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Youth Sports Coaching - The Golden Rules

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Youth sports coaches in recent years have come under more scrutiny than ever before. From four year old teams to high school and college coaching ranks, there has been a magnifying glass honed in on the leader of the squad - the youth coach. Obviously, that can be a good thing. We entrust these men and women with our kids for a few hours a day. We want them using good judgment, protecting them from avoidable harm and providing them with the guidance they are entrusted to provide. As with any situation such as coaching, however, there is the flip side, where you read stories of confrontations from parents, unheard of competitive pressure to win at all costs or coaches who simply think they are the next Vince Lombardi or Bobby Knight.
Being on both sides of that fence as a parent and as a youth sports coach, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. I have had parents come to me as a coach and thanking me for my efforts with their child. I have heard parents yell at me from the stands during games. I have seen a parent want to go after one of the opposing team's pitchers during one of our baseball games because that pitcher had just hit his son as he was batting.
As a parent, I've seen coaches who try and practice 48 different plays to a group of 6 and 7 year basketball players who can barely dribble a basketball. I've seen coaches who pretty much act as babysitters, letting the kids do what they want without any credible coaching or guidance. I've seen coaches work with compassion, commitment and focus with kids.
Youth sports are filled with coaches of all abilities. They are human like the rest of us, remember. So, what do we want out of our coaches? What do we think makes a coach that either we would like to be or, as parents, we want our kids to have?
As hard as it may be, I think the main trait in a youth coach is being as upfront as possible. Whether you are in a younger learning type league or more advanced competitive league, be clear and precise. The players and parents will know exactly where you stand and what your goals are. That way, if you are coaching the five year old soccer league, you want to make sure that everyone knows that you are doing a lot of teaching during the season and not carrying on about winning.
Conversely, if you're in a more competitive environment, make sure you let players know where they stand. They might not like the fact that they are sitting the bench more than they are starting, but tell them what their role is and why. If needed, let them know what they can do to get into the starting lineup. But, again, be realistic. If you know that a kid, no matter how hard they work, will not develop the skills needed to break into a starter's role, don't snow them by thinking that might be the case. That might sting at first, but they will respect you for being straightforward with them.
The key ingredient here is to be consistent. Staying the course and being consistent in your philosophy day in and day out is huge. The kids, and their parents, will pick up quickly if you're flip flopping goals on a weekly basis. You will lose credibility and lose respect from your players, their parents, and perhaps your administration, as well.
Obviously, staying consistent with the big picture but also with the regulations and rules that you have set forth is important. You do not want to have the "Jordan Rules" when it comes to players, especially when it comes to the more talented players on your team. Again, this relates more to those youth coaches in a more competitive environment. Staying true to your overall goals as well as the detailed rules of the team goes a long way in keeping the attention of your players.
As a parent, we appreciate the coach knowing the game they are coaching thoroughly. However, what we do not appreciate is someone who really doesn't want to be around kids. If you love the game of baseball, for example, but really don't get into having a bunch of ten year olds asking you a million questions about everything from techniques to what snack they're getting after the game, then maybe you need to look for another way to get involved in the game. Perhaps look at a different level to coach. I've seen basketball coaches in an 8 and under developmental league trying to get so sophisticated with their drills that they lost sight of who they're coaching. When you're trying to coach the Phil Jackson triangle offense to kids who struggle to dribble, I think you may have some issues.
I love baseball, but do not want to coach any league under twelve or thirteen years of age. It's not where my strengths lie as a coach. I am not going to attempt to do it and provide those kids with inadequate coaching because that is just not my strong suit as a teacher of the sport. Enjoy the sport, but also enjoy the age group you are coaching.
Teach, teach, teach. That point cannot be emphasized enough. I had a nephew who had two coaches. One was a teacher on the field (this was baseball). The other was the king of clichÃ�©s and sarcasm. He THOUGHT he was coaching but all he was doing was spewing out every coaching clichÃ�© in the dictionary. When kids did something wrong, he was quick with a sarcastic put down and a clichÃ�© thrown in for good measure. It may sound simplistic. You're the coach right, so you of course are teaching. But actually get in there and teach, demonstrate and point out to kids how to do a skill the correct way. As a coach, make sure you and your staff are constantly teaching. As a parent, this is what we look for in a coach. We are looking for someone to get our kids to improve as well as enjoy the game.
Coaching can be an unbelievably rewarding experience. Using these simple steps can go a long way toward having that happen.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7137750

Rad Ball and Cycle Ball Bikes

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Introduction
Cycle ball, if you are not familiar with this game, is otherwise known as Rad ball. It is said to be a combination of cycling and football and was invented by a German-American, named Edward Kaufmann. It is considered an unusual sport in the United States, but has been around since the late 19th century. It first gained popularity in Europe and reached the far flung shores of Asia, like Japan.
How the Game is Played
Cycle ball is a fun game to watch. It is played around a basketball field with an area of 36 x 46 feet. The play-off consists of two teams with two players per team. The players ride around the field; and using their heads and front wheels, they shoot a ball through their opponent's goals to score a point. The team that has the most number of goals wins the game.
The Professional Player
Unlike other sports that you see on sports news, there is no money to be made in Cycle Ball. Players normally have full time jobs, and trains only during competitions. These games can cost the players a lot of money in terms of bike expenses. Since these matches call for unavoidable contact with each other, these oftentimes result to a lot of money expended by the players for cycle ball bikes alone. Still, the game is exciting and spectacular. Players normally spare no expenses in getting the best and top-of-the line bike wheels that are available in the market today.
The Equipment Used
The cycle ball bikes used for these games are specially constructed and optimized for Cycling Ball. These bikes are more durable than the bikes that we used in going to school. The cycle ball bike's reconstructed features include: the seat is positioned at the back tire; use of single gear for ease of movement and mobility, and; the handlebars point straight up. The bikes are heavier than ordinary bikes and costs around 2,000 Euros or around $2,534 U.S. Dollars. For the games, players are required to have lots of practice and experience in riding so as to keep their balance during shootouts and gametime.
What are Cycle Ball Bicycles
Cycle Ball Bikes are extra-ordinary bikes, unlike the bikes that we normally see on the streets. They are especially designed for extra strength and special movements. These special movements would include turning, shooting, dashing and outright breaks and stopping. This bike is a powerhouse, with one piece construction for its handlebars that are welded straight into the stem. This allows for forceful shooting during competitions and play. Other features would include:
1. The saddle is attached to a seat post that extends to the rear side to enable you to pull your hips back when you are playing. This feature is particularly useful when a powerful kick is necessary so you don't tumble over.
2. The front rear and gear ratio is fixed at 1:1 for better control and acceleration of the bikes. This would allow you to make sudden breaks, back-ups, dashes and other movements without fear of tipping over.
3. The chains used are thicker than ordinary bikes and can withstand the rigors of play. Frames are likewise thicker so as to absorb the extreme strong forces generated during turning and shooting once you join these matches.
4. These bikes do not have brakes unlike the bikes that we ordinarily use. To stop the bike, players or you would have to used both feet in order to stop it.
5. The gears are capable of moving the bicycles from 2.5 to 3 meters per full pedal revolution, so it would be less tiresome for you to pedal it.
6. The cap nuts make used of acorn nuts that are capped at the ends of the hub to prevent injury. These bikes also uses 24 teeth chain wheel and 22 teeth fixed gear for ease of mobility and biking comfort.
The cycle ball bikes have been tested for comfort, durability and safety. You can have one of those without fear of toppling over, and a guarantees that it would last for several years to come!
Consolacion S. Miravite is a Certified Public Accountant, Real Estate Broker, Lead Farmer, Trader, Accounting Professor, Free Lance Writer and Blogger. She has written for various publications and organizations on subject areas that include - Finance, Accounting, E-marketing, Computers, Reviews, Academe, and crafts among others.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7126039

Autographed Sports Memorabilia - Tips On Getting Started

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So you want to start your autographed sports memorabilia collection, but have no idea how and where to start? This article will share a few tips with you to get you on the right track to becoming a smart memorabilia buyer.
When starting any type of collection, the first thing you need to do before you take that first step is to arm yourself with the appropriate devices to make each purchase worthwhile. Consider the amount of money you are willing to spend on this endeavor. Remember that scrimping on your buys may lead you to fraudulent transactions more times that you will ever care to admit in the future. Likewise, if you do not budget your money right, you'll end up impulsive buying items that are of very little value.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia is Serious Business
In any hobby that requires purchasing items from dealers and distributors, it pays to be properly informed. Before you decide on your first memorabilia item, sign up for an account in a forum where buyers and sellers can give you sound advice on what to buy and from whom to buy it. They should also be able to give you useful advice on how to spot fakes, and how to increase and maintain the value of your purchased item.
Communicating with sports fans who have been involved in this hobby for a long time will not only help you make the smartest choice in every purchase. This will also help you meet and keep in touch with people who would be most interested to buy from you if you should decide to sell your items.
Of course, you should also do your own research, just to authenticate or add to the information you will get from the forum. It will also do you good to make a list of the reputable dealers that come highly recommended, so that you can take note of them when you finally decide on your first memorabilia purchase.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia - Starting Small
Before you make your first buy, consider what you want to collect first. Professional collectors advise amateurs to start small and get a feel for the industry first before making bigger purchases. Perhaps you can start building a collection around your most favorite player first. When you have learned enough about the business, and have established connections with more reliable contacts, then you can start expanding to items associated to your favorite team, and eventually to your favorite sport in general.
Autographed sports memorabilia is an expensive investment, so you also have to make sure that they are cared for and kept well enough to maintain their pristine value.
Are you looking for more information regarding autographed sports memorabilia? Visit http://www.apieceofsports.com today!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7132706

Autographed Sports Memorabilia - A Sense of Camaraderie and Loyalty

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The continuously growing industry of autographed sports memorabilia serves as a testament to our undying love of sports. More than just a luxurious collection, collecting signed items from sporting events and famous athletes is a way for enthusiasts to feel more involved in their chosen sport and more attuned to the passion that they have for it.
The most passionate memorabilia collectors would feel no qualm at all about spending thousands of dollars each year on dozens of rare items to add to their collections. Whatever type of sport a man happens to be enthused about, there is sure to be every piece of it stored in his display case under lock and key. Some even value these items enough to get them insured. And if you want to annoy a collector out of his wits, touch an item from his collection with grubby hands and all hell will break lose.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia-Why So Serious?
Sports represent many things to many people, and collecting memorabilia items is a way of turning these sentimental feelings into something tangible. A collector can spend hours in front of his collection, mentally reliving a memory associated with each item. Even the conquest of acquiring these items can ignite a feeling of victory that makes a collector even more connected to his sport.
Part of what makes people so enamored in sports is the feeling of belongingness it gives. We all deal with unpleasant things at work and in the news everyday, all dealing with disharmony and corruption among people. Sports fans find solace from the stresses of reality by watching sports, where fraternity is respected, and loyalty and hard work actually pays off. The brotherhood extends outside of the sport itself when fans meet with each other to discuss the technicalities and other interesting details of the game.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia-More Than Just A Hobby
People watch sports for their own personal reasons. Some turn to it for a little inspiration, an assurance that there is still a place in this world where justice and fairness still dictates the rules of a game. Some people feel more alive after spending a couple of hours with the adrenaline-inducing actions on a sporting field. Still others watch for the sake of learning more and earning more through gambling.
Whatever their reasons are for indulging in sports and in autographed sports memorabilia, sports fans will always keep this industry alive with their enthusiastic support, and some tangible indulgences on the side.
Are you looking for more information regarding autographed sports memorabilia? Visit http://www.apieceofsports.com today!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7132690

Autographed Sports Memorabilia - Rare Items Vs Mass Market

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Experts advice that not all autographed sports memorabilia make a sound investment. In fact, some items that are not even signed by an athlete may sell for more if auctioned right. Take for example what is now considered the most expensive sports memorabilia ever sold in history: Babe Ruth's first jersey.
Babe Ruth was a well-known and well-loved baseball player in the 1920s, who broke a number of sports records during his career. The jersey that sold for $4.4 million was the first he ever wore when he transferred out of the Boston Red Sox to come and play for the New York Yankees.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia-Appraising Their Value
Some authentic signed items are just one of many similar pieces autographed by a marketable athlete at any given time, and may not be rare enough to shell out large amounts of money for. Sometimes, not even the most passionate memorabilia enthusiasts would show interest in this type of mass market collectible.
If you are a collector looking to sell your items in the future, you will do good to seek out investments that collect monetary value instead of dust. Find the rarest items out there: jerseys that were actually worn by players, gloves that actually made impact on flesh, balls, pucks and other sporting equipment that were actual part of the game. Any one of these will make a more valuable investment and a worthy addition to your memorabilia collection.
It is also a good idea to keep a record of when and how each item was obtained. If you can take a picture of yourself in the event where the item came from, or standing alongside the athlete who used to belong to the jersey, any one of these should serve as authentication enough that your item is the real thing. This will attract more bidders in sports auctions.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia-When and How To Sell
When you are planning to sell a valuable memorabilia, it helps to put it on display first where it's most likely to attract more bidders. This is an important aspect of selling that all memorabilia sellers should keep in mind. The Babe Ruth jersey was undoubtedly one of its kind, and used to be up on display at the legendary players birthplace. It now belongs to a collecting firm who happened to offer the highest bid on it-a bid that made history, just like the athlete who first owned the jersey.
It also helps to sell your items during the season for the sport it is associated with. Autographed sports memorabilia should also bear a level of rarity for it to be considered valuable enough to attract the most passionate high bidders in sports auctions.
Are you looking for more information regarding autographed sports memorabilia? Visit http://www.apieceofsports.com today!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7132672

Autographed Sports Memorabilia: Sentiments and Fraud

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Autographed sports memorabilia can come in a variety of forms, each one representing a particular point in a sporting event. Anything you can see that is directly related to the sport and which can be carried out by hand from a venue, can be considered a memento. Just try not to grab anything that is not willingly handed out to you or you'll be in big trouble!
Sources of valuable sports memorabilia include the actual sporting venue, hobby shops, sports auctions, and online retailers. Real sports enthusiasts collect these items as keepsakes, a constant reminder of the part they played in that particular sporting event. Other more practical buyers grow their collections in hopes of someday selling them at a higher price.
Whatever your reasons are for getting into this hobby, it is important to know just what items to keep an eye out for to continuously increase your collection.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia: Different Sports, One Passion
Common memorabilia items include photos, jerseys, tickets and event programs. Some of these you can collect yourself by going to the actual sporting events, while others you can scour shops and online retail websites for to satisfy your cravings.
From the collector's standpoint, the value of such items can range from the deeply sentimental to the purely monetary, but when sold at sports auctions and through other retailing methods, any one of these can bring in thousands of dollars for its rarity and time value.
Sports items that belonged to a well-known athlete, or were part of a remarkable sports victory, would make far better investments especially when signed by the athlete himself and authenticated by experts. If you're investing on memorabilia as a business venture, it is far more important for you to watch out for fraudulent merchandise.
Autographed Sports Memorabilia and Fraud
The rule of thumb for all collectors is that, when a deal is too good to be true, it probably is. Large amounts of dollars are lost to memorabilia frauds each year, and many fraudulent retailers are still at large. Your best defense against fraud is to get properly informed. Do your share of research to find out which companies are certified to distribute signed items from famous athletes and take the effort to ensure that's exactly where your memorabilia purchases originally came from.
Memorabilia items usually come with a documentation attesting to its authenticity. Legitimate memorabilia sellers have recently began adopting the hologram system of authentication pioneered by a major sports dealer, making it easier to protect yourself from purchasing fraudulent autographed sports memorabilia.
Are you looking for more information regarding autographed sports memorabilia? Visit http://www.apieceofsports.com today!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7132661







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