diehard fans of NASCAR may not understand why watching super fast cars going around in circles bring so much joy to the stock car enthusiast. Well, planning is a huge reason. This preparation adds tremendously to the thrill of auto racing, and based on this aspect, there would seemingly be great anticipation on who's going to win.

There are a few important factors that go into planning: The crew has to collaborate to determine how they are going to handle the inevitable problems that will arise in the most expeditious matter. Additionally, teammates need to agree on who has the best chance for one of them to win or place as high as he or she can, with the minimal amount of sacrifice of the other teammates. Moreover, each driver has to come up with a realistic strategy to win or place as high as he or she can, while taking in consideration of weather and track conditions.

These factors have been fundamental to the success of NASCAR since its inception. Over 60 years ago fans started to take an interest in the planning of stock car races. Consequently, in 1947 more and more potential drivers began to pursue entering the races. During that year, however, there were problems synchronizing the rules between venues.

For instance, some rules were created as a result of tracks being built in order to accommodate the fans, and different ones were created as a result of tracks being built to serve the cars and the drivers. In order to bring uniformity and to help eliminate confusion on the rules, NASCAR (The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) was created to bring a governing presence to stockcar racing. NASCAR was off and running, in the next few years fans witnessed NASCAR racing at Daytona Beach, Charlotte, and Darlington.

Over the years NASCAR has gained in popularity as it began to receive television coverage in the 1960s. In 1989, every race on the NASCAR schedule was televised. As the sport continued in its attractiveness, a chain of officially-licensed apparel and souvenir stores called NASCAR Thunder was created, along with a chain of restaurants that provided a nice combination of racing and dining in one spot, namely, the NASCAR Café.

In the 2000s NASCAR was reaching tremendous heights, as in 2001, FOX, ABC, and Turner Sports signed a five-year contract with the stock-car racing giant to the tune of $2.8 billion! By the time 2003 rolled around NASCAR had races in 23 states and 75 million fans in 100 countries. These fans purchased over $3 billion in annual licensed product sales.

Now NASCAR operates in 39 states, and includes Mexico and Canada in its international expansion. Over 100 tracks bring racing enjoyment to loyal fans in these places. NASCAR races are broadcast in over 150 countries.

At the beginning of 2010 some thought that NASCAR popularity would suffer because of the recession. During 2009, TV ratings went down, and had been going down since 2005. To overcome the effects of the recession and declining popularity, there was a vision that maybe the girl power of Danica Patrick could develop some Danicamania that would swing the pendulum of losing popularity to that of gaining popularity. There is hope that she, with her feminine appeal, may attract young girls to be interested in the sport.

Greg Berry is the author and can provide additional information about the popularity of NASCAR. sportscollectionshop.com

By Greg M Berry

History of Diecast Car Models

2011-09-21T22:32:00.000-07:00

Building a spectacular compilation or using the collectables as toys was not the initial purpose for die-cast car models. Models were made for marketing purposes. To plan for new cars, manufacturers would make scale and full-sized replicas of the real vehicles. Clay or wood was used for some of these models. In others, the material that the real vehicles were made from, was sometimes the same as that which the replicas were made from. Another purpose for the die-cast cars was to add realism to train sets.

During the first 30 years of the 20th Century, car models were made from basic slush cast plaster and iron. The 20 years following, cars, trucks, and military replicas were formed from tin and pressed steel, better quality materials. After World War II models made in different kinds of alloys became prevalent.

Europe became the place where these alloys established an enormous presence. In the United States, there was a demand for plastic cars, but not so much for the die-cast metal cars, as they were rudimentary in form. Japan became privy to the tin and pressed steel models by the 1950s. The nation continued its production during the 1960s. When the 1970s creeped around, Japan was producing die-cast cars. The chief producers of die-cast metal cars presently, include China and countries from southeast Asia.

The size of the models depended on the particular niche companies were attracting. Because railroad layouts already established a basic universal scale, before World War II, car and truck models from Europe had to conform to that size in order to be included in the display. Additionally, in order to appeal to children some companies concentrated on small scaled replicas.

Precision was the name of the game for European model vehicles, featuring the complexities of doors, trunks, and hoods opening up. This occurred because in Europe the labor market increased after the war. Consequently, there was a greater pool of laborers available to manufacturer the vehicles. In contrast, in America, the labor force was not as large, therefore, the replicas were made from simple cast iron or plastic, and consisted of very few parts.

In Europe, the doors, trunks, axles, wheels, and hoods were all separate parts in the manufacturing process. In the United States, all of these items would be included in one large, unimpressive piece. However, after some time, American automotive dealerships were in need of promoting their new arrivals, so the models became more sophisticated. This complexity was aided by technological advances. Additionally, adults have become more interested in collecting the models since the 1980s, therefore manufacturers have been producing less toy-like renditions. Today because of the high cost of production, moving parts are becoming less prevalent.

Licensing arrangements have been made between the real car manufacturers and the manufacturers of the die-cast models. There was a time back in the 1950s and 1960s such agreements were not necessary because the real car manufacturers welcomed the popularity of the models because they provided free advertising. This is not the case anymore, as the real car manufacturers seek legal ways to protect the originality of their vehicles.

Greg Berry is the author and can provide additional information about the popularity of NASCAR stock-car racing, http://www.sportscollectionshop.com/contact

By Greg M Berry

F1 Team Orders: Are They Back or Even Still Around?

2011-09-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

Go back to Austria in 2001, final lap of the race as Jean Tadt tells Rubens Barrichello to let Schumacher pass. Barrichello was instructed by Ferrari to cede 2nd position to Schumacher to gain points to defend the driver's title. Barrichello did not comply until the last corner of the last lap, stirring up many emotions after the race. A similar situation happened at the next year's race resulting in a huge fine for the Ferrari team in addition to the FIA banning "team orders" period. 10 years have gone by and most outspoken persons against team orders, Red Bull Team Principal, Christian Horner, has done a reversal on the matter. In an interview with Speed TV in 2010 Horner said, "You can't manipulate the outcome of a race by introducing team orders and there does need to be a clarification on it. And rightly or wrongly Red Bull have allowed our driver's to race." However during the British Grand Prix in 2011, none other than Red Bull asked Mark Weber, who was making a move on championship leading driver, Sebastian Vettel, to maintain the gap with Vettel and not attempt a point losing pass.

So it seems team orders are back. And yes, they are allowed this season. Mark Weber did note that team orders have always been a part of how Red Bull strategize their movements. Nico Rosberg stated after the German Grand Prix. "In the end we are an employee of the team. So the team has the priority, that's the way it is in racing. We musn't forget that. We are paid by the team to represent the team and to do well for the team. That pretty much summarizes it up doesn't it. But of course we drivers', the ego side of us always comes out and we want to race; we want to win races, but that's always a compromise and you have to find out for yourself on how best to handle it."

Horner backed his statements by saying he did not want a repeat of Turkey in the 2010 season, when Weber and Vettel eliminated each other out of the race. He also noted that with three laps remaining he wanted the team to bank the points. As a competitive driver, the team mentality has to be a difficult mental block. These drivers are born competitors at heart and team orders or not, all desire to win and deserve to win if they are in the position. In the mortal words of the late, great, Ayrton Senna: "By being a race driver, means you are racing with other people, and if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver, because we are competing, we are competing to win, and the main motivation to all of us is to compete for victory, not to come second, third, fourth... I race to win, as long as I feel it is possible." Indeed.
Douglas Scheirer is an editor and co-founder of F1UnitedStatesGP.com, a site dedicated to the United States Grand Prix held in Austin, TX. In addition to F1 Austin Info, the site provides access to United States Grand Prix Tickets, United States Grand Prix Hotels & accommodations.

By Douglas Scheirer

An Overview On How To Build A Kart

2011-09-19T22:28:00.000-07:00

Many children want to know how to build a kart. Anyone can build one with just a few simple steps, one can be built in as little as one day.The materials are some wood, it does not really matter what type of wood as long as it is thick enough to support your weight. Most types can be rescued from the garage or shed.

You will need four wheels, from an old baby buggy or a couple of broken bikes so long as they are not too large and they have center holes. Two metal spindles that will pass through the center of the wheels freely and some nails, bolts, drill, hammer and a saw.

The length of the kart does not really matter but you need to be able to reach the front axle with your feet if steering that way. Once you have all your materials and tools you can get started.First step is to make your seating area, about twenty inches square for comfort. If using plywood sheet just cut this out with the saw.

Once you have your seating area, you could then add a longer section that goes from the back seat to where the front wheels will eventually be. This should be about six inches wide and between four and five feet long depending on your preference.

Now you can fix a four inch wide piece of timber beneath the width of the seating area to hold the spindle for the back wheels, this can be held in place with nails bent over or U shaped staple type nails, once this spindle is in place you can then put your wheels onto the spindle, remember your spindle must stick out from the seat by a couple of inches to allow for the wheels and movement.

You can secure the wheels in place with a spring type washer or can drill a hole in each end of the spindle so once the wheel is pushed on, a nail can be inserted into the hole to keep the wheel from coming off.The last step is to put a cross piece in that swivels at the front end so you can steer it.

Just use the same size board as the back that took your spindle for the back wheels but use a bolt so this section moves left and right freely, again fix your spindle to take the front wheels as you did with the back ones, now you may use your feet to steer or tie rope to each side of the front section and pull to turn left or right.

Learning how to build a kart may be the start of bigger and better ones, you may add a padded section of covered foam from an old chair for extra comfort or build the sides up so you don't fall off, but the main thing is to enjoy your ride. Always be careful on steep hills as these have no breaks and can be dangerous.

Danielle Brown, Author

If you're thinking of making your own go kart, Click Here To get Started http://learnhowtobuildagokart.blogspot.com/

Danica To Dazzle

2011-09-18T22:27:00.000-07:00

Danica Patrick is well on her way to making a name for herself in NASCAR. She entered the NASCAR Nationwide Series last year by running a part-time schedule with JR Motorsports. As a newcomer to the Nationwide Series she hasn't exactly set the world on fire but she does hold her own and is showing definite signs of improvement. Some say she is doing it the "right way" by continuing to run a part-time schedule in the Nationwide Series this year. Granted she can't dedicate herself full-time to NASCAR as she is still running her regular IndyCar Series schedule. Perhaps this is a good way to start out trying a new venture but at some point if she wants to make the leap to the Sprint Cup Series she is probably going to have to commit herself full-time to stock car racing.

