Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Cavs Getting Ready for The Playoffs

It starts a little slow, but stick with it. It's worth it. This is surely to become a classic.

The Ten Commandments of Athletics

1. Thou Shalt Not Quit

2. Though Shalt Not Alibi

3. Thou Shalt Not Gloat Over Winning

4. Thou Shalt Not Sulk Over Losing

5. Thou Shalt Not Take Unfair Advantage

6. Thou Shalt Not Ask Of Others What Thou Art
Unwilling To Give Of Yourself

7. Thou Shalt Always Be Willing To Give Thine
Opponent Courtesy

8. Thou Shalt Not Understimate An Opponent Nor
Overestimate Thyself

9. Remember That The Game Is The Thing And He Who
Thinks Otherwise Is No True Sportsman

10. Honor The Sport Thou Playest, For He Who Plays
The Game Straight And Hard, Wins Even When He Loses

Sunday, April 26, 2009

A little stress can be good for you

" The idea that we could - or should - live without stress is nonsense," says brain researcher Dr. Robert Sapolsky.

Stress in brief stretches - excitement, eagerness, and thrill - can make your blood circulate better, improve your memory, heighten your senses, and release mood-enhancing brain chemicals.

Unrelieved, long-lasting stress can compromise the immune system as well as lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. If you're always exhausted, overwhelmed, and irritable, there's probably too much stress in your life. Look at your responsibilities and let go of the things that aren't really necessary or important. Regular exercise, meditation, and adequate sleep also help relieve stress. Boredom, fatigue, and ongoing unhappiness can be signs of too little stress.

To put the difference between good and bad stress in perspective: A roller coaster ride lasts three minutes, not three days.
Source: The Brain, Vol. 12, No. 12, pg. 1

Friday, April 24, 2009

Muscle Is Nature's Fat Burner

People tend to get fatter as they age. That tight hard body you had when you were 20 is harder to maintain when you’re 30, 40, 50 and beyond. Your metabolism slows by 10 to 15 percent between ages 30 and 60. Coincidentally, muscle mass drops by about the same percentage. Muscle is like the California of energy using tissues- the more muscle you have the more calories you burn. You can prevent middle age spread by maintaining your muscle mass. Even lifting weights two times a week for 30 minutes can build muscle and turn you into a fat burner instead of a fat storer. The added muscle will consume more calories and help you maintain a healthy weight. What’s more, your new muscle will help make you look fit, healthy and young.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Schuster 4th straight no-hitter



NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- A Florida high school pitcher tossed his fourth consecutive no-hitter.

Mitchell High senior Patrick Schuster did it Monday night on his home field at the suburban school northwest of Tampa.

The lanky left-hander struck out 17 to help his team beat rival Pasco High 5-0 in front of a full house of several hundred spectators.

"I never thought this would happen," he said. "I'm just having so much [fun] right now."

Schuster's streak began April 3. He's piled up 60 strikeouts in the four games, helping Mitchell to a 19-3 record. He's 7-0 on the season.

He said he was trying not to think about the streak, but late in the game he asked his outfielders to take a few steps because he didn't want to give up a bloop hit.

Mitchell coach Scot Wilcox called the performance "vintage Schuster."

"I'll tell you what, he's got command of every single pitch," Wilcox said. "His curveball, his slider, his change-up, he was just spotting it nicely. He was keeping their hitters off balance."

Schuster said the streak has been harder on his mother, Sharon, than it's been on him.

"I've got the confidence, and she's over there biting her nails and stuff," he said. "I'm having fun with it and she's nervous. She's probably going to make me cry as soon as I see her."

Schuster, whose fastball tops 90 mph, has signed to play at the University of Florida next year but hasn't ruled out going straight to professional baseball.

The record for consecutive no-hitters in high school baseball is six.


Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

Jump Like A Champ

Why should you jump rope? Because, 10 minutes of jumping rope can provide the same calorie burn as 30 minutes of running. Rope jumping uses all your muscles and joints and also requires some skill and practice. Here is a sample program: With the basic bounce or alternate step, start with 10 sets of 10 jumps. Increase the number of jumps by 10 per set until you reach 100 jumps nonstop. Gradually work towards 5 to 10 minutes of continuous jumping.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Key Factors In Program Design

When developing your own athletic development program there must be certain intangibles that must be present for your program to be successful. These key factors where adapted from an article that Ken Mannie wrote more than 10 years ago. They are as important now, as they were when written a decade ago. These by any means are not all inclusive, but give you a good starting point as you develop your personal program philosophy.


ACCOUNTABILITY - Accountability is the most important factor in a successful program. Every player needs to be responsible for his designated work, whether that be stretching, conditioning, strength training or rehabilitation.

CONSISTENCY – Every athlete must understand, that to succeed in sports, consistency of fundamental skills, psychological preparation and physical development must all be addressed on a daily basis.

EDUCATION - Every athlete in your organization team should be educated on the organizational strength and conditioning philosophy, as well as the coaching staff, player development and athletic operations. Everyone should understand the practical application of the program.

TOTAL PARTICIPATION - Strength and Conditioning development is important for all team members, not just for a chosen few or for those who enjoy the activity. If for no other reason, the fact that strength and conditioning can be a deterrent to possible injury should make it the rule rather than the exception.

SUPERVISION - Regardless of the type of program you implement, make certain to provide the athletes with constant supervision. You will achieve better results if you approach it with the same enthusiasm and effort as you would a practice situation.

FREQUENCY OF WORKOUTS - Research and practical application indicate that three non-consecutive days in the off-season and two non-consecutive days during the in-season will achieve the required stimulation to maintain and increase muscular strength levels. A common mistake made by athletes and coaches is the abandonment of an in-season program. If strength and conditioning is completely eliminated during the season, the resulting decrease in strength levels may negatively affect performance and be a factor in an increased injury rate as the season progresses.

COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING - Adhering to a comprehensive approach will ensure balanced development and better prepare the players for the physical stresses of competition. A comprehensive training program should emphasize every aspect of the players’ physical development, including flexibility, strength, conditioning, agility and nutrition. It should also be evaluated during every rep, set, workout, day and week, to allow for adequate modifications. Never be satisfied.