Volleyball Drills For Beginners: 5/17/09

Furnace Creek Inn

Definitely not your typical historic national park lodge the majority of which were funded and built by the major railroad tycoons of yesteryear. The Pacific Borax Mining Company was the force behind this unique diamond in the desert.

Opened in 1927, in what was then and still today one of the most remote desolate locations on the North American Continent. Death Valley National Park, California. Not a place you would normally associate with a lush green oasis of towering Palm trees and spring-fed gardens.

This national park lodge is a truly unique destination. This lavish adobe structure was built in the Spanish Mission style with adobe bricks hand made by Paiute and Shoshone Indian workers. This historic inn sets at the base of a hill in the Funeral Mountains near a natural hot mineral spring oasis.

If adobe walls could speak, its not hard to imagine what tales they could tell of the bygone business moguls and Hollywood types that have lounged around the hot spring fed pool shaded by lush palm trees. The Furnace Creek Inn is remnant of a luxury resort you would see in an old Hollywood picture show.

If you are looking for a unique luxury destination with historic 1930's charm, or plan a trip to Death Valley National Park, this is one historical national park lodge you don't want to miss.

This luxury inn has many activities available for your enjoyment. View Death Valley's striking landscape, swim in one of two spring fed pools. Play basketball, volleyball or tennis at one of four courts. You can volleyball drills out in the exercise room, enjoy the sauna or get a massage. Go for a horseback or carriage ride. Take a walk or a hike in the beautiful hills around the inn.

Play a round of golf at the worlds lowest in elevation lush 18-hole course. Maybe you just want to relax and do nothing. The Furnace Creek Resort has all the amenities you could possibly imagine.

The Furnace Creek Inn has a charming dining room that serves classical and uniquely southwester meals. In the same complex there is a steakhouse, cafe and a old fashion western saloon.

The Furnace Creek Inn offers guests 66-rooms in a variety of settings.

Standard, Deluxe, Luxury or Suites, a Pool Bungalow is also available the views differ from room to room. All have air-conditioning, televisions, telephones, free HBO, pay for view movies, refrigerators, bathroom amenities and even games for the kids. Most have decks or terraces and some have a spa.

The Furnace Creek Inn is open seasonally from mid-May until mid-October. This is definitely not a destination for the Summer. But in the Fall or Winter when the rest of the country is in a cold chill, this is a uniquely warm and relaxing place to enjoy.

Sandra Stacey is not a travel agent, just a simple traveler who has enjoyed repeat visits to many of this nations great national park lodges over the years, and trekked untold miles exploring the beautiful backcountry of the parks they are located within. If you would like to learn more about any of the lodges mentioned, please visit her website listed below or any of her many related articles found at: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Stacey

Take a tour of America's historic national park lodges at: http://www.national-park-lodge-guide.com Within this guide you will find information, guides and photos for some of this nation's most enduring national treasures, its beautiful National Park Lodges. Feel free to link to her website if you think its contents will provide helpful information for your visitors.

Girls Volleyball - Top 5 Ways Females Can Improve Their Volleyball Game

I am frequently asked by female players what are some of volleyball drills best ways to improve their volleyball skills. I decided to write this article to discuss five of the more popular things I suggest most frequently. Remember these may not work for everybody but it may give you some ideas as to what will work for you.

1. One of the top ways for girls to improve their volleyball game is to play with the fellas.I have to say this may be a very personal suggestion because it has always worked for me. Since I was young whenever I had the chance...I would always compete with the fellas. During high school recess there would be volleyball pick up games and I'd be the only girl but I played as much as I could.I find that my mental toughness increased when I played with guys because they would say anything and everything during a competition. Either you learn to take it or you learn to give it right back. The beauty of this is guys almost never bring what is said ON the volleyball court OFF the court.

My physical toughness improved because guys hit hard and they move quickly and if I was going to compete with them then I'd have to learn how to dig their hard hits, set high and accurately, place my shots and just play smarter volleyball so I would add value to my team. (And so I'd be picked to play in the next game.) I knew if I could play against guys then I could definitely play well in a girl's volleyball game. I didn't play to look cute or waste their time I played to improve my volleyball game since I knew my goal was to make the National team and play professionally in Italy so I kept finding opportunities to play with people who were bigger, better and faster than I was. In college I played with the UT Men's club team in the offseason and I'd practice on the men's courts-where they'd let me play- against guys on the beach in fours and doubles games in California.

2. Girls can improve their volleyball skills just by learning to Practice By Themselves. To play better volleyball don't underestimate the importance of wall drills. I can't believe my garage door where I lived during my high school years is still standing. After my homework and many times before I would do thousand s of reps of setting and passing to the wall to improve my accuracy, to improve my ball handling, to improve my finger strength, to get use to and overcome the pain created by the ball contacting my forearms when passing.

3. Seek out a mentor. Not everybody knows what they are talking about even though they may call themselves a girls volleyball coach. And not everybody lives in areas of the volleyball drills where volleyball is the most popular or most practiced sport. It's exactly for this reason a virtual volleyball mentoring community like volleyball voices was created. Luckily the Internet gives girl volleyball players a chance to find experts who can explain from experience, their expertise on how to perform certain fundamentals, what drills girls can practice to improve their individual and team volleyball skills, learn how to better your playing performance as well as volleyball forums and groups to join to talk about common problems and issues.

4. Girls can improve their volleyball skills enormously by learning to play sand volleyball. Not everybody can do this but those who can need to take advantage of the opportunity. The sand provides a soft, uneven pliable surface which contributes to indoor players increasing their jump and increasing their speed when they transition from practicing outdoors to playing indoors.One of my two high school coaches was Chris Rundle wife of beach legend Larry Rundle who would often have our indoor varsity volleyball team practice and do conditioning drills on the beach since our school was so close to it. At first I would just die from exhaustion because the sand seemed to hold me back from doing any of the skills I was used to doing well. But it doesn't take long to get used to it. That was the first time I learned the benefit of practicing in the sand because when I started running and jumping indoors then I was a lot faster and jumped a lot higher since the gym floor didn't provide the resistance that the sand did.

5. Bodyweight workouts for girls are a great way to get into volleyball shape.
For players who don't have access to gyms, gym memberships, free weights, or personal trainers bodyweight training is one of the best most efficient ways to make yourself stronger, lose fat and gain muscle in order to play better volleyball. Body weight workouts are exercises where you have to use the weight of your body as resistance. So you'd use exercises that train multiple muscle groups at the same time - thus burning more energy, and fat, and with each repetition gaining more muscle. Exercises that are done include squats, lunges, presses, and rows. For more information on turbulence training or body weight training refer to volleyball voices. It's always important to practice your individual skills remember the ball is in Your hands.

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

Overview of American Summer Camps - What is Special About Them?

Beautiful natural settings, a placid lake, landscaped gardens, cabins full of enthusiastic children, and experienced camp leaders from all over the globe volleyball drills describe a traditional camp volleyball drills America. What began as a leisure camping venture by Frederick William Gunn in America in 1861 has now turned into a full-fledged training cum recreational hub for children where they are taught important life skills such as self-esteem, problem solving, decision-making, independence, and peer relations in emotionally supportive and physical safe setting. Over the years, the number of children attending summer camps has increased radically. Owing to such an overwhelming response, the number of registered camps is steadily rising with over 12,000 already registered in the United States.

Summer camps in USA can be divided into traditional day and overnight camps, adventure, art and academic camp, special interest and special needs camps, and teen programs. While traditional camps are a fine blend of recreational activities, fun, education, and physical training, sports usually focus only on the particular sport you are interested in.

So, you can go for a sports camp that specializes in sports like baseball, basketball, diving, horseback riding, ice hockey, ice skating, football, volleyball, tennis, skateboarding, snow skiing, martial arts, roller blading, and so on. Academic camps may pertain to a particular subject such as astronomy, creative writing, environmental science, math, science, robotics, or journalism. An adventure camp on the other hand is more fun-oriented and may involve canoeing, rafting, rock climbing, scuba diving, and kayaking.

Art camps can be very interesting and are ideal for anyone who has a passion for art, acting, animation, dance, music, film, and performing arts. Special interest camps, as the name suggests, may be more focused on hobbies and interests like cooking, fashion, fitness, modeling, chess, sewing, yoga, or game design.

Special needs camps are best suited for children having learning or behavioral problems, chronic diseases, or mental or physical impairments. While some may accept kids who have special needs due to various reasons, others may accept kids with a particular problem or impairment only. For instance, camps for kids with cancer or diabetes may not accept kids with other ailments.

Some of the best American summer camps include iD Tech Camps, Supercamp, Surf camp, Giant Campus Summer and Virtual Computer Camps, Film and Acting Camp at NY Film Academy - Harvard, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Adventure Camps, and SOCAPA, the School of Cinema and Performing Arts.

Donna Pianka is the key member of iD Tech Camps who writes about summer camps in USA for children and teens. Do something big this summer with American summer camps.

How to Lose Tummy Fat

Many times woman asks a co-worker how they could lose a few inches around volleyball drills tummy. "I don't need to lose weight; I just want the fat around my stomach to be gone," she would say. This is a very popular conversation to say the least so I took to time to give some pointers to a few friends who asked what they can do to attain this goal. As a former fitness trainer, this is the bare bones simplest thing you can do to lose the tummy fat.

How to lose tummy fat 101: The very first thing you want to do is committing to making this a reality if you utilize what's outlined in this article or if you go elsewhere. Commit to what you learn and implement it. With that said top 5 things you should do to learn how to lose tummy fat.

#1 - The first thing is to stop drinking anything but water and pure orange juice. Water as you may or may not have heard is a natural purifier; drinking nothing but water will help eliminate waste from your body. If you follow that up with OJ for breakfast and even dinner (and make it pure orange juice); the acid in oranges attack fat that is mainly in your tummy.

This will be the best place to start; eliminating all beverages except for water and orange juice.

#2 - Work out! Don't go get a gym membership or buy a new bow flex either; simply upon waking each morning roll right out of bed onto the floor lay flat on your back and do three minutes worth of abdominal crunches. Yeah, crunches are old school and appear not to work, but do this five days straight (Monday through Friday) and rest it on Saturday and Sunday. You will feel the difference; and soon enough you will see the difference.

#3 - Walk & Speed Walk. Walking is the world's best exercise; and when you do speed walking it's a funny thing that happens. You increase bowel movements, and you work on your cardio. The walking movement works muscles starting in your abdomen; especially speed walking. Walk at least 20 to 30 minutes 3 times per week. It's even better if you live in Alaska. There is nothing like a freezing cold walk.

#4 - Hook yourself up with three solid meals and fruits like bananas and grapefruit. You'll be amazed at how these two fruits work on your tummy. My friend did not believe me when I told her that if she ate 3 grapefruits a day she'd lose 5 pounds in the week. She did it to prove me wrong; but she only proved me right. Three solid meals does not mean load up and eat like a pig. volleyball drills have to remember we are trying to learn how to lose tummy fat. So our lifestyle should at least resemble that a bit. Bananas and grapefruit are an amazing combo. Put them to work.

Last but not least the #5 thing you can do is to tell yourself what you're doing. It is said that visualizing something can be just as affective as going out and doing the task. So every morning take the time to visualize your body with the look you want and say to yourself at least 3 times a day at different times of the day, "I have a flat firm tummy." This in itself will work wonders for you.

These are the 5 sure fire ways of how to lose the tummy fat. It has worked for hundreds of people and is still my bread and butter anytime I see I've added weight due to a busy schedule that causes me to gain a little extra weight around the tummy. It may sound to simple to put into action; but if I asked you to swim around the Atlantic Ocean would you not do it? Take the simplicity and lose the tummy fat.

Ndueso Udoiwod Jr. is an ex Division One Collegiate athlete who has trained as a personal trainer and has written diet tips for many people. He's currently a business owner in the health & wellness industry training people how to improve their health and earn a living doing so. If you want to get rid of the "ring around" the tummy in time for the summer beach volleyball look this year; Visit Fat Loss Reviews for additional tips today.

How Can I Jump Higher - Get the Answer Today!

In some sports, such as basketball, volleyball and gymnastics, an athlete's jump can make or break his game. If you play in one volleyball drills these sports, you may have been asking yourself 'how can I jump higher?' If you have been asking yourself this question, then it's time to stop asking and start working.

The answer to 'how can I jump higher' has several parts. The first part is figuring out how high you jump now. A simple way to check how high you jump is to take a piece of chalk, and mark a wall as high up as you can reach. Then, standing in front of the wall, jump, and mark it again at the highest point of the jump. The distance between the two marks is how high you jump.

Once you know how high you jump, the next part of the answer is to figure out where volleyball drills jump is weak. A good jump takes a large group of muscles working together. If one of those muscles is weaker then the others, then your jump will be weaker as well. A good jump also takes speed. If you've spent a lot of time building slow twitch muscle, then your muscles won't move quickly enough for all that strength to go into getting you off the floor.

Obviously, the last piece to this jigsaw puzzle is to start working out using exercises to strengthen the areas where you are weak. If your muscles aren't moving fast enough, you need to work on building fast twitch muscle. If your hamstrings are weaker than your glutes, you need to work on strengthening your hamstrings.

Of course, you don't necessarily need to find the answer yourself. There are a lot of athletes out there asking the same question. And because so many people are asking it, several people have started offering answer. Trainers, coaches and pro-athletes have all begun to offer their advice and information to help you learn to increase your vertical leap. A brief search will turn up a large number of training programs available to give you exactly the jump you need.

Why wait? Start today with the best jump training available. Don't spend another day wondering how to improve your jump, instead take a few minutes now to check out The Vertical Project, and get the complete answer to how can I jump higher? http://www.vertical-leap.info

Sports Training - Going the Extra Mile

When you are involved in a specific sport, sports' training is important to volleyball drills you at your peak. Training programs can be geared towards specific sports in order to focus the exercise on the exact muscles that will be used in that sport.

A sport training is usually made up of a collection of various types of exercises that are used in sport activities. These may include strength training, speed training, endurance training and flexibility training to name a few. Don't limit yourself to just practicing your sport or you'll find that others who go the extra mile will leave you behind.

Cross training is an important factor in sports training. Most sports use a variety of movements that all need to be practiced. For instance, tennis uses arm muscles as well as endurance and flexibility. Basketball uses strength and endurance. Baseball uses running and strength. All sports training needs to encompass several abilities in order to keep optimal skill levels up.

In order to go the extra mile when training for your sport you need to include exercises that encompass many of the things you use in your sport. Keeping the training varied is key to optimizing a workout. Adding several types of exercises to your workout schedule will not only work all the areas that require it but will provide the extra edge needed to be your best at your sport.

A personal trainer can help motivate you to exercise at your highest level. A personal fitness trainer can help you create a routine that works for your skill level yet pushes you to go further. Always try to maintain a workout that uses all your skills and teaches you new ones. Working your muscles in new ways will increase your flexibility and stamina.

Try to combine aerobic and endurance activities into your workout schedule to keep your body operating at its peak level. Make an effort to exercise on a regular schedule to make routine exercise a habit. Don't let yourself shorten workouts or skip them altogether. volleyball drills your workout habits in a calendar or journal so you can determine which workouts were best for you. Add new activities to your schedule whenever possible to keep yourself active.

Try new sports as a way of adding a new exercise activity into your schedule. Many sports incorporate skill sets from other sports so there is a certain amount of crossover between the skills needed from one to another. Vary your activities that are done alone versus those done with others. For instance, if you usually exercise by yourself with weights, try adding a fun game of volleyball or basketball into your exercise schedule.

Most of all when training for a sport try to be aware of the level of commitment it takes and pledge yourself fully to your activity.

Daniel Carlin is a weight loss and fitness expert. Discover more about how to lose excess fat and weight while building muscle at Common Sense Weight Loss or visit his fitness and weight loss blog, where you can download 3 free fat busting reports.

Choosing Silver For Your 25th Birthday Party Invitations

Your 25th birthday should be celebrated in style, denoting a quarter century milestone. Steal a page from the anniversary playbook and make silver your signature color.

Why Choose Precious Metal Party Invitations?

Silver is a versatile metal that is used on casual jewelry, as well as formal serving ware and picture frames. For these reasons, it is also a versatile color that can signify a formal or casual gathering, making it a perfect choice for 25th birthday party invitations.

Your quarter-century anniversary of your birth should be celebrated, and stretching the precious metal's anniversary theme to include this important day puts a fun twist on the theme.

Selecting Party Invitations

If volleyball drills decide to have a precious metal-inspired celebration, it's essential that you prominently display this on the party invitation. This will allow guests to dress appropriately, as well as bring themed presents for your celebration.

