Author: John Corleone

Overcome Sports Burnout

October 14, 2019
Sport

Most people that have burnt out on a sport have done so because they spent many years focused entirely on improving their rankings. The first step to returning to a sport is to forget the past. Don’t hold yourself to achievements from several years ago. In other words, start fresh, with a new set of personal records and expectations.

The same applies to training. Don’t hold yourself to a practice schedule you had several years ago. You might not think that training a couple of hours a week will be adequate but it will get you back into the habit and, hopefully, help you find a new love for the sport. Remember, you most likely have many more obligations now that you had when you first competed. You probably won’t have the same amount of time to dedicate to the sport. And that’s OK.

Once you commit to returning, do … Read the rest

Teaching Soccer Skills to Children

October 14, 2019
Soccer

First, have music. For any sport or activity with special needs children, music is key. They love music. So after you explain directions put it on while they do their activity then stop it again when you are explaining something new.

Also, I like to give each child a partner that does not have a disability to help them focus and do the activity to the best of their ability. But only if this is available.

Have enthusiasm with everything!!!!!! If something goes well or if they do the activity correctly or well, get excited!!!! High fives, cheering, clapping. They feed off your enthusiasm.

  • Touch:
    The best way to start is to put a ball at the child’s feet and have them hit it between their feet while standing in one spot. (Always be conscious that some of the children will not be able to do some of the activities.)
… Read the rest

Indoor Soccer Shoes

October 14, 2019
Soccer

Features

The shoes have a number of great features that makes them ideal to be used indoors:

  • They are lightweight and don’t have cleats.
  • The sole is made of rubber and it’s also padded on the inside in order to provide proper arch support.

While the sole is made from rubber, the rest of the shoe is made of leather. The good side with leather is that it allows movement; therefore, you can easily move your foot when playing. Leather is also durable thus you are assured that your boot will last for a long time.

Most indoor soccer shoes have the same upper and midsole; however, the outsole tends to differ. When buying them you should be cautious of the condition of the outsole.

Types

There are two types of indoor soccer shoes: turf and plain shoes. Turf shoes are characterized by patterns that are built into the soles … Read the rest

Soccer Tryouts

October 13, 2019
Soccer

How important are dribbling skills? Regular drills are critical if kids are to become experts at dribbling. This allows them to learn how to maneuver the ball correctly. Once you are able to dribble while ensuring that contact with the ball is maintained, you could easily leave your opponents behind on the playing field.

Basic tricks such as playing with the ball should be learned by heart if a player is to become an outstanding dribbler. Kids are also taught to use the face of their feet during soccer drills. While dribbling fast, using the front part of the foot allows kids to remain in step.

However, it is still important to ensure that kids learn how to use both the inside and outside of their feet as this is a critical part of becoming a great dribbler. It allows you to keep the ball in control regardless of the … Read the rest

Smarter Winter Hiking

October 13, 2019
Sport
  • Bring a walking stick. You’ll most likely encounter patches of snow that are thick and a stick can come in handy assisting you through the rough spots, providing leverage for you to move through the snow. Poking areas of snow with your walking stick can also indicate how deep the snowdrift is or if there are any unexpected dips in the terrain. This can help prevent twisted ankles.
  • Waterproof boots are a must. Anyone who has spent time in snow is well aware that snow is wet. And plowing through snow all day will leave your shoes soaked through unless they’re waterproof. Feet safety is at the forefront of your hiking adventure: sore, cold, aching feet are a sure way to end a hiking experience in misery. Ensure your shoes are tall enough to keep snow from falling in from the top as well, hence why boots are recommended. And
… Read the rest

Aspects of Sport Watches

October 12, 2019
Sport

General Purpose Sport Watches

General purpose sport watches are generic sport watches and often have very useful features like a stopwatch mode. General purpose watches are often intended to be used for any number of athletes and have few extra functions. The are typically very durable and impact resistant. Common materials used to construct these types of watches are hard plastics and rubber.

Multi-Use Watches

These types of sport watches are meant for the intense sports enthusiast who requires multiple features. They are all-inclusive watches and in most cases come with very detailed lists of features, which explain why they may be pricier than general purpose sport watches.

Mountaineering

Mountain climbing watches are made to support the unique requirements of mountaineers. A mountaineer may have various requirements like weather prediction, an altimeter and so on. Watches in this category generally support features like global positioning systems (GPS), that help one … Read the rest

About Parallels in Leadership and Sports

October 11, 2019
Sport

While living a life filled with leadership responsibilities, I often use sports analogies to paint a picture of opportunities for work leadership. These painted pictures help bring an understanding in ways that aren’t always obvious on the surface.

The usage of some of our favorite past-times, as visuals, can help drive a point home. As a former collegiate athlete and professional coach, athletic lessons frequently come to mind in everyday leadership scenarios at work, in the community, in ministry and at home.

Leadership, many times, requires a change process. This process can happen for you, yourself, as a leader; or you can influence others to change. In athletics, change is inevitable in order to reach the ultimate goal of a championship. At work, many organizations are striving towards their own version of a championship.

Football, to me, is the greatest team sport. I’ve found that many team sports can be … Read the rest

Staying Warm in the Bleachers

October 10, 2019
Sport
  • Check weather conditions before heading outside. Watch your local weekly weather forecast to make it easy to prepare in advance.
  • Dress appropriately. If you are going to be in the extreme cold, wear as many layers of warm clothing as possible. If it’s mildly cold, try to dress in just a few layers and pack an extra coat or sweater in case the temperature drops.
  • Be prepared for all conditions. Keep an umbrella, poncho or warm jacket with you. Have an indoor, heated place to go… you don’t want to be stuck outside if the weather conditions become extreme.
  • Wear waterproof shoes or boots with a good grip. If your feet are cold and wet, it won’t matter how well the rest of your body is bundled up. You will still be miserable!
  • Wear gloves and/or mittens and long thick socks. These protect your hands and feet, which are the
… Read the rest

Ensure Safety On Ice Skating Rinks

October 3, 2019
Sport

Before skating outdoors, test the ice first to make sure that it is strong and hard enough to skate on. One way of testing the strength of a frozen body of water is to find a very shallow area and place one foot onto the ice. Apply your body weight until you feel comfortable to place your other foot onto the ice surface as well. You can then drill a hole in the ice to check for ice thickness. You can also check other sections of the ice rink to make sure that it is safe to skate on by drilling some holes through the surface.

Keep in mind that natural ice surfaces are always full of danger. They are not as safe as indoor ones that are always maintained and regularly inspected. If you prefer to skate outdoors, stay away from these hazardous areas:

  • The shoreline
  • Moving water
  • Hot
… Read the rest

Ski Through A Water Ski Course

October 2, 2019
Sport

A ski course is 850 feet long and will take less than 30 seconds to ski through. While it’s short, it can also be humbling. Even the most seasoned open water skiers will struggle at their first several attempts on the course. But practice and patience will help ensure success.

There are a couple key things to consider when first attempting to ski the course. First is to maintain a stable balanced stance on the ski with knees bent slightly, and to ski in a rhythmic manner with a taut ski rope. It helps to practice at a slow boat speed. Having the boat go 26 mph or slower will allow you to feel comfortable and in control. A smooth turn will help keep the rope taut. Most skiers will ski with a 60 foot rope as longer ropes may be more difficult to manage.

The second key is to … Read the rest