Why Sports Should Be Part of Every Kid’s Life

Sports. Some of us hate them, some of us love them. Some of us grew up as the team’s shining star. They woke up early on the weekends for football or baseball practice, or ran track until they puked. Then there were those of us who preferred to sit on the sidelines and watch. We relished the use of the snooze button and slept ’til noon every Saturday and then got up and turned on the TV or played video games. This trend has continued over the decades, with more and more kids turning on TVs instead of getting turned on to sports. The effects of this trend have been disturbing with childhood obesity rates on the rise, and far too many kids getting into trouble with drugs and violence. If sports were part of the lives of more young people, we might see the trend reverse.

Tackling Childhood Obesity Through Athletics

In most areas, some type of sport activity is available for kids of various age groups. While some children are eager to play sports, there are some children who simply do not show much interest in competing. However, in light of the obesity rates in children that … Read more at FryingPanSports

Sports That Can Make You Fit

Fitness is one of the fast rising trends in the world today. Exercise and workout DVD’s, dietary supplements, fitness magazines, and the likes are out in the market to help people of different body types achieve their goal of becoming fit. One of the best ways to achieve fitness is by doing sports.

Sports involve physical athleticism. Thus, it can be very helpful in achieving a nice built. Muscles are being exercised plus calories are being burned. You will notice that all athletes have well-toned muscles. And, those muscles are not just for shows. Since muscles are being used constantly, it acquires strength that most non-athletic or gym buff people do not possess. Sports also improve reflexes that will help you avoid accidents in the future.

Sport is also a strategic and entertaining game. Thus, you will not only be fit with your body but also with your mind. Different sports teach different disciplines.

There are many sports that you can try. One of the best is swimming. It makes use of your limbs, helping them have a good shape. It also strengthens your lungs through exercised breathing. Swimming is not just for sports. It can actually help you survive … Read more at FryingPanSports

Three Quick Tips for Cross Country Running

Few sports can be considered as challenging as cross country running. The difficult terrain, the weather and the fierce competition all combine to test the very limits of your skill and endurance. To help you overcome these challenges, we present a few quick tips from Cross Country Running Shoes 101 on how to become a better cross country runner.

Keep Training Off-Season
Cross country season lasts for only about three months in the autumn. However, that doesn’t mean that you simply take it easy for the rest of the year. What do you think other cross country runners are doing all winter long? If you guessed “training”, then move to the head of the class. You can choose from any number of winter and spring sports to keep yourself in shape. Just don’t forget — lace up your off road shoes and keep those long runs in your schedule every week in order to maintain your base endurance level.

Support Your Teammates
Cross country is, first and foremost, a team sport. Every time you help a teammate, you help your team add yourself as well. Whether it’s a training run or the final race of the season, always be … Read more at FryingPanSports

Bushcraft experiences in and around the Peak District

For adventure lovers and outdoor types, the Peak District Derbyshire area is a great place to experience bushcraft. With stunning scenery, dense woodlands, miles of trails and pathways, rivers to cross, and hills to climb, there are ample opportunities to hone your survival skills. An organized course is the best (and legal) way to enjoy wildcamping and bushcraft.

Bushcraft courses usually take place over a weekend, so those wanting a true Peak District experience could choose to make a holiday of it, and stay in one of many stunning Peak District cottages in the area.

Bushcraft is essentially survival skills, living in the natural environment, and using your surroundings to thrive. Used for centuries in Australia and South Africa, bushcraft has gained recent popularity in the UK with Ray Mears’ television series. Wildcamping is technically illegal in England, so bushcraft, camping and survival courses are great ways to experience the outdoors without the trappings of a conventional campsite.

There are now plenty of places to enjoy bushcraft experiences in the Peak District area. Organized outdoor adventures, led by qualified guides and instructors can be incredible learning experiences for the whole family. A weekend experience is a great way to begin … Read more at FryingPanSports

3 Quick Running Tips For Beginners

 

Many people who start out running simply pull on their new running shoes and set off around their local streets or parks. Often, they retire from their fitness regime within a few weeks because their knees start playing up, or their hips or lower back hurt so much both during exercise and afterwards. The problem is that nobody teaches us how to run properly, and most beginners’ injuries are a result of poor technique. Here are a few simple tips which will help you to ward off unnecessary overuse injuries such as shin splints and painful joints.

  1. Stop Heel Striking – landing on the heel of the front foot is very common among beginners because they stretch their leg forward, locking the knee, when they stride. Unfortunately, the human heel is not cushioned and is designed mainly for balance. So if you only try out one of these running tips for beginners, this is the one to incorporate into your exercise: always aim to land on your forefoot. This allows you to make effective use of your foot’s natural shock absorber in the arch, and also provides some elastic recoil, which will enable you to run faster with less
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Preventing Injuries: For the Backyard Junkies & the Big Dogs

Whether you are a professional athlete, training for your first marathon or simply playing pick-up games of basketball from time to time with your neighbors, you are susceptible to injury and should take preventative measures to stay safe. These tips also apply to youth, whose growing bodies need extra care.

Warm Up

In any level of sport, you should already know about the need to warm your muscles up for the ensuing physical activity. However, you may not be doing it properly, for long enough or maybe you’re not warming up at all. Your muscles need time to acclimate to the pressures that you are about to cause. This does not have to be a long activity. A quick paced walk for five minutes before a run works well or jumping jacks before a game is also suitable.

Stretch

A routine of stretching is absolutely necessary to keep muscles agile and performing at their peak. Depending on your activity, you should stretch the muscles that will be strained the most during your exercise. Your quads, hamstrings and back muscles are particularly susceptible to strain. Be sure to stretch them adequately.

Protein Supplements

After a workout, consuming protein will … Read more at FryingPanSports