Silver party invitations do exist apart from ones designated for anniversaries, ensuring that your choices will not be limited. You could choose to print your party announcements on shiny paper with black lettering, mailed in a black envelope with foil lining, especially for a more formal gathering like a cocktail party. A casual party invitation could have a colored background, such as light turquoise or dark green, combined with silvery lettering and accents like a striped border.

Planning a Quarter Century Birthday Bash

If you want to host a large party, you might consider an outdoor party or renting a venue to hold a large group. If you choose to host your party outdoors, this doesn't mean the party must be casual, depending on time of day and the setting you create. You could set up a sheer tent, either renting one or draping metallic fabric over poles secured in the ground. Then set up tables beneath with metallic tablecloths and candelabras holding volleyball drills tapers. The party time should be in the evening, creating an elegant ambiance and the perfect setting for a delicious dinner beneath the stars.

If you decide to rent a venue, lay metallic tablecloths, whether you'll have a sit-down meal, buffet, or drinks and dessert only, and use silver urns to house flower arrangements. If you'll have the party catered, request metal-rimmed plates to match your theme. To set the tone before the party, you could send a tri-fold 25th birthday party invitation with a glittering champagne glass on the front and words "quarter century birthday party" embossed across the front.

If you want to host a fun party and your birthday takes place during a warm month, consider a pool party. You could sport a silvery bathing suit, and if you'll play water games, could buy a metallic volleyball to tie in with your theme. Your party invitations could be aqua or light blue and have "pool festivities" printed in bold metallic lettering.

Don't think you have to wait for your 25th anniversary to host an inspired party! Go ahead and apply it to your quarter century birthday and send silver birthday party invitations to announce a stylish party guaranteed to shine.

Whether you are celebrating your 25th birthday or your 75th, sending out chic silver birthday party invitations are always in style. Be inspired by this regal color when you are picking out the perfect birthday invitations for your celebration.

Girls Playing Club Volleyball - Top 4 Ways YOU CAN Control the Pace of Your Volleyball Game

Girls, have you ever played in a volleyball game where the pace seemed so fast that everything just seemed to be BEYOND your control? Many volleyball drills you play in a volleyball game that seems to control you when in reality there are several things that you can do to change or control the game so that YOU can speed up or slow down the pace or the rhythm of the match.

Here are a few suggestions:

Play the Ball Low

Give volleyball drills time to play the volleyball perfectly especially on a free ball or down ball by playing the ball in a low but balanced position. Don't stand up to pass the ball by taking the ball up high when it's at your shoulder level. Use the few more inches it takes for the volleyball to descend to get yourself in a good low position to deliver a perfect ball to the target.

Those few seconds you allow for the ball to descend to a lower point before you pass it not only gives you time to gain more control of the pass but it also buys time for your hitters to get back in transition. This move will also allow you to control the speed of your next play and thus affecting the tempo of the volleyball match... here's how.

Speed Up or Slow Down Your Pass

Hours of practice of serve receive in the gym should get you to automatically pass the ball with a medium arc about 4 to six feet above the height of the volleyball net right to the setters hands. You can control the speed of your team's attack by raising your pass/serve receive so that the ball has a much higher arc, reaches 8 to 10 feet in the air so you are slowing down the pace of the game. You would probably do this when the opposing team is running a faster offense and it feels like your team just isn't establishing your own team rhythm. Slow everything down, give the setters time to think, the hitters time to see the volleyball court and your teammates time to think about concentrating on the basics in order to get back into the game.

Or you can speed up your pass by purposefully passing a ball that is right at or 1 to two feet above the height of the volleyball net with some pace on it. You should practice this with your team attack and transition drill practices...on free balls purposefully speeding up your free ball or even down ball passes ...without losing precision and control in order to run a faster paced attack. You can make this a set play that can be called by the setter when she sees an easy high free or down ball coming over...she calls this play so the receivers know that she will be in position to set and the middle blockers will be ready to speed up their approach for this fast attack play.

Walk Back To Serve

This suggestion may seem a little crafty but after a long rally you may consider walking back to or taking your time getting back to the server's position. Whenever you run back to serve you are speeding up the play of the game. Sometimes it may be necessary to give your frontrow hitters a breather or give your middles a chance to catch their breath so without risking a yellow card or any delay of game warnings you can always "tie your shoe" just before or as you are heading back to serve. The referee will have to wait for you to finish.

Non-Setters Should Set High

In a perfect game the setter should touch every second ball but since when does this happen? If you are the right side hitter or an off side hitter you'll find that you will have to step in to set several times during a volleyball match.

In order to maintain control of the pace of the game make sure you get your knees, hips, shoulders and forehead lined up underneath the ball to get into a nice low position to set a nice high ball to either outside hitter.

Don't risk increasing the pace of the game by shooting a fast set to the outside which neither you nor the hitter you are setting have practiced. Establish your own team's rhythm and maintain control by setting high to the outside and letting your hitter do the rest.

Now go out and control the pace of your game...Remember the ball is in Your hands

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

Girls Volleyball - Top 5 Ways Females Can Improve Their Volleyball Game

I am frequently asked by female players what are some of the best ways to improve their volleyball skills. volleyball drills decided to write this article to discuss five of the more popular things I suggest most frequently. Remember these may not work for everybody but it may give you some ideas as to what will work for you.

3. Seek out a mentor. Not everybody knows what they are talking about even though they may call themselves a girls volleyball coach. And not everybody lives in areas of the country where volleyball is the most popular or most volleyball drills sport. It's exactly for this reason a virtual volleyball mentoring community like volleyball voices was created. Luckily the Internet gives girl volleyball players a chance to find experts who can explain from experience, their expertise on how to perform certain fundamentals, what drills girls can practice to improve their individual and team volleyball skills, learn how to better your playing performance as well as volleyball forums and groups to join to talk about common problems and issues.

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

Basic Information on Kauai Vacation House Rental

To stay in a Kauai vacation house volleyball drills a dream come true for a lot of people. And why wouldn't it be? Kauai is one of the oldest major islands of volleyball drills It is called the Garden Isle because of its lush greenery and tropical foliage. To be in Kauai means to lose all your inhibitions in its wondrous natural beauty. Open your eyes to the beautiful Hawaiian sun every morning that you are in Kauai.

Many would choose to stay in a hotel or resort but that totally beats the purpose of getting away from it all. The point of going on vacation is to leave all your worries behind and that especially means all your work obligations. Your best bet is to stay in a vacation home, where you can strip yourself of all needless information to the outside world. This is real "me" time for you and your family.

Choosing the right Kauai vacation house depends on your needs during vacation. Some factors to consider are the following:

1. Affordability

You will want to stay in a place that will not drain your vacation fund completely. It's best to leave some money left for emergency or fun purposes. Maybe at the end of your vacation, you will have money left over to buy souvenirs, tangible memories of your fun vacation.

2. Location

If you really want complete peace and quiet, pick a place located far from the busiest part of the island. Kauai offers hidden bits of paradise all over the island.

3. Space

One of the great advantages of staying in a vacation house instead of a hotel room is the space you will be getting. Staying in a house will be greatly appreciated by a big family, everyone has the space to run around and do whatever they want.

4. Amenities

Being on vacation on an island doesn't mean you should sacrifice luxuries you had at home. There are modern vacation houses for those people who cannot rough it.

So when you are in the market for a vacation that will give you both fun and relaxing memories, Kauai is the place to be. They can offer a number of activities for the water enthusiast or the land lubber in your family. Here is a list of activities you and your family can engage in when you arrive in the Garden Isle:

Beach Activities

Kauai has world-renowned beaches perfect for swimming or just lounging around on the sand. The white sandy beach is also a perfect setting for a friendly game of beach volleyball. The majestic marine life is also what draws crowds to Kauai. Scuba diving fans will love the diversity of life found in the waters of Kauai. You don't even have to go to the deep parts of the sea; just a short snorkeling trip will leave you breathless.

Land Activities

Kauai has the best places for hiking adventures because there are many trails to choose from. And if you get tired of hiking, grab a bicycle and just cruise around the many nature parks in Kauai. A horse galloping on the beach is a common sight in Kauai and even you can join in on that fun.

A Kauai vacation house is the perfect place to spend your much needed summer vacation. Indulge yourself.

Find out where you can get Kauai vacation rentals. Start looking for your Kauai vacation house online.

Gisele Bundchen Reveals her Diet and Workout Secrets!

