A Brief History Of The Game Of Volleyball

In volleyball drills winter of 1895, a YMCA director in Massachusetts created a game you could play indoors with any amount of people and called it "Mintonette". The game was a cross between handball and tennis. Mintonette was designed to be a less active or less rough sport for the older YMCA members to play instead of the harsher and more volleyball drills sports like basketball or football.

The original rules of Mintonette called for a net in the size of 6 feet and 6 inches, a court in the size of 25 x 50 feet, any amount of players and a ball. A full Mintonette match consisted of 9 innings, with 3 serves of the ball made by each team in each inning. There was no limit to the number of times each team could hit the ball before sending it over the net to the other team's side. If a server was not able to hit the ball over the net properly, they were allowed one more try. Back then, ladies who played Mintonette were allowed to protect their delicate fingers by catching the ball and then throwing it back into play, instead of hitting the ball with their hands.

At a Mintonette exhibition game in 1896, an observer named Alfred Halstead noted that the players were "vollying" the ball back and forth, from then on the game was named "Volley ball". Originally, the game was "volley ball" with two separate words, but "volley ball" slowly became one word. The game quickly spread around the US via branches of the YMCA in dozens of other states and cities around the United States. In the year 1900, a new ball was customized and made specifically for use in the game of volleyball.

In the early 1900's, the playing methods of the spike and the set were introduced to the game. Later on, a new rule was instated that each team could only touch the ball a maximum of 3 times before having to send the ball over the net to their opponents. Around 1919, the AEF, or American Expeditionary Forces sent over 16000 volleyballs to troops and allies all over the world, which helped volleyball become popular and well known globally, instead of just in the US.

The earliest non US adoptor of volleyball was Canada, helping to popularize the game in that country as early as 1900. Many countries adopted the game and it's now a popular sport in China, Japan, Brazil, Russia and all over Europe. The game is quite popular in Japan, with it being a popular team sport in high schools there. In the Spring of 2005, a television drama based on volleyball was produced and aired in Japan, it was called Attack No. 1, starring one of the most popular Japanese performers, Ueto Aya. Volleyball continues to be a popular sport to play as well as watch on television in Japan.

In 1947, an international federation of volleyball was formed and the first volleyball world championships were held in 1949. In 1964, volleyball was added as a sport in the Olympics.

Lydia Quinn writes for VolleyBallSeek.com, a portal for volleyball scores, players, teams, games and much more.

Visit us at: http://www.volleyballseek.com

Punta Mita Villa Rental - Casa Bella in Ranchos Estates Corporate Retreats, Weddings, Couples, Golf

Welcome to Casa Bella where every imaginable luxury is abundant.

Indulge in the enchanting decor, meander through the sprawling gardens, and relax in the total privacy of this beach front estate. The full staff will cater to your every wish while you relax by the resort size pool or white sand beach only a few feet away.

Casa Bella is located within exclusive Ranchos Estates in Punta Mita, Mexico's premier beachfront development. Within Punta Mita, guests have access to the famous Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, tennis, kayaking, windsurfing, snorkeling, beach volleyball, scuba diving, surfing and the Four Seasons spa and restaurants. And, some of the best surfing in the Punta Mita area is located a stone's throw away at La Lancha.

A perfect vacation in paradise is yours at Casa Bella.

Features

Master Residence with 6 luxurious bedrooms, en suite bathrooms and individually controlled air-conditioning
Extremely volleyball drills beachfront location
Large lagoon shaped heated swimming pool with hot tub
Expansive terraces
Sprawling gardens with large yard
State of the art media room
Fully equipped kitchen with wine cellar and pizza oven
Wireless internet throughout property
Stereo system throughout estate
Rich and exotic decor
Professional chef
Concierge
House Manager
Daily maid service
Guest House with 3 private bedrooms, full kitchen, living room, outside dining area, wireless internet, stereo and private pool

All of this is within your reach. Contact volleyball drills Luxe for additional details and photos and to check availability. Christmas and New Years weeks are still available so treat your family and friends to a vacation of a lifetime in paradise!

http://www.villaluxe.com

http://www.villaluxe.com

info@villaluxe.com

888.794.7590

How Many Teammates Should Be on Your Team?

The question always arises just before the start of any season, "How many guys should we have on the team?" and to this question, everyone has a different answer.

To get the right answer for your team, you should ask yourself and your team a three questions.

1) Do we want subs?
Sometimes the answer to this is a resounding YES and sometimes it is a definitive NO. This all depends on the sport you are playing.

In a slower paced sport such as softball or baseball, people may not want to sit out an inning or wait an additional person to bat. I have been on teams where we want to field exactly the 10 softball players that can play the field, as nobody likes sitting, and to me that is the right answer.

Same with volleyball. Not enough energy is expanded in a match to warrant subbing, although, since it is almost built into the flow of the game, sitting out in volleyball isn't as much of a drag.

Sports that use a lot of energy have the exact opposite answer. You would never want to field a basketball that had only 5 guys, as one guy may get into foul trouble, or most likely someone will need a breather.

2) Will everyone show up each week?
If you have a softball team of 11 but one of the players travels a lot for work, or is unreliable, your options are to either field the 10 or scramble for a sub each week. The downside to bringing 11 into this mix is that if everyone does show up then someone will have to sub and you are back to square one. Also keep in mind that with 10 people, there will undoubtedly be a family emergency, last second business trip, or illness to fall upon someone most of the weeks. If this is the case, a guy on retainer may be a good bet. And as long as you can know far enough in advance that someone will be absent, you shouldn't have too much difficulty finding a fill in.

In hoops, you want to be weary about having 6 guys for the same reason. If you try and go with just one sub and you have the unexpected absences, then you are stuck running only with your 5 guys. This is why you may want to sign 7 or 8 guys to a hoops squad.

3) How easy is it to find last minute subs?
As discussed above, you may want to have a player on retainer in case you need a sub quickly. New fathers may be the perfect bet in this case. They will probably not be able to commit to an entire season, but can probably get out of the house once every few weeks to sweat with you or to swing a bat.

The easier it is for you to find a sub, the easier it will be for you to pick your perfect number.

So with a little planning you should be able to discern how many players you will want to sign up the next time a new season rolls around.

Keep sporting!

Evan Pfaff is co-owner of Who's In First.

Who's In First is an online league management system for leagues of all sizes and sports. Our state-of-the-art software enables league managers the ability to quickly create and deploy schedules and standings over the Internet.

Visit Who's In First, http://www.whosinfirst.com, today for a free demonstration and to learn why Who's In First is the best choice for your league.

volleyball drills
volleyball drills

How to Increase Your Vertical Leap Quickly

One can increase his/her vertical volleyball drills by determining their body type and customizing their workout accordingly. As we all know, every individual's body is different, volleyball drills which work perfectly for one person may not work the same way for another person. Hence, the customization is important as it tailors according to the individual's needs.

Some of the steps on how to increase your vertical leap are:

The first step on how to increase your vertical leap is the assessment. Analyze where you stand with your training and try to design a foundation with new and more effective techniques.

The second step is to strengthen your complete body. A full back squat is one good exercise to achieve this goal. For the upper body and the lower body workouts, try the squats centrally. Try to cover all of your muscles in the workout. Concentrate more on the technique while lifting. A month's time of strengthening is essential.

Plyometric and explosive exercises should be done with care to prevent injury. There is a range of speed and strength in your vertical leap which can be monitored and controlled. Try to reduce the focus on the heavy weights as you are graduating through the different phases.

The mental aspect should not be overlooked as well. Close your eyes and concentrate, think that you have become strong, pull all your energy together and jump; you should be able to notice that your vertical leap has increased.

One more simple trick on how to increase your vertical leap is to swing the arms with force before the leap, keeping them high, and as you keep moving higher, bring your arms down and pull them up again with full force. This will help you to go a little more high.

Trying the plyometric style of the Vikings throw will help in increasing the boosting power of your upper body.

How to increase your vertical leap with simple exercises

Warming up before exercising is essential for a good start. Also workout 4-5 days each week, that should be enough.

If you are wondering how to increase your vertical leap, use simple exercises which can be done at home. Try some of these jumping exercises at home at your own convenience and you will be surprised at how you are able to strengthen your body and leap farther.

The following exercises are the most helpful when learning how to increase your vertical leap: deep knee bends, deep knee bend jumps, toe raise, toe raise with weights, stomach crunches, and jumping rope.

If you want to learn how to increase your vertical leap, whether you play basketball, volleyball, football, or any other sport, visit Jump Higher Now to find out the best vertical leap program to propel your vertical leap to new heights.

Top Florida Beaches - Vacation Rentals

There are many fabulous Florida beach vacation rentals to choose from in all areas around Florida ranging from the Panhandle in the North down to the tip of the Florida Keys at Key West. I hope volleyball drills article assists in your choice of where to stay whilst in Florida but also which beaches to visit.

The Atlantic Coast or Gold Coast tends to be popular for surfing and other beach sports. In the North located in some beautiful areas often with additional great historical interest are St Augustine, Amelia Island, Jacksonville Beach, Palm Coast.

Central Atlantic Coast beach vacation rentals are high in number and many are very close to some magnificent beaches. Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Edgewater, Fort Pierce, Hutchinson Island, Melbourne Beach, Melbourne, Merritt Island, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, volleyball drills Inlet, Port St Lucie, South Hutchinson Island and Titusville, to name but a few.

The mega rich descend on Palm Beach which is located in the Southern part of the Atlantic coast Other popular beaches in this area include Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and Sunny Isles Beach reaching down to Miami and the renown Miami Beach.

The Florida Keys stretch 160 miles south of Miami and are often described as Florida's Jewels because of the sparking effect created by the closeness of the sea on both sides. There are around 800 islands in the Keys, 42 of which are linked by bridges. Within the Upper Keys and Lower Keys there is an abundance of water sports and activities.

Gulf Coast Florida beach vacation rentals are popular with the "snowbirds" from the cold Northern parts of America and Canada and are frequently booked for longer periods in the early part of the year. This is because the Gulf coast is frequently warmer and benefits from the warmer waters from the Gulf. An excellent choice of location to escape the worst of the cold snow filled months in the North. The most popular areas include Marco Island, Naples, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton, Clearwater Beach, Hudson, Indian Rocks Beach, Longboat Key, Madeira beach, New Port Richey, Redington Shores, Sarasota, Springhill, Venice and Tampa. With 26 miles of white sand beach running from Clearwater to St Petes, 3 beaches rank in the top 10 of the entire USA and 12 are award winning Blue Flag beaches. No other area of Florida has so many award winning beaches.

Caladesi Island was ranked Americas Number 1 beach in May 2008, located just north of Clearwater. A mangrove-covered kayak trail winds from the marina to the St. Joseph Sound and back. Kayaks are available for rental through the Cafe Caladesi. The nature trail is a fabulous place to find Osprey or cross paths with a gopher tortoise. Remember to take water and sunscreen!

Caladesi Island is accessible only by private boat or via the Caladesi Connection ferry service. Cost for the ferry is a few dollars per person. Ferry passengers are allotted a four-hour stay on the island. Pets are not allowed on the ferry. The ferry to Caladesi leaves from Honeymoon Island State Park hourly beginning at 10 AM.

Two other Florida beaches made the list, third-ranked Siesta Beach near Sarasota and ninth-ranked Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, near Miami.

The Public Beach on Siesta Key is the widest beach in the area. It's also the most popular. Famous for its soft white sand, the amenities include lifeguards, concessions, picnic tables & grills, rest rooms and showers. volleyball courts, tennis courts and a playground shaded by Australian pines are an added bonus. Parking is free. Be sure to get there before noon on the weekends as it gets busy.

The Florida Keys are not known for their long expanses of sandy beaches like the rest of Florida. The beaches on the Keys are still sandy and fabulous, just smaller and often man-made. Two of the best are;

1. At mile marker 37 the Bahia Honda State Recreational Area has both sandy beaches and deep waters near shore. These provide exceptional swimming and snorkeling opportunities.

2. At mile marker 73 Anne's Beach is dedicated to famous local environmentalist Anne Eaton. It offers a shallow swimming area and although located on the Atlantic Ocean has almost no wave action.

Many owners of Florida Beach vacation rentals have beach chairs, umbrellas and coolers etc for their guests to use. Alternatively these can be rented quite cheaply at the beach themselves. Throughout Florida the facilities at the beaches are usually very well maintained. with most beaches having restrooms, shower and changing facilities, BBQ's etc as a minimum.

Helen,
Wannavilla - Vacation Rentals Throughout Florida

Honeymooning in Jamaica

Getting married? Congratulations. Now, we all know planning volleyball drills wedding can sometimes be a stressful affair. You have to reserve a location for your ceremony, plan the menu for the reception, book a photographer, etc., etc. Then there's the honeymoon! You have only one choice, and it better be good, right? It is your honeymoon, after all. When was the last time you turned to your future spouse and said, "honey, let's pick someplace mundane for our honeymoon."

Well, if you want a mundane honeymoon destination, I can't help you. But, if you want to honeymoon in of the most gorgeous and romantic spots on earth, then let me suggest Jamaica, an island nation in the Caribbean, known for its scenery and amazing weather. The popular Jamaican poem sums up the tropical climate pretty accurately: We have neither summer nor winter/Neither autumn nor spring.

Okay, so it's pretty and the weather's great. Anything else? Consider this: Jamaica is a very popular romantic getaway, chosen by honeymooners the world over, which means that you will have a great choice of resorts that have age restrictions. What does that mean for you? Well, while you two are getting to one another better in your room, you won't hear the endless stream of "Marco" "Polo", "Marco" "Polo" being shouted by children at the pool. In addition, an age-restricted resort usually provides a more romantic atmosphere than one which caters to families. Now, there's nothing wrong with children. You may end up having a few yourselves. But, you don't want to have to hear them on your honeymoon, right?

A couple all-inclusive, adult-only resorts you might look into include:

Hedonism III in Runaway Bay

877-467-8737

Set in Jamaica's North Coast, you'll find swim-up rooms, a Roman tub in every room, and a see-through slide that snakes through the disco. That's right - they don't call it "Hedonism" for nothing.

This all-inclusive resort includes such things as: Three meals daily (two restaurants), all drinks (premium brands included), 24-hour snacks, nude beach, scuba diving, water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling, swimming pool, Jacuzzis, kayaks, tennis courts, volleyball, basketball, air conditioned squash courts, fitness center, aerobics, bicycles, ping pong, daily and nightly entertainment, trapeze, disco and piano bar.

Couples Negril

800-268-7537

One of the four Couples all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica.

This all-inclusive resort offers such things as: All meals (three restaurants), all drinks (four bars), swim-up bar, two Jacuzzis, clothing-optional beach, sailing, scuba diving equipment and instruction, water skiing, snorkeling, canoeing, water tricycles, water aerobics, tennis, weight room, unlimited golf at Negril volleyball drills Golf Club (cart/caddy extra), nightly entertainment.

While on your honeymoon you may also want to venture out of your room, get away from the resort and experience all that Jamaica has to offer. On Jamaica you have so many choices of activities and interesting places to see that you certainly won't be able to experience them all :

*Beaches

*Biking

*Equestrian Activities

*Fishing Parks

*Gardens

*Golf

*Hiking

*Plantation Tours

*Rafting

*Safaris

*Tubing

*Water Activities

*Waterfalls

Jamaica offers all "the three Rs" a honeymoon is meant for: rest, rejuvenation and romance.

Diane McCalley is an avid traveler and creator of http://www.vacationhoneymoon.net, where you can learn about honeymoon cruise options.

Cross Training Shoes - What Are They?

Cross training shoes are shoes that are a hybrid of several different types of athletic footwear. The phrase "cross training" implies engaging in activities that draw from a variety of different sports. Originally, volleyball drills cross train meant an athlete would train in a sport or activity that was very different from the one he or she primarily specialized in. A good example would be running. Almost every sport and every athlete runs as part of his or her training. If your sport is tennis, then become technically proficient at running would be a from of cross training.

