The Sports Archives – Senegal Beats France in the 2002 World Cup

Posted on June 5, 2018 by thesportsarchives

Senegal’s Papa Bouba Diop (C) celebrates his goal as he runs away from France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez (C Rear) while Youri Djorkaeff (L), Frank Leboeuf (L Rear), and Emmanuel Petit (R) react at World Cup Finals in Seoul May 31, 2002. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

The World Cup is the pinnacle of competition for any soccer player and fan. It is the moment where, every four years, the 32 best teams in the world get to compete for the greatest prize on offer. In 2002, the World Cup in Japan and South Korea was set to begin with a great clash between Senegal and France.

The clash was symbolic because it represented the current World Cup holders, France, getting a chance to defend their title. There were a few players from 1998 who were no longer on the team. But many still were. The likes of Patrick Vieira, Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Thierry Henry and Fabien Barthez had been there and seen it all. They were in the prime of their careers, and they were among the favorites to win the World Cup again. It is rare that we see a team win back-to-back World Cups, but France were still expected to reach the semis or the final.

However, what no one expected was a 1-0 Senegal win. No one expected this African nation, who had never been in a World Cup before, to get anything but a defeat from this game. In fact, the question among pundits and betters was regarding the number of goals France would score. The world was stunned when the final whistle blew and Senegal had gotten a 1-0 win. They had beaten the defending champions and favorites France – they had gotten a win in their first ever World Cup game.

It was Papa Bouba Diop who got the only goal of the game in the 30th minute. A France response was expected, but it never came. They did attack more in the second half, but it appeared the team had left its spirit at home, as they had no answer for the resolute Senegalese defense.

The trajectory for both teams in that tournament was decided by that first game. Senegal reached the quarter finals, while France did not even make the group stages. It was a humiliating tournament for France, with so many star players who did not deliver an iota of what they could on their best day. And for Senegal and its players, it was a fairytale. Their fans were just happy to get the chance to see the team at such a stage. They were not expecting anything, let alone a place among the best eight teams in the world.

The game is one that soccer fans will always remember. Why? Because it teaches us two lessons about the sport. The first lesson is that simply because we do not know anything about a team, does not mean we should write them off. Senegalese players were not famous until that game, but it does not mean they were lacking in quality. And the second lesson is that if you want to remain the best, you must give it your all in every game. The French players thought their reputations were enough to win that game, but you do not win soccer games on reputation.

Posted in Soccer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – Game On! How To Set Up Your Own Sports Team

Posted on May 23, 2018 by thesportsarchives

Photo Credit

There is nothing like the spirit of camaraderie and competition that playing in team sports gives you. The highs of victory, the lows of defeat, staying in shape and the love of your chosen sport are all in abundance. And if you are running your own team, you will feel even more passionate about the successes of your group of players. However, if you have never set up a sports team before, it can seem like a daunting task that you have in front of you. So, in this article, we are going to break it down into stages that make it seem much more manageable. Let’s kick off!

Choose Your Sport

Of course, before you do anything else, you need to choose a sport which you are going to play. Obviously, it is much better if you already have experience playing and taking part in a team in that chosen game. Not only will you know the sport better, you are also more likely to have a group of players that you can call upon to get started. You also need to make sure that there is already a league in your local area to that you are able to get started quickly. Obviously, you also want it to be at your level of play as there is nothing fun about entering a league in which you get beaten time and time again!

Calculate the Finances

There are a number of different costs that you have to bear when you are setting up a sports team, so you need to make sure that you have calculated all the costs carefully. You have to pay the league fees, any equipment, uniforms, permits etc. If you are on a budget, you should check online for the places where you can get the best deals. So, if you are planning to set up a baseball side, you could take a look at the prices on items like blank baseball uniforms. Once you have a better idea of the financial situation, you can then work out what sort of registration fees that you need to charge players.

Create Your Team Name, Logo and Branding

Now is the time for the fun and creative part – choosing your team name. If you are setting up the team with some friends, you can start to bat around some different ideas. Choosing a name which is based on your region is a pretty standard choice – though you may prefer to base it on something which is more personal you. Once you have that name locked down, you can then start to look into creating a logo and some branding. If you have a friend who is good with graphic design, you could get them to create it for you. Otherwise, there are plenty of websites out there where you can find designers for an affordable rate. There is something special about creating your team branding as it gives you all something inspirational.

