Participation in youth sports serves many needs and teaches great life lessons. Nobody can argue the benefits of participation: making new friends, learning to play as a team, developing coordination and fundamental athletic skills, exercise, sportsmanship, winning, losing, performing under pressure and so much more. However, what is the best way to set up a league that will be best for the kids so that they can all garner these lessons? This month, I’ll let you know why I feel a skill based allocation of players will be beneficial to the largest number of kids rather than the traditional method using age or grade.
League Philosophy – There are a number of formats for dividing kids into divisions. The main distinction most try to make has been between “Recreational” leagues and “Competitive” leagues. In recreational leagues, kids don’t have to tryout in order to get a place on the team and kids must all get playing time. In some leagues, the requirement is equal playing time. On Elite teams, often called “travel” teams because they travel and play other top teams from all over in tournaments, the competition, skill level and pressure can be high. Travel teams practice several times a week and often spend weekends far from home competing. Kids may or may not play in any game and the starters may get far more playing time. In contrast, recreational leagues are generally local community based leagues with all the kids from the area. Kids often go to school together and are friends. They practice less, play fewer games and put the focus squarely on “fun” instead of simply “competition”. There are certainly advantages to each format depending on the child. However, it is my belief that recreational leagues can achieve the best results for all kids involved and provide a superior experience for everybody simply by creating skill based divisions of talent instead of lumping everybody into one group.
Benefits of Skill Based Division – The concept behind providing players with an appropriate level of competition is to keep advanced players developing and interested in the game and to give less advanced players an environment in which to shine and feel like they’re contributing. In our PC world of today, everybody has a hard time acknowledging that kids are different but we need to admit that kids have different skill levels and they all develop at different paces. We also need to admit that kids and parents like to compete to win and even to lose. So, given these facts, here are some ways that all the kids benefit from a skill based division:
1.More Skilled Players Compete Against Each Other. Having more skilled competition helps everybody improve. The top kids in this division will be forced to develop their skills and bring them to a new level. The lower kids in this group will be forced to keep up thereby enhancing their development. Coaches also will have a chance to work on more sophisticated elements of the game including the “inner game” which will help everybody to improve. When the skill level of kids is too wide, the top kids or the bottom kids will suffer because they aren’t being taught what they need to learn. Games will be faster, more enjoyable for players, coaches and fans, and be at a higher level. This simply makes the game and the league more fun for everybody involved.
2.Less Skilled Players Compete Against kids of similar skills. This does so much for these kids because it will be a better learning experience. First, there is simply going to be more opportunity. Instead of being the bottom half of a better team, these kids are now in the top half and have a chance to play more skill positions. This enhances their development as players and makes the game much more fun and interesting. Since all kids grow at different speeds, it also gives them a chance to develop their skills and catch up more quickly since they’ll have more opportunity to play. Next, coaches can focus on fundamental skills without ignoring the top end of the spectrum. The games are better because all the kids are better balanced and the competition is equal. This makes it more fun for the kids, parents and coaches.
3.Playoffs are more gratifying and easier to set up. The competition is divided already into skill levels which should mean smaller groups. This makes having double elimination tournaments and other playoff formats easier to accomplish and also more meaningful.
4.Kids make new friends – broadening the community. Since it is likely that skill levels can bring multiple age groups together, kids will be teamed with kids that may not be in their social circle. This means that they make new friends, parents meet new people and since so much of our social interaction revolves around the kids’ activities, the community because a better place to live.
5.Leagues can use different skill appropriate rules. For example, in baseball, there can be several levels of kid pitch baseball with different rules appropriate to the various skill levels in order to allow for the development of kids. Adjusting strike zones, ability to steal different bases, leading off, walks, strikes, using a tee and/or having a coach/machine pitch in different situations, can make the experience better for everybody involved.
