Despite being a sport with roots reaching out to medieval and even ancient times, soccer was never really played under a set of strict rules until 1863.
On 26 October, 1863 several amateur and semi-professional clubs from England gathered up in London and formed up the Football Association and devised a "constitution" for the game, including a set of standardized soccer.Obviously the "Laws of football" as they were called back then were just a set of basic soccer rules and they didn't cover all aspects of the game.
The main points covered by the Football Association were regarding violence on the pitch, as oftentimes the tense clashes in no-rules matches lead to bloody fistfights between the teams. Since then, soccer rules constantly evolved and began covering more and more of the game's principles and also adapting soccer to the age it was played in.
A simple example of this would be the offside rules which was introduced later on in the game, when matches became more and more tactical.
Without the offside rule, attackers would often have a hibernating role in the team, simply staying up front and waiting for the ball to come, hence with the new rule, they were forced to work as much as the other players on the pitch.
Let's take a look at some of the official soccer rules of today and give them a small explanation for why they are there and how they affect the game:
Soccer field dimensions - since not all soccer pitches could share the exact same size, FIFA decided a small length and width size threshold in order for a pitch to be playable. So the minimum length of a soccer field must be of 100 yards (90 meters), whereas the maximum length must be 130 yards (120 meters).
A bigger size difference was allowed for the width, which can be as small as 50 yards (45 meters) and as big as 100 yards (90 meters). You might have noticed that the minimum length coincides with the maximum width! Although strange indeed, soccer could actually be played on a square field, however for entertainment's sake no one built that kind of pitch yet (thankfully).
Number of players - The official soccer rules book states that each team can enter the field with 11 players (one of which is the goalkeeper).
The number of substitutes depends on the competition the match is played in, but in official FIFA matches the number of substitutes can range from none to 7, with 3 substitutions eligible for each of the two teams.
However, in friendly matches, it's often the case that both teams agree upon a set number of substitutions or simply go all-out and allow every bench player to get in the game at some point, replacing one of the first team members.
Ball in/out play soccer rules - The ball is in play whenever the referee doesn't intervene whistling a game stop and whenever it stays inside the play area.
If the ball crosses the goal line or touch line by more than half its circumference, then it goes out of play and a goal kick/corner or throw in is given to one of the teams (the opposition of the team that last touched the ball). If a ball hits the referee ,the corner flag, the goal post or any other object on the pitch, the game remains in play.
Fouls - Fouls are one of the most problematic soccer rules nowadays, since they can be easily misjudge or interpreted by the referee, which often causes arguments on and off the pitch. Theoretically, a foul is whistled and a direct or indirect kick is given when a player trips, kicks, pushes, punches, charges or holds an opponent.
However, in the fast pace of the game, it's often hard for the referee to see if a tackle touches the feet of the attacker or the ball. It's considered a foul even if the defending player doesn't touch the attacker at all, but has a dangerous intervention such as a high kick.
Goals - Last but not least, the essence of soccer rules and the object of the game itself, the goal.
In order to score a goal, the attacking team must pass the ball beyond the other team's goal line. The attacker can kick the ball, head the ball or push it in with any other body part other than the hand (in which case it is considered handball).
Not all shots that end up in the net are goals though, as a goal can be cancelled if it was scored after the attacker broke one of the other soccer rules, such as fouling a defender or the goalkeeper, using his hand to control the ball, being offside or scoring directly from an indirect free kick.
These are the basic soccer rules and although there are a few smaller twists to learn, if you manage to understand these, you'll be able to watch, and understand a soccer match without problems. Outside the offside rule the other official soccer rules are quite easy to grasp.
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer Fans website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, soccer rules, famous soccer players, soccer fundamentals and soccer conditioning.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Niv_Orlian
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Soccer Players Are Far Superior Athletes - Proven At Last!
Think back the last time someone told you that soccer is nothing more than just an act of showmanship. It hurts, doesn’t it? You were wishing that you had a way of debunking this.
Well, starting from today, do not allow people to talk you into believing that soccer is detrimental to your health, much less an act of showmanship. Sure, due to the robust nature of play, soccer players often suffer from a multitude of injures, fractures and sprains. A few of them even fall prey to the Sudden Death Syndrome and perished on the pitch. But if you currently an active soccer player, rejoice as the latest scientific research has proven to a certain extent (which I will detail later) that soccer players are far superior athletes – mean and lean running machines with plenty of lung power. Here’s proof taken from the recently concluded British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference 2007.