Select Players for the Team

Photo Credit

You may already have a general idea of who you want to be on the team, but if you can’t fill up all the spots yet, you may need to start holding some tryouts. Try to cast as a wide a net as possible by asking all your current players to ask their friends, coworkers, family members etc for anyone who may be interested in playing. Otherwise, you could always put some adverts up online, in your local sports centre, newspaper etc. There is often a high demand for sports teams, so hopefully, you should be able to get the following that you are looking for.

Create a Chain of Command

If you are setting up the team with a few other people, you may want to look closer at what your management structure is going to be. For example, if you are going to be the manager, you may want to have someone who is the captain, head coach, a treasurer, an admin guy etc. If you create this chain of command now, this will help to prevent any arguments from happening further down the line. It also helps to make your team appear instantly more professional. This may end up helping you out when it comes to recruiting players.

Communicate with Your Team

Once you have your team, you then need to collect all of their contact information so that you can keep in touch with them to arrange training sessions, match details etc. There are plenty of modern methods of doing this, and you could send out information by email or simply create a WhatsApp group which everyone takes part in. If you really want to go further, you could even set up your own team website on which you post upcoming fixtures, match stats, reports etc.

Arrange Training Sessions

The teams which are going to enjoy the most success in sports leagues are the ones which train together on a regular basis. So, you should establish these sessions depending on the availability of your players. You could focus on specific drills or just general fitness. And it is also a good idea to set up some team bonding sessions after matches. After all, this supposed to be fun for everyone and you will want to give all the players the chance to relax and get to know each other a little better.

There is no doubt that there are plenty of logistical challenges involved in setting up your own sports team. However, it should also be something which provides you with plenty of fun times and memories. The above points walk you through just some of the major considerations that you need to make when you are starting a venture like this one. It is always going to be easier if there is a group of you who are sharing the load, so that you are able to divide up your responsibilities. Ultimately, you need to keep a strong sense of organisation throughout.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Sports Archives – NFL- How To Improve Your Odds To Win A Bet

Posted on May 21, 2018 by thesportsarchives

NFL Football

 

The NFL betting odds has been a big source of income not just only in the United States, but across the world. There are a wide range of NFL betting odds available at almost all the bookmaker sites due to the popularity of the league.

The American football popularity grows season after season making more popular than other sporting leagues and making the NFL betting odds a good stream of income for bettors worldwide.

TIPS THAT CAN IMPROVE YOUR NFL BETTING ODDS

The most common type of NFL betting odds comes through ‘the Spread betting’ or ‘the line betting’. Actually, bookmakers tell bettors that spread margin brings the contest to a 50-50 chance which in reality it’s not.

Bookmakers do not provide the real even money odds of 2.00, they typically provide a price of 1.91 for spread betting. This means that in order to break even, you need to win at least 52% of your bets. NFL betting odds spread are really negligible which makes finding the best NFL betting odds available very essential. This leads us to the following points:

THE MAGIC IN KEY FIGURES

One of the essential things to take note is the most common winning margins in the NFL league games. These key numbers are 3, and 10 points. Stats shows that almost 1/3 of games have ended up with one of these key 3 margins. More than 16% of the last 20 seasons games ended up with a 3 points margin. So, this is significant to improving your NFL betting odds.

BETTING ON THE MOVING LINE

One of the questions that bothers bettors mind on the NFL betting odds is whether a line move is due to wiseguy plays or public money. As a matter of fact, you can Track the public wagers with online betting tools to check out the consensus and see how other bettors are betting the game. If a line is moving to a particular direction and you notice that more than 60% are on the side, then, it is very likely that the public money is moving the line at the moment.

THE VALUE OF THE UNDERDOG BETTING

It is obvious that the average NFL bettor only bets on the favorite in a game. They leave the underdogs, especially underdogs with wide point spreads. Now, over the past 10 seasons, the underdogs playing at away field with 10 points and above have had a winning rate of 54%. Also, over the past 10 seasons, the underdogs playing on home fields with 7 points and above have had a winning rate of 59%. This is an awesome statistic that displays the worth of the underdogs that nobody ever think would draw the game let alone winning it.

