The Sports Archives – What Is Data Mining In Sports?

Posted on March 19, 2014 by thesportsarchives

The Normal Distribution

Data mining is used in most major sports these days to improve performance by using statistics and predictions to make the team stronger. A reverse data-mining technique can also be used to find out the weaknesses in an opposing team and plan play accordingly for the next time the teams meet. Using this kind of information used to be down to simple observation and acquired knowledge but now there are some very complicated computer programmes that take the guesswork out of the process. There are some that contend that there is nothing quite like the experienced eye of a coach to help build the perfect team but others point to the fact that if the only thing that data mining does is improve performance and help minimise injuries, it will have done its job. Why would any professionally minded sports team not want this,  less injuries and higher performance sounds ideal.

It’s all in the mind

Data mining is not just applied to physical prowess. Many sports now also employ psychometric testing, particularly at the scouting level, to make sure that a player has the right mindset to make them an asset on the field or pitch. In many sports, different positions call for a different personality and these tests can be applied to good all-rounders to see where they would be best employed. To take rugby as an example, the fly half, as well as being generally lighter and faster on his feet than a hooker must also be quick thinking and able to predict several moves ahead. The hooker on the other hand has to be fairly headstrong and able to push forward against the other team but doesn’t necessarily have to think outside the box. If these attributes are not obvious when the players are younger and still developing their physique, a psychometric test will help.

Spotting the strengths and weaknesses

By using computer programs specific to a sport, a coach or manager can compile the perfect team based on prior performance and also fitness levels. By also using the same information about a competing team, the right people can be put against them. The problem is of course that with the opposing coach using the same techniques, any advantage may well be cancelled out, but there could still be an edge. Statisticians are in some cases taking the place of managers and coaches who used simple experience to choose their teams, but in most cases, gut reaction will still carry the day.

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The Sports Archives – Mini Masters: Should Children Be Awarded Black Belts?

Posted on March 18, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Martial arts kids

In the 1970’s the martial arts scene exploded due to the rise of martial art style films that were seen in both the movies and TV. Martial artists turned actors such as Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris became household names after starring in action packed movies where they displayed a dazzling display of kicks and punches which always helped them to defeat the bad guy.

Not long after the initial explosion of these films a martial arts school or club could suddenly be found in almost every city and quite often in most strip malls in any given city block. The martial arts industry was growing as well as those that seek to capitalize on the opportunities now available.

With the explosion in schools came an explosion in black belts, which usually symbolizes a person that has mastered their chosen art or could be considered an “expert” who should be able to sufficiently defend themselves against an attacker, much like their hero’s did in the movies.

One very common practice has been the awarding of the coveted black belts to children who are often not even teenagers yet.

Should Children Get Black Belts?

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The Sports Archives – The Guide To Getting Better At Tennis When You Hit A Plateau!

Posted on March 15, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Reaching a plateau is tough to take. You’ve been going upwards for months and your play doesn’t seem to get any better. Everyone from the total novice to the hardened veteran has experienced this before. The important point is to never quit. All plateaus can be broken and anyone can become a better tennis player.

This is the essential guide you need for getting through the hard times and becoming better at the game you love.

1. The Second Serve

Treat every serve like a second serve. A common mistake players make is to fire their first serve in the hope of an ace. Most of the time, they’ll miss and place all the pressure on their slower second serve. You’ll have far more double faults than you will aces. Act like every serve is a second serve instead of firing in balls with reckless abandon.

2. Difference in Points

There are points you absolutely have to win and points you can’t lose. With the former, you’ll take more risks. In the latter case, you’ll play conservatively until your opponent makes an error. At the lower levels of the game, mistakes are high, so it’s better to simply wait your opponent out. Only when you reach the professional level do you have to start taking big risks.

3. Block Back Serve Returns

The block back serve return is perhaps the most underrated shot in tennis. Don’t put any power on the ball and just spin their serve back to them. This will encourage them to hit their serves harder next time, which increases the error rate and forces them to generate the power to hit the ball back.

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The Sports Archives – What Skills Do You Need To Become A Badminton Champ?

Posted on March 14, 2014 by thesportsarchives

If you’ve been curious about badminton, there’s been no better time than now to pick up a racquet and shuttlecock.  The badminton community has grown exponentially over the years — with resources and clinics just a click or phone call away.  Although many of us like to play badminton for recreational purposes, some of you may have a desire to kick things up a notch and take the sport to the next level.  If you’ve been wondering what type of skills it takes to become a badminton champ, then read on to find out!

Speed

Badminton is a fast-paced sport that is full of surprises and unexpected plays.  The ability to move quickly across the court is crucial for success.  The best badminton players have strong limbs and are strategic in their movements.  Badminton plays are highly calculated with each swing precisely timed and thought out.  Speed is absolutely necessary to outwit your opponent and handle those shuttlecocks that come at you from all angles of the court.