This study was led by Associate Professor Peter Krustrup from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with Copenhagen University Hospital and Bispebjerg Hospital.
Krustrup and his team randomly selected 37 male couch potatoes and had them undergo three hours per week of soccer, jogging or no exercise over a continuous period of three months. It turned out that those who went through the soccer regime became the fittest of the lot.
After three months, those who played soccer lost 3.3kg of fat measured using specialized x-ray imaging, compared with 1.8kg among joggers. In addition, the soccer players gained 1.7kg of muscles while joggers did not gain any measurable muscle mass. The soccer players also posted a significant reduction in so-called “bad” cholesterol while there was no reduction for the joggers. Finally, the players’ sprint time was found to have improved significantly while the scores of the joggers remained unchanged. Needless to say, those who had no exercise did not experience any health benefits.
A possible explanation for the results is that soccer players are required to stop and go, speed up, slow down, while joggers generally move at an even pace. In fact, part of the reason why the willowy David Beckham once captained England was not because he had silky dribbling skills or that he is pacy but because he inspired the rest of the team with his superior fitness. But be warned: long-time couch potatoes who see themselves as the next Ronaldinho in the short run will run a high risk of landing on the operation table instead.
While the results of this study quantitatively demonstrate the fitness of soccer players, comparisons must be made against other sports with a high playing tempo such as basketball. But even if such comparisons are available, I still believe that soccer players will come out among tops given the rigors and robustness of the modern game.
Kumcheong is a budding online businessman with a keen interest on European soccer. He would like to remind sports-lovers to take care of themselves while participating in their favorite sports. Always consult your physician if in doubt and never try to emulate Ronaldinho because there can only be one. For additional information on soccer, the reader is welcome visit his blog at http://soccerpedia.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kumcheong_Tang
Well, starting from today, do not allow people to talk you into believing that soccer is detrimental to your health, much less an act of showmanship. Sure, due to the robust nature of play, soccer players often suffer from a multitude of injures, fractures and sprains. A few of them even fall prey to the Sudden Death Syndrome and perished on the pitch. But if you currently an active soccer player, rejoice as the latest scientific research has proven to a certain extent (which I will detail later) that soccer players are far superior athletes – mean and lean running machines with plenty of lung power. Here’s proof taken from the recently concluded British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference 2007.
This study was led by Associate Professor Peter Krustrup from the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with Copenhagen University Hospital and Bispebjerg Hospital.
Krustrup and his team randomly selected 37 male couch potatoes and had them undergo three hours per week of soccer, jogging or no exercise over a continuous period of three months. It turned out that those who went through the soccer regime became the fittest of the lot.
After three months, those who played soccer lost 3.3kg of fat measured using specialized x-ray imaging, compared with 1.8kg among joggers. In addition, the soccer players gained 1.7kg of muscles while joggers did not gain any measurable muscle mass. The soccer players also posted a significant reduction in so-called “bad” cholesterol while there was no reduction for the joggers. Finally, the players’ sprint time was found to have improved significantly while the scores of the joggers remained unchanged. Needless to say, those who had no exercise did not experience any health benefits.
A possible explanation for the results is that soccer players are required to stop and go, speed up, slow down, while joggers generally move at an even pace. In fact, part of the reason why the willowy David Beckham once captained England was not because he had silky dribbling skills or that he is pacy but because he inspired the rest of the team with his superior fitness. But be warned: long-time couch potatoes who see themselves as the next Ronaldinho in the short run will run a high risk of landing on the operation table instead.
While the results of this study quantitatively demonstrate the fitness of soccer players, comparisons must be made against other sports with a high playing tempo such as basketball. But even if such comparisons are available, I still believe that soccer players will come out among tops given the rigors and robustness of the modern game.