This is not a New Concept – Lots of leagues all across the country already allow for skill based division of talent and blurring of hard age/grade lines. Pop Warner, for example, uses weight limitations and groupings to help divide kids for football. When baseball leagues are large enough they can separate the minors division into A, AA and AAA levels. Some leagues have been hesitant because they point to potential issues: 1) dividing kids when skills are often similar; 2) friends may not be able to play together; 3) some kids may end up in the wrong division; 4) some kids may feel badly if they don’t make a certain level; and, 5) dealing with parents who think their child should be in a different division. However, while these are valid concerns, other leagues have overcome these obstacles by: 1) have tryouts and drafting the players – not a perfect solution but easy to implement and answer criticism; 2) just accept this and allow kids to make new friends;
3) no matter what system, it’s possible for kids to be in the wrong division so try to be flexible and allow for movement and/or simply understand that while some kids may be in the wrong division they will still have a positive experience; 4) explain to parents that this is simply where their child was drafted – something that takes place already in almost every league that has more than one division. What I’m arguing for is to make as many different divisions as appropriate to the number and skill levels of the kids. Even leagues that currently create divisions based on skill may want to reevaluate to determine if they might be even better off making another division. Leagues that divide kids simply by age and/or grade should completely redo their program to allow for skill based divisions.
The Deficiencies of Age Division – Any division of kids by age is purely arbitrary and very unfair to the children. If kids are classified in a single 12-month period, the oldest kids are going to be a full year older than the youngest kids. This situation is exacerbated when the age division is a 24 month period. AYSO and Little League had an arbitrary cut off date of July 31 (Little League is moving to April 30) and many other leagues use calendar years. However the arbitrary cut off date is determined, it creates significant effects on the kids. In a recent article published in the Journal of Sports Sciences, June 2005, the impact of age division were studied by Werner F. Helson, Jan Van Winckel (Department of Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium) and A. Mark Williams (Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Morres University, Liverpool, UK) in their article “The Relative Age Effect in Youth Soccer Across Europe”. This article studies over 2,000 boys and girls playing youth soccer across 10 European nations. The results demonstrated a statistically significant overrepresentation of older children across all subsections studied.
As pointed out in this article, “as children are separated into age groups there are invariably cognitive, physical and emotional differences between the youngest and the oldest ones”. While a year doesn’t mean much in the life of an adult, for children there is. “Significant variation in academic and sports performance may arise because of differences in growth and development between those born early and late in the selection year”. The effect is that “A child born at the beginning of the year will, on average, perform better than a peer born at the end of the year. This initial performance advantage is likely to increase intrinsic (observed competence) and extrinsic (appreciation of teachers and parents) motivation to continue involvement in a sport. This increased motivation, coupled with greater perceived competence, will encourage those born early in the selection year to continue to practice to further improve and refine their skills compared with those born later in the year.” Because success breeds success, “Youth players born early in the selection year, beginning in the 6- to 8-year-old age group are more likely to be identified as talented by professional teams, to play for national teams and, eventually, to become involved in the sport as a professional. In comparison, players born late in the selection year are more likely to drop out of the sport as early as 12 years of age” (Feltz & Petlichkoff, 1983; Helsen, Starkes, & Hodges, 1998).
The obvious reason why this takes place follows: “To explain these findings, researchers have shown that players with a relative age advantage over their playing peers possess significant developmental advantages (i.e. height, weight and strength) that impact on perceived potential and predicted success in sport. Given the importance of these early experiences for the development of sport skills, strong relative age effects in professional players might be a consequence of the early onset of these effects in the youth age categories.”
Conclusion – Since it is impossible to simply correct arbitrarily created age differences without randomly changing the age cut off from year to year, we have to acknowledge that an attempt to be “fair” by grouping children by age creates exactly the opposite effect: a system where the oldest children have a huge advantage and are far more likely to succeed. Especially in recreational leagues, where the goal is to have fun and create enjoyable, long lasting life experiences, the better you group the kids, the more likely it is that you will succeed in running a fun and competitive league that allows for the development of all the participants and promises not only to positively include the most kids. The result may help them to continue participating in an activity they love which can best be achieved by grouping kids into smaller divisions based on skill rather than age.