Patrick seems to draw the fans but reviews have been mixed. Some say that she uses her gender too much. One report alluded to her temper being a result of "her time of the month". Last year Kyle Petty made a comment along the lines of "if she sells a few t-shirts and hats she should consider it a successful season". A bit condescending but a large part of NASCAR is the driver's popularity with the fans. If she can draw the fans, then NASCAR makes money and everyone is happy. It is a business after all. Dale Earnhardt Jr is a prime example of this. He has won races but let's face it, he does not have the most stellar driving record when compared to other drivers. A lot of his popularity is derived from the Earnhardt name which is still selling tickets today. That being said, perhaps Danica's popularity comes in part from her gender. However on the flip side she was paid a compliment by current Sprint Cup Series owner and driver Tony Stewart who stated he believes she has the talent to make it in NASCAR.

Patrick's bourgeoning NASCAR career is fueling the feminist movement in many ways. She is going against female stereotypes and is a role model for women everywhere. She is breaking into a sport that has long been known as a "boys club" and is becoming successful doing it. She strikes a balance between contending with the male drivers and being comfortable enough to show her feminine side without worrying that she won't be taken seriously in the garage.

Patrick brings a breath of fresh air to the female gender. She is showing women they have choices and can have successful careers in male dominated fields while not becoming one of the boys. Perhaps by watching her career continue to grow, more women will follow their dreams to break into non-traditional female roles.

For more articles like this please visit: http://www.ladieslovespeed.com

By Stephanie J Poulin

Formula 1's Best Ever Drivers

2011-09-17T22:25:00.000-07:00

Whether it's Schumacher or Senna, Piquet or Prost, the Formula 1 has seen some massive stars. Here are our five best F1 drivers ever...

Ayrton Senna

When Ayrton Senna died in May 1994 at the San Marino Grand Prix, he had been fending off a challenge from a young Michael Schumacher. Today, commentators and fans alike maintain that had it not been for the tragedy, the two men would have undoubtedly developed one of the sport's greatest rivalries. As it is, Senna is still considered a trailblazer for the modern F1 stars, having prided himself on fitness and his mechanical understanding of the cars. Not only that, but with 41 wins and three world championships to his name, he was a properly brilliant driver, too - exciting, brave and daring.

Jackie Stewart

Jackie Stewart was a playboy millionaire who dined with royalty and spent much of his time in swanky Monaco. But there was way more to this driver than the pioneering lifestyle that comes as standard for today's F1 stars. And why? Because when race time rolled round, here was a man so stupidly quick that he bagged himself no fewer than three world championships. More than that, though, it was about the way he walked away from the sport following the death of teammate and friend, Francois Cevert. Appalled at the continued lack of safety standards, Stewart took a stand, left F1 and organised campaigns that led to many of the precautions we know today.

Michael Schumacher

The Marmite F1 driver, Michael Schumacher is one of those drivers you either love or you hate. The seven-time World Champion was the bee's knees during his time with Ferrari, with whom he picked up five titles. Trouble is, he wasn't what you'd call the most sporting bloke in the world. During his first title-winning season in 1994, he appeared to deliberately crash into Damon Hill, preventing the Brit from taking the championship. Three years later he tried a similar trick on Jacques Villeneuve, only for the authorities to expunge him from that year's records. And yet in spite of all this, his impact on the sport remains undeniable, even if he was an arse in the process.

Alain Prost

If Ayrton Senna was some extravagant flavour of Ben and Jerry's, Alain Prost was positively vanilla. He drove each race in exactly the same way - risk free, thoughtful and without getting involved in any silly shenanigans with his opponents. It was a policy that failed to win him many friends, but as his four World Championships demonstrate, it did win him a shedload of races.

Jim Clark

Picture this. It's 1963 and amid terrible weather conditions Jim Clark laps the whole field during the Spa-Francorchamps Grand Prix in Belgium. Now consider this - in doing so he was effectively eight miles ahead of his nearest rival! Little wonder it was the race he's most famously remembered for. But on top of that, he also won two F1 championships during a dominant period in the mid-60s and excelled in saloon and rally races, too. In fact, Clark may well have gone on to record further victories, across any number of racing formats, had it not been for his untimely death at a Formula 2 race at Hockenheim in April 1968.

By Si Wright

United States Grand Prix: US Drivers Wanted

2011-09-16T22:22:00.000-07:00

The Circuit of the Americas, home of the USGP, looks to be shaping up to be a world class facility, housing its own trauma center, educational centers, conference centers, and concert venue to name a few, but one thing that may be missing from the USGP itself is an American Presence within the paddock. Not to take away from the event at all, die-hard F1 fans would flock to Austin for this race even if all the drivers and teams where from the Isle of Guam, but as it is at the moment, there is no American Team or Driver in the sport, and as sweet as it is to have the USGP back it would be nice to see this change.

The latest hope for US F1 fans was Scott Speed, who drove for the Red Bull Toro Rosso Team in 2006 and part of 2007 before being replaced by Sebastian Vettel, which in retrospect was definitely a good move for the Red Bull Team as a whole, though it would have been nice to see Speed stay around in a role as test driver until a seat opened up. Speed moved onto Nascar leaving a gap that was last filled by Mario Andretti in 1993.

Ken Block's plans to test Pirelli's Formula 1 car at Monza in August have hit an early hurdle after it was discovered he was too tall to fit into the car. Most of us know Block from the American WRC and as a world-class driver in the Gymkhana world, but can this rally racer go from snow, dirt, gravel, and yes admittedly some asphalt sections to an F1 Team, who knows Kimi Raikkonen did the opposite, going from world championship driver for Ferrari in 2007 to making his WRC debut in 2009.