DO NOT OVEREMPHASIZE OFFENSE

The tide can turn in favor of the team with great defense, winning the team by the spread. Do not look down on topnotch defenses even when they are facing fierce offenses. The reverse is the case when it comes to poor defense- Teams that put up poor defense, no matter the offensive strength may have difficult time beating the spread.

On a final note, it is important to study every part of the game before betting. It is highly important you analyze each game, draw out power ranking. Do not bet on mere intuitions. No one can have consistent success by applying some guesswork.

Posted in Football, Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – Massively Improve Your Chances Of Keeping Your Fitness Regime Going

Posted on May 10, 2018 by thesportsarchives

If you have ever tried to really make a huge difference to your fitness levels, you will almost certainly at some point have run into a wall. This is not a failure, it’s just something that happens to anyone who tries to take on too much in one go. The truth is that you occasionally need to hit these walls to be able to understand how to keep going in the future, so they are valuable if only for that. However, you are probably also keen to make sure that you are likely to keep your fitness regime going strong, and if that is something you want to achieve then there are a number of things to consider. In this article, we are going to look at some of the things you can do to keep your fitness regime going strong, no matter what.

Source

Keep A Diary

It might sound strange, but by keeping a diary you are actually making it much more likely that you will keep going strong with your fitness regime, no matter what it might actually be. The reason this works is because it acts as a reminder of what you have already achieved and how far you have come. This is useful because it is often easy to mistakenly believe that you have not made any progress – and then you allow that feeling to manifest as a lack of desire to continue with the programme. But when you have the data in front of you, plain as day, you can’t deny that you have already achieved something, and it will inspire you to keep going. Keeping a diary is one of the most powerful thing you can do here – record things like duration and intensity in particular.

Invest In Good Clothing

In general, the more money you sink into your fitness regime, the more likely it is that you will feel as though you should probably keep it up. For that reason, you might want to think about spending some money on some really top quality clothing for your fitness and workout sessions. You might even want to get hold of some jordan 1 off white trainers to run in, as when you have something that fancy to use you are much more likely to want to do so. This is a kind of sneaky way of encouraging yourself to continue with your fitness, but you will find that it really does work surprisingly well.

Source

Tell A Friend

You might have used this one before in trying to achieve some other kind of goal in your life. A lot of people find that once they say something aloud to a close friend, it makes it much more likely that they will actually see it through. If this works for you, then you might want to consider it for yourself. Be sure to express an actual, concrete goal rather than just a general declaration. As long as you do that, you will find that you feel much more inspired to carry on with your training no matter what, especially if they are a very close friend or your other half.

Posted in Bodybuilding, Fitness/Wellness, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Sports Archives – Hikers: Here’s How to Stay Safe When On the Trails

Posted on May 9, 2018 by thesportsarchives

There’s nothing better than waking up early, strapping on a pair of hiking boots, and setting off into the outdoors, knowing that you have a full day of adventure and exercise ahead of you. Yet while hiking is an undeniably enjoyable activity, it’s not without its dangers. Indeed, take one wrong turn, and you could very quickly find yourself in danger. When it comes to spending time in the outdoors, it pays to be well-prepared and ready to overcome any potential danger. Here’s how you can ensure you’re kept safe while on the trails.

Source: Pexels.com

Know Where You’re Going

A little bit of research goes a long way when it comes to hiking. Before you set off, you should already know what type of terrain you’re going to be walking over, how long the route should take, and any potential problems you may experience along the way. You’ll also be well-served by having an updated map to hand; and of course, the knowledge of how to read a map. As with most things in life, it pays to do some research before setting off. Knowledge is power!

Wear the Right Clothes

Even if nothing bad happens, you’ll appreciate having the right clothing with you. Theycan make your hike much more enjoyable; nobody wants to be too hot, cold, or wet when they’re on the trail. Also, pay extra attention to your footwear. It might not sound important, but it is; if you’re wearing footwear that isn’t appropriate for the terrain you’re covering, then you’ll be at greater risk of rolling an ankle and severely hurting yourself. The weather can change quickly, too, especially in the mountains, so it’s always worthwhile packing some waterproof clothing even if rain isn’t forecasted.

