The Sports Archives – Surf Science: Learning The Theory Behind The Sport Of Surfing!

Posted on March 1, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Surfing - 2010 Mavericks Competition

Sitting on your surfboard, you glance over your shoulder and see an oncoming wave. By now, your eyes and brain have learned to time this feat just right so that you can catch and ride the wave. You begin to paddle hard, feeling the acceleration as the water boosts you to match its speed. As you stand and balance on the board, you show off with some turns. Then, you decide to end your ride by stepping back on the board and drop the tail into the water, putting on the brakes. Ever wonder about the physics behind the sport of surfing and how everything comes into play just right so you can catch that perfect wave?

Gravity and Buoyancy

While you are lying on your board waiting to catch a wave, both gravity and buoyancy are at work. Gravity pulls on every inch of you and your board. Your centre of mass is typically located behind your navel in the middle of the body when you stand upright. It is this centre point that allows you to rest in balance. Buoyancy is an upward force that is created by resting waters pushing on the board. Also known as hydrostatic force, it is exerted by the water onto every inch of the board, particularly at the board’s centre of mass.

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The Sports Archives – Will Jadeveon Clowney Be Drafted First Overall In The NFL Draft?

Posted on February 27, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Jadeveon ClowneyIf he has his way he will. The standout defensive end from the University of South Carolina has stated publicly that he intends to be the #1 overall draft pick in the upcoming NFL draft. His combination of size and speed has many scouts in awe of his potential as a defensive player that may have game changing ability if he develops.

Impressive Measurables

Jadeveon Clowney seems to have most of the measurables that a team looking for a defensive end might be looking for. He stands an impressive 6’6” tall and weighs in at 266lbs which gives him the length and the bulk to deal with the massive NFL offensive lineman that he will be dealing with day in and day out.

At the combine, Clowney ran a blazing 4.47 in the 40 yard dash. To put that in perspective a 4.47 is a better time than the majority of the wide receivers who participated in this drill. This means that he will have the speed to chase down almost any player on any team in the NFL.

During the 2012 season Clowney recorded 13 sacks in the nation’s toughest conference and made a highlight reel tackle (see below) during the Outback bowl against Michigan. During his 2013 campaign he only produced 3 sacks and several questions regarding his character began to surface.

Flip Side

The flip side of the Clowney argument is that perhaps he lacks the work ethic to succeed in the NFL every week of the season. His 3 sacks have led analysts and broadcasts to wonder if he was working hard enough on and off the field. Early in the season he could be seen with his hands on hips after plays which is a clear indicator of fatigue, a tell sign that an athlete’s conditioning may be lacking.

During his bench press work out he put up 225lbs just 21 times, a punter was able to do this 23 times and many defensive lineman get closer to 25 or 30. While this was not a terrible showing it might give scouts the impression that if he is locked up with a blocker that he may lack strength to assert himself, especially during running plays where contact with a  blocker is almost inevitable.

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The Sports Archives – History of the Six Nations Championship!

Posted on February 26, 2014 by thesportsarchives

The Six Nations championship represents the pinnacle of rugby in Europe and, though it only became the Six Nations in 2000 when Italy joined England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in the tournament to decide Europe’s top international side, its roots go back over 100 years. This makes it the oldest international rugby championship in the world.

The Development of the Tournament

Six Nations Championship LogoWhat was then simply known as the International Championship developed from the occasional games played between England and Scotland which began in 1871. Wales and Ireland joined in and, in 1882, the tournament was born. In the early days England and Scotland dominated, although Ireland and Wales restored some parity towards the end of the century but not before the competition was wracked with disputes and had to be abandoned three times in the 1880s.

The early years of the 20th century were still problematic and saw matches in Wales suffer as Welsh crowds invaded the pitch and threatened referee. France occasionally played matches against the home countries and formally joined the competition, albeit with little initial success, in 1910 – just one win in the first four years, against Scotland.

After a hiatus due to World War I, the tournament resumed with all five nations and England and Scotland being the most successful sides. Controversy, however, saw the French excluded in 1932 following allegations that French players had received payment for playing at club level and that some had been found to be carrying stiletto knives in their socks.

Interrupted once more by war, the competition was suspended from 1940 to 1946, resuming in 1947 with France back in the fold, making it once more the Five Nations. For the next few years Wales and Ireland dominated but as the fifties wore on so England and France took the lead, with France winning four consecutive championships from 1959 to 1962 (shared with England in 1960). 1960 to 1979 were the years of France and Wales – France heading the championship table on eight occasions (three shared and one Grand Slam) and Wales winning 11 times (three shared and three Grand Slams).  Since then, England and France have mostly ruled the roost (although Wales won the 2012 and 2013 tournaments).

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The Sports Archives – Pass The Torch!

Posted on February 25, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Increasing your enjoyment of the Winter and Summer Olympics is often as simple as familiarizing yourself with the rules of the events that are taking place. While many people enjoy the pure athletic finesse and competition that exists in the games, knowing the details that govern the games can make each event more exciting than ever. The Luge is a vastly popular event that is only second to the Bobsleigh. During the Luge, athletes take their positions with their feet forward and their heads up. They flex their calves and exert pressure with their shoulders from one side to the other in order to steer. This event can be extremely dangerous due to the fact that there is little protection as they zoom down the track. The record speed for the event is 95.6 miles per hour. The Bobsleigh uses a track that has three specific turns, and the crew can use two to four athletes. There is a weight limit of 1,388 pounds, and they have only 50 meters to get a running start before engaging in the sled.

When things heat up, the Summer events offer the Steeplechase. This event extends to 3,000 meters, challenging each athlete with immovable obstacles along the way. Each circuit contains 4 obstacles and 1 water barrier. For the men, the obstacles are 34 inches high and the women face 30-inch obstacles. There are seven circuits in each race, the fastest time wins, and each competitor can clear the obstacle using any means necessary.

Another unusual yet highly entertaining event that takes place during the summer games is Trampolining. During this competition, the athletes perform 10 different poses on the hardware that must begin and end with the feet. The moves are ranked on a scale of ten with the judges paying close attention to moves that are incomplete, movements that take them too far from the center of the trampoline, and the degree of difficulty associated with the move. The trampoline itself measure 14×7′. The moves are governed by three basic shapes that revolve around tucks, pikes, and straddles. With a better grasp on the events taking place, you can gather the snacks, and let the games begin.

Source: Sports Management Degrees Guide

Related Blogs:
4 Facts About The 2014 Winter Olympics!
Inspired by the Olympics – 5 Equine Sports to Get Involved in!
The Olympics: The Greatest Show on Earth?

olympics infograph

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The Sports Archives – Five Celebrities Who Love Bowling!

Posted on February 22, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Bowlers Paradise Bowling Balls

Celebrities, especially some famous celebrity families, love to bowl. It is a great way for some of the large celebrity broods to do an activity together that is great for all ages. Here are five celebrity families who have been caught bowling recently.

The Jolie-Pitts

Towards the end of 2013, Angelina Jolie was photographed taking all six of her kids bowling in Australia while Brad Pitt was promoting 12 Years a Slave.

The Hardwicks

Chris Hardwick, comedian and host of @midnight is the son of the late pro bowler Billy Hardwick and is considered an expert bowler in his own right. He occasionally airs celebrity bowling tournaments on ESPN.

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The Sports Archives – Bozeman “Not Ready” For An Olympic Bid!

Posted on February 19, 2014 by thesportsarchives
Bozeman, Montana

Bozeman, Montana

The Olympic Games – Why Bozeman’s Infrastructure Isn’t Ready

It’s common knowledge that Bozeman, Montana – the hipster fixture of Big Sky Country – is making a bid for the 2026 Olympic Games. Are they ready? Experts in infrastructure say no. But with drama (and tempers) running high in Sochi, it’s hard to imagine ignoring anyone who’s willing to talk Olympics right now.

Infrastructure and the Olympics

Let’s look at the facts – despite the Big Sky committee having ideas about venues, there are an unimaginable number of details that have to be in place before a worldwide event like the Olympics can take place. Let’s take a look at what has to be considered.

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The Sports Archives – The History of Motocross Racing Infographic!

Posted on February 16, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Racing motorcycles has been a popular obsession since the 1860s. Since then, it’s evolved into a billion dollar industry, famous for filling up arenas around the world. Today, the core of motocross is still all about the exhilaration and freedom that comes with racing a motorcycle.

Timeline of Motocross Racing

The following shows the history of motorcycle racing:

  • 1906 – First time trial held by the Auto-Cycle Club, a competition for the fastest man on the track
  • 1924 – First official scramble took place in Great Britain, becoming known as motocross
  • 1952 – European Championship Series was created using 500 cc engines
  • 1962 – 250 cc division established
  • 1972 – First stadium motocross took place at the Los Angeles Coliseum

Motorcycle Racing Today

Currently, motocross is one of America’s quickest growing sports, with four main competition types:

  1. Super Cross – Takes place in sports arenas, on tracks made of artificial dirt. Incorporates tighter turns, shorter straights and steep articles and jumps.
  2. Freestyle – Competition for longest air and best tricks, determined by panel of judges. Consists of two routines per rider, between 90 seconds to 15 minutes long.
  3. Big Air – Panel of judges evaluates two jumps for originality, difficulty and style. Competition takes place on a track covered with dirt, with jumps as high as 75-feet.
  4. Super Moto – Made popular by the World Wide of Sports (ABC), using dirtbikes with road tires. Often consists of whoops, berms and jumps.