Nowadays, cross trainers or cross training sneakers are a type of footwear that bear the characteristics of many different types of shoes. They may have the heel cushioning of a running shoe, the the lateral stability of a tennis shoe or basketball sneaker, and the forefoot cushioning of a volleyball shoe. They may be made of all leather type materials, or may have flexible materials like a running shoe around the toe or sides.

Cross trainers are also a popular style now, in a certain sense replacing the tennis shoe as the most popular style or generic casual-athletic shoe on the market. The category has gotten so big that cross trainers are even divided up into smaller sub-categories.

Aerobics and similar forms of dance related exercise are good examples of activities or sports that utilizes the design and benefits of a classic cross training shoe. They are designed to have the side to side support of tennis footwear, and the flexibility and heel cushioning of a running sneaker. Added support under the ball of the foot, where the tarsals meet the metatarsals, makes for a complete shoe for most types of aerobic workouts. This activity finds the athlete on the balls of his or her feet a lot, and these types of cross trainers are great for that.

Some mens cross trainers or womens cross trainers are more appropriate for folks who do a lot of different sports but do not specialize in one. Maybe an all around shoe is needed for the weekend game of pickup basketball or the flag football game that somehow seems to always spontaneously break out at the parties and picnics. A shoe that will serve if you are spending the day at the park playing baseball and Frisbee with your kids, or serve just as well playing a game of tennis with buddies on a Sunday afternoon. A quality cross training shoe will serve the hobbyist well in all these sports, until he or she decides to get more serious about on or another particular sport.

Fitting a cross training shoe is pretty much like fitting any other athletic shoe. When you try the cross trainers on, put on both pair and walk around the store a little bit. Bend down and flex the toe to see how soft they are, and whether or not they rub around the sides of your feet or ankles. Try them on with a pair of socks that are similar to the ones you do your athletic activities in, as many sportsmen will have special hosiery that they wear for one particular sport or another. Move side to side, jump a little bit and run a short distance. Try to get the feel of them on a hard surface so you can see how they grip the floor, and do any special motions that are particular to the activities you partake in.

The training shoes should fit snug without volleyball drills across the widest part of your foot or the heel. If a shoe pinches your toes, the result can be anything from blisters to bunions to stress fractures. The foot depends on a certain range of motion to operate properly during a step, and the footwear you choose should enhance and support that range of motion, not inhibit it.

Jack Moe has over one million words in print in online journals, web magazines and traditional magazine and newspaper publications. He has a Masters in Journalism.

Volleyball Conditioning Drills

In order to keep players at their peak physical performance, it's important to engage in a number of volleyball conditioning drills. Volleyball conditioning drills differ from skill building and movement drills because they focus less on perfecting a particular skill and more on general athletic toning and conditioning. This in turn helps players achieve a greater fitness level, gain endurance, and play better volleyball.

Consecutive Attacks

First in this series of volleyball conditioning drills is this one called "Consecutive Attacks", which teaches players to attack volleyball drills ball despite fatigue. This drill is performed in pairs- one player hits the balls and one player to throw the balls.

To begin the drill, the thrower and hitter stand on opposite sides of the net. The thrower tosses one ball at a time from the setter position for the hitter to hit. The hitter must try and keep as many of the ball in bounds as possible. After they have successfully hit 10 balls in bounds, the players switch positions.

To increase the difficulty of this drill, the hitter must hit all 10 of their in bounds balls in a row. This causes players to learn how to perform good hits even under pressure and exhaustion.

Hit the Floor

Here's a great volleyball conditioning drill called "Off the Floor" that has players starting on the floor to increase their reflexes and reaction times. To begin, have the players form a line along one end of the court. The player at the front of the line gets down on their stomach on the ground.

To begin the drill, the coach or drill leader blows their whistle and the player on the ground must jump to their feet as fast as they can and assume the passing position to receive a pass from the coach. The pass is volleyed back to the coach, who in turn throws it to the next person in the line, who should be already down on their stomach waiting for the signal to jump up.

Three's Company

Next here's a drill for three players called "Three Man Weave" that conditions players by forcing them to run short distances quickly. It also allows players to focus on their setting accuracy.

The players form a triangle, with Players A and B standing about 5 feet apart and Player C standing about 10 feet away. To begin the drill, player A tosses the ball to Player C, who sets the ball to Player B. Player B catches the ball and runs to take over for Player A, and the cycle resumes.

As soon as player A has completed their toss to player C, they run to take player C's place. Similarly, as soon as player C has completed their set, they run to take player B's place. Players continue rotating through the triangle of setting and passing. For added difficultly, the coach can develop a signal such as two whistle blows which signals a change in direction of the entire drill.

Larry Reid has been coaching volleyball for well over a decade. You can get instant access to his championship volleyball practice plans and drills by visiting his website:

http://www.bestvolleyballdrills.com

Camping Games for Adults

Weve all had tons of fun playing I Spy or taking part in a camping scavenger hunt. There are plenty of board games that are ideal for playing by the campfire and a deck of cards is a must have on any camping trip. But what about some fun camping games just for adults?

Traditional camping sports, like horseshoes, volleyball, and shuffleboard are always fun, but here are a few creative camping games for adults and older teens that are sure to bring lots of enjoyment, as well as a few laughs. Coleman paintball gear is also a fun choice for adult outdoor entertainment.

Mr. Bs Shave

Give everyone a volleyball drills and a marker. Blow up the balloons and instruct everyone to draw Mr. B a face. Apply shaving cream to each balloon and give everyone a plastic knife for their razor. The first person to shave Mr. B without popping him is winner.

Wheres the Grapes?

First, be sure you have plenty of table space for each participant. Put volleyball drills grapes on a plate and heap whipped cream over the top until the grapes are hidden. Place a plate in front of each participant, have them put their hands behind their backs, and see who can uncover and eat their grapes first. Be prepared with lots of napkins for this adult camping game.

Popping Crazy

Before the game, write a selection of crazy actions on strips of paper, like cluck like a chicken, do the twist, or imagine your Elvis and perform a song. Put each action inside a separate balloon and blow them up. All participants should sit, facing one another, in a large circle. Play some upbeat music and start passing the balloons from person to person around the circle. After a few minutes, stop the music. Each time the music stops, everyone should put the balloon they are holding in their chair and sit on it with all their weight for about 5 seconds. Wait for those who popped their balloon to perform their crazy action, then start the music back and continue.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

This camping game for adults is so much fun that you may want to invite your neighboring campers to join in! You need at least 4 people, but the game is more fun the more people involved. You will need a flashlight and should play at night with all your camping lanterns off. Designate one person as the curator and another as the visitor, everyone else is a statue. Statues can move through the dark, but must be completely quiet. The curator should have the flashlight and he and the visitor will walk around trying to catch the statues moving. If a statue is seen moving, heard bumping into something, or talks he becomes a visitor as well and joins the curator in eliminating other statues.

Balloon Lift

This is another camping game for adults that promises hilarious fun! Divide everyone into teams of two and place a balloon on the ground in front of each pair. The object of the game is to pick the balloon up, then pop it between the two people, but without using any hands! The first team to pop their balloon wins. Teams that use their hands are eliminated.

For more tips and infomation about Camping Gear, check out http: http://www.summitcampinggear.com

Cross Training Shoes - What Are They?

Cross training shoes are shoes that are a hybrid of several different types of athletic footwear. The phrase "cross training" implies engaging in activities that draw from a variety of different sports. Originally, to cross train meant an athlete would train in a sport or activity that was very different from volleyball drills one he or she primarily specialized in. A good example would be running. Almost every sport and every athlete runs as part of his or her training. If your sport is tennis, then become technically proficient at running would be a from of cross training.

Nowadays, cross trainers or cross training sneakers are a type of footwear that bear the characteristics of many different types of shoes. They may have the heel cushioning of a running shoe, the the lateral stability of a tennis shoe or basketball sneaker, and the forefoot cushioning of a volleyball shoe. They may be made of all leather type materials, or may have flexible materials like a running shoe around the toe or sides.

Cross trainers are also a popular style now, in a certain sense replacing the tennis shoe as the most popular style or generic casual-athletic shoe volleyball drills the market. The category has gotten so big that cross trainers are even divided up into smaller sub-categories.

Aerobics and similar forms of dance related exercise are good examples of activities or sports that utilizes the design and benefits of a classic cross training shoe. They are designed to have the side to side support of tennis footwear, and the flexibility and heel cushioning of a running sneaker. Added support under the ball of the foot, where the tarsals meet the metatarsals, makes for a complete shoe for most types of aerobic workouts. This activity finds the athlete on the balls of his or her feet a lot, and these types of cross trainers are great for that.

Some mens cross trainers or womens cross trainers are more appropriate for folks who do a lot of different sports but do not specialize in one. Maybe an all around shoe is needed for the weekend game of pickup basketball or the flag football game that somehow seems to always spontaneously break out at the parties and picnics. A shoe that will serve if you are spending the day at the park playing baseball and Frisbee with your kids, or serve just as well playing a game of tennis with buddies on a Sunday afternoon. A quality cross training shoe will serve the hobbyist well in all these sports, until he or she decides to get more serious about on or another particular sport.

Fitting a cross training shoe is pretty much like fitting any other athletic shoe. When you try the cross trainers on, put on both pair and walk around the store a little bit. Bend down and flex the toe to see how soft they are, and whether or not they rub around the sides of your feet or ankles. Try them on with a pair of socks that are similar to the ones you do your athletic activities in, as many sportsmen will have special hosiery that they wear for one particular sport or another. Move side to side, jump a little bit and run a short distance. Try to get the feel of them on a hard surface so you can see how they grip the floor, and do any special motions that are particular to the activities you partake in.

The training shoes should fit snug without pinching across the widest part of your foot or the heel. If a shoe pinches your toes, the result can be anything from blisters to bunions to stress fractures. The foot depends on a certain range of motion to operate properly during a step, and the footwear you choose should enhance and support that range of motion, not inhibit it.

Jack Moe has over one million words in print in online journals, web magazines and traditional magazine and newspaper publications. He has a Masters in Journalism.

History of Volleyball in the United States

1895 William G. Morgan (1870-1942) invented volleyball, an Olympic sport since 1964, in Holyoke (Massachusetts).

1917 American soldiers introduced volleyball to Europe. Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in Russia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.

1954 Flora "Flo" Hyman, an ex world-class player (1973-1984), was born on July 29, 1954 in Inglewood, California. This sportswoman was well-known for her fair play. She won two Norceca championships, one Olympic silver medal, one world bronze medal and other international titles.

1960 Charles Frederick "Karch " Kiraly was born on November 3, 1960 in Jackson (Michigan). He has won three Olympic gold medals (indoor and beach volleyball).

1964 Under the leadership of Ron Lang, the United States competed in the Olympic Games in Japan-the first Olympic Volleyball Tournament.

1973 The U.S. men's squad earned the Norceca title in Tijuana (Mexico). In the final, they beat Cuba, Pan American champions and Olympic players, 3-0 (15-12, 15-11, 15-10).

1974 Under the direction of Carl Mc Gown, head coach of the U.S men's volleyball squad from 1973 to 1976, the American team visited Moscow (Soviet Union) and played friendly matches against the USSR, Cuba and Japan.

1977 At the Women's World Championships in Japan, the United States beat the USSR, world champion in 1973, 3-1.

1978 The Cuban men's team toured in Ohio (Dayton), Indiana (Cincinnati & Muncia) , Michigan (Indianapolis Bay) and Illinois (Madison & Wheaton).The USA and Cuba played seven matches...

1979 The United States women's team earned a silver medal in the Norceca championships and placed fourth in the Pan American Games in San Juan de Puerto Rico.

1980 For political reasons, the American women squad could not trip to the Summer Olympics in the Soviet Union.

1981 Doug Beal was named head coach of the U.S. men's volleyball squad.

1982 The U.S. women's volleyball squad, under the direction of Arie Selinger, became the first North American team to win a world medal.

1983 The female team gained the Norceca Tournament in Indianapolis. In August, it was runner-up volleyball drills the Pan American Games in South America.

1984 In Los Angeles, California (USA), the American men team, under the watchful eyes of Doug Beal,earned the Olympic title. America did not expect to win the global title. The best players were Karch Kiraly, Dusty Dvorak, Craig Buck, Paul Suderland, Aldis Berzins and Marc Waldie.

1985 Rose Magers was one of the members of the World All-Star team. This Afro-American volleyball player was born on June 25, 1960 in Big Spring, Texas...The male team earned the Korea Cup. They defeated Japan, Mexico and South Korea.

1987 The United States and Cuba played five friendly matches in Havana. The U.S. men's squad won three matches. Subsequently, they were Pan American champions.

1995 The female squad became the third national team to win the World Grand Prix.

1996 The First Olympic Beach Volleyball Tournament was held in Atlanta, Georgia (USA).Two local pairs earned the gold and silver medals in the men's tournament. America's Karch Kiraly, a former star volleyball player, and Kent Steffes became the first American pair to take an Olympic gold medal.

2000 The American national beach volleyball team, Dan Blanton & Eric Fonoimoana, earned the global title at the Sydney Olympic Games. In the final, they defeated Jose Marco Melo and Ricardo Santos (Brazil).

2005 Lang Ping became the first woman to be named head coach of the U.S. women's national team. Lang, best known as "Jenny", was born and grew up in the People's Republic of China. In 1982, she was considered the most valuable player in the world.

2007 At the Norceca Tournament in Puerto Rico, the U.S. men's squad took the regional title and won the right to compete at the FIVB World Cup in Tokyo (Japan).This team finished fourth place in Japan.

2008 The American volleyball team won two medals, gold and silver, at the Summer Olympics in Beijing (China). This Olympic sport became one of the most popular sports in the United States...

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: He is a freelance writer. Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso". He is an expert on foreign affairs. Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latin America.

He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Jos Gamarra (former president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee ,1970- 1982), volleyball drills Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). Alejandro said: "The person who I admire the most is Jos Gamarra . He devoted his professional and personal life to sport. Jos played an important role in the promotion of Olympism in Bolivia -it is one of the Third World`s poorest countries- and Latin America. His biography is interesting". The sportspeople he most admire is Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman. "This African-American sportswoman is my idol... "

Westgate Vacation Villas, a Global Resorts Network Member's Property Review

My reservation was from Sunday to Sunday and was booked online directly through the product vendor for Global Resorts Network. It took about 2 minutes to finish securing and paying for the trip. Although a member can book a hot week often as far out as 45 days, this was a last minute vacation idea for my family. What a fun way to finish up the summer before my daughter started back to school. I discovered the availability on a Tuesday afternoon for check volleyball drills the following Sunday. (I love being flexible so I can grab these deals!)

We arrived late Sunday afternoon. After clearing security at the front gate, we were pointed to the reservation and guest amenity center. We were greeted at the door by staff who showed us where to the check in. It took about 10 minutes to secure our room, get our keys and get to our condo. I was stunned to see how large this vacation complex was. It's a small city!

Following check in, we headed to the local grocery store to stock up for the week.

Our 2 bedroom/3 bath condo was bright and clean with large white tile floors throughout except for the bedrooms and a nice throw rug in the living room (makes good sense in light of the rainy Florida weather and several pools on site). The condo featured a full kitchen and a breakfast bar stocked with dishes, cookware, large and small appliances, just everything you'd need to prepare meals. We enjoyed a washer and dryer and lots of storage closets.

The two bedrooms were separated from each other for maximum privacy and each had their own full baths and double sinks. One room featured two double beds and the other featured a queen with access to the patio. Both had plenty of closet, cabinet and drawer space, night stands, plenty of lighting and TVs. A third guest bath was located off the main living area and featured a tile shower.