Anticiparse a los clubes de mayor capacidad de talonario es la estrategia de los clubes de presupuesto ms modesto para hacerse con futbolistas de proyeccin internacional. La experiencia del Cdiz en este sentido es ms que positiva: el ojo de su director deportivo, Alberto Benito, hizo posible la contratacin de Carlos Javier Acua, que aunque an no ha podido brillar en los partidos oficiales del conjunto amarillo por cuestiones relativas a su trnsfer, nadie duda del acierto de su fichaje ni del talento del joven futbolista paraguayo. Benito se hizo con Acua en el campeonato sudamericano sub 20 del ao pasado y ahora el Cdiz parece que intentar repetir la misma jugada: “Si el Cdiz quiere seguir creciendo, tenemos que conocer todos los mercados y no pensar slo en el presente, sino también en el futuro”, comenta el director deportivo amarillo.
Resulta que a partir del 16 de septiembre arranca en Per el Mundial sub 17, cita obligada para todos los ojeadores del mundo del baln que quieran buscar la nueva perla futbolstica del futuro.
Presencia asegurada Benito ya tiene plaza reservada para volar a Per y tomar buena nota de los diamantes en bruto que puedan aparecer. Potencias emergentes en el ftbol, como Ghana, con su estrella Michael Donkor, Gambia o la siempre brillante seleccin de Brasil (que va a por el tetracampeonato) estarn en el punto de mira. En la seleao destacan el volante zurdo Ramn, el defensa Marcelo y sobre todo Anderson, un punta del que apuntan “tiene un futuro ilimitado”.
El ojeador amarillo no tiene urgencias por fichar, y todo lo que sea completar agenda siempre estar bien, pero habr que seguir de cerca los movimientos porque puede fraguarse una operacin con futuro.
After the regular football season of the National Football League (NFL) comes the Super Bowl. The final playoffs happen on the last Sunday in January or the first Sunday in February giving the name to Super Bowl Sunday with festivities reaching bacchanalian levels. In 2006, Super Bowl Sunday will be on February 5 and America will be celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the game. Super Bowl XL will reach an all-time high.
The Super Bowl is America’s most-watched broadcast of the year, because it is pure entertainment. And it’s not just America that tunes in, but people all over the world love to tune into the Super Bowl experience. And it’s not just the power of football that attracts fans, but the halftime entertainment featuring America’s greatest stars. Everyone from Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and Diana Ross to New Kids on the Block, Aerosmith and U2 have wowed football fans and television viewers during the Super Bowl halftime.
The Super Bowl winning football teams in the history of the game include: the Dallas Cowboys, the San Francisco 49ers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Green Bay Packers, the Oakland Raiders, the Washington Redskins, the New England Patriots, the Miami Dolphins, the New York Giants, the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Baltimore Colts, the Chicago Bears, the St. Louis Rams, the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Trampolines are not only a great source of amusement for children and of exercise for adults. Indeed, trampolines – and more specifically, trampoline mats – also pose a significant safety risk if they are not maintained, repaired, or replaced when necessary.
If your trampoline’s warranty has expired or if it never had one in the first place, and its mat has developed holes, rips, or cracks, it is a good idea to replace your trampoline.
If the stitching of a trampoline mat has worn out due to the effect of the sun’s UV rays, it needs to be re-sewn. This is necessary when black straps pull away from fabric, the metal hardware attached to fabric falls off, or the stitching is no longer visible and the mat is hanging towards the ground.
Trampoline mats typically wear out after three to eight years of use. This range is dependent largely on the location of the trampoline and the amount of exposure to UV rays. Any trampoline mat over ten years old should be replaced – not repaired.
It is possible to fix holes in the mat and re-stitch it, but this is risky in terms of safety and longevity.
Your trampoline’s bouncing power can be greatly reduced if some of its springs are damaged. Trampoline springs that are over-stretched, loose or have damaged hooks should be replaced.
This article is about three New Years tennis resolutions. Number one, I will call other players and organize my match play practices. Number two, I will not get negative in matches, practice or tournament play! Number three, I will step inside the court and attack my opponents second serve! Here are a few pointers that will help.
Number one – Several reasons why you do not practice are because you may be embarassed to ask or you may think others are better then you and if you lose they may not play with you again. I am with you, but how about this approach. Make a list of all players you meet at tournaments or your club, get their phone numbers and addresses, call the ones you think you have good chance to beat, use these practices to try new things you have learned. As you go through the list you will get the ones you might think that beat you, with these stay calm and consistent, build up your points patiently, do not go for winners all the time, make them earn their points. At the end of each practice give them your phone number and address. Before you know it, they will be calling you too!
Number two, I will not get negative in matches, practice or tournament play! I will not get negative when I make mistakes or begin losing. This is a challenge for most people, but this year it will be different…yes! This year mistakes and losing are part of learning how to win! The very best in the world make very silly mistakes as you see on TV and lose more often then they win, exception Federer. One good way to go about it is to allow yourself a quota of mistakes per set, say 20 unforced errors, the better you get the less. As you make a mistake learn to immediately turn away from it and go to your returning position or serving position and get mentally ready for the next point. If you have trouble, remember “A lost point is past, the next point is present and requires your full attention, NOW!” At every change of sides write down the mistakes you made, make a clear mental picture on how you would have played it to win the point and leave it at that.
Number three, I’ll remember I will step inside the court and attack my opponents second serve! Make a committment to be courageous, depending on the quality of your opponents second serve, step 3 to 6 feet inside the court and take the return early! I give you 3 choices:
- If the serve is really weak put it away!
- If you want to pressure your opponent hit the ball with a little under spin or fairly flat down the line and move in to the net.
- If you have plenty of respect, take the ball early, hit it hard cross court and hold your position inside the court, next, if you get a weak short ball from your opponent, step in put the ball away or go to the net with it!
Well, there you have it three New Years tennis resolutions. The rest is up to you! Wait a second, I must have forgotten something…oh yea!…Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
For comments or ideas about this article please email the author Sergio Cruz
Copyright © 2005 Tenniscruz.com®. All rights reserved.
Prescription motorcycle sunglasses are becoming more widely available, improving in quality and available in a wider choice of styles. All of this is being made available with the special requirements of motorcyclists.
Motorcycle Sunglasses have to meet some special requirements since they are used in extreme conditions. Some of these requirements are that they lenses be made from shatter resistant materials. When riding down the road a normal speeds, even the smallest flying object could result in the lose or damage of an eye. The sunglasses must provide a way to shield the eyes from wind, rain, dust and other elements that could irritate the eyes and decrease visibility. To help protect the eyes from the elements a large number of motorcycle sunglasses offer several different types of foam that help form a better seal around the eye sockets. The lenses of motorcycle sunglasses, should be scratch resistant. Since the lenses will constantly be bombarded by dirt, dust, bugs, hail, sleet, rain and any of 100’s of other things, they should have a scratch resistant coating that will help maintain a clear view. Motorcycle sunglasses must provide optically correct vision that doesn’t distort the view of the road ahead. Motorcycle sunglasses must be aerodynamic to insure that they stay in place even at high speeds.
Given the requirements above, it’s sometime hard to believe that any manufacturer of sunglasses could ever be successful. But companies like Wiley X, Bobster and Global Vision have been able to succeed in producing a line of sunglasses and goggles that meet and often exceed these requirements. In addition Wiley X and Bobster have been able to develop sunglasses and goggles that not only meet those requirements, but also will accept prescriptions.
One of the biggest problems to overcome is based on the requirement for motorcycle sunglasses to be aerodynamic. To meet this requirement most of the sunglasses that have been developed specifically for motorcycle riding and other extreme activities tend to be very curved. The curve in the lenses reduces the amount of corrective grind (prescription) that can be placed in the frame. This means that not all prescription motorcycle sunglasses will be able to handle all prescriptions. Basically, the more curve the sunglasses have, the less of a correction they can handle. Some lenses are even able to have bifocals ground onto the lenses.
As for lenses, the choices for prescription sunglasses is tremendous and can be somewhat pricey. All lenses should be made from shatter resistant polycarbonate plastic. The lens color should be chosen based on the conditions you’ll be riding in. For example, if you’ll be using your prescription sunglasses mostly at night due to poor night vision, then the lenses should be clear. If you’ll be using them mostly in extreme sunlight conditions, then mirrored lenses would be the best choice.
One solution that has proven to be very useful is the use of photochomic (light adjusting/transitional) lenes. These lenses will adjust to the light and temperature and go from almost clear to a dark sunglass tint. One of the nice features about this is that if you have to wear glasses all of the time, these lenses could be used indoors and out, thereby allowing you to have to carry a single pair of glasses.
Buying prescription motorcycle sunglasses can be a very difficult process. The best choice is to find a retailer that understands the requirements for motorcycle sunglasses and can provide you with the information you will need to get from your doctor to fill the prescription. Make sure that the retailer is able to answer all of your questions, provides with an easy way to order and understands riding.
Examples of Prescription Motorcycle Sunglasses available from Wiley X
Wiley X JP-1 RX
Wiley X JP-2 RX
Wiley X Romer II
Wiley X SG-1
All of these are excellent sunglass, meet all of the requirements for motorcycle sunglasses and have great styling.
When in the market for Body Building Supplements, always be certain that you are choosing the higher end supplements, as you should not skimp on the types of products that you will put into your body for the well being of your fitness.
Quite a few people put their whole soul into the building up of their muscles & their physique & then turn around & cut corners with the brands & types of supplement formulas that they utilize during the process.
This is a mistake, as the types of supplements that you use are very important for supporting healthy bone, muscle & other tissue development in your body. Use of proper supplements may give you good result in creating muscle and tissues.
Choosing the highest end Body Building Supplements for the ultimate health rush is what getting in shape is all about. So many people go for the gusto when building up their body through strength training & other physical fitness venues, only then to forget to utilize the best supplements & their health & energy pays for it later on.
Always remember when you are purchasing dietary supplements that you are making an investment into you- & into the health of your future body.
Good supplements will slow down the aging process, keeping you youthful & full of energy, & that is a wonderful blessing indeed.
If all men measured up to the standards of true sportsmanship, there would be no need for game, fish, and forestry laws. Neither would there be so much need for the laws that regulate human affairs in general.
But, in the fishing game, it is the true sportsman, with a love for the great outdoors, a wholesome respect for the welfare of others, and consideration for living and growing things, who sets the good examples for the youth to follow.
In reality, fishing games differ a lot from the other types of games that man has come to know. A fishing game is not a mere reflection of the activity itself but more of the love for fishing.
In fishing games, the angler does not go hunting or fishing only to gain the privilege of boasting over slaughter or material gain. He loves the lightning-like flash of the trout, the leap of the bass or muskie, the tug on the line, the whir of the reel, the thrill of battle with some “denizens” of the deep, and the companionship of other true sportsmen.
The Concept of Fishing Games
The most common type of fishing game is known as the “offshore game fishing.” In this type of game fishing, the anglers aim for the big lean fishes like the marlins and the tunas and the fishing is done in the sea.
Offshore game fishing is usually conducted as one type of recreational activity. Though, there are instances wherein this type of fishing game is also employed in competitions like the sports fishing.
Because of the energy being utilized in this type of recreational activity, offshore game fishing usually requires the biggest fishing boats. These fishing boats generally range from 30 to 50 feet in length.
The object of the game is to reel the fish in once it is properly hooked on the line. This can be a daunting task since the fish, especially if it is a big one, will have the tendency to pull away from the boat. The challenge is to reel the fish in while keeping the fishing line maintained on its specified tension.
The fishing game is not more of a competition for a true angler. Whenever they are doing this kind of activity as part of the game, what the angler really wants is to get in touch with nature, to breathe the clean, pure air, and muse in solitude in the wilds of nature’s playground.
Hence, in fishing games like offshore game fishing, the anglers like to play the game in strict accordance with the rules of reason and fairness at the same time conserve the value of fishes in the community.
Why is it important for women golfers to have a stylish ladies golf club bag? Well to a lady golfer it is not only important that her convenience is catered for but it is equally important that her individuality is catered for also. Women tend to be far more fashion conscious than the average male so it is very important for a woman to have accessories such as golf bags to be stylish as well as convenient.
Luckily for women around the world that there are many manufacturers that cater for the fashion conscious lady golfer. You will find that the ladies golf club bag can come in an array of different colors from hot pink to dark blue or if you want more than color, why not look at an animal fabric such as zebra or tiger.
Most these days come with matching head covers, organizer tops and even purses and bags to add as accessories. And of course if you really want to be an individual then you always have the added option of having a custom made ladies golf club bag in your own design. The choice is limitless. And not only will you find great bags but also other accessories such as gloves, shoes, clothes and so on. Now you wont only be playing a game that you love but you will look fantastic as well.
And don’t let your budget hold you back either, because there are so many reputable companies that produce these bags you will have plenty to choose from, all at different levels of affordability. This enables everyone to get what they want at great bargain prices.
The easiest and most affordable way for you to purchase your new ladies golf club bag and other accessories is by checking out what is available online. Shopping online will always enable you to find products at discount prices.
Spain’s notorious Bullfight is one of the most famous customs upheld by the Spanish. It draws attention worldwide from people who just love the sport, and also from many others who are agains’t this barbaric onslaught.
I hasten to add that this kind of entertainment is not for me, but for many thousands that travel to watch a Bullfight they get to mingle with the dedicated locals who have a tradition to uphold. This is a sure sign that they do not feel the way I do.
Stuffed like sardines into a jam packed arena, avid enthusiasts who in support of this sport continue to excite each other with roars of encouragement for the Bullfight to commence. Cheers of Ole is how excited spectators greet this mighty powerful bull as he makes his grand entance and presence known to all.
Confused and not sure as to why he was the center of attention, the bull decides to take advantage of his new famed popularity by giving a priceless perfomance to the maddening crowd. He would do this by digging his hoof into the ground beneath him sending dust clouds swirling into the air while at the same time from his steaming nostrils an encore of snorts.
Looking more like a riot at football match the cramped stadium and all the commotion makes the beast very nervous.
Why he was summoned here today he did not know – but he was soon to find out.
What on earth is the Bull thinking?
Sheer jubilation among the crowds as the adrenalin began to pump for all who had gathered to this event, as it was only minutes away before the Bullfight.
Picadores armed with lances announce there presence into the arena on horseback to a stadium of screaming fans. All mounts blind folded.
These men (Picadores) Their job is to tantalise and maim the bull before slaughter. This is done by following orders that on departure from the ring that they leave all weapons behind, and they do just that.
Pierced in-between the shoulder blades of a very frightened Bull.
What on earth is that Bull thinking now?
This is just the beginning of the end. Stunned dazed and hurting, the bull now with so many body piercings still manages a few breathless snorts. The reflection of his image is like that of a voodoo doll. Not a pretty sight.
The efforts of the Picadores were never enough at a bullfight, you have the Banderilleros whose mission is to distract the bull, and they would do this by running in circles in and around the animal thus making him tired and dizzy.
How do you distract a dying bull with so much blood loss? not a hard job, the bull’s options for escape are zilch.
Stabbed and drained of his almighy strength and unable to raise his head due his injuries. Makes the bull an easy target for any Matador.
In all his finery the murderer oops sorry Matador enters the arena. Black beret, jewelled bolero red cape and breeches buttoned at the knees..This sight alone was enough to scare any bull.
Spurred on by the cheering crowds to cast the fatal blow, the Matador provokes his dying opponent to charge. All attempts made by this sad oh so sad disoriented bull to retaliate to the words TORO were not that of a fully charged up angry irate bull. Amenesty is given to the bull should the Matador miss his target. A slayer is called in to put the beast out of his misery by cutting the spinal cord with a dagger. Has this bull not had enough stabbings for the day? This action can go terribly wrong leaving the bull conscious paralysed and in severe pain.
Remove the lances and spears
Replace the blood loss with a transfusion
Give the bull back his pride
Now throw the Matador back in in to the ring 100% hero of the day THE BULL
Want to know what the bull was thinking (What did I do to deserve this)
To think a couple of hours before the Bullfight this bull was chewing the cud in fields of green.
Counselling can be be found on my information page at www.benidormbeaches.com