The Sports Archives – Stop Making Excuses and Get Fit This Summer

Posted on May 7, 2019 by thesportsarchives

At the beginning of a brand new year, so many of us have all the right intentions when it comes to getting healthy and fit. It is probably the most common new year resolution,  We start off hitting the gym, watching fitness videos and eating healthily, but within a few weeks, most of us have broken it. In most cases, it is not our bodies that let us down, but our mindset. We try and convince ourselves we will start again on Monday, but when Monday comes around, so do the excuses: we are too tired, we are worried hurting ourselves in the gym and having to spend our time looking for a personal injury attorney, the weather is too bad. These are all just excuses to hide the fact that we have simply lost motivation. If you are struggling to stay motivated when it comes to fitness, here are a few tips to help you on your way, especially now summer is almost here!

Photo by Alexander Redl on Unsplash

Remember why you want to lose weight and get fit

If we have a good reason for doing something, we are much more likely to go ahead and do it. Think about why you want to get fit or lose weight. Perhaps you are concerned about your health or dislike the way that you look. Maybe you want to regain your confidence and set an excellent example to your children. Perhaps you want to be able to run around the park or garden with the kids without getting out of breath. Whatever your reasons,  write them down and put them somewhere where you can see them every day. When you are struggling to get motivated, take a look at it. It might just be what you need to get you back on track.

Set yourself goals and targets

This is very similar to the above point, but it is essential to set yourself some sort of target and give yourself something to work towards. While being spontaneous can be a great thing; having a plan in place when it comes to getting fit is useful. Consider how you will do it. You may be thinking about joining a gym, or following a workout DVD at home, or going for a run every day. Whatever it is, plan ahead for it. Don’t be fooled by anything that promises a quick fix, as getting fit is always going to be a journey, not a race.

Have fun

This is the most crucial point of all. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing, it is very unlikely that you will stick to it. Don’t tell yourself that you’re going to eat a plain salad and run for miles every day. Instead, plan for a plate of chicken and colorful roasted vegetables and a dance aerobics class with your best friend! Try different activities and recipes, and have someone to keep you motivated and accountable.

For many people, it is their mindset that stops them from getting fit. Hopefully, these tips will help you to make the most of 2019 and be on track for a healthier lifestyle.

 

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The Sports Archives – How to Make Fitness Your #1 Priority

Posted on May 3, 2019 by thesportsarchives

 

There is no denying the fact that exercise is an essential part of maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle. But if you’re new to fitness or just struggling to make it your focus, every day can feel like a challenge. The good news is that making fitness your top priority is actually simpler than you might expect.

Work Out in the Morning

Everyone wants to believe that they will feel motivated for a vigorous workout in the evening after work. However, by that time, you’re likely the least motivated and least enthusiastic about breaking a sweat. Instead of pushing your workout to the evening and then potentially deciding to skip it, start your day with exercise. This will minimize the opportunity for distraction and create a solid foundation for you to work from for the rest of the day.

Exercise at Home

If getting out to a gym or fitness class feels too daunting, exercise at home. There are countless streaming services available for any type of exercise routine you could be seeking. Some may require a subscription, but others (such as videos on YouTube) are completely free. If price is what’s holding you back, now there’s no excuse. While you’re working at home, why not find a fitness buddy? Consider asking a family member or friend to work out with you, so you can stay motivated and enjoy quality time together.

Be Consistent

One of the biggest obstacles to prioritizing fitness is inconsistency. Get ahead of this issue by creating a set time in your schedule for when you will work out. House Method recommends being consistent with your exercise until it begins to feel like a habit. This will allow you to incorporate fitness as part of your routine, so that it becomes less of a “to-do” and more of a natural part of your day.

Create Tangible Goals

There’s nothing more motivating than knowing you’ll have the satisfaction of reaching a benchmark. Create real goals for yourself: write them down and let them be the driving factor that gets you up in the morning and into your workout gear. Once you reach one milestone, you can begin stepping up your game for the next one.