In Case Something Goes Wrong

You can’t always prevent something from going wrong on the trail, but you can prevent yourself from being unprepared. If you have the right tools with you, then a slight mishap can be just that – a slight mishap – rather than anything too serious. The top watches for hunting have GPS capabilities, which can help to lead you back to your starting point; an invaluable tool should you find yourself lost. You’ll also want to have a basic first aid kit in your backpack, as they’ll enable you to patch yourself up until you’re off the trail and get more advanced medical help.

Take It Easy

It’s easy to get excited when we’re in the outdoors. We want to push ourselves, see the best views, conquer the highest mountain. But the more you stretch yourself, the greater the chance that you’ll find yourself in danger. Know your abilities, and take it easy; it’s better to have a fun time going up a hill, than a terrible time going up a mountain.

Tell Somebody

And finally, remember to tell someone where you’re going, and when you should be back. This takes no time, but might just save you from spending days in the wilderness by yourself in case something does go wrong!

 

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Sports Archives – Staying Fit at Home -Tips for People With Type 2 Diabetes

Posted on April 28, 2018 by thesportsarchives

If you or someone you love has Type 2 Diabetes, then you know how important maintaining a healthy lifestyle truly is. For the newly diagnosed, diabetes can be a word filled with uncertainty and anxiety. This disease that affects nearly 30 million Americans forces people to pay complete attention to their bodies, how they eat, and how they exert their energy. Although diabetes marks a change in the lives of millions, this change doesn’t have to be a bad thing. This could be the chance to finally take control of your health and get in the best shape in your life—and the good news is, you can do this all from the comfort of home.

Setting Up Your Home Gym

Some people may shirk away from the idea of making their own home gym simply because they expect it to be a huge investment and do not wish to take a big financial hit—but this is only a misconception. In truth, a home gym is only as expensive as the money you choose to invest in it, and the only thing you really need in your gym is space. For your home workouts, you will be doing a combination of aerobic activities, anaerobic exercises and strength-training moves. This will require floor space, but also enough headroom to be able to have a full range of mobility around your body. Therefore, you ideally want to dedicate an open room for your workout that has very little furniture that could get in the way.

Additionally, you will want a room with lots of natural light and very few distractions. If your room is filled with gadgets and gizmos not conducive to your workout, then chances are that they will end up being a distraction and take away from your valuable workout time. Natural light is a great way to naturally energize the body and mind, and it will keep your area well illuminated to avoid any kind of accidents.

Preparing Your Workout

Once you have a suitable space for exercising, all you need is the appropriate workout routine. The best option for you is dependent on your current level of fitness and your overall fitness goals. If you are looking to increase your strength, you might consider investing in some inexpensive dumbbells and/or kettlebells. If you are going for a lower-impact workout that does more to increase your flexibility and core strength, you might want to purchase a yoga mat or a BOSU balance trainer.

Executing A Plan

The key to any workout routine is maintaining a consistent frequency, intensity, and duration, so think about what time is best for you to commit to exercising every day. Remember that this needs to be a time that can work each day you plan on exercising, and will rarely conflict with any other plans you may have. Some people like to begin their day with a workout, since it helps them wake up and have an energetic rest of the day. Others might choose sometime in the early afternoon or after work to burn off the day’s stress. Whichever time slot you choose, be sure you have ample time to complete your fitness session so you don’t feel rushed or stressed while doing it.

The last thing you need to remember about establishing your workout plan is intensity. Exercise doesn’t have to be a punishment, and you shouldn’t have to push yourself to the extreme in order to get fit. In fact, as a diabetic, it can be dangerous to overexert yourself when working out. It’s important to understand that finding the right balance of effort can propel your workout and generate positive results to keep you healthy and happy.

Supplement Your Exercise With A Healthy-Eating Plan

Just as important as being active is establishing a healthy diet, and just like working out, it’s easy to cook nutritious meals at home. Be sure to fill your refrigerator and pantry with healthy staples, including:

In general, opt for non or minimally processed foods and avoid treats with added salt and sugar as much as possible.

Diabetes is an overwhelming diagnosis, but it doesn’t have to destroy your life. Working out at home is an excellent way to maintain your overall health and keep your Type 2 Diabetes under control.