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The Sports Archives – What Science Has Taught Us About Improving Your Golf Swing!

Posted on February 13, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Drive for Show

Watch enough ESPN, and you might begin to think that performance on the golf course is all about toting a bag full of name-brand golf clubs. While big name clubs often perform well, it’s actually the science behind the club—as well as the technique of your swing—that sends that little ball soaring toward the green. In fact, while golfers are putting time in at the local driving range perfecting swings, club manufacturers continue to perfect the physics of golf clubs.

Reducing Drag during Swing

Technique is essential to a solid hit, but power and speed are also important. According to studies, air resistance—known as drag—on the club can reduce the power of a swing by up to 10 percent. Air is most resistant on the largest, flattest part of the club: the head. Subsequently, most club heads feature groves along the flat edge to allow for increased airflow. Drivers are also designed to improve airflow through aerodynamic shapes on the back of the driver head.

Large club heads provide some benefits to overall swing and initial impact with the golf ball. Since a larger head will also increase drag—which could lead to up to a 15-yard reduction in how far the ball travels—companies must work to strike a balance between powerful heads and optimal airflow.

The Need for Spring

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The Sports Archives – Can Gracie Win The Gold?

Posted on February 12, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Gracie Gold 2012An 18-year-old Chicago native is gearing up to become America’s new sweetheart at the Sochi Olympics. Figure skater Gracie Gold, an energetic blonde with blue eyes and signature red lipstick, took first place at the U.S. Championships in January and secured a spot on the Olympic-bound team. Soon after, she was dubbed America’s “face of the games” by NBC, and was named a rising star by Sports Illustrated. Although the favored medalists for the women’s ice skating competition are Kim Yu-Na of South Korea, Mao Asada of Japan and Carolina Kostner of Italy, things are never a guarantee at the Olympics. (Who can forget when newcomer Tara Lipinski robbed veteran Michelle Kwan of the gold medal in the 1998 Nagano Olympics?)

A Star’s Beginning

Gracie and her twin sister Carly attended first and second grade in Springfield, MO. One day, they went to a birthday party at the Jordan Valley Ice Park Skating Rink, where they spent an hour on the ice before enjoying cake. Afterwards, Gracie told her father that she wanted to learn to skate. When the ice skating instructor told her parents they should consider private lessons, they found a new coach for her. Gracie loved ice skating so much that she began going to competitions regularly. When Gracie was a freshman in high school, her family moved to the Chicago area so that she could continue her ice skating career.

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The Sports Archives – Real Madrid Goalkeeping Legends!

Posted on February 12, 2014 by thesportsarchives

Over the past decade, many of us have become even more interested in Spanish football since Sky brought the games to our normal television viewing. During this time, two names have been synonymous with brilliant goalkeeping for La Liga. Barcelona and Real Madrid- Spain’s two dominant forces- have definitely produce two of the world’s finest keepers of the net in Víctor Valdés and Iker Casillas. For more than ten years, Valdés has started regularly for Barcelona, playing in more than five hundred games for his Catalan team. However, the most highly prized player always has been Casillas.

Achievements

Casillas, now 32 years old, has accomplished more than any modern goalkeeper. His incredible record includes two medals from Champions Cup, one Copa Del Rey title and five La Liga ones for his domestic achievements, along with his World Cup win as team captain for Spain as well as two trophies from the European Championship.

Iker Casillas Euro 2012

It is not very surprising that Casillas got started on his illustrious career when he was very young. During the 1998-1999 season, at eighteen years of age, he made his debut. Within just a few months, he replaced Bodo Illgner, a veteran German, as the best keeper at Bernabéu. During his second season, Casillas became the youngest goalkeeper even to earn a Champions League title when Madrid defeated Valencia. Casillas had just turned nineteen four days before the final. He hardly missed a match over the following twelve seasons. In February 2008, he was signed to a lifetime contract, due to how important he was to the club. The incredible deal was for nine years, tying Casillas to his beloved club until 2017. If Casillas plays in 30 competitive games during the deal’s last year, his contract will be extended even beyond 2017. The buyout clause has been set at approximately £113,000,000 for any clubs attempting to poach Casillas. Over the past few years, many attempts have been mooted, particularly the one involving Manchester City.

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