Kumcheong is a budding online businessman with a keen interest on European soccer. He would like to remind sports-lovers to take care of themselves while participating in their favorite sports. Always consult your physician if in doubt and never try to emulate Ronaldinho because there can only be one. For additional information on soccer, the reader is welcome visit his blog at http://soccerpedia.blogspot.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kumcheong_Tang
Football Juggling Tricks
Football juggling tricks...the official name of today for this is called "Football Freestyle". Freestyle is all about skills while having the ball in the air. People have always been fascinated about juggling skills. In the 90's some people took this to a higher level. Juggling with all parts of your body, juggling while sitting and even when you're lying down.
When of the pioneers of this "circus" style was Mr.Woo. A very famous freestyler who used to play professional football. He wanted to take juggling skills to a new level. Mr.Woo could do things with a football no one else could do. He worked with many professional football players making commercials. He also worked with many big companies, not only football related companies. Freestyle attracts attention so people wanted to see more and more.
In the beginning of the 21st century there was a new era of freestyle born, it was later to be called "the air moves era". People started to do tricks with their feet spinning around the ball. One of the first air freestylers out there was Soufiane Touzani. This guy released a freestyle video back in the days which got a lot of people in to freestyle.
Palle, a guy from Sweden took freestyle to another level around 2005. His skills belong to the air moves section but he started to do no touch tricks. No touch tricks basically is when you do one trick and then you go straight in to another trick without a touch in between. This was something that had not been seen before and it got very popular. This variation of air moves is very hard but some people master the art of no touch tricks.
This is pretty much were freestyle is 2007. Sometime soon there might come new people who will break the boundary's of freestyle and create a new era of freestyling. Only the future can tell!
To read more about Football Freestyle you could read this article - http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Wonderful-Art-of-Football-Freestyle!&id=705885
If you want to watch football freestyle videos and get more info about the sport I would advice you to visit - http://www.freestylefactory.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Coolio
When of the pioneers of this "circus" style was Mr.Woo. A very famous freestyler who used to play professional football. He wanted to take juggling skills to a new level. Mr.Woo could do things with a football no one else could do. He worked with many professional football players making commercials. He also worked with many big companies, not only football related companies. Freestyle attracts attention so people wanted to see more and more.
In the beginning of the 21st century there was a new era of freestyle born, it was later to be called "the air moves era". People started to do tricks with their feet spinning around the ball. One of the first air freestylers out there was Soufiane Touzani. This guy released a freestyle video back in the days which got a lot of people in to freestyle.
Palle, a guy from Sweden took freestyle to another level around 2005. His skills belong to the air moves section but he started to do no touch tricks. No touch tricks basically is when you do one trick and then you go straight in to another trick without a touch in between. This was something that had not been seen before and it got very popular. This variation of air moves is very hard but some people master the art of no touch tricks.
This is pretty much were freestyle is 2007. Sometime soon there might come new people who will break the boundary's of freestyle and create a new era of freestyling. Only the future can tell!
To read more about Football Freestyle you could read this article - http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Wonderful-Art-of-Football-Freestyle!&id=705885
If you want to watch football freestyle videos and get more info about the sport I would advice you to visit - http://www.freestylefactory.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Coolio
Watch Scotland vs Italy Live Online - Watch Euro 2008 Live Online
Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero will not be included in Italy's squad for the final two European championship qualifiers against Scotland and the Faeroe Islands. Italy will face Scotland on Saturday in Glasgow, then host the Faeroe Islands in Modena four days later. Juventus forward Raffaele Palladino was called up into the squad announced by coach Roberto Donadoni on Sunday. The 24-man squad is made up of forwards Luca Toni, Antonio Di Natale and Vincenzo Iaquinta.
Italy must fear a repeat of the European 1984 qualifiers when they failed to qualify for the European finals as a world champion. It was lowly Lithuania who inflicted damage all those years ago and a disappointing home draw last year against the same opposition could prove costly.
Italy seem to take a while to find their best possible form but they do not have the luxury this time around. A defeat on Saturday will prove fatal unless knocked-out Ukraine can have a surprise victory against France the following Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Scotland manager Alex McLeish named a full-strength squad for the Saturday game at Hampden Park. This has been possible by the fact that top clubs Celtic and Rangers have postponed this weekend's league games.
Scotland is second in the group, a point behind France and one ahead of world champion Italy and will secure a place in next year's championship by beating the Italians. It can also advance with a draw if France loses its final game against Ukraine or Italy stumbles against Faeroe Islands. However, a loss will mean elimination and Scotland can say goodbye to the European championship.
Although Scotland does not have any star player, McLeish has assembled a squad of players who perform above themselves against the top teams. The Scots have beaten France 1-0 home and away previously. McLeish said that even though those players are disappointed for not being selected for the squad this Saturday, they will still be happy to support each other.
Jesaiah is a die-hard football fan and have watch Live Football Matches Online using a special software with high quality streaming video. You can click here to download the software.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jesaiah_C
Italy must fear a repeat of the European 1984 qualifiers when they failed to qualify for the European finals as a world champion. It was lowly Lithuania who inflicted damage all those years ago and a disappointing home draw last year against the same opposition could prove costly.
Italy seem to take a while to find their best possible form but they do not have the luxury this time around. A defeat on Saturday will prove fatal unless knocked-out Ukraine can have a surprise victory against France the following Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Scotland manager Alex McLeish named a full-strength squad for the Saturday game at Hampden Park. This has been possible by the fact that top clubs Celtic and Rangers have postponed this weekend's league games.
Scotland is second in the group, a point behind France and one ahead of world champion Italy and will secure a place in next year's championship by beating the Italians. It can also advance with a draw if France loses its final game against Ukraine or Italy stumbles against Faeroe Islands. However, a loss will mean elimination and Scotland can say goodbye to the European championship.
Although Scotland does not have any star player, McLeish has assembled a squad of players who perform above themselves against the top teams. The Scots have beaten France 1-0 home and away previously. McLeish said that even though those players are disappointed for not being selected for the squad this Saturday, they will still be happy to support each other.
Jesaiah is a die-hard football fan and have watch Live Football Matches Online using a special software with high quality streaming video. You can click here to download the software.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jesaiah_C
Football Shirts - What Not to Wear
If you're thinking of investing in a new football shirt to show your support for your local team, really think about your choice carefully before taking the plunge.
Football shirts range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and from the reasonably priced to complete rip offs. Therefore, if you're contemplating making a football shirt purchase then think before you act.
Allow me to take you through some of the worst mistakes you can make when buying a football shirt.
Firstly, make sure you know how long the shirt you're buying is current for. It might well be changing in six months time and if it's a present for a young one, they might refuse to wear outdated fashion!
Make sure you shop around, and don't just go to the official club shop. They'll more often than not sell at the top level price because they know people visiting the shop will pay top dollar. Visit other high street stores to compare, and if you have the time and inclination shop online for your football shirt. You might make some great savings.
Away shirts are a mine field fraught with potential danger so make sure you follow the two steps already mentioned. Away football shirts change nearly every year and designs can be forgotten as quickly as they're created.
If you're buying away football shirts and thinking you'll wear them to away matches, then think carefully. More often than not, your team will only sport the shirt once or twice a season meaning you'll often be wearing the wrong colours.
Now I'm not saying you should never buy a football shirt - I buy my teams quite often. If you want to do what I do though, just purchase the home shirt when it first comes out, enjoy two years of current fashion and repeat the process for the rest of your life!
Football shirts can still bring a lot of joy too many people, even more so when they're getting value for money.
Thomas Baugh writes articles for a site that reviews and discusses football shirts and then approaches manufacturers to ensure they think about the views of fans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Baugh
Football shirts range from the sublime to the ridiculous, and from the reasonably priced to complete rip offs. Therefore, if you're contemplating making a football shirt purchase then think before you act.
Allow me to take you through some of the worst mistakes you can make when buying a football shirt.
Firstly, make sure you know how long the shirt you're buying is current for. It might well be changing in six months time and if it's a present for a young one, they might refuse to wear outdated fashion!
Make sure you shop around, and don't just go to the official club shop. They'll more often than not sell at the top level price because they know people visiting the shop will pay top dollar. Visit other high street stores to compare, and if you have the time and inclination shop online for your football shirt. You might make some great savings.
Away shirts are a mine field fraught with potential danger so make sure you follow the two steps already mentioned. Away football shirts change nearly every year and designs can be forgotten as quickly as they're created.
If you're buying away football shirts and thinking you'll wear them to away matches, then think carefully. More often than not, your team will only sport the shirt once or twice a season meaning you'll often be wearing the wrong colours.
Now I'm not saying you should never buy a football shirt - I buy my teams quite often. If you want to do what I do though, just purchase the home shirt when it first comes out, enjoy two years of current fashion and repeat the process for the rest of your life!
Football shirts can still bring a lot of joy too many people, even more so when they're getting value for money.
Thomas Baugh writes articles for a site that reviews and discusses football shirts and then approaches manufacturers to ensure they think about the views of fans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Baugh
8 Keys to Surviving Football Season
I have never been a football fan. If my husband wanted to watch his favorite college team - the Auburn Tigers - then he had to go to his dad's or a friend's house. Football was not my cup of tea. Why a bunch of boys wanted to run around a field and hit each other while chasing a pig never made much sense.
Big games were tolerated - the Super Bowl and the Iron Bowl - occasionally. I did manage to even attend a few "Bowl" parties out of moral support for my husband's obsession. Even with the fanfare surrounding the monumental games, football just didn't do it for me.
It's not that I don't like sports. I love sports. I grew up around brothers, male cousins, and a whole gaggle of guys in the neighborhood. I ran track, played volleyball, basketball, and baseball. At the University of South Alabama, I became enamored with soccer (yes, the players themselves had much do with that infatuation).
Living in Mobile provided me the unique experience of the Senior Bowl - where all the top college senior football players come together for one last game. I actually attended one of these while at college. Even the "stars" of the sport couldn't get me excited. Our seats were so far from the action that I found myself bored. (If you ever find yourself bored at a football game, don't yell out "Homerun" when the team scores. It's not as funny to everyone else as you will think it is.).
After ten years of a no-football zone, I think my husband resigned himself to being away from the house starting each August. It was this last season that something near miraculous happened to change his fate and my outlook.
I had a chance to write for a football website - ironically it was about my husband's team. Not only did I become intrigued by the game, but I actually found that with just a few minutes each day I was able to keep up with the fundamentals of the sport and even able to impress my husband with my foresight and knowledge (Don't tell him you are quoting footballfan200Z from the internet. Take all the credit for yourself).
Every day (sometimes less often) I took some time to scan the sports page for interesting football stories. If that wasn't possible, I would cruise some of the online football sites or blogs - it's almost sad just how many of these are available for your viewing. It turns out that football had plays and strategies, and it even takes some brains to figure it all out. This blew my whole theory of the dumb jocks and the pig.
I didn't study the stats of the players like many diehard fans would do. I did find out about a few standout players - some personal history and talent facts. It was finding out about the players that made the game much more personal - and more enjoyable for me.
The family reunion is only a few months away, but I'll be able to hold my own when the talk swings to sports. I don't know the name of the plays, or the details of the strategies. I will turn the talk to the player's positives and negatives. I know the players, and that puts me way ahead of most women out there. If I weren't married, it would probably be a good way to pick up guys.
Taking time out of a busy schedule to read about or research a game you don't even like may not be what you had in mind. I've compiled some basic dos and don'ts for the women who don't want to know football, but do want to appear that way.
1. Know which team your significant other is rooting for and cheer when that team catches the ball or kicks the ball through the goal posts (those white sticks on the end of either side of the field) - these are both good things.
2. Know which person is in charge of the team. You don't have to know his name, but at least know his title - "Coach."
3. If your team takes the ball across the line at the end of the field (also referred to as the end zone because it is at the end of the field) it is called a "touchdown." I covered this earlier, but it is still important. Whatever you do, don't yell "homerun." Many a firm relationship has been crushed by just such an action.
4. Under no circumstances should you try to talk to your significant other during the game. Save all questions about the game or the team's reasoning for that odd play until halftime or after the game or better yet just ask someone else. This includes comments about uniforms, coaches expressions, and the signals those guys in the striped outfits make to the camera.
5. Anything about the relationship should be discussed AFTER the season is over - but before basketball season starts. You should have a window of about 4 hours.
6. It is not okay to read a novel during the game. You have to at least pretend to show some interest.
7. Never, never, never ask a question that he doesn't know the answer to, and always accept the answer he gives you even if it is obviously wrong.
8. To make the ultimate impression, purchase seats to your significant other's favorite team and make the game a surprise. Live games score BIG points in the wow factor.
How ever you approach the game of football, approach it you must if you have a football fan in your life. Be careful, if you get to close you are likely to fall into the mayhem. The next thing you know, you have your face painted and are screaming on national television.
As for me, I'll stick with the facts and look forward to March Madness.
Kathryn Lang is a freelance writer specializing in family issues, financial responsibility, and working from home. She is a regular contributor to The Peculiar Club, and has been published on numerous websites as well as in print. She is currently available for writing assignments or speaking engagements. You can read more about her at her on website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Lang
Big games were tolerated - the Super Bowl and the Iron Bowl - occasionally. I did manage to even attend a few "Bowl" parties out of moral support for my husband's obsession. Even with the fanfare surrounding the monumental games, football just didn't do it for me.
It's not that I don't like sports. I love sports. I grew up around brothers, male cousins, and a whole gaggle of guys in the neighborhood. I ran track, played volleyball, basketball, and baseball. At the University of South Alabama, I became enamored with soccer (yes, the players themselves had much do with that infatuation).
Living in Mobile provided me the unique experience of the Senior Bowl - where all the top college senior football players come together for one last game. I actually attended one of these while at college. Even the "stars" of the sport couldn't get me excited. Our seats were so far from the action that I found myself bored. (If you ever find yourself bored at a football game, don't yell out "Homerun" when the team scores. It's not as funny to everyone else as you will think it is.).
After ten years of a no-football zone, I think my husband resigned himself to being away from the house starting each August. It was this last season that something near miraculous happened to change his fate and my outlook.
I had a chance to write for a football website - ironically it was about my husband's team. Not only did I become intrigued by the game, but I actually found that with just a few minutes each day I was able to keep up with the fundamentals of the sport and even able to impress my husband with my foresight and knowledge (Don't tell him you are quoting footballfan200Z from the internet. Take all the credit for yourself).
Every day (sometimes less often) I took some time to scan the sports page for interesting football stories. If that wasn't possible, I would cruise some of the online football sites or blogs - it's almost sad just how many of these are available for your viewing. It turns out that football had plays and strategies, and it even takes some brains to figure it all out. This blew my whole theory of the dumb jocks and the pig.
I didn't study the stats of the players like many diehard fans would do. I did find out about a few standout players - some personal history and talent facts. It was finding out about the players that made the game much more personal - and more enjoyable for me.
The family reunion is only a few months away, but I'll be able to hold my own when the talk swings to sports. I don't know the name of the plays, or the details of the strategies. I will turn the talk to the player's positives and negatives. I know the players, and that puts me way ahead of most women out there. If I weren't married, it would probably be a good way to pick up guys.
Taking time out of a busy schedule to read about or research a game you don't even like may not be what you had in mind. I've compiled some basic dos and don'ts for the women who don't want to know football, but do want to appear that way.
1. Know which team your significant other is rooting for and cheer when that team catches the ball or kicks the ball through the goal posts (those white sticks on the end of either side of the field) - these are both good things.
2. Know which person is in charge of the team. You don't have to know his name, but at least know his title - "Coach."
3. If your team takes the ball across the line at the end of the field (also referred to as the end zone because it is at the end of the field) it is called a "touchdown." I covered this earlier, but it is still important. Whatever you do, don't yell "homerun." Many a firm relationship has been crushed by just such an action.
4. Under no circumstances should you try to talk to your significant other during the game. Save all questions about the game or the team's reasoning for that odd play until halftime or after the game or better yet just ask someone else. This includes comments about uniforms, coaches expressions, and the signals those guys in the striped outfits make to the camera.
5. Anything about the relationship should be discussed AFTER the season is over - but before basketball season starts. You should have a window of about 4 hours.
6. It is not okay to read a novel during the game. You have to at least pretend to show some interest.
7. Never, never, never ask a question that he doesn't know the answer to, and always accept the answer he gives you even if it is obviously wrong.
8. To make the ultimate impression, purchase seats to your significant other's favorite team and make the game a surprise. Live games score BIG points in the wow factor.
How ever you approach the game of football, approach it you must if you have a football fan in your life. Be careful, if you get to close you are likely to fall into the mayhem. The next thing you know, you have your face painted and are screaming on national television.
As for me, I'll stick with the facts and look forward to March Madness.
Kathryn Lang is a freelance writer specializing in family issues, financial responsibility, and working from home. She is a regular contributor to The Peculiar Club, and has been published on numerous websites as well as in print. She is currently available for writing assignments or speaking engagements. You can read more about her at her on website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathryn_Lang
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Football Training Workout
This article is an in-depth guide to improving your abilities as a football player. You are going to learn how to increase your speed, acceleration, agility, balance, and the most important, strength. There are three ways in which to practice increasing your speed: Improving running mechanics, improving technique, and strengthening your legs.
Most players don't have great running mechanics and if they would just improve their technique, they would run a lot faster. Leg strength is important because the more force applied to the ground, the faster you will run. You simply cannot reach your full speed potential by just running sprints. A number of elements must coincide with each other if you want to reach your maximum speed potential.
From a scientific standpoint, speed is the by product of two elements: Stride length and stride frequency. Stride length is the distance you cover during each step of your run. Stride frequency is basically the number of steps you take per second. By using the following training methods, you can increase your stride length and frequency; hence, increase of speed.
* Shuttle sprints - Start in your preferred position, run 10-15 yards, run backwards to starting position, and then repeat.
* Pylometric circuit - Use this drill no more than once a week and not on days before the big game, since this circuit may take a couple of days to recover from.Speed and acceleration go hand-in-hand. To improve your acceleration, repeated sprints of more than ten seconds, performed with a standing start will be most useful. This will help the neuromuscular and metabolic qualities of the muscles involved. Another way of improving acceleration is to practice accelerating as fast as possible during practice. A slow acceleration topped with a quick burst is another good method that can be used.
One of the best utilities you can train with to increase acceleration is getting some type of workout dvd training system. What the dvds and use the drills in the training program.
Ladder drills are best performed in increasing your agility. In sports competition, the body is constantly asked to perform movements from unusual angles. The main purpose of the agility ladder program is to promote a wide range of different foot and movement patterns. These movements become second nature, and the body is able to quickly respond to the various angles required. You can improve your agility by practicing the movements in training and the agility ladder is a useful tool in a good agility program. The common ladder is roughly ten yards long with eighteen inch squares, but you can make your own ladder just using tape or even sticks. When you start the agility ladder program, introduce your body to two to four different movements. Once you get good at these movements, introduce yourself to new patterns to keep your body guessing.
Many of today`s athletes are using balance training as a crucial part of their overall training program. Balance is needed by runners in wooded areas, soccer players need balance when taking the ball on a volley from just behind themselves, and even tennis players need balance when reaching for a drop shot. Each of these situations requires the exercise of just the right amount of flexibility at the right time. With balance training, the idea is to recreate and manipulate what you would do in a game situation. Maintaining balance means having the center of your mass within the middle of your base for support.
In the past, people believed that perfect balance was best illustrated by standing on one leg and staying as still as possible for as long as possible. This method still works but there are also other methods in which are useful. Exercises such as the one-leg punch and jump steps are both perfect for improving your balance.Another point to remember is that maximal strength training should be a progression from general strength training with maximal loads. Heavy maximal exercise is only used for advanced strength trainees. Good abdominal and lower back strength is crucial if heavy lifting exercises are going to be used.
Pylometric exercises are classified into bounding, hopping, and jumping movements. These exercises demand a high force of contraction in response to a rapid loading of lengthening the muscles. For this reason, they should be renamed rebound or reversible action exercises. The training effort increases the force production in the muscles, but the movements are performed at faster speeds than that of weight-training exercises. Rebounding exercises are more common to the sprinting and jumping reps on each leg, with at least one minute of rest between sets. Endurance should not be a factor.
Running with weighted jackets and sprinting uphill are also useful exercises because it adds resistance to the sprint movement, which places greater load on the muscles. You have learned the five most important areas of physical fitness needed to be a good football player.
For the best off season football workout training program, the same one that NFL Superstars All Pro Denver Bronco Cornerback Champ Bailey, AFC Rushing Champ San Diego Chargers Ladainian Tomlinson use go to the websites below
Todd Krueger is a former 8th round draft pick in 1980 with the Buffalo Bills and also played with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Wranglers in the USFL. He runs a football coaching website at http://www.footballtools.com and offers football coaching products such as NFL Football Playbooks, Youth Football Practice DVDs, Quarterback Training DVDs, Football Scouting Software, Football Playbook Software, Free Quarterback Drills, Football Special Teams DVDs, Football Workout DVDs, Football Practice DVDs, and a free football newsletter at http://www.footballtools.com and http://www.playqb.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Krueger
Most players don't have great running mechanics and if they would just improve their technique, they would run a lot faster. Leg strength is important because the more force applied to the ground, the faster you will run. You simply cannot reach your full speed potential by just running sprints. A number of elements must coincide with each other if you want to reach your maximum speed potential.
From a scientific standpoint, speed is the by product of two elements: Stride length and stride frequency. Stride length is the distance you cover during each step of your run. Stride frequency is basically the number of steps you take per second. By using the following training methods, you can increase your stride length and frequency; hence, increase of speed.
* Shuttle sprints - Start in your preferred position, run 10-15 yards, run backwards to starting position, and then repeat.
* Pylometric circuit - Use this drill no more than once a week and not on days before the big game, since this circuit may take a couple of days to recover from.Speed and acceleration go hand-in-hand. To improve your acceleration, repeated sprints of more than ten seconds, performed with a standing start will be most useful. This will help the neuromuscular and metabolic qualities of the muscles involved. Another way of improving acceleration is to practice accelerating as fast as possible during practice. A slow acceleration topped with a quick burst is another good method that can be used.
One of the best utilities you can train with to increase acceleration is getting some type of workout dvd training system. What the dvds and use the drills in the training program.
Ladder drills are best performed in increasing your agility. In sports competition, the body is constantly asked to perform movements from unusual angles. The main purpose of the agility ladder program is to promote a wide range of different foot and movement patterns. These movements become second nature, and the body is able to quickly respond to the various angles required. You can improve your agility by practicing the movements in training and the agility ladder is a useful tool in a good agility program. The common ladder is roughly ten yards long with eighteen inch squares, but you can make your own ladder just using tape or even sticks. When you start the agility ladder program, introduce your body to two to four different movements. Once you get good at these movements, introduce yourself to new patterns to keep your body guessing.
Many of today`s athletes are using balance training as a crucial part of their overall training program. Balance is needed by runners in wooded areas, soccer players need balance when taking the ball on a volley from just behind themselves, and even tennis players need balance when reaching for a drop shot. Each of these situations requires the exercise of just the right amount of flexibility at the right time. With balance training, the idea is to recreate and manipulate what you would do in a game situation. Maintaining balance means having the center of your mass within the middle of your base for support.
In the past, people believed that perfect balance was best illustrated by standing on one leg and staying as still as possible for as long as possible. This method still works but there are also other methods in which are useful. Exercises such as the one-leg punch and jump steps are both perfect for improving your balance.Another point to remember is that maximal strength training should be a progression from general strength training with maximal loads. Heavy maximal exercise is only used for advanced strength trainees. Good abdominal and lower back strength is crucial if heavy lifting exercises are going to be used.
Pylometric exercises are classified into bounding, hopping, and jumping movements. These exercises demand a high force of contraction in response to a rapid loading of lengthening the muscles. For this reason, they should be renamed rebound or reversible action exercises. The training effort increases the force production in the muscles, but the movements are performed at faster speeds than that of weight-training exercises. Rebounding exercises are more common to the sprinting and jumping reps on each leg, with at least one minute of rest between sets. Endurance should not be a factor.
Running with weighted jackets and sprinting uphill are also useful exercises because it adds resistance to the sprint movement, which places greater load on the muscles. You have learned the five most important areas of physical fitness needed to be a good football player.
For the best off season football workout training program, the same one that NFL Superstars All Pro Denver Bronco Cornerback Champ Bailey, AFC Rushing Champ San Diego Chargers Ladainian Tomlinson use go to the websites below
Todd Krueger is a former 8th round draft pick in 1980 with the Buffalo Bills and also played with the Houston Oilers and Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Wranglers in the USFL. He runs a football coaching website at http://www.footballtools.com and offers football coaching products such as NFL Football Playbooks, Youth Football Practice DVDs, Quarterback Training DVDs, Football Scouting Software, Football Playbook Software, Free Quarterback Drills, Football Special Teams DVDs, Football Workout DVDs, Football Practice DVDs, and a free football newsletter at http://www.footballtools.com and http://www.playqb.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Krueger
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