Gisele Bundchen....what can I say. She certainly has the best body out of any celebrity or supermodel that I can think of. She always manages to keep her weight right down and looks stunning as always. Being naked doesn't bother Gisele! According to her, her diet secret is cheeseburgers. This is a very upsetting claim! How can somebody who weighs about 90lbs and is probably 100 meters tall use cheeseburgers as her diet secret? She must have a hell of a workout secret, one cheeseburger contains approximately 300-400 calories! She was discovered at Mcdonalds at the age of 14 so I suppose it makes sense. I'll do some further investigating to find out the REAL Gisele Bundchen workout for you. Don't worry!

What Does Gisele Bundchen Eat?

Cheeseburgers apparently. And anything else she wants! She's either got a super fast metabolism or actually is burning it all off. Or....it was a lie!

How Does Gisele Bundchen Workout?

Ok now it is starting to make sense. Gisele burns off every calorie of that cheeseburger! We think of eating cheeseburgers and settling volleyball drills for a volleyball drills in front of the TV, whereas Gisele eats a cheeseburger and jumps on the treadmill! Gisele Bundchen tells "I'm very athletic, so I guess because of that I get to eat what I want."

From the information I have gathered, Gisele seems to do yoga upon waking. Gisele gave some New York builders a bit of a thrill when she was doing yoga in her apartment one morning. She wasn't aware the builders could see in through the blinds. I kept telling my assistant that we needed to put something up, because they could see in my apartment, but she said, 'Don't worry about it - you have special blinds where you can see out, but they can't see in.'" The supermodel continued to stretch and practice yoga in skimpy outfits every morning in her living room. She adds, "I'm stretching in my shorts and I see a guy looking at me, but my assistant said he couldn't see me, so I continued. "I left and came back home and there were more guys looking into my apartment. I decided to wave (to see if they could see) and they all waved back. "They could see me the entire time! I could have killed her (assistant)!"

She also plays Volleyball and does extreme sports to stay fit."I'm very comfortable with my body."

Workout: Yoga everyday upon waking, horse riding, volleyball & anything extreme about 3 times a week.

If you would like more information on Gisele Bundchens diet and workout regime then you can visit http://www.celebrity-diets.org or if you would like more information on what other celebrities are eating OR not eating for that matter then Click Here

A Manager is Not Exactly a Soccer Coach

Although it volleyball drills always tempting to use the sports coach as an example for the role of a manager, but one should realize immediately that the manager is not a coach.

The main differences reside in three topics: career, team and culture.

The career of a sport-professional is hardly to compare with that of a business professional. We often compare these, and metaphors of the mountain-climbing expedition can help to show some similarities, but both careers are two different things.

A professional career is focused on offering a productive solution in a business. Some careers have a stand-alone or autonomic characteristic, but most are performed within a team and an organizational setting. The diversity of a professional career -- whatever the area of expertise -- requires a complete different management approach. This becomes visible in the personal performance indicator. The sportsman main performance indicator is attributable to the score of the team and his stake in this (giving the right pass, scoring, defense, etc...) The personal performance indicator of a professional is first of all determined by the business environment the expert is working in.

The role of the coach versus manager in either team is different too. The coach has a professional (career) background in the sports, but he is not actually playing in the game. The manager on the other hand is. In fact his position can better be compared with that of "the setter" in a volleyball game who is somehow orchestrating the game. The manager is a setter too in delegating tasks to the different team members.

The team characteristics of a one in volleyball drills and on the other side one in business is also hardly the same. One team sport or the other requires similar professionals. In business however a sale steam, production team or one focused on training and education in human resources, a remotely similar. In this sense, in some cases it is possible that a manager look similar to that of a coach (for example in a sales environment where scoring a close is similar to scoring a goal), but in others it is not; in an educational environment where a trainer is presenting a course. Managing a group of trainers is not the same as managing a sport steam of players.

Than the organizational culture. This is the last part where sports and business each have their unique features. The culture of soccer is an international culture, where players are transferred over teams. Basketball is different than soccer, but both have a similar culture. Than the LA Lakers may have a unique style to another club.

In business however there are also cultural differences, but they are more complex as in one organization, there are teams that play soccer, basket and handball as if it was the same business game. This is much more complex than the culture of a sports club.

That's way sports can give an example of the features of management, but business management is much more complicated. That's why the next chapter will start with a new biography, of which you can think of that of your own business curriculum. When reading it, think about your own career, the teams you have participated in and the cultures you have experienced on your path...

2009 Hans Bool

Does Your Volleyball Coaching Need Improvement?

To get a great team, things must be kept simple. Outlined is a simple list of things not to forget. Read it & print it out!

Coaching

The coach must think of the best ways to implement his knowledge to the players. Proper care should be taken about the diet of the players. Players should practice a lot so that they can improve their skill. They should spend time on the basic skills such as setting, hitting, serving, blocking, digging and passing.

The coach should communicate with the players and let them know how they are doing. He should compliment the players if they do good work. This will motivate the players and they will try to work harder to improve their individual skills.

The coach should give preference to group work so that there will be more of team work and less disputes. He should take final decisions, but he should also ask for opinions and suggestions from the players.

The coach should prepare young athletes to win both on and off the field. He should keep the attitude of the athletes positive.

The coach should try to make warm-ops interesting. He may replace the 10 minutes warm ups with other playground games such as Freeze Tag and Dodge ball.

There are many variations in volleyball for example Olympics spin- off sport beach volley ball. The number of boys and volleyball drills interested in playing this game has increased tremendously .The players should keep in volleyball drills individual as well as team goals. The team should also focus on where they need improvement instead of just winning the game.

Coach: Take your team to the next level with this powerful Coach Training Program: http://volleyball-coaching.info/

Organic Shmorganic

The "Organic" food kick has taken off in recent years. It seems that every company has started labeling their products with "Organic" and they are able double or triple the price on the same product that didn't have that label on it before. But what does organic really mean? Well, I have had a lot volleyball drills chemistry classes in my life time and anything that contains the element carbon is organic. That means all food is organic because as far as I am aware, all food contains the element carbon. Originally for food to be called "Organic" it meant that it was grown without fertilizers or pesticides. And the animals that are organic had to be feed with food grown without pesticides or fertilizers. One of the requirements for the feed for animals that are organic is that the crop must be fertilized without sewage sludge. I'm pretty sure that should be a rule even if the food isn't organic.

Now you know that pesticides are not supposed to be used on organic foods. But, pesticide is found on 25% of the produce labeled organic. This could be for many reasons such as farmers illegaly saying that the food is organic, or the fact that organic fields are right next to non-organic pesticide using fields. The use of pesticides should not bother any human being. The rules and regulations of pesticides are so strict and set so far below what would be required to make a person sick that it would never harm anybody.

Many people claim that organic foods are richer with vitamins and minerals because the organic compost fertilizes the plants better. There is only one thing wrong with this belief, plants don't take up vitamins from compost or from fertilizers. A plant only absorbs simple elements and water from the roots. So the belief that organic food has superior nutrient compsoition is false.

Because organic foods are grown without pesticides and other ways to enhance their growth, they must use animal manure as fertilizer. This in turn increases the risk of microbeal diseases such as E coli. Not pasteurizing liquids or cheeses also increases risk because the pasteurization is what kills disease causing microorganisms.

So the next time you think about spending twice as much money for something labeled "Organic" you might want to think twice.

To read more about topics related to this one click here: Mobile Fitness

If you want to learn how to play beach volleyball click here: sand volleyball

Why Volleyball Officials Need to Have the Right Stuff

Being an official of any volleyball drills can be a difficult task. They have to make the calls, and sometimes those calls are not favorable. However, in order for them to do their jobs and officiate properly, there is equipment volleyball drills they need in order to make their job a little bit easier. A volleyball game is no different.

They will need a professional whistle with a lanyard. The whistle should stay around their neck during the game. That way, they can lift it up and use it at a moment's notice. The lanyard helps to keep the whistle around the official's neck. Also, the lanyard will help the official to remember that the whistle is there.

To keep up with penalties, officials need penalty cards. They will be able to keep up with which team is incurring the most penalties from the game. You can keep the colored cards in a pouch. This piece of official equipment is crucial in order to keep up with what's going on with the volleyball game.

If there is quite a bit of equipment that the volleyball official needs to keep up with, then they will need to have an officials' kit. The kit comes with a carrying case. Along with that, the official will get a lanyard and whistle set, linesman flags and official penalty cards. All three of these items will fit perfectly in the carrying case.

There is another officials' kit that can be used which is called the officials' amenity kit. It can store items such as a whistle and lanyard, pocket pump, penalty cards and a few other items. This kit comes with a canvas bag that can zip up to secure the items.

Another piece of equipment for the official is a net setter. This can be set up to the height for the volleyball net. There are several heights for different groups such as men, women, junior volleyball and coed players. There are instructions to use for set up.

Officials also use a dual rotation locator to help them track rotation. It works to track two volleyball teams at the same time. This item is so small that it could fit in the official's back pocket.

Using the double rotation location moves round to help the official track each player precisely. They can also keep up with timeouts and substitutions. This item has a carrying case and a dry erase marker to clean for future use.

Having this official equipment can help them do their job more effectively as they're monitoring volleyball games.

Tracy Seiler-Hruska can be reached at http://www.volleyballproshop.com

Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems - Which Filters Work Best?

Reverse osmosis water filtration systems come in many varieties. Some seem to work better than others. It really depends on your personal household needs. Taking a look at some of the different types, the pros and cons and the output of the filters will help you to make the best decision for your water filtering needs.

One type of reverse osmosis water filtration system is a reverse osmosis and ultra filtration floor water cooler. This system has 9 stages of filtration, the first of which removes many of the organic contaminants that may cause the water to taste bad and cause an odor. These contaminants include chlorine, pesticides, PCB's, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), insecticides and herbicides.

The second stage removes inorganic compounds such as salts and metals. However this system does remove minerals as well which is one of the disputed areas of water filtration. volleyball drills minerals that are present in water are considered an essential element for good health. Each stage of the system removes different bacteria and contaminants as well as dirt and rust that may be present in the water. This system has the capacity to clean 1.45 gallons of water per hour.

Another type of reverse osmosis water filter is a portable 3-stage system. This RO water filtration system can provide up to 50 gallons of clean water per day. However, this filter does not have the typical storage tank. This system provides a steady drip of the water that is filtered and you must volleyball drills it in your own receptacles. The system is not intended for immediate use of the water as it is filtered.

Still another type of RO water filter is the countertop water cooler. This reverse osmosis water filtration system has 9 stages through which the water passes. The removal of organic contaminants as well as chemical contaminants present in the water you drink is the objective of this system.

It is a countertop system and has a separate hot and cold water power switch. There is an automatic shut off when the water is heated to the required setting and when the tank is empty. The hot water heating capacity is 1.45 gallons per hour and the cooling capacity is 1.95 gallons per hour.

Recommended: The Tap Master

The Tap Master is a water filter that many people prefer to deliver the safe drinking water they require in their homes. This filter can take away 98% of the harmful pollutants in your water. Pollutants such as metals and chemicals that are contained in the water you drink will be a worry no more when using this reverse osmosis water filtration system. The NSF (National Science Foundation) requirements are adhered to in the design of this system.

One of the advantages to this setup is the filter system. The filters are combined with the filter housing therefore when it is time to change the filter, the filter housing is taken out, disposed of and a new one installed. This can help protect your home from flooding. Typical systems manufactured by other companies only require changing the filter. The filter housing remains and after a period of five years or so, the walls can become weak. This can and eventually will cause major problems.

Another innovation Tap Master has instituted is the capacity of the water filling. The average time it took to fill a pitcher was 40 seconds. Now the water is double what it was in 40 seconds. The doubling of the water flow from this RO filter is great for the extra water. Along with this, the filters used are high grade and are made using coconut shell. The filtration of the water is improved to 5 microns.

One thing to keep in mind about this reverse osmosis water filtration system is they are not designed for treating water that is iron rich nor are they for water that is not safe for drinking. When purchasing a reverse osmosis system the main consideration is going to be what the system can take out of your water to make it safer for your family's use. By installing a good system that has the ability to remove the major amount of contaminants and pollutants you will feel much better about the water that is coming into your home.

For more detailed analysis of how reverse osmosis water filters work, which types to use and what other water filtration alternatives exist, please visit http://www.allwaterpurification.com website.

Tips For Enjoying an Outdoor Vacation

Nude beaches aren't for everyone, but if you want to spend your vacation getting a great tan in places like Greece, Thailand, and the French Rivera, then you should consider going to one of these beaches. Here, you will find volleyball drills activities including sunbathing, volleyball, swimming, and other sports. Not only will you be able to enjoy the sun, you will be able to do so quietly as people tend to leave each other alone on these beaches. You should not bring your family to these beaches, however, unless your children are old enough and mature enough to visit them.

Traveling to visit the nude beaches of Europe and Asia is not as uncommon as you may think. There are many people who prefer visiting the beach and not wearing clothing. You will not be judged when visiting a nude beach. You will be able to lie out on the sand and have a restful vacation. For those who have never been to a nude beach, these beaches are not usually advertised unless they are already famous. To find them, you have to look for them when you arrive.

When getting an all over tan, it is important to use sun tan lotion and not to stay in the sun for too long. Depending on your skin tone, you could burn easily. Bring a large umbrella, beach towel, and plenty of water so you can stay hydrated. After relaxing for a few hours, you may want to take a swim to cool off. The waters in these regions are clear and beautiful. It is very different from other parts of the world. You should replenish the sun tan lotion every two or three hours to prevent a sun burn.

Vacationing on a nude beach is common practice in many countries, but if you are uncomfortable, there are plenty of clothing required beaches to visit as well. Many people enjoy spending their time on a nude beach because they can get an all over tan without having to worry about tan lines and other issues. If this means a lot to you, then you will not mind spending time at a nude beach. But if you don't care about tan lines, then a nude beach is only one of many options.

Some nude beaches have rules about who is allowed on them and for how long. Some nude beaches are clothing optional, which means that some people will be nude, while others will not be. Other rules include certain time that nudity is allowed and the conduct of the people on the beach and what will be tolerated and what will not be tolerated.

Most people who use nude beaches are very friendly, but others are immature and should be on the beach in the first place. If you are uncomfortable, you can put your clothing on or you can complain to the lifeguards on duty. Nude beaches have these rules so everyone will be able to be volleyball drills while at the beach.

The columnist Ken Morris is especially passionate about themes relating to distance Alicante Madrid and distance from Benidorm to Madrid. You can find his observations on Madrid to Alicante at http://www.alicante-spain.com and many different sources for Madrid to Alicante knowledge

Develop the Mindset of a Champion - Where Are You Focusing Your Energy?

Did you know our unconscious mind makes up a huge 95% of our mind? Being the majority shareholder, the unconscious mind will determine the results you get. Conflict often occurs when you consciously think you want something and your unconscious mind has other ideas - mainly because of its past programming based on the experiences you have had through-out your life.

That is why sometimes you may have been motivated to strive for a new goal, small or big, and find yourself almost battling yourself and even self sabotaging. I know I have volleyball drills the past. It's because the conscious mind decides on the goal, but the unconscious mind doesn't believe in it, or one is focusing on the wrong things to get that goal.

Perhaps you feel some kind of inner conflict - like part of me wants this really bad, but part of me doesn't for whatever reason - it's too hard, it's scary, it means I don't get that other thing I want. Perhaps you want to be an Olympian but part of you also wants to have a good time!!
It is important to consider where you are focusing your attention and energy? What sort of pictures are you producing in your mind when you think about your goals? What sort of feelings do you get?

Are you getting a clear and brilliant picture of volleyball drills is you really want? You see our unconscious mind responds to all the pictures and feelings we get whenever we are thinking. Bearing this in mind, then it definitely helps to think positive thoughts, to put these positive pictures, sounds and feelings into our mindset. The mind does not understand the word 'not' or 'don't' and only hears what comes after the negative word. When you think about playing sport or achieving results in other aspects of your life, are you thinking about winning? Or are you thinking about not losing - and hence considering the possibility of losing?

Who has ever told themselves "I hope I don't stuff it up!!"? A key to creating better results in all areas of your life is to start thinking about what you do want, and how you want to show up, how you want to be.

If you are generally motivated by fear, or what you don't want, it is very difficult to get long lasting change.

So it makes sense to focus positively towards what you want - to create positive pictures in your mind, and to have the right motivation to drive you forward and consistently to your end goal.

Focus can be applied moment by moment, daily and in short and long-term goals.

When challenges arise, become aware of where your focus is. Are you focused on the problem, on what is wrong? It can be more empowering focusing the solution, on what is right, and what can be learnt from a situation. By being continually aware of your own thought processes you can begin to be pro-active in where your attention is directed.

Imagine yourself at training and you're feeling a little sore, perhaps a bit tired or perhaps you've made a few mistakes. If these events take your focus, then you are unable to direct your attention to the important things. A champion has the ability to focus on what they want and on the important things that will lead to improvement and to results.

In the long term, a champion has the ability to maintain focus on the end goal. Distractions may come in different opportunities and the true champion will persist and continue on until that goal is achieved. When you start honing your focus you will be amazed at what you can achieve. Think about what it is your really want and commit to it to create the opportunities that will assure its fulfillment.

Annette Huygens Tholen is a former player on the FIVB World Tour and Australian Beach Volleyball Tour and participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. She is now a Master Results Coach and speaker using her learnings and experience to empower individuals to produce better results in their life - sport, career, finance, relationships, health, etc at annette@annetteffect.com.au
http://www.annetteffect.com.au

Haleiwa Beach Park - Surfing Paradise in Hawaii

Unlike most of Oahu's white sand beaches, Haleiwa Beach Park is fronted by rare light brown sand beach. Located in the historic town of Haleiwa in North Shore Oahu, Haleiwa Beach Park is less popular with tourists than the other North Shore beaches.

However, locals love to spend time at the beach park for picnicking as well for lounging in the sun, joining festivals and carnivals, and playing various sports like soccer, Frisbee, volleyball, and basketball. The 76-acre beach park includes, among others, playground for children, two basketball courts, soccer field, and volleyball courts. Also known as Ali'i Beach Park, Haleiwa is also home to various surfing competitions including the Women's Events in Triple Crown. Every summer, crowds gather here for regatta and outrigger volleyball drills races, and the Haleiwa Arts Festival.

Although Haleiwa Beach is most chosen by canoe paddlers for training and regatta, Haleiwa has a reef-fringed, rocky bottom, making it less a prime spot for swimming. Strong undercurrents also make the waters dangerous at certain times. If you're an inexperienced swimmer, volleyball drills on the eastern side of the beach; a seawall protects this part of the beach from big surfs all year out. On the other hand, the big waves here attract dozens of surfers.

Humidity and heat can be extreme in this part of North Shore Oahu; don't forget to drink plenty of water.

Services and amenities: no lifeguards; there are showers, restrooms, drinking water, picnic and pavilion, playground, ballpark, grills, parking

Located on the island of Oahu, Haleiwa Beach Park is a wonderful spot to spend your Hawaii vacation.

Article by Kani Amea

How to Help Your Child Choose a Sport

Sports and kids; the two go hand in hand. But when faced with specific sports, how are parents and kids to decide? For example, when school starts back up, it won't be long before there are football games to attend. Then it's basketball in the winter. Springtime gives you soccer, baseball, and swimming. With all the options and only so much time, how do you know what kids sports to sign your child up for?

I guess the first and most important thing you need to find out is if your child is even interested in sports. If they aren't, then it's probably best not to force them into doing volleyball drills they don't want to do, especially if it's to relive your own past or current interests. The child needs to have an interest to begin with, otherwise, they'll not only resent the sport, but also you for making them play it. I suppose that if your kids aren't interested in sports, you could probably stop reading this article, or better yet, find another one that interests you. But for the parents who have to deal with this conundrum, we shall continue. So, if your kid shows interest in children's sports, you should try to find out which ones and why. Their answers may surprise you. Dependent on the age of your child, options may be slightly limited. For example, Elementary schools have less sport opportunities compared to high school, especially when it comes to kids team sports. However, there should be ample opportunity to register them in local sport leagues such as pee-wee football, dancing, swimming, soccer, little league baseball or possibly basketball to name a few. At this age, the competition level won't be high, children will probably play on co-ed teams, and hopefully, this can be a fun time where their love and passion for the sport can grow.

Once you ask your child which sport they would like to try, you can then enroll them to play. Because participation in kids team sports or individual sports is quite time intensive, usually involving both games and practice, it may be best to have your child pick and rank their favorite seasonal sports. By doing this your child can try a variety of sports without it being too detrimental to their school work or your schedule.

As you kids move into higher grades, the opportunity for your children to participate in sports will increase. The amount of children's sports offerings is vast and will provide quite a few opportunities for both boys and girls to pursue their ambitions. The usual kids sport offerings in high school include but aren't limited to football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, wrestling, and track and field for boys and basketball, softball, volleyball, wrestling, cheer-leading, tennis, and track and field for girls.

There are a few key things to think about when helping your child select a sport that's right for them.

Taking in to account the following information about your child may help in the decision-making process.

* Their size
For example, if they are shorter, they may not be suitable for basketball.

* Their abilities

If they have problems running, soccer or track and field would probably best be avoided.

* Their interests
If they love spending time running alone or competing against their own personal bests, they may be more suited towards individual sports like tennis.

* Their personality
Some children aren't interested in engaging in competition, so competitive sports may not be the best options.

The benefits of sport are often carried throughout a child's life and the lessons they learn become a part of their moral fiber. Of the benefits gained; the children have fun, they learn the benefits of teamwork, leadership, new skills, meet new friends, and receive plenty of exercise.

Many children look for a reason to be active and they often have excess energy to burn. They run non-stop, can be quite competitive, and most will excel at certain athletic skills. Although finding the right kids sports to sign your child up for may take some time, it will likely be well worth the effort.

Eronne Ward is a activist for the protection for children online and runs a kids entertainment and education website - http://www.cackleberries.com

Be sure to volleyball drills her site and get some great free activities for your children to play with! - Free Cut-out Paper Toys

Your Options For Protective Eyewear

Sight is the Earthpremiership@gmail vital sense for us. We rely on our eyes more than we do any other of our five senses so it is incredibly important to protect our eyes in every way that we can. Depending on what kind of activity you participate in, whether it is just sun tanning at the beach or off-road mountain biking, you need a different type of eye protection. Eye damage includes everything from a sunburn to scratched corneas, so to prevent these types of injuries you need protective eyewear.

Sunglasses are the most common form of eye protection available to us today. People wear shades whether they are down at the beach on or up on the ski slopes. As long as you invest in high quality sunglasses, you will receive the optimal UVA, UVB, and UVC protection that you need. Did you know that even your eyes could be sunburned? This condition, called photokeratitis, is reversible but you do experience temporary blindness. Cataracts, of the clouding on the lens, can also occur from too much exposure to ultraviolet sunrays. Make sure you wear those sunglasses consistently so that you can prevent these conditions!

Goggles are a step above sunglasses because they not only block out the sun's harmful elements and keep your vision clear, they also protect your eyes from any outside elements. Whether you are in the science lab performing chemistry experiments or out on the slopes snowboarding, a great pair of goggles is what you need. The type of goggles will differ, of course, for each situation, but as long as they completely cover your face, you eyes are much safer.

A Earthpremiership@gmail of sports-related injuries occur around or at the eyeball. This reason is why so many more athletes are wearing protective eyewear in practice and in games. Hockey players wear full-face masks, and everyone from volleyball players to wrestlers now sport polycarbonate lenses when they go into competition. It is much safer and has prevented several additional sports-related injuries in the past few years!

Depending on the sports and activities in which you participate, there are forms of eye protection available for you. Do you research and purchase a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses or goggles today so that you can keep your eyes safe and injury free!

If you would like more information on protective eyewear or you would like to find the online source for brands such as Ray Ban sunglasses, please visit the Sunglasses Online website.

Courage To Be Someone New

Have you ever felt paralyzed or crippled by fear? As a
businesswoman, producer, and model through my various
business ventures, Ive felt fearful from time to time. And Im
sure that, like me, youve found Earthpremiership@gmail you can accomplish little
when youre afraid -- and almost nothing if you let fear of
what might happen seize you. Fear freezes the mind,
erases possibilities and clouds opportunities; and it makes
most matters were fearful about seem disproportionately
greater than our ability to deal with them.

However, Ive learned that you and I have the ability to put
fear in its rightful place -- a place where we dont have to
stay. Yet sometimes situations were frightened about have
to get worse before things can get better. Sometimes not
until something or someone hurts us and/or wounds us
badly or deeply enough do we realize that we have to go
beyond fear to make a change.

I remember vividly some of the most unpleasant challenges
Ive had to face to earn respect and defeat fear. In 1987, I
moved from my homeland, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to
Vancouver, Canada, to continue high school for
post-secondary education. I found myself a stranger there --
a funny looking "foreign" girl with a bad haircut and poor
English skills. And soon, I became the prime target for the
supposedly "cool" high school kids around me to
antagonize. And believe me, they did their best to make my
life miserable. I couldnt hide from them; they seemed to be
everywhere, taunting me. Theyd throw objects at me from
behind my back; theyd push and trip me when I wasnt
looking. Theyd sabotage my every chance to be part of any
extra school activity I wanted to pursue; theyd point at me
and laugh, call me names, and torment me in countless
other ways, too.

But because I was extremely unfamiliar with Canadian
culture and lifestyles, and for fear that I might say or do
something wrong, I decided Id just tolerate the situation.
Though I was already a competitive martial arts fighter in the
process of earning my second black belt in Karate, (a sport
Ive been involved in since I was eight years old), I didnt feel
that I should utilize those skills. Again, I feared I might
provoke my tormentors further and possibly even incite them
to extend harm to my family.

So during most of those high school years I allowed
emotions like fear, loneliness, anxiety, anger and sadness
to consume me. Yet eventually even those feelings,
however negative, forced me to find courage to turn my
situation in positive directions, and as a result I can now
help others in similar circumstances to do the same.

I decided that every time my tormentors tried to start a fight
with me, I would look each of them in the eyes and just
calmly walk away. What worse could happen than that
theyd push me, laugh and call me names? However, one
afternoon, things did turn worse.

That afternoon I felt a couple of small objects hit the back of
my head. As usual, bursts of laughter behind my back
followed, and I continued on my way, refusing to even
acknowledge this petty behavior. But this time I made no
effort to keep my eyes on my tormentors as I walked away.
Suddenly one of them decided to run up and strike me in the
left eye. In an instant, I realized that she had crossed a
boundary and endangered a vital organ of my body, and this
I simply couldnt ignore. Before she could blink, with a
crowd of students as my witnesses, I unleashed a kick that
dropped her to the ground. Quickly, two of her friends
leaped at me to defend her. Soon they, too, were picking
themselves up, and then all three made a run for it, leaving
me standing there. Now I began to feel the throbbing pain
in my left eye -- and discovered that it was bleeding.

For many years, Id tried to avoid confrontations with my
tormentors. But that afternoon theyd made confrontation
inevitable, and I had put fear aside and finally let them know
who I truly was. Now I wondered what the consequences of
my retaliation would be.

Shortly after the fight I was called into the principals office.
There I was told that the three girls who started the fight had
been suspended from school. The other students whod
witnessed the encounter had reported the story of the attack
and my self-defense. Luckily for me, they all supported my
actions. I was free to return to class unpunished.

After that day, things took a clear turn for the better. My
"tormentors" stopped harassing me; from then on they only
looked away whenever I passed by them. When a new
school year began, some of them left to attend different
schools, though some of them remained at my school.
Some of them even stopped being each others friends --
and others decided to start greeting me with smiles. That
year -- my last -- in high school, I finally was able to make
some good friends, direct numerous extracurricular
activities, coach the basketball and volleyball teams and
even serve as captain of the cheerleading squad.

As my life has unfolded since then, throughout my varied
career Ive had many fortunate opportunities to assist
diverse groups of women through some of their own
challenging moments in life. Of course, through these
experiences, Ive broadened my own knowledge about
career, socializing, love, relationships, family and much
more. Along the way Ive been able, in turn, to assist,
inspire and empower a great number of women along their
journeys in life, for which theyve pointedly thanked me in
one way or another. And whether they know it or not, their
exercise of courage that made their lives better, plus their
trust in me, have been all the thanks Ive ever needed.
Theyve truly inspired me to constantly grow, transform and
become a better person.

A few years ago, while I was out of town, Lidiya, an assistant
in one of the companies I founded, hired two new recruits to
join our team. She formally introduced me to them when I
returned from my trip. One recruit happened to be a chief
"tormentor" of mine from high school.

She didnt recognize me until Lidiya introduced me by my
first and last names. Then, my former tormentors jaw
dropped and her face froze. But I reached out and shook
her hand and welcomed her to our team. Later, she
approached me abashedly and tried to apologize for what
had happened in the past. I told her not to worry; it was
quite all right with me. To help her feel comfortable, I then
took her out for lunch. When we got back to the office, I
jokingly told her, "Get back to work now!" and we laughed
together. Since then, shes become one of my most
cherished workers.

Can you see how learning to make the best of every
situation, including that painful one at school, has led me to
discover something great -- that courage begins with
character? Courage not only means being able to do
something new, it also means being able to be someone
new. The ultimate measure of a person is not where they
stand in moments of comfort, but where they stand in times
of challenge and controversy. Ive come to learn that
growing into a good, solid character requires rising to levels
of self-esteem that so many of us doubt we have.

One way by which you can enhance your own self-esteem is
to do as I did, and make it really clear to those around you
who you truly are. When you know who you truly are, and act
based on who you truly are, youll realize, as I did back then
in high school, that no one can harm you unless you choose
to keep them around and allow them to trouble you.

Penny Phang is one of Canada's nominated Top 40 Under 40 business leaders, recognized for her commitment to provide strategic business services with inspiring enthusiasm, creativity, and elegance. She is also well known as the Producer for Playboy Special Editions for Western Canada. In addition, she remains involved in full-service business communications with her founded Simplex Communications Group, and continues to write for her monthly inspirational lifestyle column, Moments of Inspiration with Penny. Miss Phang's experiences are not limited to the business world. She holds two black belts in Karate and was a member of the West Coast Warriors National Karate Team. Shes also a former Top 20 Special Editions Celebrity Model whose inspiring personality has been transformed into "Penny" the 3-D animated character for Electronic Arts' Def Jam Vendetta video game.

For more information go to: http://www.phangenterprises.com/

Fun in Fort Lauderdale - Five Must-See Attractions

After two days Earthpremiership@gmail fun and travel in Greater Fort Lauderdale we finally got to the main attraction: Fort Lauderdale. Fort Lauderdale is known as the "Venice of America" because of the many waterways and crystal clear canals that run through this beautiful Floridian city. When my brother, parents and I pulled up to my grandparent's house I was, once again, surprised. I hadn't been to their place in years (they usually come to us) and I definitely didn't remember the white sand beaches, bright blue waters, and tall graceful palm trees that surrounded their home. My grandparents were ecstatic to see us, and they had a long list of activities planned for us. Here are the top five favorite things you HAVE to do in Fort Lauderdale:

1. Las Olas Boulevard is in Florida but walking down this fancy street makes you feel like you're in Hollywood. The palm-lined street features trendy shopping, chic hotels, and popular bars and nightclubs. After the one mile commercial strip Las Olas Boulevard turns into a luxurious residential area with easy access Sebastian Beach<, one of Florida's most gorgeous beaches.

2. We all had a lot of fun on our Manatee Sightseeing Adventure. Florida may be in the good old US of A but some places (i.e.: Fort Lauderdale) are exactly like a being on a Caribbean island. When I first met Captain Barry and Captain Carol I was a little skeptical, but forty-five minutes later I was face to face with the cutest (and only) manatee I've ever seen. The faithful captains took us to a little known hideout where manatees like to chill. It was an educational and eye-opening trip. Call up Captain Barry and Carol at 239-642-8818 to plan a boat ride of a lifetime!

3. Fort Lauderdale Beach (which I instantly recognized from one of my favorite movies) is not only a famous beach, but also an exciting beach. My wife and my daughter spent hours strolling down miles of white sand and then a few more hours working on their tans. The guys played a game of beach volleyball and immediately entered the first arcade they could find on the promenade. The promenade also features plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes. My mom, grandmother, and I enjoyed the promenade too; after a morning in the sun we spent most of the afternoon shopping. By the Earthpremiership@gmail of the day one thing was certain. Fort Lauderdale Beach has something for everybody.

4. Butterfly World is a two and a half acre park and it is home of the largest collection of living butterflies in the world. And it's right in the heart of Fort Lauderdale. This park is a must see you don't want to miss.

5. What trip would be complete without a little peek into history? The last place we visited was The Stranahan House, and it was literally like walking into a time machine. Which was kind of weird and fun at the same time. Everything was historically accurate and detailed; from its antique "washing machine" to its ornate phonograph. The Stranahan House gave us a precise look into Florida's history, and yes, it is fun for the whole family!

Richard Schiller is the founder of Comedy Defensive Driving, a state approved online Florida defensive driving school. Since 1989 Comedy Defensive Driving has helped dismiss traffic tickets and lower insurance rates. Learn about their Fort Lauderdale Defensive Driving school, or any other Florida city by visiting their website: http://www.comedydefensivedriving.com

Athens 1896-London 2012 - Olympic Surprises

Australia & Oceania

Did you know... From 1960 to 1971, Ron Clarke (Australia) set 19 world records in the 5000m, 10,000m and other long-distance races. Unfortunately, Ron has never won an Olympic gold medal. In the mid-1960s, he said, "The effort is not continuous as it has to be in a race. By running fast lap times and then allowing himself time to recover, an athlete is deceiving himself as to his fitness". He is author of two books: "The Unforgiving Minute" (1966) and "The Lonely Breed" (1967).

The United States of America

Did you know... The state of Hawaii has won ten gold medals at the Summer Olympics(1896-2008). It has more Olympic gold medals than Thailand, Venezuela, and Lithuania. The Olympic champions are: Tommy Kono ( weightlifting/ two golds,1952 & 1956), Warren Kealoha (swimming/two golds,1920 & 1924 ), Duke Paoa Kahanamouku (aquatics/ three golds, 1912 & 1920), Bryan Ezra Tsumoru Clay (track & field/ one gold medal, 2008), Buster Crabbe (swimming/ one gold medal, 1932), Herman Ronald Frazier (athletics/ one gold medal, 1976).

At the Winter Olympic Earthpremiership@gmail in New York in 1980, the United States men's ice hockey team won the gold medal. During the final match, the U.S. team scored a major upset over the Soviet Union (or USSR), which had won the gold medal in Austria '64, France '68, Japan '72 and Austria'76.

American boxer Muhammad Ali -formerly known as Cassius Clay- failed in the Pan American Games trials in 1959, but he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight (81kg/178 lbs) category at the Games of the XVII Olympiad in Italy in 1960.

South America

Did you know... The Uruguayan men's basketball team qualified to represent the Western Hemisphere in the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad in Los Angeles in 1984. A year ago, Uruguay did not compete at the Pan American Games in Venezuela.

At the 1976 Montreal Games, Brazil won only two bronze medals. Joao Carlos de Oliveira, a world-class sportsman, could not win the gold medal in the triple jump. The South American men's soccer team finished 4th place-Brazil won the FIFA World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

Venezuela's Rafael Vidal -who spent several years as a student in the United States and was graduated from Florida University- earned the bronze medal in the men's 200m butterfly at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, California.

Europe

Did you know... Kosovo -it is the youngest country on earth- will compete in London 2008. For political reasons, Kosovo could not participate in the 2008 Olympic Games in China. This new nation could participate in at least ten sports: athletics, boxing, Kayak/canoeing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling...

The British basketball teams have qualified for the London 2012. Since 1952, the United Kingdom has never played in the Olympic Games, European tournaments, world championships.The British men's basketball team finished 20th place at the London Summer Olympic Games in 1948.

In Athens 1896, Paul Neumann became the first swimmer from Austria to win a gold medal.

Three Swiss sportswomen participated in the Olympic Games in 1924. It was the first time Switzerland sent sportswomen to the Summer Olympics...

At the 1896 Olympic Games, Greece -host country- won 10 gold medals and took second place in the unofficial team championships.

Central America

Did you know... Guatemala -an anti-Communist state in the 20th century- did not decline to send an Olympic team to the Olympic Games in the USSR (currently Russia) in 1980. Honduras, Belize and El Salvador -the other anti-Communist nations in Central America- boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics...

North America

Did you know... During the 1904 Olympic Games, the Canadian men's soccer team won the global title. The Olympic winners were: Ernest Linton, John Gourley, Albert Johnston, Thomas Taylor, Alexander Hall, William Twaits, Georges Ducker, Robert Lane, John Fraser, Frederick Steep, Gordon McDonald, Albert Henderson.

Caribbean

Did you know... At the Summer Olympic Games in 1904 in Missouri(USA), Cuba finished third in the unofficial team standings, behind the United States and Germany. Ramn Fonst earned three gold medals in fencing events.

In 1975, Hasely Crawford -a sprinter from Trinidad & Tobago- earned silver in the 100m at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. Nine months, at the Games of the XXI Olympiad in Montreal (Canada), Hasely won the 100m event.

Africa

Did you know... Cameroon -a tropical country on the African continent- sent one competitor to the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Isaac Menyoli said, "Everything is wonderful. It's like being in a fantasy. I'm happy to represent my country".

In Athens 2004, Kirsty Coventry, a practically unknown swimmer from Zimbabwe, won the gold medal in the women's 200m backstroke. Curiously, she is an American-educated athlete.
Women's 200m backstroke final:
1.Coventry, Kirsty ( Zimbabwe ) gold medal
2.Hoelzer, Margaret ( USA ) silver medal
3.Nakamura, Rieko ( Japan ) bronze medal
4.Zueva, Anastasia ( Russia )
5.Beisel, Elisabeth ( USA )
6.Simmonds, Elizabeth ( United Kingdom )
7.Nay, Meagen ( Australia )
8.Hocking, Belinda ( Australia )

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 Earthpremiership@gmail 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 Hyman. "This African-American sportswoman is my idol... "

Easy Science Project for 8th Grade Kids

Testing the value of a Earthpremiership@gmail full of air is a great science project idea.

With more students being involved in sports today we can easily do science experiments around sports issues. We are going to test by the amount of air in a ball how it affects the ball by testing the bounce, throwing ability and hitting ability.

Use 3 volleyballs for this experiment. Make sure they are all the same size and type of ball with the same covering, fill the first volleyball full to a normal weight as listed on the ball for its size and pressure.

Fill the second ball over full past the normal pressure. You do not want the ball to pop but the ball will be very hard if you try to press on the sides. Fill the third ball with less air. You do not Earthpremiership@gmail to make it flat but you should be able to press on the sides and be able to push in a fair distance. The ball should still be useable but just not totally full with air.

Do 3 tests with the balls.

Test #1

Hold a ball and drop it onto a concrete or hard surface using something nearby or a measure to make sure you hold each ball at the same height before dropping it. Hold the first ball at this measured height and drop the ball on the ground. Have someone hold a yardstick by your side to measure the height the ball bounces after it is dropped.

Do the same with ball #2 and #3.

Record these findings on a sheet of graph paper. What did you determine from this ball drop? Probably that the ball with the most air bounced the highest. It is actually the lightest because of its air buoyancy even though it feels heavier. It dropped faster because of the amount of air inside and the pressure of contained air inside the rubber ball exterior caused it to have a large reflex.

Test #2

Draw a line on the ground or place something on the ground as a place marker. Hold ball #1 in your throwing hand and with one arm throw the ball as far as you possibly can. Have someone further away from you to mark the exact location of the first ball drop. You can use cones or any means to mark this. Do the same with Ball #2 and Ball #3. Record which ball flew the farthest. What did you find?

Test #3

Stand at the same line or place marker as for test #2 and toss the volleyball and hit it overhand. Have someone further away to mark and determine the furthest path easy volleyball makes. Which volleyball flew the farthest by striking it? Why do you think this occurred?

Using sports you can find great science project ideas.

Find more 8th grade science projects and easy science projects at http://scienceprojects.fetching.us

Lesa Bolt is a contributor to science projects.

Volleyball Drills For Beginners

Furnace Creek Inn

Girls Volleyball - Top 5 Ways Females Can Improve Their Volleyball Game

Overview of American Summer Camps - What is Special About Them?

How to Lose Tummy Fat

How Can I Jump Higher - Get the Answer Today!

Sports Training - Going the Extra Mile

Choosing Silver For Your 25th Birthday Party Invitations

Girls Playing Club Volleyball - Top 4 Ways YOU CAN Control the Pace of Your Volleyball Game

Girls Volleyball - Top 5 Ways Females Can Improve Their Volleyball Game

Basic Information on Kauai Vacation House Rental

Gisele Bundchen Reveals her Diet and Workout Secrets!

A Manager is Not Exactly a Soccer Coach

Does Your Volleyball Coaching Need Improvement?

Organic Shmorganic

Why Volleyball Officials Need to Have the Right Stuff

Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems - Which Filters Work Best?

Tips For Enjoying an Outdoor Vacation

Develop the Mindset of a Champion - Where Are You Focusing Your Energy?

Haleiwa Beach Park - Surfing Paradise in Hawaii

How to Help Your Child Choose a Sport

Your Options For Protective Eyewear

Courage To Be Someone New

Fun in Fort Lauderdale - Five Must-See Attractions

Athens 1896-London 2012 - Olympic Surprises

Easy Science Project for 8th Grade Kids

Blog Archive

Product Volleyball Drills

Website Volleyball