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3 Serious Injuries that Plague Rugby and Football Players

April 11, 2018 By admin Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Health, Sports Tagged With: fitness, football, health, injuries, rugby, Sports

Why Everyone Should Get to a Non-League Football Game

January 14, 2018 By admin Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: football, non-league, sport

Great ideas for sporting holidays

March 10, 2017 By admin Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Sports, Travel Tagged With: football, sporting holidays, Sports, travel, vacation, white water rafting

5 tips to increase shooting accuracy

January 26, 2017 By admin 1 Comment

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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.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: fitness, football, shooting, soccer, Sports