Strength

As mentioned earlier, strong limbs are crucial to becoming a badminton champ.  Good players make excellent use of their arms as they swing the racket throughout the game.  A powerful swing requires not only flexibility of your wrist muscles, but also good control of your forearm.  In badminton, however, strength does not refer to brute force.  There is a certain gracefulness about the game that many other sports lack.  Effective use of strength requires well-executed force that is delivered only when necessary for efficient plays.

Flexibility

The ability to change course during a game and quickly apply different techniques to unexpected scenarios is key to getting an edge over your opponents.  Too often, players get locked into certain game strategies and aren’t able to deviate from the plan even if it’s necessary to win the match.  Many coaches teach physical flexibility but not flexibility of the mental kind, which leads many badminton players down the wrong path.  Try to practice flexibility off the court, just as though you would on it.

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The Sports Archives – Do You Know that You Can Reload Your Own Ammo Effortlessly?

Posted on March 13, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Box of ammunition from first half of the 20th century. From the Museo del Objeto del Objeto collectionA long time ago, gun owners had to buy guns already loaded with ammunition or get preloaded ammunition before they could go for hunting or shooting practice. This has truly changed and at the moment they can do it themselves, thanks to development of easy-to-use reloading tools.

Many gun enthusiasts shy away from reloading their own ammunition because they think the procedure is too intricate and dangerous. However, all you need to do is follow the directives and stick to safety procedures and everything will be OK. With time, it becomes a breeze and you can even do it with your eyes closed.

What Reloading Supplies do you Need?

If you are planning to reload your ammunition for the first time, you need to know that there are a number of supplies you’ll need to pull it off successfully. These include:

The Press

A reloading press is an apparatus that helps you reload the ammunition. There are different types namely the single stage press, the turret press, and the fully progressive press.

The single stage press comes with only a single die. This means you handle a single step of the reloading process at a time. The next step requires you to switch the initial die for another one prior to proceeding to the next step. The turret press holds all the dies you need for loading hence no need to change the dies. This allows for quicker loading as compared to the single press. The fully progressive press brings more swiftness and superior technique to the whole process, making it better than the turret press.

Dies

These are reloading supplies that are inserted into the press. They are used to resize the brass, get rid of any used primer, flare the case mouth, fine-tune the position of the bullet, and crimp the bullet all around. Dies represent one of most vital reloading tools and that’s why you need to make sure you buy them from a reliable supplier. Visit Recob’s Target Shop’s website to see some of the quality dies available.

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The Sports Archives – The Benefits Of Soccer Camp For Kids!

Posted on March 12, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Soccer CampSending your child to a ‘soccer camp,’ can turn out to be a win-win situation for you! “The truth is that EVERY child can benefit from going to soccer camp, whether it be socially beneficial or developmentally,” Mike Slatton, writes in The Soccer Mom Manual. However, two things that you need to consider, when choosing a soccer camp for your child, are: “Who will be coaching your child?” and “What will they be teaching?” he states.  ‘Also, ensure that, you know exactly what your needs or goals for your child’s soccer education are?  Is it skill development?  Culture-education? or Daycare?’ he advises.

Soccer Camp: Helps Your Child, Reach the Next Level

At any good soccer camp, the coach will know, exactly how to help children improve their skills and teach them the necessary techniques– that prepare, and eventually qualify them for the next level! “An athlete who wishes to play at the next level cannot rely on improvement/advancement from their games or practices alone. The most committed soccer players will strive for the best opportunities to better their game. The easiest way to do this is, through a soccer camp,” states Exact Sports. “…an athlete can access his/her greatest potential by attending a camp that allows a trained professional to specifically focus on their individual talents and areas of improvement,” it informs.

At a Soccer Camp Children Develop Physically, Mentally and Socially

While, it may be rather challenging initially, for children at a soccer camp to meet the high training standards, eventually, they get accustomed to it. In fact, it is this rigorous training that helps them become physically, mentally and socially, stronger! The bonds of friendship that they establish and develop, with other children here- endures long after they leave the camp. A soccer camp, therefore, better addresses, “the quality of chemistry and compatibility with players who are already on the team,” ‘which often gets overlooked, by athletes wanting to compete at the next level,’ declares ‘Exact Sports.’

“There’s something about being put in an unfamiliar situation that makes people learn about themselves. Being placed on a new team, working with new coaches, and playing new competition can often reveal new and unknown traits, such as… leadership abilities, teamwork skills, good sportsmanship, a love of exercise and competitive desire,” states ‘iSport Football.’ It believes this, to be one of the greatest benefits of participating in a soccer camp and says, “You’ll gain confidence from knowing that you can be thrust into a new group of athletes, and leave with a sense of accomplishment… ”

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The Sports Archives – Cactus League Spring Training: An Insider’s Guide!

Posted on March 11, 2014 by thesportsarchives

It’s that time of year again. The boys of summer are putting on their cleats and oiling up their gloves. The sound of the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd is ringing through the air. This can mean only one thing. Spring training baseball is upon us once again. If you have always wanted to check out some of baseball’s biggest superstars as they prepare for the regular season, there is no better time to do it than right now. Taking a trip to Arizona to take in some exciting Cactus League action is a great way to enjoy a vacation with family and friends. Let’s take a look at the important things that you need to know before you plan a trip to Arizona to watch Cactus League baseball.