The living area was very nice and comfortable, lacking nothing. A beautiful tan leather couch and matching oversized chair were nice to relax on. Just like home, we had end tables, a matching coffee table, large entertainment center and sliding doors to the back patio, beautifully tiled in a Florida burnt orange color. A table and chairs as well as a lounge chair called for outdoor living and being fully screened in overlooking the lake, it was hard to resist. If the weather was too hot, inside we had a beautiful dining area that seated 6 comfortably for meals.

The resort amenities include:

14 swimming pools, children's pools and Jacuzzis
Game Room with high tech video games and air hockey
100 Seat Theater for movies at 3, 5 and 7 pm (changing every day)

Multiple:
Shuffleboard courts
Sand Volleyball counts
Tennis courts
Basketball courts
Horseshoe pits

Also available is an Activity Center
Kids Club
Bike rental
Paddle Boating
Miniature Golf Course

Also on site:

Joe's Marketplace and Deli located at the club house and is open daily. Offers a wide variety of groceries, sandwiches, sundried and one of a kind souvenirs.
Pizza Hut Express for delivery to your condo or poolside.
Joe's Pool Bar for a variety of specialty drinks for enjoyment at the pool.
Photo shop for 1 hour developing
Resort Train to transport guests around the property

The resort volleyball drills daily and weekly rates for internet access. We did run into issues with being able to use the internet services. We had to run next door to the Ramada and use their lobby for checking emails as the internet service was not operational during our stay. It was very annoying, but overall, our stay was relaxing and enjoyable. If having access to internet is important, double check with the staff at the resort before you confirm your reservation.

On a final note, the Westgate Vacation Villas would not be a place you would come if you are seeking a quiet romantic private get-away. You won't find that here. There's a lot of action and a lot of families enjoying the amenities and their vacation at Westgate. I loved the family atmosphere and seeing everyone have fun. We were never bothered during our stay and the staff was always friendly and helpful.

The location of the Westgate Vacation Villas are perfect in relation to any of the Orlando/ Kissimmee theme parks, including any Walt Disney Park, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, and the list goes on. The main gate to Disney World is just one mile away. Also within a few minutes' drive are all the conveniences of home such as major chain grocery stores, the library, 3 Wal-Marts, places like that.

The Global Resorts Network travel club membership allows members to reserve 7 night, 8 day vacations in over 5,000 locations worldwide for as low as $298 and never more than $799, most cap out at $698. Reservations are made right online with a full customer service department to assist if need be. Convenient, easy, fast and over the top customer service make this travel club membership something to write home about. A member will quickly discover that after using the membership just once or twice, they have recouped their investment and now can use it for a lifetime.

Debbie Turner is a retired Realtor and enjoys being a successful online entrepreneur. Debbie believes in multiple streams of income and utilizing personal branding and web 2.0 strategies for marketing. Specifically, Debbie has a home business with Global Resorts Network (travel club memberships) and Genewize (DNA specific nutrition). Debbie enjoys working with others who desire to have a successful home based business and offers coaching and mentoring. You can reach Debbie at 843.270.5611 or at her website http://www.globalresortsblogcentral.com

Sports Facts - Women's Volleyball

Did you know...

London will host the 2012 Olympic Volleyball Tournament. A maximum of 12 teams will participate in the event. The United Kingdom and Brazil -2008 Olympic gold medal- have qualified for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Curiously, Great Britain has never competed in the Pre-Olympics, World Cups, World Championships and Olympic Games. Great Britain did not qualify for the European Championships in 2007.

The People's Republic of China, Brazil and Russia are the favorites for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. China won the gold medal at the Girls' Under- 18 World Volleyball Championships in Mexico in 2007.

The United States hopes to win its first world title in 2009. With Lang Ping as coach -a former Chinese volleyball player who had taken part in the 1982 World Cup and 1984 Olympics- the U.S. women's volleyball team trains very hard for the 2009 World Cup in Tokyo (Japan).

From 1962 to 1967, Japan dominated the international tournaments and players from that Asian country won two World Championships.

Venezuela qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics through the South American Pre-Olympic in Lima, Peru. For the first time, Venezuela defeated Peru 3-2 ( 22-25, 27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-12). Curiously, Venezuela has never participated in the World Championships or Olympic Games. In 1982, Venezuela finished 5th place at the Central American & Caribbean Games...

Russia has got seven world championships ( USSR ' 52, France ' 56, Brazil ' 60, Bulgaria ' 70, Uruguay ' 73, China ' 90, Japan ' 06 ) and four Olympic titles (Mexico ' 68, West Germany ' 72, USSR ' 80, South Korea ' 88).

In 1980, South Korea -one of the world's best volleyball teams- did not send a team to the Pre-Olympics in Bulgaria. Why ? Between 1948 and 1987, South Korea -an anti-Communist state in the 20^th century- did not establish formal diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of Bulgaria. The tournament was part of the Olympic qualification system for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

Algeria -which won the gold medal at the 2007 Pan African Games- is the first Arab team to participate in the Olympic Games (Beijing 2008).

From 1952 to 1973, China did not compete in the World Championships ( Moscow ' 52, Paris ' 56, Rio ' 60, Moscow ' 62, Tokyo ' 67, Sofia ' 70 ) and Asian Games ( Jakarta ' 62, Bangkok ' 66, Bangkok ' 70 ). Why ? Because the People's Republic of China was not member of the Fdration Internationale de Volleyball ( FIVB ). In 1974, China became an official member of the FIVB. This nation made its international debut at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran (Iran). Three weeeks later, China competed in the World Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico. In the preliminary round, China lost two matches: Poland (3-1) and Japan (3-0/ 1972 Olympic champion).The People's Republic of China finished in 14^th place -among 24 nations- at the 1974 FIVB World Championships. In the 1980s, China became the first country to win 5 of 8 major volleyball tournaments:

1980: China boycotted the Moscow Olympics

1981: Japan World Cup-1st place

1982: Peru World Championships-1st place

1984: Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games-1st place

1985: Japan World Cup-1st place

1986: Czechoslovakia World Championships-1st place

1988: South Korea Olympic Games-3rd place

1989: Japan World Cup- 3rd place

South Korea won the FIVB U-20 World Championship in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 1977. Korea beat China for the gold medal. For the first time, three volleyball teams from Asia competed in the finals (Korea, China and Japan).

Massachusetts (United States) is the birthplace of volleyball...

The Romanian women's volleyball squad won the gold medal at the 1980 World Olympic Qualification in Varna (Bulgaria). Final standings:

1.Romania

2.Bulgaria

3.Brazil

4.North Korea

5.Hungary

6.Mexico

Like many former Soviet-bloc nations, Ukraine was one of the last members of the FIVB. Surprisingly, Ukraine won the silver medal at the 1993 World Youth Championships in South America.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea / North Korea -which won the Olympic bronze medal in Munich in 1972- did not want to compete in the World Championships in 1974. The team also did not participate in the Asian Cup in Melbourne (Australia) in 1975.

Mexico hosted the 2007 Girl's Youth World Championships. There were 16 teams: Mexico, Serbia, South Korea, Belarus, Brazil, Japan, Puerto Rico, Germany, Italy, Russia, Dominican Republic, Peru, China, USA, Tunisia and Turkey.

Nigeria became the first black African team to qualify for the FIVB World Cup in 1982. On September 14, Peru -1979 Pan American silver medalist- upset Nigeria -African champion- in the opener of the World Cup. The score was 15-0, 15-0,15-0.

Volleyball is one of the most popular Olympic sports in South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, North Korea and the People's Republic of China.

The United States won the gold medal at the 1981 NORCECA Tournament. The U.S. women's volleyball team won the international tournament after losing in the final three times in a row ( 1975, 1977, 1979 ).

In the 1980s, Maria Salgado Barroso (Brazilian volleyball player) played in the Japanese Volleyball League.

Minorka Marisela Mercado Carrero was one of the "most beautiful volleyball players" in the world. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she played for Venezuela. Minorka represented her country at the 1989 World Youth Cup in Lima, Peru. On September 3, 1993 she became the second sportswoman elected Miss Venezuela. Minorka was discovered by Osmel Sousa -Director of Miss Universe Venezuela. Under the direction of Osmel, she was second runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in 1994...