Posted in Bodybuilding, Fitness/Wellness, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – Shed Hunting? How To Find Yours

Posted on April 25, 2018 by thesportsarchives

Whitetails, just like the other species in the deer family shed their antlers every year and then go on to grow another new set. The shedding process may take up to three weeks to complete while the regeneration may take the entire summer to complete and the cycle starts all over again. Typically, the whitetails will shed their antlers between mid-January and April.

The antlers consist of a bone-like tissue and the mounting parts on the head of the whitetail upon which the antler grow. These mounting points are referred to as the pedicles. Pedicles start appearing on the head of young whitetail when it reaches one year, but the first branch may not appear until the third year. The antlers become long and thick as the whitetail grows. They will grow rapidly for about two to four months before they shed off.

How Do Bucks Shed their Antlers?

Several factors determine how the whitetail sheds their antlers. The first factor that influences the shedding process is genetics. Every subspecies of the bucks will let go off their headgear at different times of the year. Geographical location also plays a critical role since it dictates the climate of the region. Extreme cold will make the deer shed its antlers sooner than in warm conditions.

Food availability is another factor that will determine how soon the buck parts way with its headgear. The whitetails that are malnourished tend to shed their antlers sooner compared to their healthy counterparts. Years with poor crop harvests can make the buck shed its antlers sooner.

Stress from rut is the final factor that will influence the shedding process. Years that tend to produce harsh rutting conditions will make the whitetails shed their antlers sooner than usual. Regions with uneven buck-to-doe ratio tend to dump significant loads on the whitetails.

Where Should You Hunt for the Shed Antlers?

Hunting for shed antlers has become hype in the whitetail hunting world. You have to be patient and smart to find them. However, some areas tend to produce more sheds than others. Some of the prime spots where you should go looking for the shed antlers include:

  • Travel routes along fences, creeks, and ditch crossings
  • In the beddings area; especially in cedar thickets, CRP fields (Conservation Reserve Program), south and east- facing slopes, and in the field-grass beds
  • In feeding areas; especially in crop fields, water sources, and food plots.

How to Find the Shed Antlers

Avoid hunting too early, and if you bump into an antlered buck, it doesn’t mean that you will find the shed antlers in that area. Another tip is to have your trail camera around the identified feeding spots. Once the images in your camera indicate antlered whitetails, intensify your search for the shed antlers.

Rainy days are the most ideal to go out and look for the headgears. Sheds tend to shine in the rain which means there is a high possibility that it will attract your eye faster. Do not wander around a large area. Instead, mark off a small area of land and focus your search in that area. You can also accompany someone who knows the ropes and/or bring along a shed dog.

Featured images:
  •  License: Image author owned
  •  License: Image author owned

Danny Shetler works as a full-time electrician and spends as much time as he can outdoors. The outdoors are his passion and he spends all of his spare time with his wife and teenage son, finding hunting and fishing excursions to keep him busy and help him “bring home the bacon”.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – Proven Ways To Improve Your Golf Game

Posted on April 18, 2018 by thesportsarchives

Remember that episode of Rick and Morty where Jerry inadvertently unleashes a small army of trans dimensional creatures called Meeseeks to help him shave two points off his golf game? Didn’t really work out for him, did it? When it comes to paring down your handicap, the secret lies not in conjuring high concept sci-fi mascots, but in embracing the practices that help proponents of virtually every sport to improve their game. Get plenty of practice, focus on your fundamentals, and be amenable to advice when you know it comes from a good source. That’s why The Sports Archives Blog has scoured the archives for top tips from the pros to help even golfers with two left hands shave some much-needed swings off their game.

Image by Pixabay

Pack The Lightest Equipment Possible

Golf is a game of finesse, and requires a perfect balance between tension and relaxation in your hands, arms, legs, back and hips. Thus, carrying around heavy equipment from one hole to the next (if you don’t have a caddy to assist you) can not only make the game a whole lot less enjoyable, but tired limbs can seriously throw you off your game. Carry an ultralight golf bag, packed with the lightest weight clubs and you’ll find that you’re capable of the finesse you need to gain that competitive edge. It’ll also make the game a lot less tiring and a lot more enjoyable.

Avoid Topping The Tee Shot

We’ve all done this one. In an effort to get the ball as high as possible, we end up topping the shot and driving the ball into the ground. Most of the time we do this because we’re hanging back and hitting upwards, thereby increasing the risk of sending the ball careening off the tee and into the ground. This gets the game off to a bad start and haunts you throughout the course.

This can be easily cured by working on your follow through. Imagine that you’re hitting two balls at the same time. The first is where you usually tee up, the second is hovering a few inches in front of the target. Focus your attention on the second ball and you’ll be more likely to follow through in a sweeping motion that sends the ball well clear of the tee. Boom! Your game is off to the best possible start and you’re much more likely to get into the zen like state favored by golfers and fishermen for a good game.

Embrace The Hip Bump

Sometimes your shots will go too thin (similar to topping your tee shot with your iron, where the iron strikes the ball too high) or too fat (where the club hits the ground before the ball). These shots can be unpredictable and derail a game which has been going perfectly until this point. These shots can be cured, however, by embracing the hip bump. Initiate your down-swing, but with a slight bump in your hips towards your target. This will allow you to center your body’s rotation over the ball, helping you to avoid hitting the turf before the golf ball. Hanging back is one of the surest ways to ensure that you hit it fat.

 

Posted in Golf | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Sports Archives – It’s All About The Water Sports – The Ones To Try This Summer

Posted on April 17, 2018 by thesportsarchives

There an often be a lot of focus around extreme sports and what you should be trying at least once to get that adrenaline rush, but as sport is such a diverse thing to be involved in, and so many avenues you can take, sometimes it can be quite easy to miss out on some of the best sports to try to be involved in. I wanted to focus on all things water today, and highlight some of the sports you should give a go this summer. Some are tamer than others, some may take practice or perseverance to get right, but all will give you a different experience and it is always worth trying something. After all, you never know where it could lead to. So without further ado, here are some of the water sports you should try. I would be keen to know how many you have already done.

Image source

Swimming

Let’s start with the obvious thing you can do, on your own, in the water, and that is swimming. But there are still studies that show that an alarming amount of people still haven’t mastered this life skill. Swimming is one of those things that can be done in a local pool, and there are always lessons that cover all stages of experience. If you haven’t done it before, or you want to brush up on your swimming skills, then perhaps this summer is the time to do it. This website has some interesting tips to get you started https://www.livestrong.com.

White Water Rafting

From something obvious to something extreme, but it wouldn’t be right not to include some adrenalin rush sports in this list, and white water rafting can be just that. Depending on your experience, at the right locations there are places you can go to use the right sort of rafts and equipment, and also know where to go and what to do. It can be a lot of fun, you will probably get very wet, but it is certainly something you should try at least once.

Paddle Boarding

Paddle boarding is something that not many people will have heard of, but it is growing in popularity all over the world. It is something that can be done on calm or more rapid water and it can be a lot of fun. Thanks to websites like https://themarinebattery.com you can now be far more aware of some of the equipment you need, and you can even get inflatable boards for ease and setup. Stand up paddle boards are something that you can either enjoy on floating rivers, or something a little faster, depending on your experience. But it can be a lot of fun.

Image source

Water Skiing

If you love an adrenaline rush and like the idea of something fast-paced then water skiing could be the one for you. Extended from a speedboat, you and your skis are there to keep afloat on top of the water and ski along. You have the currents made from the boat to content with, along with any other choppiness in the water. This is one sport that can be done at sea or at an organised local event center where you will likely do it on a lake. It can certainly give you that adrenaline rush you have been after.

Jet Skis

If you like to be fully in control of what you are doing, but still like the idea of the pace and speed you can get from being on the water then jet skiing could be the one for you. You are in control of a motorised water vehicle, in theory, and you can choose to have a sit down one or stand up one, which in turn can help you to the ride the waves and even perform stunts, depending on your experience.

Sailing

Have you ever thought about just sailing off into the sunset? Then perhaps the hobby of sailing could be something you should try this summer. Sailing doesn’t require you to own a boat, as these days there are plenty of places you can hire one. It can be a motorised boat that you choose, or good old-fashioned wind sailing. However, you may need to learn a few things before heading out on to the water to ensure that you are safe in doing so. It can be quite a relaxing thing to do sailing on water, and certainly could be one for you to move forward with in terms of a long-term hobby.