When should you go?

Spring training games are held from late February through late March.

Where do you go?

There are currently 15 Major League teams that train in the Cactus League. Where you will go depends on what game you are going to see. The teams have ballparks that are scattered around the Phoenix area. The good news is they are all fairly close together, so you will not need to make any extended trips in your car.

Tickets

The prices for Cactus League games are much lower than what you will pay for a ticket to a regular season game. The most expensive seats are around $25. Bleacher or lawn tickets can usually be purchased for under $10. If you really care about where you will be sitting, you can book your tickets in advance at www.cactusleague.com. Cactus League games are rarely sellouts, so tickets can always be had the day of the game. Since it is legal to scalp tickets in Arizona, you can also pick up some premium seats at the last minute.

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The Sports Archives – How To Prevent Having An Accident On The Slopes

Posted on March 10, 2014 by thesportsarchives

This season there have been several high-profile skiing accidents. With Michael Schumacher and Angela Merkel hitting the headlines and the seemingly endless series of crashes and disasters on the TV series The Jump, there can be few people who are not aware of the dangers of snow sports. There will always be hazards on the slopes but there are ways to minimise your chances of becoming an accident victim.

Keep Alert

Male Ciche

Don’t even consider picking up your skis or your snowboard if you over tired, feeling ill or under the influence of alcohol. You will underperform, lack sharpness and could make poor decisions. Staying safe is about keeping alert at all times and making good choices. At the end of a long day leave the slopes before fatigue sets in. Your performance will deteriorate and so will that of the other skiers around you. Accidents are more likely after several hours on the piste.

Keep well hydrated all day and eat enough healthy food. It can be tempting to avoid a stop for lunch because you want to maximise your time on the mountain but your body and mind need fuel to function at their best.

Build Up Slowly

Your body and mind need time to adjust to the challenges of the slopes. Start with simple runs and minimise your speed to acclimatise and then gradually move on to more challenging things. Your body needs to warm up and both body and mind must get into the grove. Stay within the limits of your ability and don’t be tempted to try the extravagant because the people you are with are more capable.

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The Sports Archives – How To Keep Your Horse Warm In Winter

Posted on March 8, 2014 by thesportsarchives

One of the big benefits of keeping a horse as a pet is that you don’t need to keep them in the house all the time. This means that unlike a dog, you don’t need to worry about them making a mess of your carpet, making everything smell, or eating everything you own.

But unfortunately this is also one of the downsides of a horse. Partly this is a downside because you’ll be left without your horse’s company when you want to come home to a furry companion, but also it’s because you have to leave them outside in the cold – even during winter – and of course this can be a little bit worrying.

What’s key to remember here is that horses are animals and are designed to live outside. Unlike you and I, they have a thick coat of horse hair that’s specifically intended to keep them warm when there’s a cold breeze. If you use the right approach then, you can make sure that your horse is warm and happy even when it would be freezing for any human out there.

Here are some tips to help your horse make the best of its natural endurance to the outdoors…

The Stable

The first thing to think about is the stable where you’ll be keeping your horse. Again what’s critical to remember here is that an ideal home for a horse is different from an ideal home for a human.

Specifically then, you need to avoid the mistake of trying to heat up the stable, or keep it entirely closed. A horse will be plenty warm enough in an open stable, but closing it or keeping too many horses together can risk damp and mould getting in which can create problems for your pet. Let air circulate, change the hay and straw regularly, and focus on keeping it dry and spacious rather than warm and closed-in.

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The Sports Archives – Canine Cross Country Running – One Of Europe’s Fastest Growing Sports!

Posted on March 7, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Canine Cross Country Running Canine cross country running, also known as Canicross, combines cross country running and dogs to create one truly unique event. The sport originated in Europe where those in the sledding community used canicross as a way of training their sled dogs in the off-season. Today, it has become its own sport all throughout Europe, particularly the UK.

In a canicross race, dogs wear a body harness and are always attached to the owner. In most cases, the runner will wear a special belt with a bungee cord that attaches to their belt on one end and the dog’s harness on the other. Runners may have one or two dogs attached.

In the early stages of the sport, sledding dogs such as the Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Husky were typically used. Today, the sport is open to all breeds both small and large.

The First Canine Cross Country Event

The first canine cross country event took place in 2008 during the famous dog show, Crufts. More than one hundred runners participated with their canine companions in this inaugural race. These days, canine cross country events are held all over Europe and are mainly sponsored by sled dog and canicross organizations such as the European Canicross Federation.

Events cover varying distances and include cross country terrain. Some are as little as one mile, while others can be as long as 30 miles or more. While all dogs are welcome to participate, most events will require that the dog be at least one year of age for short distance races and two years of age for long distance races. This is to make sure their joints are physically mature so there is less risk of injury associated with running long distances.

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