The German Democratic Republic / East Germany -Olympic silver medalist in 1980- did not compete at the FIVB Women's World Cup in Peru in 1982.

The first Women's Volleyball World Cup was in Moscow ( USSR / Russia) in 1952.

The U.S. women's volleyball team has not won the World Championships.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: He is a freelance writer. Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso". He is an expert on foreign affairs. Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latin America.

He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Jos Gamarra (former president of the Bolivian Olympic Committee ,1970- 1982), Hillary Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). Alejandro said: "The person who I admire the most is Jos Gamarra . He devoted his professional and personal life to sport. Jos played an important role in the promotion of Olympism in Bolivia -it is one of the Third World`s poorest countries- and Latin America. His biography is interesting". The sportspeople he most admire is Olympic volleyball player Flo volleyball drills "This African-American sportswoman is my idol... "

Girls Playing Club Volleyball - Top 5 Reasons Why Communication is Key

Communication on the court during a girls volleyball game is key. I've always said that refusing volleyball drills talk on the court is like playing volleyball with a blindfold on. How is anyone going to know "who" is going to do "what" if no one is talking about anything.

I first learned how important "on the court" communication was in college as a Lady Vol while playing for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In high school I didn't talk much on the court because I knew I was supposed to get the ball the majority of the time. Well that didn't work as a freshman in college and all the upperclassmen let me know very quickly that that wasn't how it was going to be. No matter what level you play...players can't read each other's minds nor is there any time during a game to guess whether you are bringing an off the court problem on the court and since volleyball isn't an individual sport keeping things to yourself does not help the team.

It was one of the most important lessons I ever learned in volleyball and I remembered it throughout my entire professional indoor volleyball and beach volleyball career.

Teammates should always talk to each other and direct traffic among themselves. There are many, many situations in which players who talk to each other avoid problems of confusion, indecision and surprise on the court. I learned this lesson from some of the best players and coaches to play the game so now I'm passing this information on to you.

Here are a few situations that may not happen often but happen at least once a match in which communication with teammates can help solve a problem before it happens.

1. Digging the Off the Court, Angle, Down Ball.

When a down ball is being hit from way off either the right side or left side of the court...past the antennas...the only way it can be hit back into the court is at a cross court angle. Since there is no way the down ball attacker can hit the line without hitting the antenna why stay and block or defend the line?

There are two things players can be letting each other know...a) "Down Ball" b) but more importantly "Dig Cross Court". By yelling "Dig Cross court' or " Dig the Angle" the defense should shift a few feet to the right or left depending on where the ball is coming from and quickly defend the part of the court that makes sense that the ball will come to...which is cross court. If you are concentrating on how the play is developing You can learn to call out what is going to happen before it happens.

Many times in club, high school and some in college when this situation occurs I've seen a defender or two is left defending a part of the court that the ball will never come to...wasting time, energy and manpower. By talking about what the hitter is doing the whole team knows that it will be useless to have anybody defending down the line and that they all need to shift to dig the cross court ball.

2. As volleyball drills as you see that the third hit over is going to be a free ball.

This may seem obvious but consider this example. Many times a player has to turn their back to play a ball whether they are running off the court or not. Especially if this is the third contact, the minute the player bends their knees with their back turned...You Yell "free ball" when you know its about to come over. The sooner you do this the sooner your team can transition back into a free ball defense. But if you wait until the player has already contacted the ball AND its on its way over the net...you have wasted precious time that could have been used to ALREADY be in position so you could run a faster offense and catch the opposing team off guard. Learn to watch the arm position of the attacker...if there arms are below their waist...then couldn't possibly be attacking the ball so Call the free ball as soon as you can.

3. When You Understand What Play the Other Team is Running.

Telling Secrets are okay in Offense but secrets don't exist on defense. Call out what play you see developing. A lot of people are quiet in defense and assume that everybody sees the same thing. Remember...people always interpret what they see differently...just ask a cop. Teammates need to be able to "see" or interpret the same thing ..in the same say. Since this doesn't always happen if you see a play developing Call it out so everyone knows what YOU see developing. If you have 3-4-5 voices all calling the same thing...then everyone knows that everybody else is seeing the same play. This way its easier to see and make adjustments during the pauses in the game because no one is guessing about what's on the other person's mind.

4. When the setter is front row.

Too many setters make too many points especially when they are front row and I think for the majority of the time its not because they are crafty its because opposing teams aren't talking about them when they rotate up to the front.

Usually you hear one middle blocker and one setter say "Front row setter" as if it only means something to these two players. But since it's usually the back row defenders that have to dig the setter's tip attack it is really, really effective if five or six voices talk about the fact that she is right front or middle front or wherever she is and then in addition one blocker should say "I got the setter" out loud right at the net so the setter will think twice about tipping because now she knows that everybody on the team is AWARE of where she is on the court. Get into that opposing setter's head by making her/him think twice about attacking anything while she is in the front row.

5. Anticipating When a Hitter Will Tip.

The more you play the more you will be able to watch the movement of an opposing hitter's arm and better identify what and where they are going to hit. A good hitter will disguise their tip by doing the same spike arm movement then slowing down their wrist movement at the very last second to tip.

Always, always call out when you see the tip to your teammates. When I play, since "tip" is such a short word I can say it 6 or 7 times before it hits the ground. I've learned that it takes a second for people to react to what is happening so I repeat the word over and over again so it gets in my teammates minds what is going on.

A very good way of learning to recognize when a player is going to tip is when you are "Peppering" with your partner in warm ups in practice and in games. Make sure to mix up your "attack" in Pepper so that you hit five balls then you tip, then you hit 3 balls then you tip. Mixing up the attack is mimicking what actually happens in a volleyball game. You don't want to get into a comfortable rhythm doing your pepper. Both partners should challenge each other so neither knows what "attack" is going to come next. So ultimately, the faster you recognize when someone is going to tip...the faster you can communicate this to your teammates.

April Chapple created Volleyball Voices.com where high school and club female volleyball players learn about the indoor volleyball game and its heroes, with news and stories of college and women's pro volleyball players, self-coaching information, volleyball pictures and videos.

The former USA Volleyball national team member and pro indoor/beach volleyball professional is a regular columnist for the AVCA Coaching Volleyball magazine, the USA Volleyball magazine and the Active.com volleyball newsletter in addition to writing numerous articles on playing and coaching elite volleyball.

Author of the upcoming ebook "How to Stop Serving Like a Wimp" April can be reached at april@volleyballvoices.com.

Discover a New City - You Will Feel Like Home When Moving to York PA

When considering a move to a new location, you may be thinking volleyball drills many questions such as; What type of city is it?, Are there good schools?, Where will we live? Whether you are relocating because of a job or school, York Pa offers many new and exciting adventures.

York has a beautiful heritage in that it was founded in 1741 by settlers from Philadelphia. It became a city in 1887 and also served as the temporary capital and is considered by many to be the first capital of the United States. It is also known as the Factory Tour Capital of the World as it hosts Harley Davidson, Snyders of Hanover, Wolfgang Candy Company and many others.

York is conveniently located in South Central Pennsylvania between Routes 83 and 30 with a population of 42,000. It is close to the surrounding cities of Baltimore, Harrisburg and Gettysburg. Many enjoy the change of volleyball drills in York where the average temperature in summer is 85 degrees and the average in winter is 40 degrees.

When moving to York, it is not just a city. There are many suburbs, which include Dover, North York, Springettsbury, West York, East York, Grantley, Jacobus and Dallastown. York also offers 7 different public schools in the county and is home to York College, Penn State York and The Art Institute of York.

From fishing to boating to walking and riding bike, your family will enjoy the outdoors in York's 3 state and 8 county parks. York also has year-round recreation such as ice skating in Memorial Park, skate boarding, sand volleyball, mini-golf and so much more.

York is famous for the York Fair, which is "America's First Fair" and is held every September and runs for 10 days. The York Expo Center hosts the annual National Street Rod Association, which is the largest annual street rod show in the Eastern US. Downtown York hosts the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, which brings many nationally acclaimed acts to the York area. York is also home to the York Revolution, a professional baseball team.

York is not just a city, it is a place you can call home.

Steve Horning, CPCU is a licensed insurance agent in the State of Pennsylvania. He provides auto, home, life, health, insurance to York Pa and the surrounding areas. Visit Steve Horning Insurance for more information and a quote today!

Gymnastic Apparatus - What You Should Know About the Rope, Hoop and Ball

Fundamental to the sport volleyball drills rhythmic gymnastics is the apparatus. It is better if you have your own set, so that you get used to it and can practice with it regularly, especially as it is an advantage if it is matched in size and weight to your physique.

Probably the easiest to acquire, and in fact the easiest to start work with, are the rope and the hoop, though the most appealing and the one which everyone wants to try is the ribbon.

The Rope

As long as you ensure it has no handles, this can be acquired at a boatyard, or a climbing and outdoor pursuits department volleyball drills a sports shop. For most, a 3 meter length is necessary, preferably a plaited rope, of any synthetic material or hemp, any color, and about 8 millimeters thick.

A small girl will cope with about 2 and a half meter in length and 6 millimeters thick. An easy measure is achieved by standing on the center of the rope and holding the ends which should reach approximately armpit level.

If the rope is too long, or for ease of manipulation, a know may be tied at each end.

The Hoop

The hoop can be bought from a local toy shop. Initially a cheap plastic one is all that is required, of a size reaching approximately hip level when the hoop is stood on the floor at the side of the gymnast.

To give added strength, particularly around the seam, or to give extra weight or just a change of color, many of the gymnasts bind the hoop with colored tape.

The Ball

Because of its weight the ball is really rather special. It is not until you pick up the rhythmic gymnastics ball that you realize how heavy it is, since it appears to be rather light, like a beach or play ball.

Plastic footballs or foam balls can be used initially for practicing some of the basics such as rolling and bouncing but these skills are obviously better achieved with the correct type of ball.

These can be purchased in two different sizes, a normal full size, and a junior size, suitable for children. Otherwise, the nearest and best matched ball is the volleyball which is quite suitable for practice in school

Want More Information On Gymnastics and Gymnastics Equipment? All You Have To Do Is Click http://www.AboutBallet.com/ Now!

The Number One Thing You Can Do to Improve Your Vertical Project

The number one thing you can do to improve your vertical project is proper weight training. But not just any weight training.

Developing your vertical project is crucial to many sports like basketball, volleyball, or track and field, and many more volleyball drills This will give you an advantage over pretty much anybody else on the field. Jumping higher, sprinting faster, spiking higher will make you the star player on any team. So how you do it?

To jump higher, you need maximum leg power. An easy volleyball drills way to look at this is power = strength x speed. So to increase your power, you need to increase your strength. The best way to do this is weight training with lunges, squats, and leg presses.

But what you want to do are low reps with high weights. Remember you want lots of power, so you need lots of strength, but you dont want to get so bogged down with lots of reps because this will develop your strength, but it will also slow you down. So low reps, high weight to maximize your ability to develop power.

Develop a routine that you can follow 2 - 3 times a week, with about 48 hrs of rest between your workouts to give your body a chance to recover properly.

As you develop your vertical project further, some things you can add later on skipping workouts, cardio and more plyometrics routines. All of these together will explode your vertical project. Remember, be safe and work out with a friend!

Get the secret to improving your vertical leap project!

Ten Ways To Burn 200 Calories

Now that spring is here, we can participate in a wide variety of fun outdoor activities to keep us in shape.

Need a quick workout? Need some summertime workout suggestions? You have come to the right place!

TEN Ways to Burn 200 Calories in Under an Hour

1.Play a game of Frisbee for an hour. I do this every weekend in the summer.

2.Head to the nearest bike path and go In-line skating for only 25 minutes! My favourite place to break out the blades is the boardwalk in the Beaches and the Lakeshore bike volleyball drills in the west end.

3.Round up a team for 25 minutes of beach volleyball.

4.Spend 45 minutes during the weekend planting a vegetable or flower garden.

5.Go for a leisurely downstream paddle in a canoe for 55 minutes.

6.Walk the dog or take the baby out for an hour.

7.Go for a 35 minute swim. Especially when the Toronto summer hits, what an awesome way to cool off and get a swimmers physique.

8.Grab a partner for a 25 minute singles game of tennis.

9.Create your own boot camp with crunches, jumping jacks and push-ups and work it for 25 minutes. This is a great tip for a mid-jog workout. Take care of your cardio and strength training in one shot!

10.Mow the lawn for 45 minutes. If like me and most Torontonians you have a sliver of lawn, then you have to include raking in that too!

Getting fit is a lot easier in the spring and summer months. It also puts you in a fantastic volleyball drills So get off that indoor sweat machine, stop staring at the numbers in front of you and get outside for some fresh air and healthy activities!

Have Fun!

Kaleena Lawless
Personal Training Specialist
http://www.kalisthenixfitnessblog.com

Conditioning Musts For Baseball Pitchers

Back in the Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax days pitchers were told to stay away from the weight room due to the fear of becoming too muscle bound and losing flexibility. Today pitchers are encouraged to train religiously to stay in shape, which also includes hitting the weights. This doesn't mean to go crazy pumping iron and come out of the off-season looking volleyball drills Arnold, but pitchers do need to incorporate a conditioning program involving strength training and aerobic exercise.

The legs are the starting point for generating power and durability. Both weight training and running offer a way to build strength in the legs. Some common lifts are squats, lunges, toe raises, leg extensions, leg curls, and the leg press. These six lifts hit all of the key muscle groups in the legs. Running hills and/or steps is another way to strengthen the legs. If a player doesn't have the opportunity to go to a gym and use a treadmill volleyball drills stair climber, the nearest hill or steps would accomplish the same results at no cost.

Next, the abdominal region creates the maximum external rotation that transfers the energy into the arm. The abdominal muscles are very easy to develop through crunches and medicine ball rotations. You don't need any fancy equipment. Fill up a volleyball with sand and you have a medicine ball; hit the carpet in the living room to perform sets of crunches. Abs can be worked everyday, at any time in the day.

Finally, it is crucial for pitchers to develop some sort of cardio routine both in season and off season. For young ballplayers, the off season conditioning can be that of playing another sport like soccer, football, or wrestling. As far as in season conditioning goes, a steady dose of sprints, comfortable jogging, and cardio-based drills would be valuable for pitchers.

Pitchers need to be in shape. Losing just a couple mph's late in the game on the fastball can mean the difference between a win and a loss for the team. When a pitcher's body breaks down from exhaustion, injuries are more likely to occur, therefore, youth baseball coaches need to be very much aware of pitcher conditioning and prepare their players for the increased pitch counts that are to follow as they grow older.

Coach Steve Rau is a long time pitching instructor and co-founder of http://www.PlayBallAcademy.com - He has been analyzing pitchers and hitters for a number of years and has helped a number of ballplayers become successful college and professional players.

More pitching tips, video lessons, and audio sessions can be found at: http://www.PlayBallAcademy.com

High Definition Programming Redefines Television Viewing

With the advent volleyball drills high definition television, television viewers are getting a whole new experience in how they view television. Satellite provides the most HD programming available anywhere in a wide variety of genres. This type of programming is the ultimate in digital viewing with a crisp, clear picture and amazing surround sound. Viewers can fully appreciate the special effects of a movie or the action of a sporting event or even the minute details of a documentary in full HD with an extraordinary picture that has volleyball drills be seen to be believed.

More and more people are investing in HDTV sets to round out their home entertainment systems. These televisions have come down in price since they were first introduced and have become affordable to the average viewer. When you have a television set, you definitely want to have as many HDTV channels as possible so you can fully appreciate the quality of HD programming. Satellite providers realized early on that HD programming would be highly desirable and capitalized on this by building the infrastructure and launching the satellites that would be necessary to provide as many channels as possible. The result has been that satellite television offers the most HD channels available anywhere, with over a hundred channels to choose from in a variety of genres.

Movie lovers can now watch HBO, Showtime and Starz in high def and experience movies just like they would at a movie theater with an amazing picture and clear, crisp surround sound. HD and satellite television have changed the way people watch television and viewers certainly appreciate having a wealth of movies available to them. Once you have watched your favorite action or adventure flick in HD, you will never want to go back to analog movies again. Satellite television offers you the chance to subscribe to many high definition movie channels so you can fully enjoy and appreciate the high definition experience in the comfort of your own home.

There are plenty of other channels in HD ranging from sports to entertainment to educational channels as well as special interest programming. There is no shortage of high definition entertainment. Channels like A&E HD, Bravo HD, Discovery and Animal Planet bring a wealth of educational and entertainment options to your screen in full HD quality. Sports fans are not left out in the cold, with many sports channels being featured in high definition like ESPN HD. Now you can catch your favorite football, basketball, baseball, soccer and hockey teams playing and feel like you are part of the action. Fans of horse and auto racing as well as volleyball, tennis and wrestling can also experience all of the action in high def like never before.

Satellite television is offering the most high definition viewing options available anywhere for a price that is competitive and affordable. If you have a HDTV, you are definitely missing out if you do not have a satellite subscription. Satellite television offers the most channels available anywhere so now is the time to take advantage and get access to this wonderful programming.

If you want the best TV programming available, go with Direct TV. It's the leader in satellite television services in the U.S. No matter whether you prefer movies, sports or family TV shows, there are Direct TV packages to satisfy every member of your household.

Sand Volleyball Jump Training

Lets review some exercises volleyball drills can do to prepare you for this summer of beach volleyball. The first thing that you need to improve is your jumping. No matter how high you can jump it is always better if you can jump higher. Beach volleyball is getting harder to play for shorter people or for people who can't jump high. So if you want to be a great beach volleyball player you will need to be able to jump. Not all of us are going to be able to volleyball drills our armpits over the net to block, but you are the blocker on your team you need to be getting about that high.

Touching 10 feet on a hard court means you are touching about 9 feet when jumping out of sand. So when training for beach volleyball it is always best to do your jump training in the sand. But, for people that live where it gets cold in the winter there are still plenty of exercises to do indoors that will increase your vertical leap. One of the best weighted exercises for jumping are squats. Don't think you can just do tons of squats and that you will be blocking balls with your armpits. Squats alone will really only get your legs stronger but not faster. When you jump you want all of your muscles to fire at the exact same time and to fire with more fibers. So to train them to do that you have to jump. Pick a spot on a wall and jump to touch that spot about 6 to 10 times.

Get plenty of rest in between sets and then do it again. Then move on to a different jumping exercise. You could jump up on high boxes. You want them so high that you wont be able to get 11 reps because you would get too tired. If you're using a box height where you can do 20 reps without a problem in one set then it's too low. We don't want to train our legs to jump for longer periods of time, we want them to jump higher so we have to train them like that. Another good exercise is to get a box (not very tall) and step off of it and as soon as our feet touch the ground jump up as high as you can. The point is to have your feet in contact with the ground for as little of time as possible. This is training your muscles to react quickly.

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Continue to train for sand volleyball so you can block balls with your biceps.

Beach Theme Parties

Want to make your party unique? How about throwing volleyball drills party with a Beach Theme to make a lasting impression on your guests? Out with the old and in with the new, when planning a party it's time to start thinking outside of the box for new and fresh ideas to bring to your parties, and there is nothing better to do that than with a theme.

Whether you are throwing a party at the beach or at your home with a beach theme, I am going to give you some great ideas to on how to implement a beach theme to the festivities.

There are many areas to a party that we can apply a beach theme to, including decorations, food and music, other areas are a beach theme volleyball drills code. Let's explore in detail a few of the areas to get your creative juices flowing.

When sending out your invitations, you can start the beach theme at this point, try making the invitations in the shape of a palm tree, or doing some cut and pasting to create a unique invitation that will make your guests want to attend your party. For a really unique idea, how about using real coconuts with a message on them for a memorable hand delivered invitation.

On your invitations make it a requirement for guests to wear bathing suits and flip flops as a dress code, you can make it optional for the guests who are a little shy but still want to attend. Having a dress code of bathing suits will get your guests into the beach theme frame of mind even before they leave their house.

Another area to apply the beach theme and one of the most obvious is decorations. Try scattering sea shells around the party site, some well placed surfboards around the party area is also a great decoration idea, and will give your party that unique look. Inflatable palm trees are also easy to come across in party supply shops or online, these will also make good decorations around the party site. If your event is being held outside, lit tiki torches around the perimeter creates a great tropical atmosphere.

Next lets discuss the topic of food for your beach themed party. The drinks that come to mind when I think of a beach are Mai Tais, Strawberry Daiquiris, or Hurricanes, don't forget to add the little umbrellas in your cocktails. For the non-alcohol guests tropical punch with fresh fruit floating in it is a big hit.

Fruit kabobs are always a great idea to create a tropical flair, chips and dip are great for all occasions. If you really want to get adventurous, roasted pork for sandwiches will create that Hawaiian Luau feeling.

When your guests start arriving have some back ground music of ocean waves and sea gull cries, or how about some Beach Boys or B-52's. You can even have a Beach Blanket Bingo movie on the Television going with the volume turned down.

Some activities that will keep your guests entertained are volleyball tournaments if your event is being held outdoors. How about a game of limbo to see how low you can go! Musical chairs, or Twister are also great ideas to keep your guests busy at your beach themed party.

Don't just throw the normal boring party, make it exciting with a Beach Theme and you will be surprised at the amount of guests you will have, all having a great time, and remembering the fun they had for a lifetime.

Check out more great ideas for planning a Party Themes Beach from his website at http://theknowledgesource.org/decorationsmain/partythemesbeach/partythemesbeach.html. Charles Hamel is a free lance writer residing with his wife and two children in Hokkaido, Japan.

Plyometric Training For Basketball - Proven Benefits You Need to Know

Plyometric training has proven its benefits in various sports. In fact, it is a good way to maintain and enhance muscle strength, as well as to prevent unnecessary injuries. That is why a lot of expert trainers and coaches incorporate these exercises into their regular training regimen.

The basic principle of any sport program is specificity, which means that the exercises should closely match the movements of a particular sport. For instance, a volleyball player who wants to increase the height of his vertical jump should therefore perform box jumping or drop jumping since they mimic the actual movements of the sport. On the other hand, a javelin thrower who intends to improve the explosiveness of each launch needs to concentrate more on upper body plyometric exercises.

Plyometric training for basketball is all about explosive power. The sport is perhaps the ruling team game when it comes to the frequency of occasions needing explosive power. Other sports, however, may also necessitate explosive power but only for a short duration and not as frequently as basketball.

Plyometrics is a set of explosive drills that are mainly useful for boosting the height of every vertical jump. In basketball, this volleyball drills of training will not only enable you to touch the rim but also improve your overall performance. Aside from increasing power, it will also enhance your coordination, balance, and reflexes.

This type of exercises in basketball work by changing stored energy and then using it up into movements as swiftly as possible. An important aspect of this type of training is the body's ability to learn to perform this behavior and acquire muscle memory. Improvement in muscle mass is not the most vital criteria in plyometrics. In other words, it is not merely about developing bigger muscles. It is more about releasing a large amount of force in a short period of time.

In the sport of basketball, the best drill involves various kinds of jumps. So if you want to train for basketball, focus on jumps. You may also volleyball drills other drills but jumps are the most ideal exercises if you want to dunk or even touch the rim.

Squat jumps are good drills for basketball. Begin in the usual squat position, making sure that the thighs are parallel to the ground. Starting in this position, blast upwards into a high jump. As you land on the ground, go back to your initial position. Pause for a second before repeating the jump. Find out more tips about plyometrics training at http://plyometrics.referenceguidetips.com