Then there was the heartbreak of 2010 when a US F1 Team, headed by former Haas CNC Racing Technical Director, Ken Anderson and former Williams and Ferrari Manager, Peter Windsor, was granted entry into that season by the FIA, but was later debunked when the team lost financial support and had to inform the FIA it was in no position to race and was removed from the entry list for that season.

With the US site beginning to take shape, the turns know marked by numbered positioning flags, an odd incantation of a dirt laden golf course, being roved by construction machinery, the FIA and Formula 1 chief, Bernie Ecclestone, must feel the need for not only a US race, but a US presence on the track. The race should bring in money, an estimated 400 million per year, but will the US fans return year after year without a US driver or team, that remains to be seen. But with the attention that the first Austin GP should draw, new fans, future fans of the series more importantly, may be more likely to keep watching and keep buying tickets if the USA was represented not only with a track, but on the track.
Douglas Scheirer is an editor and co-founder of F1UnitedStatesGP.com, a site dedicated to the United States Grand Prix held in Austin, TX. In addition to F1 Austin Info, the site provides access to United States Grand Prix Tickets, United States Grand Prix Hotels & accommodations.

By Douglas Scheirer

NASCAR Racing Meets the Tortoise and the Hare

2011-09-15T22:20:00.000-07:00

Everyone is familiar with the old children's story about the tortoise and the hare. With the moral of the story being victory doesn't always go to the swiftest but that patience and perseverance can often win out. In 1950, Californian Johnny Mantz brought his version of that old fable to a NASCAR track.

Mantz didn't have a hugely successful career in NASCAR. He ran just twelve races over four years and had only one victory. But that one win was one of the most memorable in history. He took the slowest car in the field to the winners circle. The occasion was the Southern 500 Darlington, the track to tough to tame. Over eighty cars showed up for the race and it took two weeks to complete qualifying runs. The final field was seventy-five cars and at the tail end was Mantz. His qualifying speed was ten miles an hour slower than pole setter Curtis Turner. During practice Mantz noticed that the abrasive Darlington surface just tore tires apart. So he came up with the idea of using hard compound truck tires. These tires aren't good for speed but they are very durable. The strategy really paid off for Mantz. While the rest of the field hit the pits for new rubber, some as many as six times, Mantz cruised around on the track apron. In those days pit stops weren't the twelve to fifteen second stops we're accustom to seeing now, instead a stop often took over two minutes. By the end of the six hour marathon Mantz took the checkered flag nine laps ahead of the legendary NASCAR driver, Fireball Roberts.

To make this story even more unbelievable, when Mantz showed up at Darlington he was without a ride. No one knew much about this West Coast midget car driver. While he had won his share of races in the little cars, he had never won a championship. NASCAR promoter Bill France Sr. had a 1950 Plymouth that he was using for the purpose of running errands. Mantz went to work bending France's ear and after awhile Big Bill caved in and gave the car to him. Mantz won his first NASCAR race with that Plymouth and was ten thousand dollars richer. In those days that was a great payday.

Mantz was also linked with another famous racing promoter during his career, Indy car owner J.C. Agajanian. Aggie signed Mantz to drive his Indy car in 1948. The new car was without a number, so J.C. asked Mantz if he had any ideas. Johnny said, well I had a lot of success with the number 98 on midget racers so let's go with that. The number 98 became one of the most famous numbers in Indianapolis history. Troy Ruttman and Parnelli Jones both put the Agajanian car in winners circles. And by the way, the winning Plymouth that Mantz dove to victory at Darlington, that's right, number 98.

So the moral of this story is that sometimes even in one of the fastest sports in the world, NASCAR, the old fable of the tortoise and the hare can help a driver get to the winners circle.

Ellen H Meador is a sports enthusiast. She currently manages a series of online retail stores. If you are a sports fan and want to show your pride and fly a sports team flag and banners you'll find a variety of collegiate and pro banners, car flags, and garden flags from leading manufacturers at http://www.flagandpennantstore.com

By Ellen H Meador

Dale 'The Intimidator' Earnhardt: Pt 3

2011-09-14T22:18:00.000-07:00

In 1993, Earnhardt was back to his winning ways. He started off strong, nearly winning the elusive Daytona 500. He wound up, however, finishing 2cnd behind Dale Jarrett, when Jarrett passed him on the final lap. Earnhardt seemed unbeatable for the rest of '93 season though, winning 6 races and capturing his 6th Winston Cup championship.

In 1994 Earnhardt scored an amazing 7th Winston Cup championship, tying Richard Petty for the most Winston Cup wins. During the season Earnhardt won 4 wins and was in a close struggle with Ernie Irvan in the points race. But when Irvan had a life threatening wreck in Michigan and could not finish the season, Earnhardt took the championship in stellar fashion winning the Cup by 400 points over Mark Martin. Earnhardt would remain a dominant figure in NASCAR, but this would be his final championship season.

The '95 season would start with Earnhardt, once again, missing the mark at Daytona. He came in second behind Sterling Marlin. Dale had a strong season, however, with 5 wins, including his first road course victory at Sears Point, and a win in the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He would say of the victory later that it was the biggest of his career. But at the end of the season he was edged out by Jeff Gordon by a mere 34 points.

The '96 season began the exact same way the previous '93 season had. Earnhardt dominated the pre-season speedweeks but still could not shake his 'Daytona Curse'. As in '93 Dale finished 2cnd behind Dale Jarrett. Never deterred though, Earnhardt scored back to back wins at Rockingham and Atlanta. But in late July at Talladega, while leading in the points, Earnhardt was involved in what many thought was a fatal crash. Ernie Irvan in the #28 lost control of his car causing a heart-stopping wreck that put Earnhardt in the wall at 200 mile per hour. As if that weren't enough, after smashing into the wall, the #3 car slid out into the middle of the track and into oncoming traffic.

Earnhardt's car was struck in the roof and windshield by other drivers unable to stop or avoid him in time. The wreck led NASCAR to create the 'Earnhardt Bar', a metallic brace located in the center of the windshield to reinforce the roof in case of a similar wreck. By the time med-crews arrived at the scene, Earnhardt was getting out of the car. Once out, he smiled and waved to the crowd. Earnhardt had suffered a broken collarbone, sternum, and shoulder blade, the stubborn and always tough Earnhardt refused to leave the track on a stretcher.

Many thought this horrific crash would end the season for Earnhardt. But the Intimidator wasn't going anywhere without a fight.

By Jim Serf

All About Different Archery Techniques

2011-09-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

For archers, learning different methods by which they can shoot arrows is very important. An archer is only defined by his accuracy and precision, as well as the flexibility by which he or she is able to dispatch the arrows. There are various different archery techniques that have been discovered and practiced throughout the ages, and the latest advancements in technology have paved the way for a variety of different methods by which archers can shoot their arrows. The most important thing for an archer is to hit an accurate shot in a small amount of time.

Most archers have to take proper positions before shooting, like sitting in a crouching manner or having to rest their elbow on some sort of a support before they are able to shoot properly. Apart from your shooting position, the accessories that you use can also determine your accuracy as well. Using basic accessories such as an arm guard and a finger tab can greatly increase your chances of getting a successful shot.

Your body stance should be aligned linearly with the bow, so that when you aim for your target, your eye would be able to pinpoint the exact position that you need to shoot at. Shooting an arrow does not mean that you just pull back the bow and let go, because there are a variety of different things that must be kept in mind while shooting. Your back muscles should be appropriately tightened to ensure proper tension in your body, which reduces the recoil reaction while shooting.

The hand from which you are going to draw the bow needs to be relaxed completely as well before you release the bow. Unless you are able to relax the muscles in your draw hand, the arrow might not be released with as much accuracy as you would want it to, because the tension in your draw hand is bound to misbalance the arrow.

Secondly, the positioning of your bow arm is very important. Especially while shooting, it is of vital importance that you keep your bow arm up and steady to ensure the arrow does not go wayward. For an archer, it is very important that he or she is able to keep their movements steady, and position themselves in a manner that does not let them make sudden movements.

Skilled professionals are able to take a shot quicker as compared to amateurs, and this is just because they are able to steady themselves in an instant and draw and release the arrow in a flicker of a second. Practice plays a very important in this art as well. The more you practice your positioning and steadiness, the quicker you would be able to aim at your targets.

Most of the people believe that if they aim with one eye open and one closed, they would be able to get a better aim. That is a very wrong concept, and for those who know, it is much better to shoot with both eyes open rather than having one closed. This provides a great deal of assistance in low light conditions, however you would require a great deal of practice to ensure that you are able to shoot with both your eyes open.

Your fingers should be properly relaxed while holding the bow. If there is any sort of tension in your fingers, it could cause your arrow to falter and fall, and it would not be released with as much force as you might have wanted it to. These are some of the most common archery techniques that should be known by archers.

George Loh is a Master Trainer in Singapore and owns a club which organizes annual competitions for all ages in Singapore, He also gives training for schools, groups and individuals who want to hone their skills in archery or those that are beginners. for more information visit http://www.faac.sg for more information.

By Jonathan Yeo

How to Be a Successful Archer

2011-09-12T22:04:00.000-07:00

Becoming a successful archer is not something that happens overnight. It takes dedication, training, and most of all, practice to become one of the best. It is, however, a skill that anybody can learn with the proper training techniques. There are four main components to archery: Technique, equipment, training, and psychology. Out of these four, equipment is arguably the least important, although basic equipment is definitely required. You can't play tennis with a baseball bat, and you can't shoot a bow without arrows.

Equipment

First, you need to find a type of bow and stick with it. There are many different bow variations that are used commonly in both competition shooting and hunting, including the compound bow, recurve bow, and self-bow. Out of these, compound and recurve bows are the most commonly used. Once you know what kind of bow you will be using, you need to learn to tune the bow properly. An untuned bow will never shoot accurately. Knowing your equipment well is the first step in successful archery. Understand how the bow works before even trying to fire your first arrow. Ancient Mongolian cultures would make their warriors build their bow before they could even begin training, a process that often took months.

Technique

Every bow and different archery type has its own techniques. These are best learned one on one with an instructor or in a group class, and encompass how to hold the bow, how to draw the bow, how to stand, and how to release. Technique is the main deciding factor in how accurate your shots will be, and subsequently how successful you are as an archer.