Image source

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is diving under the water and observing what is there, it is more commonly done at sea where you can witness beautiful corals and fish in their natural habitat. Scuba diving requires a lot of equipment such as oxygen tanks and wetsuits, but there are plenty of establishments that you can rent these out and go out with an experience instructor as you are learning the ropes. People will more commonly do this when they are on holiday so they can see some of the beautiful surroundings under the water.

Canoeing

Another water sports you can try closer to home would be canoeing or kayaking. It can be done on a lake, river, or even at sea if you are experienced enough. It can be quite an experience giving you the calm and serene but also the adrenaline when navigating fast paced waters. Again you need a fair amount of equipment to do it, the canoe or kayak being the most obvious, but there are often places near the best locations to do it that can give you this equipment on a hire basis.

Windsurfing

A difficult water sport to master would be windsurfing, and again this is something that people tend to try on holiday. Not only do you have the surfboard to stay on top of but you also have the wind sail to navigate. It can be quite fast paced with the right sea and weather conditions and definitely a lot of fun, but it can also be very strenuous on the arms in terms of a workout.

Surfing

Finally, one of the most common water sports there is and what people would associate the most in terms of water and a sport, aside from swimming, would be surfing. Surfing is a very difficult skill to master. The surfboard itself as well as judging the swell of the wave to ensure that you stay on top of the board is something that will take practice and perseverance. But if you love the water it could be an ideal sport to take up.

I hope that this has given you some insight into some of the water sports you could be trying.

Posted in Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sports Archives – When Can You Start Exercising Properly After You’ve Given Birth?

Posted on April 11, 2018 by thesportsarchives

Image Source

If you were an avid gym goer before giving birth, and you’re keen to get back to it, it’s not that clear-cut. When it comes to getting back to the gym, you need to think about the amount of stress you put have on your body in the act of giving birth, as well as breastfeeding, lack of sleep, and so forth. So, when it comes to exercising once the doctor’s given you the okay, what do you need to consider?

Low Impact Exercises first

If you were trying to exercise while you were pregnant, the general advice was to do low impact exercise like yoga and swimming. It’s vital that you don’t go for high impact exercises right away, because after giving birth, your body is full of hormones that could potentially loosen your ligaments. This means you’ll have to avoid plyometrics, running, and heavy weights. Of course, exercises like kegels will give you the strength to perform exercises that place a bit more pressure on your core and your pelvic floor muscles. And this is the first port of call. Sites like MaterMothers.org have some more information on kegel exercises, but in developing your pelvic floor, this will help you to do more core strengthening exercises like planks further down the line.

Take It Easy

Because of the natural stress of childbirth, and this, in conjunction with carrying a baby around, your wrists are overworked. So if you plan on heading back to the gym after the doctor has given you the go ahead, avoid stressing your wrists so much. For an exercise like planks, use your forearms. And for tricep dips, push ups, or anything with a dumbbell, you need to modify these, such as by using cables instead of weights.

Build Up Gradually

You might think that it won’t take long to get back to your pre-pregnancy fitness level. But, no matter how eager you are, it can take a long time to build your strength up. There are websites that can help with post baby fitness, MomsIntoFitness.com is one such site that has exercises specifically geared towards mothers, either pre or post birth. And remember, because the hormones surging through your body relax your ligaments, this means your joints are unstable. It can take a while for your body to reset its natural hormone balance, which is why it’s important for you not to push it right away. Instead, get the lowdown from mothers who have been there and done that. Unfortunately, if you push yourself too hard so soon after birth, you could suffer stress fractures. High intensity training needs to be left until you are finished breastfeeding.

You don’t need to avoid exercising completely after you’ve given birth, especially if you know it does you some good. But, with any intense routines, it’s best to leave these for now. You can certainly do low impact exercises, especially those all-important kegels, and to help your body recover, especially after the trauma of giving birth, proper nutrition is the cornerstone of getting back into fitness. If you planned on training for any Tough Mudder competitions scheduled for a week after the due date, it’s best to put these off for some time!

Posted in Bodybuilding, Fitness/Wellness, Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment