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3 Serious Injuries that Plague Rugby and Football Players

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While rugby and American football are definitely not the same, they do share some key features with each other. This is exactly why the athletes involved in both the games also experience some of the same injuries as well. If you or anyone close to you play any of the two sports, here are a few injuries you should be aware of while playing because these are highly dangerous contact sports; a fact that people often forget.

Concussion

A concussion is, by definition, an injury to the brain. It is caused when the brain hits the skull with significant force. The extent, effect, and damage caused by a concussion depend totally on the intensity of the impact which caused it. Now, concussions can even be deadly and, sometimes, athletes don’t even realize how bad it is until it’s too late. Never keep playing after a concussion and don’t go back on to the field until your doctor gives you the permission to do so. Aside from becoming unconscious, which doesn’t always happen, some common symptoms of concussions include the following.

  • Temporary amnesia
  • A headache and pressure inside the head
  • Balancing problems
  • Fatigue, confusion, and dizziness
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Nausea and throwing up
  • Speech problems
  • Impaired cognitive and motor functions

Myelomalacia

Myelomalacia typically refers to softening of the spine and both football players and rugby players are at high risk of developing it, alongside other full-contact sports such as ice hockey, wrestling, boxing, martial arts, etc. Any activity that involves getting hit repeatedly and dropping on the ground with impact can give rise to myelomalacia, and since both rugby and American football are pretty much based on those two concepts, the athletes in both sports are at high-risk of developing the disease over time. It can even cause death due to asphyxiation if not treated properly, due to a paralyzed respiratory system. Some of the early symptoms of myelomalacia are a loss of motor function in the fingers and toes, high blood pressure, reduced sensitivity to pain, gradual paralysis, numbness, etc.

Shoulder Dislocation

An extremely painful, but also very common injury experienced by sportsmen is the dislocated shoulder, where the upper portion of the humerus, aka the “ball”, comes out of the scapula, known as the “socket.” As a result, the shoulder becomes dislocated, therefore, disabling the athlete. This happens particularly when the arm is rotated outwards with force during a collision or a nasty fall. Surgery might be necessary if there are associated injuries such as fractures and ligament tears, or if the injury doesn’t heal naturally within a few months. In any case, the first thing the doctor, chiropractor or the physiotherapist will do is pop the ball back into the socket. Getting back to full strength will take time and rehabilitation.

There are. of course, tons of other injuries that plague athletes in these two sports, such as fractured bones, torn ligaments, other dislocated joints, broken teeth and broken noses. Nevertheless, these three are some of the most serious and common injuries that every aspiring athlete should look out for.

5 of the Richest Baseball Players in the World

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Most professional baseball players are pretty wealthy, but there are some that are richer than others. If you have a love of this sport, you will definitely be interested to know about which players are the very richest in the world. A lot of the money these players make comes from endorsement deals, but they are rich all the same.

1. Cliff Lee

Clifton Phifer Lee, known to most people as just Cliff, is estimated to be worth around $120 million. He is a starting pitcher on the Philadelphia Phillies, who makes roughly $24 million each year. This is an incredibly impressive figure, especially when you stack it up against most of the other players in this sport. Over the years, he’s had multiple endorsement deals, and he’s got a five-year contract with this current team.

2. Randy Johnson

Another very rich professional baseball player is Randy Johnson, who is worth about $115 million. His many endorsement deals through extremely popular brand name products have gotten him to the very top, financially speaking. Also known as “The Big Unit”, Johnson played for the Seattle Mariners, as well as the Arizona Diamondbacks.

3. Prince Fielder

Prince Fielder is a starting baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers and he is worth approximately $100 million. Born in Ontario, he quickly rose to the top in this sport because of his uncanny talent. His father is Cecil Fielder, a former Detroit Tigers all-star. Fielder is widely regarded as being one of the best players in modern baseball, and he definitely has the net worth to reflect it. With a batting average of 283, it’s easy to see why he was paid so much.

4. Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds net worth is estimated around $80 million. His father is MLB all-star Bobby Bonds and he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 2007. In 2013, Bonds put his Beverly Park house on the market for $25 million. When he was actively playing in the league, he earned around $15,500,000 per year. There were very few other players in the league at the time that could match Bonds in terms of sheer talent, and he was – and still is – one of the richest.

5. Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones earned about $110 million through his long career in baseball. He played for the Atlanta Braves starting in 1993, and he had a truly amazing career, to say the least. He won the coveted MVP award back in 1999 for his outstanding talent. He started out as a baseman, and he played the game for almost 20 years. He had an annual salary of $13 million, which was fairly high even back when he first started playing.

There have been many baseball players throughout history, but very few of them even come close to being as rich and talented as these men. Most baseball players earn a good salary, but they pale in comparison to the players on this list.

Why Everyone Should Get to a Non-League Football Game

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As an Englishman living in the US, it can be difficult to explain to people quite what football, or soccer as it is known here, really means to us. I have managed to get my friends to watch some games in the English Premier League, and a few of them have even picked a team. Last year then when I went back to the UK with my buddy Greg Lindae, I simply had to show him the match day experience. My team is Tottenham and we managed to get tickets to a Wednesday night game there, which we thankfully won. Whilst the Premier League games are electric however, I wanted to show my buddy the authentic side of football and so we went to a non-league game on the Saturday afternoon. If you want to see real football, here is why you should go non-league.

No Airs, No Graces

At non-league level, the players either have full time jobs and play on a weekend, or they are paid very low wages as a professional footballer. The result of this is that the players really wear their heart on their sleeve an play for absolutely every ball. The passion which is shown at this level is incredible and whilst you may not get the highest quality of football, you will see the most passion.

Fan Passion

Fans of lower league or non-league clubs, are far more involved in the club itself, and far more a part of the club, than you’ll see in the higher divisions. The game may still be about bring finances into the club, but these non-league teams respect their fans, and involve them in decisions. What this means is that you have a core fan support who are true football fans, fans that travel to support their team and fans that actively let their players know what they think about them. If you want the very best fan experience with supporters who make up the fabric of a club, go non-league.

Traditional Experience

Before all of the TV money came along and players were earning £100,00+ every single week, football was a game for the people, and Saturday afternoon provided working class families with a chance to go and see an event, and have a release. Whilst this may have changed at the higher levels, it has not changed at non-league level and you can count on a  truly authentic experience. These clubs have not sold their soul for money and so instead of prawn sandwiches and fancy beer which you’ll see on offer in the Premier League, here at non-league level you can still get a pie and a bovril from a friendly face.

Football is a beautiful game and nowhere is this more true than down in the lower divisions, where the game is still played in the spirit that it was supposed to be played in.

Why Canada is the Best Country for Winter Sports

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When it comes to winter sports, there are a lot of incredible countries all over the world that will offer you the chance to get outside and go ice skating, snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing, and much more. But Canada really tops the list as the best country for winter sports enthusiasts. Keep reading to learn a few reasons why.

It is Home to Whistler

The fact that Canada is home to Whistler, which is located in British Columbia and is one of the most famous and beloved of all the ski towns in the world, is enough to put the country at the top of the list of best countries for winter sports. With plenty of resorts to choose from, including Whistler Premier rentals as an example, and plenty of slopes where even your kids can learn how to ski and snowboard with ease, this is a destination that many families choose when they want to enjoy a winter getaway.

The Country Is Known for Its Winter Sports

Another reason why Canada is the best country for winter sports is simply because the country is known for its love of winter sports. There are enthusiasts all over Canada, and it should come as no surprise that Canadians excel at these activities because they get a lot of practice. Some of the most beloved winter sports include hockey, curling, snowboarding, snowmobiling, luge, dog sledding, and various types of skiing.

There Are So Many Places to Enjoy Everything Winter Has to Offer

Unlike other countries around the world, where you might be able to book a trip to a destination or two and enjoy the winter season, Canada has loads of options for travelers. A few of the top places to head to include Niagara-on-the-Lake, Churchill in Manitoba, Whitehorse in the Yukon, Fernie in British Columbia, and Winnipeg. From skiing and snowboarding, to less intense wildlife viewing tours, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling, every one of these destinations has a variety of activities that you can enjoy.

There Are So Many Wide Open Spaces

Sure, Canada has its big cities, like Toronto and Montreal, where you can find loads of restaurants and lots of entertainment to keep you busy, but if you really want to get away from it all and enjoy the pleasure that comes with participating in winter sports in the great outdoors, there are also plenty of wide open and wild spaces. For the nature lover who wants to plan a trip that will put them in a totally natural environment, there are plenty of options in Canada where you will feel removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Once you start to look at all that Canada has to offer to those who love the winter and who love sports, it is easy to realize why this country is one of the very best for winter sports. So, the next time you want to book a trip that will involve having fun in the snow, definitely think of Canada.

Great ideas for sporting holidays

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If the idea of relaxing on the beach in the sunshine for a week sounds boring to you, then you obviously need something a bit more exciting. Holidays that you can combine with your favourite sports are an ideal solution to make sure your holiday is full of fun and excitement.

Here are some ideas for sporting holidays that you could book:

Watersports in Costa Rica – Costa Rica is a fantastic destination, even if you do just want to relax and take in the scenery. However, due to its large coastal span, there are loads of watersports activities for to participate in. From surfing, to canoeing and jet-skiing, there is a wide range of watersport activities to get involved in. There are also some fantastic trails through rainforests that you can take, and the chance to go on a very thrilling zip-wire!

Go to a football match/tournament – If you prefer to watch sport than actually take part, then how about going to watch one of your favourite teams. Across Europe there are some fantastic teams to go and watch in magnificent stadiums. In the UK, you could go to a Premier League match, maybe catch Manchester United or Chelsea in action. Or head to Spain for Barcelona or Real Madrid, and see some of the top football stars in the world. Even better, you could go to an international tournament and watch a number of teams in action.

Golf – Golf is a hugely popular sporting holiday and there are some amazing courses across the world that you can visit. Head to Scotland to play at some of the best courses in the world, or if you want a warmer holiday where you can actually sunbath, Florida or Spain are both great options for golfers. Golf package holidays are great because you can arrange for your equipment to get stored, have all your meals on the complex, and relax around the pool in between a few rounds of golf. You are very well looked after when you book a golf holiday package deal.

Skiing – If you like to ski, or you’ve always fancied learning to ski, then why not book a skiing holiday? A highly popular destination is in the French Alps, where there are numerous great ski resorts where you can take on all levels of ski runs. Even if you have never skied before, if you book some lessons, you will be up and skiing in no time at all. You could even try some snowboarding instead, before relaxing in the lovely wine bars afterwards.

Have those ideas given you some inspiration? Why give into another boring holiday destination, when the world is full of so many exciting opportunities for fun-loving holidaymakers. Get out and see the world, and have the time of your life, doing what you love the most. Once you have had a sporting holiday, you may never want to go back to the dull beach holidays again.

5 tips to increase shooting accuracy

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Shooting is one of the most important skills in soccer, especially if you’re a forward. If you can’t shoot accurately, your team’s going to have a hard time scoring goals and winning games. There are several ways you can significantly improve your shooting accuracy and put more of your shots on target.

1. Align Your Body Correctly

There’s more to shooting accurately than your kicking leg. Your supporting leg and the rest of your body are just as important. Your supporting leg should be in line next to the ball and pointing in the direction where you plan to shoot. This is simple enough when you’re stationary, but it becomes more difficult in the heat of a game when you’re running full speed. In these situations, make sure your supporting leg lands in front of the ball. Since the ball will be moving with you, it will roll forward and end up next to your supporting leg when you kick it.

2. Keep Your Eyes on the Ball

To get the most accuracy out of every shot, you have to look at the ball as you kick it. Resist the temptation to look up or look at the goal as you’re shooting. Instead, look at the goal as you prepare to shoot. Pick your target, and then look down at the ball. This helps you keep track of it and strike it correctly with your kicking foot.

3. Shoot Low

Where you aim the ball depends on the situation and the position of the keeper, but it’s usually better to keep your shots low. A study found that 62 percent of goals came on low shots, with the majority of those coming on low corner shots. Middle and upper shots were both considerably less accurate. These shots may look spectacular when they go in, but there is also a much greater chance that the ball will sail on you.

4. Strike the Ball with Your Instep

To score the most goals and to kick most effectively whether you’re shooting or passing, you have to master kicking the ball with your instep. This method provides the best mix of accuracy and power. While using the side of your foot may help your accuracy, the loss of power makes it unsuitable for anything but close-range shots with the keeper out of position. Striking with the front of your foot provides plenty of power, but makes it hard to control the ball. Stick to the instep and follow through to guide the ball where you want it to go.

5. Practice Often

The only way your shooting will improve is if you commit proper technique to your muscle memory. Find drills that you can do either on your own or with a partner. As you practice, the correct shooting technique will start to feel natural, and your confidence will improve. When it’s time to take a big shot in a game, you’ll be ready.

Jessica Kane is a writer for SteelLocker Sports. A leading provider of sporting goods and training programs for coaches, players, parents and institutions with a primary focus on youth sports.

Axe Throwing In Ottawa Makes The Perfect Office Party

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Every November feels the same way: as soon as Halloween is over, it feels like the end of the year is creeping up on you faster than last year, and you’ve got about a million things on your mind, from your own holiday plans to where you’re going to host the annual end of year party for your team. Hosting a great office party at the end of the year is an important way to recognize the great work your team does and create a better, more collegial environment at the office.

There are better ways to do office holiday parties than a formal dinner and drinks – something people inevitably complain about or make fun of every year for being so awkward. Even though these are people you see and work with every day (in fact, about 50% of all professionals spend more time with their colleagues than their friends and family), water cool conversations get stretched a little thin over a formal dinner. However, you should be careful when choosing a more active party idea, as it should be accessible to everyone in the office and still in a casual atmosphere.

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If that sounds like a lot to manage, never fear – in case you missed it, axe throwing is now in Ottawa and it has quickly become one of the most popular alternative sports in Canada with the emergence of leagues and private venues in cities across the country. The former Tommy & Lefebvre warehouse on Lancaster Road has been converted into the Ottawa branch of the Backyard Axe Throwing League (BATL), a popular alternative sports destination that originally brought this sport out of lumberjack competitions and into cities across Ontario. They designed a unique way to play that was easy for amateurs and started hiring instructors to teach private groups how to safely and accurately throw axes.

After an hour of instruction, you start competing against other people in your group in a round robin tournament before you move into “playoff” rounds, meaning everyone gets plenty of time to both throw axes and relax, talk, and drink a beer or two. Almost anyone can go BATL axe throwing in Ottawa, too; it’s an accessible sport that rewards technique, and it’s completely accessible to people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. The emphasis on technique over strength may be one of the reasons that their league is co-ed, and why people from all kinds of professions and backgrounds decide to blow off steam after a long day on the job by throwing axes.

You don’t have to complicate things either by booking an axe throwing venue followed by a casual place for dinner and drinks; BATL’s Ottawa location is licensed and has a partnership with Milano’s Pizzeria, meaning you can kick back, carefree, with a few beers and finger foods and enjoy the night. The end of the year is hard enough on everyone; don’t let your hair go grey trying to plan an elaborate or expensive holiday party. Axe throwing is the hit new destination in Ottawa that everyone is sure to enjoy, just make sure you book in advance.

Five Sports-Related Travel Ideas For The Olympics Enthusiast

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The Olympics bring together people from all around the world on many levels. First, and perhaps most importantly, are the athletes who compete against each other on behalf of their nations. While many of these athletes compete individually in their sport of choice, even amongst competitors,there is often a spirit of brotherhood or sisterhoodthat unites them. They are, after all, competing in a very unique stage at the true pinnacle of athleticism, which is something they all should be proud of, no matter how they inevitably place. In addition to the athletes, every four years the Olympic Games also bring people of various nations and cultures together, as they cheer for their athletes and for sporting excellence as a whole.

No matter your reason for loving them, if you can’t get enough of the games and want a little more sporting excellence in your life, you should consider taking a themed trip for your next vacation. Many past venues of the games in North America now have museumsand attractions that showcase the events they held and give some additional information on the games in general. This would be a great road trip or, if you live nearby, day trip for the serious sports fanor Olympics aficionado. Here are five of the best trips on the North American continent:

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The ROX: The Olympic Experience at the Richmond Oval is located in Richmond British Columbia, near Vancouver – the host of the 2010 winter games. This new attraction offers you the chance to experience the Olympics in a personal way, with sports simulators that will allow you to experience a ski jump, white water kayaking, and many other kinds of winter sports at the venue. If you are looking for things to do in Vancouver, this is absolutely a must for any true fan of the games.

The United States Olympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is set to open in 2018, and will offer adventure to anyone interested in the Olympics or Paralympics. It is located beside the Colorado Springs Training Center, which gives visitors a view into the daily lives and the amount of training athletes go through in preparation for the games. It will also be home of the U.S. Hall of Fame for the games, so it will be a good place to gather exciting historical facts about the games as well.

Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows is the location of a recently renovated museum at the ski resorts that hosted the 1960 Winter Games in California. There, they focus on the 1960 games, with memorabilia, films, and newspaper articles from that era, allowing you to relive all the highlights of those games. As an added bonus, if you are already at the resort to ski, admission is free.

The Lake Placid Olympic Museum in New York offers great history on the 1932 games, the first Winter Games held in North America. It has many artifacts here from the 1932 games, as well as some history on the development of sport training methodology and how some individual sports were created.

Montreal hosted the 1976 games, and while it does not have a museum dedicated solely to this event, the sites from the games are still important there and, among other things, you can even see the torch!

So what have you got to lose? Embark on a truly inspirational journey throughout North America, and experience the sights through the eyes of an incredible athlete.

How To Increase A Cricket Bat’s Lifespan

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Most people have some kind of hobby, and for many people, that hobby involves some type of sport. It could be a passion for Australian rules football, or it could be soccer, but another very popular sport in the country of Australia is the game of cricket. Cricket is somewhat a national pride in this country, and while an abundance of people love to watch it, there are many that fancy themselves as a semi-pro cricket player.

It’s probably true that out of all the people who regularly play cricket, many of them dream of being a batsman. When school children play cricket as part of their sports activities, arguments about who gets to be the batsman are far from rare.

However, not everybody was born to be a famous batsman, and learning the proper technique to be great at the sport can be challenging. On top of everything, batsman needs to invest in a high-quality cricket bat, as well as learn to maintain it properly. While buying a bat requires quite an investment on the more expensive range of products, a lack of proper maintenance will seriously reduce its lifespan.

Taking Care of Equipment

Maintaining a cricket bat isn’t too difficult. However, it’s completely necessary for those who want to make their bat last for as long as possible. If you’re one of those people, read on to find out how to take care of your cricket bat.

  • Oiling – Regular oiling is essential if a cricket bat is going to stand the test of time. The main reason oiling is so important is because it prevents bats from drying out and consequently, reduces the risk of the cricket bat from cracking. It should be made sure that no oil touches the splice as it can weaken the glue.
  • Sanding – Only new cricket bats really need to be sanded, and that’s especially true if it’s a natural-faced bat. Only light sanding is required with 150 grit sandpaper in order to remove the polish. Then, cricket bat oil should be lightly applied to the face and toe of the bat.
  • Extratec covers – Applying an Extratec cover to a cricket bat is likely to increase its lifespan by quite a lot. They make a bat extra resistant and reduce the risk of cracking, but the cover should be removed after every season so that the bat can be re-oiled. At that point, cricketers may choose to apply a brand new Extratec cover.

Cricket is no doubt a very fun game and it makes for a great day out, whether it’s being watched or played. However, like every fun hobby, there a range of costs involved, and that’s why it’s a good idea to make sure cricket bats last as long as possible. There are a range of things that can be done to increase the lifespan of a bat, as detailed above, and that will ensure cricketers don’t waste any money buying equipment unnecessarily.

Football for health – who said fitness had to be dull?

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five-a-side

“five a side-22-Edit” (CC BY 2.0) by  Stewart Black 

Members of modern society desperately want to be healthy and fit, and studies have shown that around 91% of people crave weight loss. For some, the problem is not knowing how to go about it, or finding traditional methods of exercise repetitive and dull. It doesn’t have to be that way though, there are plenty of enjoyable sports that are great for getting in shape.

With Euro 2016 ongoing, and the new Premier League season just around the corner, now is a perfect time to put your football boots on and get healthy. Looking at last season’s title winners should be enough to fill even the most lethargic person with inspiration.   

Leicester City reaped the rewards from each player striving to be at the peak of his physical fitness for the whole campaign. The team was full of work horses whose aim was to cover more ground than the opposition, win more challenges, and burst through defences at blistering speed. The team had the fewest injuries in the league as well, and it could have been to do with the use of wearable fitness trackers that monitored players’ stats and gave the manager information about where to position players and when to rotate them. The players were wearing Catapult Sport’s OptimEye S5 device, which collected data about the players’ acceleration, direction, position, and the impact of collisions. If you are serious about getting fit, you too could invest in some kind of fitness wearable to track your progress.

The Premier League champions worked their socks off in every game on their path to glory, and although they ranked 18th in terms of possession, fought hard off the ball to spring their opponents on the counter. For these reasons they had to be in peak physical condition. Now, you may be thinking that you can’t relate to these top flight stars, but that is where you would be wrong. Their key man up front came up from the bottom to become a household name.  

Jamie Vardy should fill everyone with a sense of belief. The man who propelled the Foxes to the league title last season was playing non-league football a few years ago. His rags to riches tale shows the value of hard work and dedication. From an unknown, average guy to a world-renowned and sought after forward, Vardy’s story shows that anything is possible. As of late June, Leicester are at odds of 28/1 in the football betting to retain the title. Keeping hold of Vardy will be of major importance to them succeeding in this task.

Are you feeling motivated yet? All you need to do now is gather your friends, get down to the local park and get playing. Once you get into the swing of things again and find your footballing feet, you could look into what five-a-side leagues there are in your area. Over 1.5 million adults in the UK are already playing “Small Sided Football” as a means to get fit. Go and join them!