Training

Physical training for archery is sadly often overlooked. This is as much a physical sport as anything that involves running or jumping, and the muscles need to be trained accordingly. Ideally, your maximum strength should be about double the resistance of the bow. Bows with more tensile strength are more difficult to draw and hold steady, but the greater power leads to greater accuracy when properly handled. Don't try to start with a bow that is too strong for you, because you'll only get frustrated in the end. If the bow wobbles and shakes while you have it fully drawn you should find a bow with less tensile strength and work out your arms and shoulders a little bit more. Body weight exercises such as push-ups and chin-ups work well for archery by providing functional strength without excess muscle bulk.

Psychology

Herein lies the ultimate weapon for any archer. Archery is, more than anything else, a mental game. The best professionals use visualization techniques that allow them to hit the target every single time. Mind clearing and thought stopping are other popular techniques, where you take several deep breaths and clear your mind of all thoughts. This can be enhanced through meditation practice at home. You need to be able to tune out all exterior distractions and hone your mind in one single thought: hitting the target.

George Loh is a Master Trainer in Singapore and owns a club which organizes annual competitions for all ages in Singapore, He also gives training for schools, groups and individuals who want to hone their skills in archery or those that are beginners. for more information visit http://www.faac.sg for more information.

By Jonathan Yeo

Things to Learn When Going For Archery Training

2011-09-11T22:01:00.000-07:00

Shooting arrows and learning the art of marksmanship is one that has been preached over the years. Ever since the beginning, we have read about archers and what they do. An archer is a person who is skilled with a bow and an arrow, and is able to shoot targets in sight. The task is not as easy as it looks, and lengthy practice is required to ensure the correct positioning and shooting technique. For an archer, practicing different techniques and figuring out the most effective one is a very difficult task. They have to adapt to their surroundings and then take a shot, which is why substantial archery training is very important.

Unless you are able to learn the basic techniques of shooting an arrow, you would not be able to excel in being a marksman. You must learn how to hold the bow properly, and how the arrow must be drawn. There are several intricacies that must be clearly sorted out to ensure that the basics of shooting arrows are properly learned. If you are thinking of learning how to shoot arrows, and are looking to join up an institution which would teach you how to become an able marksman, it is very important that you understand the traits of a good shooter.

Several things need to be learned before you are able to shoot an arrow properly. The first thing you need to learn is how to hold a bow properly. Your positioning, stance and the manner with which you take your shot is extremely important. Unless you are able to hold the bow properly, you would not be able to take a good shot.

Therefore, if you are thinking of signing up for practicing arrow shooting, you must take a demo class to check whether he or she is able to convey the message and properly instruct the students in the manner with which a bow could be held. When practicing, it is very important for you to understand the aiming process.

It is a very common belief amongst many people that you always aim with one eye closed. However, while you practice, you would most certainly come across a technique which would teach you to shoot with both your eyes open. The balance that you must establish between your dominant eye as well as your non dominant eye is very important. You must ensure that your aim is accurate enough as well. In order to do that, it is of vital importance that you trust your instincts as well.

Sometimes, your sixth sense is the most important. It might take a lot of difficulty for those who are unable to aim with both eyes open, but you must place a certain amount of trust on your instincts as well. If you get a feeling that now is the time to shoot, you should let go of the taut arrow instantly. The chances of getting a successful shot are very high in such circumstances.

There are several tips that can be utilized very effectively while shooting arrows. The first thing you must ensure is that you always let the muscles in your drawing hand loose. As long as you keep the muscles tightened, you will not be able to get a good shot away. The chances of getting an accidental touch with the arrow or the taut draw rope are really high, which might reduce your accuracy. Therefore, these are some of the things that are taught in explicit detail in good archery training institutes which teach their students to become professional archers.

George Loh is a Master Trainer in Singapore and owns a club which organizes annual competitions for all ages in Singapore, He also gives training for schools, groups and individuals who want to hone their skills in archery or those that are beginners. for more information visit http://www.faac.sg for more information.

By Jonathan Yeo

Several Useful Archery Tips

2011-09-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

For those who aspire on becoming archers, learning how to shoot an arrow properly is an art that is quite difficult to master. There are a variety of minor details that must be taken care of before you begin to shoot any sort of an arrow, because there is a small amount of risk involved in shooting arrows as well. First of all, before you begin practice, you must ensure that you practice in a controlled environment. In case your arrows go off target or your aim gets faltered, it is vitally important that no one else is harmed by your actions, because when you begin practicing, there are bound to be a few arrows that might go wayward. Below are several archery tips that might be very useful for aspiring archers.

First of all, the bow you use must be chosen carefully. Don't think you would be able to use any sort of a bow. In the market, you would find a variety of different bows that are constructed with various lengths and weights. If you hold a heavy bow, the chances are high that your arm might not be able to stand as steady as possible, which means that it is important you choose a bow which is of appropriate weight.

You should see that the bow you hold should have a comfortable drawing string. Unless you are able to pull it comfortably, you might not be able to shoot properly. There is no point in forcing yourself, because the large variety that is available makes it easy for you to pick the right bow. Once you become accustomed with the amount of strength that is needed to draw the bow properly, you can then buy a newer one with a heavier draw.

A bow that has a heavier draw might be able to hit higher distances, increasing your aiming capabilities as well. However, trying heavier bows might be a thing you would want to do later on, because in the initial stage, you should try and practice with simple, light bows only. Secondly, while aiming, there are certain things that you should keep in mind as well. Most of the people are unable to understand how to hold an arrow against the drawn string and then release it against the force of the elasticity of the string.

Most of the people are hold the arrow and then stretch it in tandem with the string, but when they release it, they are unable to transfer the elastic potential energy of the string to the arrow. Even if they do, the front end or the body of the arrow gets stuck against the front end of the bow, causing the arrow to fall without being released at all.

Therefore, you must first learn how to hold the arrow, as well as the loose string. And then, you must stretch it in such a manner that your arrow's positioning does not change, and it gets pulled easily along the front end of the bow. The curve in the arrow that is located in the back is the position in which you must allow the string to rest.

Some of the simplest archery tips speak of a person's mindset as well. Unless you believe that you would be able to hit the target, the chances are very low that you would be able to actually hit the target. Make sure you practice avidly before going to shoot in an uncontrolled environment, as this could be extremely dangerous in case your arrows falter. Unless you have complete command of your shooting, it would be unwise to go out in the open.

George Loh is a Master Trainer in Singapore and owns a club which organizes annual competitions for all ages in Singapore, He also gives training for schools, groups and individuals who want to hone their skills in archery or those that are beginners. for more information visit http://www.faac.sg for more information.

By Jonathan Yeo

Hunting Game Just Got Easy With the Parker Bow

2011-09-09T21:58:00.000-07:00

Parker bows are especially noted for high performance, innovative technologies, as well as high-quality components constructed by using a loving eye pertaining to craftsmanship and durability. Archery bows are certainly not all created equal, and Parker has been focused on remaining ahead of the pack. Parker Bows are among the hottest brand names connected with compound bows as well as crossbows available in the market currently. They happen to be generally known for their high-quality bows, outstanding effectiveness of those bows, and also the reasonable price.

Parker crossbows are some of the more revered as well as well-designed bows out there. Making use of authority that provides 140 years of combined working experience, the Parker producer has actually been providing high-quality, light-weight, and really well-crafted bows from it's debut in 1984. Some of their renowned bows include the buck buster and also the Parker cyclone. In the past twelve years alone, Parker crossbows have presented more than forty completely new and innovative goods in to the market place. Right from high-end compound bows for youth and adults to well made, shockingly fast archery arrows, Parker seems to have archery down to a science.

With regards to exercise equipment, be certain that many clubs as well as establishments have products for hire, like Parker bows and others. This should offer you a superb starting place as you help make your selection, either if you want to shoot meant for recreation and to hunt game. Moreover, leasing is likely to make things less difficult for yourself in the beginning while you will get to try a number of bows that would be fantastic in your case which means your costs are in a minimum before you get the best fit for your self, and want to invest in tools. The bows are produced especially with the hunter in mind and they've a long and also pretty great reputation. If the whole entire family is thinking of getting into the sport you may stay with Parker as the Parker Sidekick compound bow is certainly one of the better youth and ladies compound bows located on the market and can provide an extremely sound bow at an affordable prices.

If you wish to begin hunting or maybe just practising archery, you might want to get some good equipment, Parker bows as well as arrows are a fantastic starting point. Numerous people additionally take pleasure in looking out for some other hunting accessories, like hats, blades, waders, as well as other related equipment. You actually may not really know what you'll need until you stop by.

Parker's No. 1 seller remains the Ultra-Lite, a 31-inch bow weighing 2.9 lbs along with generating an IBO velocity of 310. Parker does not produce only short, light bows. 2 well-known Parker crossbows include the Stealth Hunter and Hunter-Mag, both measuring thirty seven ins long. Both of these bows, powered by Parker's Super One-Cam, produce IBO speeds over 310 fps.

By Alma Ut Mcdonald

Legolas, a Famous Archean

2011-09-08T21:56:00.000-07:00

There are many fiction characters in English literature relating to archery. Different novelists and story tellers have created different fictional characters in various stories and made archery as their super talent. Legolas is one of the most famous fiction archers of all time, created by J.R.R. Tolkien in his epic master piece "Lord of the Rings."

J.R.R. Tolkien described Legolas as:

He was tall as a young tree, lithe, immensely strong, able swiftly to draw a great war-bow and shoot down a Nazgul, endowed with the tremendous vitality of Elvish bodies, so hard and resistant to hurt that he went only in light shoes over rock or through snow, the most tireless of all the Fellowship." (Book of Lost Tales 2, p. 333)

In Lord of the Ring series, Legolas is shown as an elf having extraordinary archery skills, who is one of the main heroes of the whole series. Legolas is shown as the son of Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm of Northern Mirkwood. Legolas first appearance was in "Fellowship of the Ring" at the council of Elrond of Rivendell where his purpose was to convey the message about the escape of Gomel from their custody, and later he was chosen as the member of Fellowship because of his archery skills.

Legolas played a vital role in the whole series in saving the fellowship and defeating the army of Dark Lord. In every battle, Legolas fought with the enemies with the help of his bow and arrows. The character of Legolas became more famous after the release of movies and Orlando Bloom played this character, and this character made Orlando Bloom famous as well.

In all three parts, Legolas has been shown as one of the most important member of the fellowship, the archery skills of Legolas are extraordinary and these are shown like no others. Legolas helped the fellowship in passing through many hurdles and winning many battles.

The archery skills of Legolas are an inspiration to everyone especially for those who love this adventurous activity. Legolas is one of the characters who have made archery famous, archery is now associated with this famous character. The main competencies of Legolas are his cunning aim and fast speed; in the movies, Legolas is shown as throwing many arrows in a few second and killing many enemies in no time, the speed of Legolas in throwing arrows is just like shooting bullets from a gun.

The fascination of archery has made this activity so famous in English literature and has given birth to the famous characters like Legolas. Archery is still very famous today and is admired by the people all over the world.

By Adam Jhones

Bow Hunting Beginners - Learn Archery Hunting

2011-09-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

Are you a bow hunting beginner looking to master this unique and ancient method of hunting game? The sport of bow hunting has gained a lot of popularity over the last fifty years. Many sportsman like the greater challenge of hunting an animal with a bow, rather then with a high powered hunting rifle. To get the most from this style of hunting here are some tips for bow hunting beginners.

Have the right equipment. Longbows, recurve and compound bows are the three most common types with compound bows being the bow of choice by the vast majority of hunters now. The cams and pulleys of a compound bow increase the force and power of the arrow as it is shot. When the bow is at full draw there is a significant decrease in the tension needed to hold at that position. This assists the archer in aiming as he can relax slightly at full draw. In hunting he can also hold the position longer which can be necessary to get the best shot at the game animal. This explains why the compound bow is by far the top choice of bow hunters today. Selecting the correct size bow for the individual is important to allow for the best shooting performance. Be sure to select the arrows that are correct for the bow you are using. Since different bows have different draw lengths it is vital to select the arrows that match up with he draw length of the bow. To short or too long will obviously not work well.

Makes certain you are well aware of all the applicable hunting regulations for the area you plant to hunt. Each state or province will have its own set of laws and regulations. Some areas have specific rules for broad head arrows to be used for hunting big game animals such as deer, bear and elk. Expensive fines can be levied for using the wrong type of arrow head. It is the hunter's responsibility to know and follow all local laws.

Here is something to think about for all bow hunting beginners. Are you a hunter who uses a bow? Or are you an archer who also goes hunting? Regular archery practice is the best way to become a successful bow hunter. Do not put away your bow at the end of one hunting season, and then only take it out the following year and expect to be very proficient. For maximum skill learn the proper technique and practice on a regular basis, ideally year round. Remember - Practice makes perfect!

If possible take trips to the woods that you are expecting to hunt and do this throughout the year, not just right before hunting season. This will give you an opportunity to really learn the area and also to practice your stalking abilities Stalking skills can be very important since the effective range for a bow is only about 50 to 70 yards and a shot of about 30 yards is considered ideal. While becoming familiar with the potential hunting area you can also find where you might want to put a stand.

Consider using scent neutralizers when you bow hunt. The sense of smell of game animals should not be underestimated. This sense is so far superior to the human sense of smell it can be hard for us to comprehend. Their senses of hearing and sight are also significantly developed. This can make it very difficult to get in position for a good shot at an animal. When you hear a deer snort he is actually smelling the scent in the air. Remember the effect the wind can have in carrying your scent to the animal.

By combining good archery skills, knowledge of animal movement and stealthy movements in the woods you will greatly increase your chances of success when you go bow hunting.

By David M. Waters

Archery Beginners - Helpful Archery Practice Tips

2011-09-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

Archery is simply the sport of shooting with a bow and arrow. The very basics of getting off a shot is not that tough but mastering the sport and becoming proficient is quite challenging. Archery beginners will do well to understand and focus on the basics of shooting with a bow and arrow. While archery is not for everyone, those people who really get into it find to be fun and challenging as well as something you always want to improve in. To help you master the basic techniques here are some archery practice tips that can be your first step in increasing accuracy and enjoying the fine sport of archery.

Using the proper technique is probably the most important thing to learn if you are an archery beginner. Good posture and good balance are important as you stand and draw. Your feet should be comfortably apart for balance. Your bow arm should be kept straight as you draw and the draw (string) hand should be brought back to touch your face, you take aim and release the string to propel the arrow, hopefully toward the target. This a very simple description but once the basic motion is well developed it can be perfected and then repeated for each shot.

A common mistake made by archery beginners is to gripe the bow too tightly. It should be held it a loose and relaxed grip. Holding the bow too tightly can lead to twisting and turning of the bow and thus throwing the shot off. As for the grip on the string the traditional three finger grip generally will work fine. This requires the index finger to be above the nock and then the ring and middle fingers below the nock. Keep enough space between the index and middle finger so you do not pinch the nock. Apply equal pressure to the string with each of the fingers.

As you draw the string back to shoot you want to pause and aim when you reach a certain point, known as your anchor point. Developing your anchor point is a key to developing accurate shots. The anchor point is the exact location of where your draw hand is brought back to touch your face. An example would be to have your index finger touch a certain location on the side of your chin and the bow string to be just in front of the tip of your nose. Assuming this allows for good aim you should use this a reference point so you can duplicate each shot. Consistency is what you are striving for. Remember to allow for good follow through on each shot as well. Do not make the mistake of moving the bow arm at any point as this can easily mess up the shot completely. Keep you arm, legs and head stable. A good rule is to stay still until your arrow has hit the target.

Another important point to keep in mind is to stay relaxed and do not tense up as you are shooting the arrow. Relax, stay focused and have fun. Being nervous or too tense will make it difficult to make accurate shots. This is true in many sports application, weather it is hitting a baseball, shooting a basketball or casting a fly rod.

Did you know that the art of shooting a bow and arrow is one of the oldest methods of hunting used by humans and today it is still a very popular sport that is even part of the Olympics? If you are looking for more ways to improve your archery skill then visit Bow and Arrow Lessons and find out more useful and fun information.

By David M. Waters