How To Use A Metal Detector

First thing to do is pick a good area this should be where people visit frequently like parks and beaches. Other good places are areas now deserted by people where artefacts can still remain buried decades later. Historical sites can often come up rich in old coins and antiques. Before going onto any area check first that you are allowed on the property and seek permission where necessary.

The proper technique is essential for swinging a metal detector in order to find anything. When you hold the coil too high the ground depth is lost and you will miss any objects there. Also if you swing the coil to quickly the result will also be to miss any buried objects. And if you walk too quickly, you may pass over a target completely oblivious to its presence.

Pretend you are painting the ground using a paint roller on a pole without leaving any unpainted gaps. Slowly sweep from side to side at a speed where the paint would have time to evenly coat the ground. Move forward slowly at the furthest point of each sweep again only enough to maintain painting without any gaps. This is the most effective method of using metaldetectors. Remember if you are leaving any unpainted spots these areas are not being checked and they could be where the real high price treasure is hidden.

As far as the height above the ground goes, you want to hold the coil as close to the ground as possible. Obviously, if you're working in tall grass you're maybe 3 or 4 in. above the ground. On the other hand, on a smooth flat beach surface, you can easily skim the coil right over the sand. Remember, the higher the coil is above the surface the more depth you will lose. If they've got a old coin that is 6 in. below the surface, and your detector can detect 8 in., and the coil is 3 in. above the ground, you will miss that target. If the coil had been directly upon the ground you would be able to detect that target.

You have found a good spot to hunt and got permission, you have a metal detector, what else do you need? Well for beach hunting as well as other types of hunting you will need to start with at least two zippered or Velcro pouches, like a belly bag, or you can use a builder's pocketed apron, one will be used to hold your good or questionable findings, the other you will use for obvious trash dug up, when beach hunting you will need a sand scoop, preferably with a wire mesh basket, wire mesh scoops tend to be lighter than perforated stainless steel baskets, you want the holes small enough to prevent a half dime from slipping through, if they are bigger you might miss out on small rings as well, for other types of treasure hunting you will need a sharp serrated digging tool, many of which look like a hunting knife, but if the blade is shaped like a trowel shovel it will be easier to dig through hard rocky, packed dirt, especially if there are dense tree or shrubbery roots to cut through to get down to your prize, in this case a long metal probe is useful for narrowing down where to dig, by inserting it around the area where you got your ping, you can tell whether it is buried deep or shallow, and with numerous probings you can determine the general shape of the object before digging it out of the dirt. Always wear leather gloves when digging to protect your hands from glass, sharp metal objects, or sharp stones.

Ideal Living In St Andrews Country Club

If you are looking for a place that offers an ideal living experience then the private golf course community of Boca Raton by the name of St Andrews Country Club is where you need to head.

This beautiful community was set up back in 1982 and has since then developed into becoming the ultimate country club offering the epitome of the country club lifestyle experience. The locality has a total of 732 single family homes that have been exclusively designed to facilitate the lifestyle that comes with the surroundings.

The houses are set amongst 718 acres of breathtaking fairways and an additional 70 acres of beautiful lakes. Not to forget the awe inspiring landscaped vistas that the vicinity has to offer. St. Andrews has over two-thirds of its land dedicated to recreational objectives on a permanent places which includes wide open spaces as well.

The locality has the Clubhouse as the center for the residents and members of the area. It is where all the social events and galas take place and it is also the center for communal activities for the entire year. With new extensions the Clubhouse now spans over 125,000 square feet surrounded by beautiful landscapes and embedded with bi-level seating arrangements as well as floor plan.

The Clubhouse is further divided into a number of dedicated spaces that includes the full service Gallery Dining Room, St. Andrews seasonal restaurant, the Lakeside Grille, the Promenade Room, St. Andrews Room, lounges, locker rooms, state of the art fitness center, dedicated cards rooms for ladies and gents, a fully equipped Golf Pro Shop and valet parking facilities.

The talk of the club is of course the 18 hole Championship Golf Course that was designed by Ted Mc Anlis and is regarded as being one of the most outstanding golf courses of Florida. Also known as the East Course the grasses span over 6882 yards. Another equally astounding course is part of the community by the name of Arnold Palmer Signature Course, designed by the man after whom it has been named in 2004. The golf courses are extremely well maintained and offer great challenges to the members.

The locality also boasts a tennis course with a total of sixteen lighted Hard Turf courts. Along with this you will find a two story pavilion and a full service pro shop. Separate lockers are available for men and women as well.

Also awaiting residents and members of the locality is a heated junior Olympic size swimming pool which is nicely complimented by a large resort deck along with a grill pavilion on the outdoors. Adjacent to the pool is a heated whirlpool spa that promises a relaxing time along with which you will find plenty of entertainment for your young ones including a play area, sandbox, wading pool and play equipment.

St Andrews Country Club is also a very secure community which is carefully guarded and entry is restricted to residents and members only. All homes in the community have a state of the art security system incorporated in the design thereby ensuring a safe and fun filled environment in the country club.

How To Write An Internet Dating Profile

If you've ever tried writing an Internet Dating profile, you know how tough it can be if you've never done it before. There's an abundance of advice out there on how to do it.

You've seen it all! Right?

"Don't say." "Convey."

"Speak from your heart." "Be yourself!"

"Don't list facts."

"Show emotion and use descriptive language in your profile."

Well, some of the above is good advice and some of it... not so much. It's gotten so complicated that some guys just give up and look for sample profiles on the Internet to steal. Yet, when they look at these "great" works of art, it's hard to tell what's really going on. So they end up copying it word for word and posting it on several dating sites without knowing if it's really good or not hoping for the best.

So, what happens next??

Nothing!

Nada!

Or they get minimal responses from women who are not quite their type.

The success they thought was around the corner never comes.

Well, why is that?

It's because they weren't showing the world who THEY REALLY ARE. They were putting on false self. It's like actors and actresses in the movies. They are playing a part in a movie and often times this character is completely different from who they really are.

"But how can she tell who I really am from reading my profile"?

Good question!

The answer is that women have a way of figuring out if you're being genuine or if you're just trying to be who you think she wants you to be. I've seen this happen over and over again!! Guys write up profiles that depict some cool character in a movie, rather then just describing who they really are.

Ok, so how do you get started?

Well, first you need a good headline. Something eye-catching and mysterious. I like to use the power of ambiguity in my headlines.

Maybe I'll say something like, "Hey, what is up with that?"

Now, when a woman sees that headline she's going to open it right away! Count on it! Women love a good mystery and you know she'll be dying to know what I mean by that.

Now you have to start off your profile by explaining what "that" is in your headline.

Say something like, "I mean, what are you doing wearing that hat to a baseball game?"

You see how that works? It's best to tease her about something she's doing in one of her pictures. That gets her attention right away.

Now, doing this, we started off our profile with some humor. