Back checking through the hockey neutral zone

A big change in hockey today is that the first back checking forward chases the puck carrier and creates back pressure through the neutral zone. In the old days this player would cover the wide offensive wing.

If the backchecker has a checking angle he/she finishes the check. If the attacker is too far ahead then he will cover a supporting forward.

The wide defender covers the attacker in the wide lane. The last two players coming back must beat the attacking defensemen up the ice and if possible get back quickly to outnumber the attackers by the red or defensive blue line.

The coverage varies depending on the forchecking system being used by their hockey team.

Skateboard Shoe Choices

If you've gone into a sports shop lately to look at skateboarding shoes, you've probably noticed how many brands, colors and different price points there are to choose from. Confused? How different can they possibly be?

Aside from the basic attributes of skateboard shoes, you'll find ones that work well in snow and slush, ones that have loops to protect laces while doing heel flips, thick, padded tongues, thermo-plastic toe caps and much more. Try them on for size. Comfort is key. Choose those features that have a specific benefit for the way you skate. And of course, they have to look good.

Posted By Lifetips Team

Beginning Skateboarding

Any beginner must learn to ride on their skateboard before attempting any tricks. So its important to practice moving for a while. Here's how – place your front foot on the board over the front truck bolts.

Push yourself forward with your back foot placing most of your weight over your front foot. Then place your back foot on the board near the tail and coast. While pushing you should be facing forward, but while coasting you can turn both your body and feet to the side for stability.

Posted By lifetips team

A Few Quick Soccer Tips

Communicate

When you move into the professional level it becomes even more important to communicate on the field. Simple directions or alerts, such as 'man on' and 'turn' or 'you have time' make playing so much easier and become more important as the game speeds up at higher levels.
Give it and get the ball - play the ball quickly with one and two touches. You should also be prepared to receive the ball at all times, and want the ball! This kind of energy, wanting to always be involved in the play, puts the other team that much more on their heels. So play simple soccer, get the ball and play it. Look to go forward.

Try to attack the space when you have the ball. See if you can draw a defender in, and then release the ball just when they're about to close you down or get the ball.

Shielding

A simple and great exercise is to dribble in a small square and have an opponent try to take the ball from you. Use your body to shield the ball from the defender. Always keep your body between you and the defender. Tell your friend or the person who is acting as the defender to fight for the ball with a game like intensity, pushing you and playing so hard they are almost fouling you. You can add more players and if the defender wins the ball you switch roles. This game can eventually build into a possession game that focuses on shielding. You can call out to stop play now and again which ever team doesn't have the ball has to do push-ups or a few sprints.

When you can, carry the ball into the open space - all the while shielding the ball from the defender. Carrying the ball with the inside of your foot, this is the where you will get the most control, kind of dragging the ball along as the defender pushes against you. Make sure to bend your knees and have a strong sense about you that this person is not going to get the ball from you. Then, try to work on cutting the ball back and forth. Practice shielding the ball using all parts of both of your feet.

Try shielding the ball for a few yards with the inside of your right foot and playing it to your left and carrying it in the other direction. Next, you can use the sole of your foot to turn or switch directions. Try to use all the different surfaces of your foot without letting the defender get a touch on the ball. Chop and cut the ball back with the inside and outside of both feet. Keep the defense honest by turning and taking the defender on from time to time.

Freeze the Defender

Fake like you’re going to make a long pass or about to take a shot, before receiving the ball – this will freeze the defender who is rushing towards you and give you more time. Simply pull your leg back as if you’re going to play the ball down the field, or, get more animated with it, and throw your shoulders and whole body into selling the fake kick. Either way, this simple move will freeze the on rushing defender. Again, just before you receive the ball (and control it), fake like you’re going to shoot or make a pass by drawing your leg back in the shooting or kicking motion to momentarily freeze the defender.

Switch Play

As a team keep the game flowing by ball swinging the ball from one side to the other to find the best ratio of numbers and the most space. Release pressure by switching the ball.

The Quick Switch - Blind Pass

Dribble to the right with your right foot and then swing a ball to the left, send almost a blind pass. Do the same for the left. Dribble to the left side of the field and swing a ball back to the right side of the field with your left foot. The defender on the other side will not expect the pass. Hopefully you will catch the opposing team sleeping. You are selling the idea that you're going to the side you're dribbling towards when in fact you are swinging the ball over to the opposite side. Team mates will adjust to the expectation that a switch is always coming.

Sometimes you can dribble a few times in the opposite direction you really want to play the ball - to throw the defense off - then you swing the ball to the other side of the field. It doesn't have to be a long switch, just a quick cut back to the other direction can buy you time.

Get the Cross In

As a rule almost, when you have the opportunity, swing in the cross. Do this the next two or three times. Then the fourth time, or when you see the opening, you can take that player on the dribble, beat him or her down the line and cut the ball back to a teammate. Of course, you can always go to goal yourself if the opening is there.

Play with Older Players

Try to find the best game possible near where you live when you are training. To become a great player you should push yourself, and there is no better way to do this than to play with more experienced players.

You can pick up all of their tricks and skills that they have learned over the years. This kind of mentoring process is a huge part of improving your game and often you won't even realize what subtle skills you'll pick up, just by watching and playing with better and more experienced players.

Challenge yourself by playing with experienced players when you can. It will speed up your play, make you play stronger, and you will learn from their experience - where to play the ball, when, and where to make runs.

Slow Down

Essentially this is making the easy pass to the open player. It doesn't mean necessarily slowing down your speed of play, rather it's letting the ball do the work, and not forcing the play. Keep your mind moving fast and focused. If there is an open player play them the ball. Then when they get closed down they play the ball back to you.

As a young player one of the difficult things to learn is patience. This means things like letting the ball do the work through one and two touch play. Each time you make a pass the defense changes their position and new things open up at different angles on the field - new spaces to run into, dribble, and pass are created when you move the ball.

Quick Decisions

As a professional or collegiate player you won't have time to dribble or think after getting the ball. Try to know what you are going to do with the ball before you get it. Eventually, playing simple soccer will become automatic when you are involved in the rhythm of the game, wanting and always asking for the ball trying to find the player in the most advantageous position. Two or three short simple passes can lead to someone who is open in a position to make that goal scoring pass or score themselves.

You will need to use your body to shield the ball. Play simple give and goes with your teammates to get out of pressure. Be aware of where you can move or how you can position yourself to help out your teammates. Using your body means dribbling with your left when there is a defender on your right and dribbling and shielding the ball with your right foot when there is a defender on your on your left. If you don't know you can turn or have time, keep your body between the ball and the defense and get your head up and take a look around. You should always try to know where you are on the field by taking quick looks before you receive the ball.

Hold the ball for a second while I get open or in a better position where I will have more time and can see the field better. This is one of the greatest aspects of the game of soccer, where you work with your teammates to ping the ball around the other team and through the other team, where they can't even get a touch on the ball before you score a goal.

The Half Turn

When you are in the midfield you should position your body so you can connect with the forwards. You can accomplish this by not having your back to the forwards, that is usually their role, midfielders should try to be half-turned and facing one of the sidelines. This way you can view both the back line, if they are trying to make a pass to you, and the forwards to see where they are making a run.

When you play on the wing or in a position along the touchline you should open yourself to the field - in a position to see the whole field and receive the ball. Again instead of having your back facing the forwards you can turn your shoulder towards the outside touchline in this way you are open to the field.

Posted By Soccer-training-info

Figure 8

This is a drill to practice your ballhandling. Dribble the ball as quickly as possible in a figure 8 through and around the legs. Use the fingers when you dribble, and dribble very low and quickly. Switch from the right to the left and back to the right. Example: start with the right hand dribbling the ball in front and then dribble through your legs with your right hand, switch to your left hand and dribble from the back, around your left side to the front and back through you legs... then switch to your right hand behind the body and around the right side. Try to go as fast as possible, and your dribbling skills will improve with daily practice.

posted by Brian Nemeth

Tennis Ball Dribbling

One of the more effective, but unkown ball handling drills is the use of Tennis Balls. If I had to choose one drill to improve ball handling, this would be it. At first it seems difficult, but after time you will begin to master the tennis ball and have much more conrol over your basketball handles.

Start with stationary drills. Alternate dribbling 5 times with your right, then 5 times with your left. It's ok to look down at the ball in the beginning. Try to use your fingertips to dribble the tennis balls, you have more control with the smaller tennis ball.

Now go to walking while dribbling the tennis ball, again alternating hands. When you have mastered this, go to sprints, again alternating hands. At this point you should work on keeping your head up while dribbling.

Your next progression would be to dribble two tennis balls at the same time. This is HIGHLY advanced. Only the best ball handlers in the world can comfortably accomplish this. Hopefully you can get there after plenty of hard work.

posted by Brian Nemeth

THE PROPER GOLF SWING

Some people who listen to my golf lessons think the swing is all
about moving the right body parts. But knowing which parts to
move isn’t enough. You also need to know what sequence to
move them in, when, and how quickly. Building rhythm, timing,
and tempo into your swing is a prerequisite to hitting good golf
shots time and time again.

Helping players develop swing consistency is a priority in my golf
instruction. I work diligently with them, to help them learn both the
components of a good swing and the “feel” of one. Once they
learn these, they’re well on their way to hitting good shots
consistently.

Below is the swing sequence I recommend in my golf tips.
Following it builds rhythm, timing, and tempo in a golf swing.
Practicing it builds consistency

Initiate the swing trigger.

Player, Palmer, and Nicholas all start their swings with a little
move that triggers the action. Player kicks in his right knee.
Palmer waggles his club one final time. And Nicholas turns his
head to the right. These movements help each player make a
smooth, fluid start to the backswing, preventing any jerky
movements that destroys critical swing linkage.

Start the takeaway.

Requiring a one-piece movement, the takeaway determines the
swing’s shape and tempo. Moving the club, hands, arms, and
chest in unison keeps the clubhead low and the backswing full. It
also starts a wide and a powerful move away from the ball.

Set the clubhead on the right plane.

During the first few feet the swing, the club must move gradually
inside the ball-to-target line. At the same time it must stay outside
your hands. The key to setting the clubhead on the right plane lies
in starting the swing with the butt of the club. Moving the club in
toward your right thigh helps set the club on the right path.

Open the clubhead slightly.

I recommend in my golf tips that you think of the clubface as a gate
that opens slowly clockwise in conjunction with the turning motion
of your body. Open it slowly as you set the clubhead on the right
plane.

Check the club at the mid-point of the backswing.

At this point your left arm should be close to your body and the
right elbow splayed out slightly, pointing down toward the ground.
Your wrists should be fully cocked, forming a 90-degree right
angle between your hands and the club. From here, it’s an easy
move to the top of the backswing, also known as the slot.

Turn your head right.

Here, you should be aware of some tension in your right knee.
Your left shoulder should be comfortably underneath your chin.
Allowing your head to turn to the right as you swing the back to the
ball encourages your spine to rotate. It also gets your weight
moving in the right direction. The club should be as parallel to the
target line as possible when it reaches the slot

Start turning the lower body.

The body as a whole is then able to unwind in one motion. The
movement produces a swinging motion of the arms, hands, and
club, allowing the clubhead to peak through impact. Think about
swinging the clubhead, not hitting the ball.

Straighten and release your right arm.

Do it as early as possible from the downswing, maintaining the 90-
degree angle at the back of your wrists. Gradually opening up your
body the target widens your downswing arc and puts the clubhead
on a square path to the ball. In my golf lessons I tell players to
drive the right knee toward the left -- but to delay the club’s release
as long as they can, creating solid contact.

Firm up the left side of your body.

It needs to both support and resist the release of the clubhead as
your torso unwinds. At the same time drive your right side through
the ball as hard as you like. Your arms should be fully extended
and your weight going forward, sort of like a lumber jack chopping
down a tree, to generate optimum impact. I have players in my
golf instruction sessions practice swinging the club like a
baseball bat. Then, I have them lower the club to the ground, but
continue to swing the club the same way.

Rotate the body fully through impact.

Most of the player’s weight will end-up on the left side of your body
and your right heel will be up. At this point, the knees touch lightly,
the hips are fully turned, and the right shoulder is pointed at the
target. Accelerating the clubhead through the swing carries the
player through the swing.

Finish with hands high above left shoulder.

The player will be in a straight up, balanced position when the
swing is completed. Your hands will finish high, just like you see
in golf instruction manuals.

Producing good golf shots requires not only knowing which body
parts to move in isolation but also examining the swing
holistically. Practicing the steps I describe above in the sequence
encourages this holistic look. Successfully linking them together
into a smooth swing, with rhythm, tempo, and the right timing,
builds a coordinated, repeating action, and generates consistency
and accuracy.

How to get out of the bunker

These steps will ensure that you have the right mechanics for
getting out of bunkers. Once you’ve read these steps,
practice them and get used to hitting out of bunkers, and
they will become just as natural as a regular short game shot.
These steps will give you the solid foundation that you need
for bunker success.

Here are the steps: (note: These steps apply to a normal
sand bunker. Not wet or hard sand)

1. Choke down on the golf club (Have your right index finger
about an inch from the bottom of the grip). Choking down
gives you the control with the club and also allows you to
“feel” the shot rather than hitting it.

2. Narrow your stance a little and play the ball a few inches
forward in your stance. This will also aid in controlling the
shot, and it will contribute to higher ball flight.

3. Dig into the sand with your feet a little and get comfortable.

4. Keep your body completely still throughout (no twisting
hips).

5. Start your swing with your arms and keep your swing
vertical. The end of the grip butt should be pointed at the ball
at the top of your backswing. (Don’t bring the club straight
back, remember steep is better here!)

6. Your left arm should be parallel to the ground and fully
extended at the top of your swing.

7. Then start your downswing at the sand focusing to hit 1
inch behind the ball. Don’t focus on hitting the ball, hit the
sand an inch behind and the ball will get out every time!

8. Your arms and body follow the ball as it leaves the sand.

9. Remember steep angle into the sand is key here, however
you don’t have to swing too hard, we are not blasting the ball
out we are advancing it.

Drill:
Go into a bunker and take 3 clubs your pitching wedge, sand
wedge, and a lob wedge(if you have one). Remember that
you can get creative with shots; just because it’s a sand
wedge doesn’t mean that you’ll “feel” the most comfortable or
give you the best results. But I want you to notice the
difference in design and performance.

Regardless, hit a few shots with each club and really notice
the difference in how the ball comes out of the sand. Then
choose the club that bests suits you. But remember on all
these clubs swing steep and hit 1 inch behind the ball. You
can even draw a line 1-2 inches behind the ball and aim for
that line.

At home, office, or at the course take practice swings and
focus on bringing the club up at a steep angle. Watch as
your grip end points to the ground. And stop there - this is
the position that you want to be in. A great way to see if the
grip is pointed over the ball is sticking a tee in the grip
handle. Do that a few times to ensure that you know where to
stop the golf club and start your steep downswing. Then the
downswing is easy! Just hit an inch behind the ball. Practice
this for a few days then go have fun in a bunker

submit by david nevogt