Take Fitness Outside of the Gym

Once you’ve committed to improving your personal fitness, you’ll come to realize that fitness isn’t just getting to the gym or the exercise class, but rather, it can be a larger part of your life. Walking your dog a few times a day or taking your bike to work is an excellent way to make more of your life revolve around healthy activity. Anything that gets your heart pumping can be an opportunity for fitness, so you may be able to sneak in more than you originally expected.

These days, it’s easier than ever to make fitness your number one priority. So whether you’re new to your workout routine or have been going to the gym for years, these quick, simple tips can help you reframe your approach so that fitness truly is your top focus.

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The Sports Archives – 4 Tips to Control Your Drive

Posted on April 17, 2019 by thesportsarchives

y SN#1 (Steven Newton) – https://www.flickr.com/photos/26298797@N07/2682869967/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12815196

Four Tips to Help Control Your Drives and Improve Your Golf Score

Since nearly every first shot at the green on a golf course involves some type of drive, it’s critical to have control over these vital shots. Errant drives put you in hazards, or immediately add a stroke to your scorecard when they fly harmlessly out-of-bounds.

When you don’t have control of your drives, you also reduce the chances of putting yourself in a good position for your second shot. Drives that fly out of control will quickly add strokes to your scorecard. Here are four tips to help you control your drive and improve your golf scores.

Mental Confidence

If you’ve ever watched the best golfers in the world perform, they approach their ball on the tee with an air of confidence. They know they’ve hit literally thousands of practice drives, so they are confident they are prepared. You should take that same mental outlook every time you prepare to drive the ball off the tee.

Mental confidence is built on the practice tee. However, even if you’ve been having trouble with some aspect of your tee shots, you will still benefit from wiping the slate clean in your mind. Every drive is a new opportunity to implement hours of practice.

When you approach your ball with any sense of doubt, you’re already at a disadvantage. Mental confidence doesn’t always mean mental toughness, but it does help you relax. An apprehensive mindset as you prepare to drive a golf ball will cause your muscles to be more tense than normal.

Your grip may be tighter than normal, or your body movements stiffer than if you were relaxed. That level of calm exuded from mental confidence may not add yards to your driving distance, but it can dramatically help you better control your drives off the tee.

Establish a Target

When you’re out on the fairway or approaching the green, you’ll invariably use the flagstick as a target. Too often, novice golfers do not establish a target when hitting the ball off the tee. This can create a fundamental flaw in your drive, one that invariably reduces the control you have.

Know in advance, where you would hope to have a perfect drive land. Most of the time, you will want to maximize the distance off the tee, but that’s not always the case. This is one aspect of controlling your drive that involves proper club selection, but you still should establish a target.

However, other than par 3 holes where you can see the flagstick, you should find a remote target in the fairway. If you’re playing a course for the first time, this may be a little challenging, but it can still be done.

Use the scorecard and any course measurements that are included. For courses that you play more frequently, you’ll be able to find fixed items such as bunkers or trees to gauge distance. Find a target before you even approach your ball, and work to drive the ball at that target.

By Andrea Pacelli. – https://www.flickr.com/photos/andreapacelli/850947406/; uploaded by Tbmurray., CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14956589

Build from the Ground Up

The perfect golf swing is developed by hours of practice on the driving range. There are a number of tips and mechanical strategies to swing the club properly to make accurate contact with the ball. However, many golfers fail to address the foundation of every swing; your base.

A fundamental tip to establishing a good base begins with balance. You build the best swing starting with the positioning of your feet, and building your swing from the ground up. The best instructors should have you working through leg and core movements without even holding a club.

Foot placement is where you begin, but that is something that takes only minimal practice to figure out. The next key to improving drive control is to develop a strong, but flexible lower body. You don’t need massive muscles in your legs, but working some moderate strength exercises into your fitness program will help boost your driving distance.

Once you have a good stance underneath you, plus a little boost from your legs, you’ll address your core. The center of your body is almost as important as club control in your hands. When you open your hips too soon, for instance, you’ll tend to pull off the ball and slice.

If you force your hips to remain too rigid, it can cause you to pull the club through too quickly. This problem can cause you to hook, or make it very difficult to get any trajectory out of your drive. When you use proper foot positioning and have established a solid foundation, you’ll be able to add distance to your drive without sacrificing control.

Follow Through

Frequently, errant drives are caused by an attempt to over-control your swing. The slightest degree of change in the speed prior to and immediately following impact will alter the tilt and angle of your driver.

Even if this shift is minimal, one-degree of shift can push drive yards off your intended path. Maintain arm speed throughout your entire drive. When you attempt to alter your arm speed during contact or follow through, you will not improve control, but lose.

Changing arm speed in an attempt to improve control will have the opposite effect. Focusing on a consistent swing speed throughout your drive and following through, will help you better control your drives off the tee.

These are four tips to help you better control your tee shots. Getting the ball to the best spot for your second shot is always the objective. When your drives are inconsistent and lack control, you won’t be able to ensure that you’ve put yourself in a good position for that next stroke.

Apply these four tips to help you gain a better sense of control over your drives. Using these tips will not only begin to add distance to your tee shots, but you’ll also begin to eliminate wasted strokes. Grab your driver with confidence, focus on a target, establish a firm base and follow through. Use these tips for hitting your drives, and watch your scores improve.

About the Author

Matt is an avid golf enthusiast and part of the TruGolf.com team. When he’s not working on his fairway shot, you will find Matt writing about his passion for the process of the game.

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The Sports Archives – The World’s 10 Oldest Sports Trophies

Posted on April 12, 2019 by thesportsarchives

No one is sure precisely when sports prizes began, but it is certain the Ancient Greeks were among the first to hand out prizes for those who won sporting events. Maybe they didn’t hand out beautifully crafted sports medals, but the winners at the Ancient Olympic Games did receive items that were valuable in their day such as horses or bronze tripods. Prizes seemed to be important to the Greeks as the word “athlete” is derived from the Greek word, “atholon” meaning prize. Eventually, the Greeks made crowns out of leaves for successful athletes. They weren’t worth a lot of money, but they did provide notoriety and told everyone the athlete was a winner. This possibly provided some financial support and other reward in their home towns.

Some of the earliest trophy cups originated as early as the 18th and 19th centuries. Also, many of the non-cup trophies were recorded as early as the 16th and 17th centuries. The 10 oldest sports trophies contained on this list are still being awarded today.

Stanley Cup

10. The Stanley Cup.

This award was created in 1892 and first awarded to the winning team in 1893. The country of origin in Canada and it is still awarded for the hockey championship at the end of the season.

9. The Ashes Urn.

Created for the sport of cricket, the Ashes Urn originated in Sunbury, Australia. It was designed and made between 1882 ad 1883 and was awarded the first time in either the latter parts of 1882 or the early months of 1883. An interesting fact about this award is that the small terracotta urn supposedly has the ashes of a cricket ball inside.

8. The Calcutta Cup.

First created in 1878, then awarded in 1879, the Calcutta Cup is the trophy for the sport of rugby. It originated in Kalkata, Inda, hence the name. The Calcutta Cup tournament hosts England and Scotland rugby teams and the winner receives the coveted trophy.

7. The Wimbledon Trophies.

The first Wimbledon trophies were bestowed in 1877. The winner of the men’s doubles began getting the coveted tennis trophy in 1884. Women’s singles began receiving the trophy in 1886, followed by the men’s singles in 1887. Mixed doubles didn’t begin receiving the award until 1902. The origin of the Wimbledon trophies is Wimbledon, London, England.

6. The Scottish Cup Trophy.

Scotland is the origin of the Scottish Cup and it was created and awarded in 1874 for the sport of soccer (or football). Traditionally, the Scottish Cup is the second oldest competition in the history of soccer (football).  But according to Guinness World Records, the Scottish Cup is the oldest football trophy.

5. The Claret Jug.

This golf championship trophy was created in 1872 and first awarded in 1873. It originated in Edinburgh, Scotland and used to be called Golf Champion Trophy. The first Open occurred in 1860, but instead of a trophy, the winner received a Challenge Belt.

America’s Cup – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID det.4a16296.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11136646

4. America’s Cup.

The trophy for winning the Yacht Sailing Match Race is the America’s Cup. It was created in 1848 and first awarded in 1851. Its origin is Isle of Wight, England, even though it bears the name “America’s Cup.” It is considered the oldest trophy in international sport.

3. The Royal Musselburgh Old Club Cup.

The “Old Cup” originated in Scotland. It was created in 1774 and awarded that same year for the sport of golf. In addition to being one of the oldest sports trophies in the world, the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club remains one of the oldest golf societies also.

2. The Scorton Silver Arrow.

No one knows for sure when the Scorton Silver Arrow was created, but the first year it was awarded is believed to be 1673. It originated in Scorton, Yorkshire, England and is presented for the sport of archery. Even though no one knows for sure when the initial trophy was presented, the first along with a silver brooch and a pouch containing silver coins were awarded at the very first Antient Silver Arrow Competition in 1673. This competition is believed to the be the oldest recorded sport event in the world.

1. The Carlisle Bells.

Originating in Carlisle, Cumbria, England, the Carlisle Bells was first awarded in 1599 for thoroughbred horse racing. The bells were given to the winner of the first race in 1599 and even though the trophy is believed to be larger, the bells are the only part that remains. For many years, the bells were lost too, but they were found in the 19th century and have been used as the trophy for the race ever since.

 

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The Sports Archives – 3 Home Games You Should Try

Posted on April 9, 2019 by thesportsarchives

Whether you are hoping to get bonding with your child, or just take up a new pastime for the year, looking into home games and sports is always a great way to go. People often forget just how wide and varied the term ‘sports’ really is, and as long as you are just looking for anything enjoyable that you can get into which has a competitive element, you should find that there are plenty of options for that available to you. In this article, we are going to take a look at a few home sports which you might want to try, especially if you have never touched them before. They are each a lot of fun, and you might even get something useful out of them too. Who knows – it could prove to be your next main pastime, and might be a great way to get closer to your son.

Pic Credit

RC Car Racing

This is something that most of us have tried at some point in our lives, even if that was many years ago. But it is often the kind of pastime that people forget until they are much older, only to be rediscovered with a new kind of passion and focus. It’s radio controlled car racing, and it’s something that you can do at home very easily and with little equipment. Getting the actual basics is pretty simple, straightforward and cost-effective, as most of all you just need the cars which you can get from many places fairly cheap. If you are looking into this, you might want to take a look at the likes of bestrcgear.com to ensure that you are going to get the best gear possible, not just in terms of cost but also quality. Then it’s just a case of finding someone to race with and getting racing – which you can do pretty much anywhere.

Darts

It is a simple thing to install a dartboard in your home and treat yourself to a nice set of darts, and yet with this you can hope to provide yourself with hours upon hours of entertainment. The game of darts is of course traditionally played in pubs and bars, but should you want to play it at home it is easy to do so. The main thing you will need to be aware of is the safety element, of course, but as long as you place the board somewhere sensible you should find that this is easy enough to be sure of. What’s more, playing darts is the kind of pastime which tends to act as a calming and somewhat therapeutic exercise, so it’s well worth thinking about for that reason too.

Pic Credit

Pool

Not all homes will have the space for this, but if you do have room for a pool table, it has to be one of the most enjoyable and addictive home games you can play. You can even play by yourself as a form of practice, but it is of course best with a few friends coming round to yours to play. All in all, it’s a hugely rewarding and satisfying game which you should consider taking up if you haven’t already. See homeleisuredirect.com for more on this.

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The Sports Archives – How To Make Expensive Sports More Affordable

Posted on March 23, 2019 by thesportsarchives

Sports play a central role in everyday life. Indeed, physical activities are essential to your health. They keep the blood pumping through the heart and help your body to maintain its numerous functions. Additionally, practicing an exercise encourages the release of happiness hormones by the brain – which makes people who stay fit less likely to struggle with depressive disorders.

In a social environment, sports can help you to create a sense of belonging; you’re one of the team. It is integral to the social development of children, as kids who play team sports have better interaction skills and social understanding of each other.

But despite countless advantages for the body, the mind and the overall community, sports often remain a costly privilege. Here are some helpful tips to make expensive activities more affordable.  

Are you spending too much on sports?

Find a discount store

The average fitness gear can cost over $1,000 only to secure the necessary equipment. If you opt for gear-heavy activities, such as golf or climbing, you will need to purchase specialist equipment as well. Needless when following your passion puts your household budget at risk, you can question the real benefits of sports. However, savvy enthusiasts choose alternative shops that offer affordable prices for quality gear and sportswear, such as Rockbottomgolf if you’re into golf, for instance. For seasonal articles, such as skies, it’s often a good idea to consider second-hand options via auction sites or pre-loved stores.

Organize with your local communities

If you or your children join a club, you are likely to face high expenses. However, you can keep your cost down by working with your local community. Indeed, it’s not uncommon for parents to organize gear swap when one child abandons an activity or grows out of their sportswear. Similarly, you can save tons of money by helping your kids to learn the basics. Donating your time can make a real difference, especially if you find parents who are willing to help too.

Yep, you can get paid to play

There are already applications that suggest to pay you to lose weight. Users accumulate points that can be converted in monetary value for working out and sticking to their fitness plan. But one Kickstarter project, Coast2coast app, proposes to pay to play your favorite games, whether it’s basketball, football or soccer. There is no information as to whether the project is completed, but it’s fair to say that this brilliant idea is unlikely to be forgotten!

Should there be financial support?

Ultimately, the cost of sports activities can ask an important question, namely, whether enthusiasts should have access to financial aid. Finally, the benefits of staying active impact your personal health and your social integration. It would be unfair to make something as essential as health maintenance unaffordable. An alternative would be to keep club activities low-cost and provide financial solutions for specialist equipment that encourages people to stay fit and healthy. Take for example the bike peloton which costs $2000 and requires an additional subscription. Has fitness shot itself in the food with the introduction of luxury products?

Making sports affordable is a collective effort that combines discounted items, community interactions, and a reward system. But, more importantly, it is time for the public to demand fitness programs and solutions for all budget, because staying on top of your health shouldn’t be a luxury.

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The Sports Archives – Famous Sportsmen Quotes For Times Of Apathy

Posted on March 20, 2019 by thesportsarchives

By Unknown – [1] Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 bekijk toegang 2.24.01.04 Bestanddeelnummer 924-3060, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, Link

As a sportsman, you can occasionally find yourself in times of apathy and distress. This is due to the demanding nature of sports, which can leave you feeling dejected, especially if you fail to meet your goal. Failure to meet your fan’s expectations can also make you feel like you are not worthy. As a role model to many in the society, you take up leadership roles in various categories, and those who look up to you need to get motivated too. These ten examples of famous inspirational sports quotes can make you see life from a different perspective.

  1. Muhammad Ali on Courage

Being courageous enough to take risks is one of the best attributes of winning players. Muhammad Ali was a highly rated boxer, activist and philanthropist. He understood that for him to be successful as a boxer, he needed courage. One of his famous quotes on courage was, “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” There are so many risks involved in sports, and without courage, you can’t face the obstacles.

  1. Tiger Woods on Improvement

Tiger Woods is considered one of the world’s most professional golfers ever, and he too knew the need for personal improvement for sports persons. He said, “No matter how good you get, you can always be better, and that’s the exciting part.” Even if you consider yourself a top player, remember that these sports quotes can still make a difference in your life.

  1. Babe Ruth on Persistence

The American professional baseball player was known for his determination and hard work. His famous quote, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up,” is always the driving force behind many sportsmen who keep on trying even if they fail.

  1. John Wooden on Mental Stability

Many people let their inabilities affect their abilities. This is the drawback to the success of players, which is why coach John Wooden emphasized on mental stability by saying, “Do not let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.” For instance, if you are studying and you need essays on leadership topics, you can always focus on what you can do well and hire professional writing service for what you can’t handle. You should not be stressed up over anything, but rather channel all your strength towards perfecting your abilities.

  1. Venus Williams on Attitude

“Some people say that I have attitude – maybe I do… But I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.”

The top-ranking American professional tennis player believes in herself, which is why she succeeds even where others fail. Her attitude goes beyond gender, racial segregation and any other minority complex challenges. To achieve success, you have to be different and have a positive attitude towards yourself, your gaming abilities and your team. Take it upon yourself to read an inspirational paper that can shape your approach for the best.

  1. Jackie Chan on Preparation

The martial arts sportsman, singer, director, and producer is a household name that needs no introduction. He has a world-famous quote, “I prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.” As a player in whatever field, hope is one thing that must never depart from your heart. Whenever you have a challenge ahead, preparation is key. Don’t wait to receive a rude shock when you realize your opponent is not as weak as you thought.

  1. Derek Jeter on being Accountable

Many players tend to make excuses for their failures. Derek Jeter said, “There may be people who have more talent than you, but there’s no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do.” Even if you feel you are not as talented as your competitors, there are so many essay papers to refer to motivational sports quotes. You can get re-energized and take responsibility for your failure, using it to do more exploit as a player.

  1. Michael Jordan on Overcoming

“If you are trying to achieve, there will always be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it.”

That was said by the famous retired professional American basketball player, and is a concept that many successful players implement. Whenever you feel discouraged by an obstacle, giving up is not an option. You should endeavor to focus on your goal and find your way there.

  1. Zinedine Zidane on Self-acceptance

If you feel like you cannot match other sportsmen because of your disadvantaged background, then Zinedine Zidane’s quote suits you best: “I once cried because I had no shoes; but one day I saw a man who had no feet and realized how rich I am”. Even in your sports career, there is someone else who wishes to be like you are, so never give up. You can take to writing down players who are your role models and work smart to be like them.

  1. Shaquille O’Neal about Gratefulness

As a player, you may fail to appreciate your fans and haters as well if things don’t go your way. Shaq is one of the most famous retired American basketball players, and gratefulness was one of the things he taught his fans and everyone who looked up to him. He was just one vote away from being the first unanimous MVP in the history of e fact that they didn’t approve of him since that made him NBA. He thanked his haters and appreciated to work harder. He said, “I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me. And the one guy who didn’t vote for me, thank you, too.”

Every player needs these quotes about never giving up from famous sports men to keep going. No one can claim to never face a challenge in life, specifically in sports. It is therefore quite important to refer to what sports legends said and how they handled the challenges that came their way.

 

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The Sports Archives – 4 Fun Ways for Seniors to Get Active Without Hitting the Gym

Posted on March 11, 2019 by thesportsarchives

You know you ought to be more active, especially now that you’re getting older and your health is growing more high-maintenance. Unfortunately, old habits are hard to break. If you’ve spent the last few decades largely sedentary, odds are you’re not going to become a gym rat overnight. However, that doesn’t mean adopting an active lifestyle is impossible!

If you want to start changing your health for the better, here are four low-pressure ways you can become more active in your daily life.

Exercise in Your Living Room

Working out doesn’t have to be an hours-long endeavor. Instead of suiting up and heading to the gym, exercise in your living room! With these ideas, you can get a great indoor workout without a ton of space or equipment:

  • Follow along with exercise videos on YouTube, FitnessBlender, or another website.
  • Practice yoga (you can find free online videos for this too).
  • Do balance exercises like one-leg stands and heel-toe walking.
  • Play active video games like Wii Fit.

There are many home workouts you can do without any equipment at all, but for comfort and traction, it’s recommended you use a yoga mat or an exercise mat. To add challenge and variety to your workout, buy basic fitness equipment like resistance bands, dumbbells, and a balance board.

Join a Walking Group

It’s easy to waste the day sitting, especially when you don’t have company, but too much sitting is bad for your health. Even if you exercise daily, long periods of sitting increase your risk of health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

When you need to pass the time, don’t sit in front of the TV. Instead, join a walking group. Walking groups are a great way to introduce more physical activity into your days while also keeping your social life strong. Start your own group with friends and neighbors, or join an existing walking club. You can find them through local churches and community centers, at the mall, or through organizations like Meetup and the American Volkssport Association.

Run Errands by Bicycle

Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a bike-friendly community, but if you do, take advantage of it. Instead of driving to run local errands, commute by bicycle. Even if you’ve never been an avid cyclist, you can pick up bicycling now and comfortably ride several miles per day with a little practice. Always wear safety gear like a helmet and lights, pack a bike lock, and follow local bicycling laws. Most bike commuters also find it helpful to equip their ride with panniers or other equipment for hauling cargo.

Learn a Sport

You may not be as athletic as when you were younger, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a recreational sport. Community centers and YMCAs are wonderful places for seniors to find facilities and partners for sports like racquetball, tennis, and pick-up basketball. If you’re a beginner, choose a partner who is also just starting out so you can take it slow and develop skills together.

Competitive sports are physically challenging, so don’t jump straight into one if you’ve been inactive for a long time. Build strength and endurance through less intense exercise first to reduce your risk of injury.

In your 50s and 60s, it can feel like your physical health is set in stone. The truth is that it’s never too late to make changes for the better. By incorporating more physical activity into your life through small tweaks like these, you can make a big impact on your health as a senior, all without ever stepping foot in a gym.

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The Sports Archives – Top Tips For Athletes This Year

Posted on March 6, 2019 by thesportsarchives

Image

Becoming an athlete and training the body to complete incredible feats is an art form and it is more than just a career path, but also a lifestyle which will change the way you think and feel in everyday life. As an athlete it is always important to live the healthiest lifestyle you can in order to keep your body in tip-top shape, and today we are looking at some of the ways that you can keep your body and mind healthy and achieve your goals this year.

Train as often as you can

The trick to becoming the best possible athlete you can be is to train hard and train yourself often. It is so crucial for you as an athlete to take some time out of your week for a training schedule that works for you. As an athlete you need to make sure that you keep your body as strong and agile as you can and making sure that you train often and train well is the best way to do this. The more you practice the better you will get so as much as possible is always a good thing.

Keep a strict routine

It is important for you to have a routine during your life whether it be training or working or even when you eat. Having a schedule of some sort can make all the difference to you and it will ensure that you always have the time to train enough, to enjoy other things and also to relax. Make sure to always leave time out of your routine to relax because this can be a big thing for you mentally and physically too.

Eat the rainbow

The best way to stay on track as an athlete and keep the body in tip-top condition is to eat great foods and be sure to eat as many different vitamins and minerals as you can. Every fruit and vegetable is a different colour according to what it contains, and this means that the more colours you can add to your plate, the better nutrients you are feeding to yourself and be healthier you will be overall.

Rest and relax

It is incredibly important as well as training hard and eating right for your body that you also take the time out to relax and refresh and treat the body to make sure it is as healthy as it can be. One of the best ways that you can rest and treat the body is to try out different therapies such as massage, ketamine infusion therapy, and physiotherapy too. Making sure the body is able to recover after a training session or a competition is incredibly important and it will allow you to work your way up to success.

Enjoy your downtime

Downtime for an athlete is just as important as everything else in your life. Be sure to spend your free time doing the things you love and spending time with your family, and this will be a great thing for your mental health and the body too.

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The Sports Archives – 5 Health Benefits of Badminton

Posted on February 13, 2019 by thesportsarchives

There are a lot of things you have to do for you to embrace a healthy lifestyle. Doing sports either for fun or as a profession is an essential activity that contributes to healthy living.

Moreover, a game like badminton has much health benefits and when combined with other healthy lifestyles such as proper diet, meditation, etc. you are obviously on your way to being healthy.

Badminton is one of the aerobic sports activities we know today. It is a known fact that indulging in such sports offers many health benefits that bring about good health which promotes long life.

In this article, I will be focusing on the health benefits of badminton. More so, I will just be highlighting five different benefits out of the many advantages that you can derive from playing badminton whether as a professional player or a mere recreational player.

Below are 5 health benefits you can derive from playing badminton

  1. Reduces death risk

The first advantage of badminton to your health is that it reduces your death risk. According to a large-scale study published recently where over 80,000 British adults were used as a case study. It was discovered that racket sports like badminton, tennis, and squash are important sports that lower the mortality risk.

The research makes it known that people who are actively involved in badminton and other court games benefit from about 47 percent reduction in their mortality risk than those who do not exercise at all.

It is also noteworthy that playing badminton not only lengthens your life but also makes you physically fit. As you can see, playing badminton offers you an exceptional cardiovascular workout that will lengthen your life and as well keep you in perfect shape, most especially if you don’t want to hit the gym.

  1. Enhances Weight Loss

Another health benefit of badminton is it helps with weight control. Badminton is a highly active sport that encourages burning of calories. If you are looking for a way to shed some weight from your body, you can achieve this by regularly playing badminton.

Playing badminton boosts body metabolism. As the fastest racket sport knows in the world today, playing badminton will definitely work up a sweat from the body. As you play the game and struggle to maintain your balance with every shot and smash, your body keeps moving, and your heart rate keeps beating.

This body movement helps to burn fat from your body, and by regularly playing badminton you will keep fit and maintain a good body shape. However, you cannot rule out the place of proper diet amongst other things in achieving your weight loss goals.

  1. Enhances Reflexes

This health benefit badminton will have on you. According to the techniques of badminton, the shuttlecock is not supposed to bounce on the court. Therefore, you need to have swift reflexes to catch up with the shuttlecock before it bounces on the court.

This skill becomes highly relevant when you are playing against an opponent that wants to use mean smashes to take you off-balance in your game. More so, badminton also requires fast reactions and swiftness from you; these challenge your mental abilities and sharpen them.

Playing badminton influences you to apply your innate mental abilities for swift reflex actions and reactions. As a badminton player who is determined on staying ahead of his game, it is your responsibility to predict where your opponent will hit the shuttlecock for a prompt, accurate, and timely reaction.

Apparently, you can see that playing badminton regularly will you improve your reflexes and engage your mental abilities.

  1. Encourages Mobility

Mobility is one of the features in humans that decline with age. Staying active can help prevent these problems. Playing badminton keeps you moving from one part of the court to another, and this lubricates your joints.

When your joints are lubricated, you are prevented from arthritis and other conditions that might develop to affect your legs.

Another deadly problem attributed to mobility most especially with aged women after menopause is osteoporosis. When complex interactions occur between the body hormones & bone forming, bones begin to lose their density which goes ahead to hinder mobility.

However, this deadly bone problem can be prevented or delayed by being physically active. Since playing badminton keeps you physically active you will be able to prevent yourself from osteoporosis irrespective of your age and sex.

  1. Decreases Diabetes

Badminton is a sports activity that engages and activates every part of the body. This goes on to decrease the production of blood sugar by the liver which results in the reduction of blood sugar level.

It was found out that exercise decreases the incidence of developing diabetes by 58% even better than medication. You must also know that playing the game improves your insulin sensitivity which helps your body’s insulin function better.

The fact that badminton is an aerobic game which involves the use of your arms and legs in a continuous, rhythmic movement enhances your heart rate and how it functions.

Similarly, when you play badminton regularly, you help your body prevent some cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks, stroke and well lowers your risk of obesity.

Conclusion

Badminton is a fun enjoyable game. From the pleasure you derive from playing the racket game to the health benefits it offers, badminton remains one of the best sports you can play.

The health benefits of badminton are endless. But altogether, playing badminton keeps you feeling well, energetic, motivated, enthusiastic and rejuvenated.

Badminton not only helps to lower stress and anxiety but also inspires and increases your self-esteem towards a quality lifestyle. With the way it helps to provide sound and deep sleep at night, the sports functions as a natural sedative.

However, it is not enough for you to know all these health benefits of badminton. For you to discover the improvements in your health, you have to regularly play the game and also combine it with other quality health lifestyles that were mentioned in the article.

 

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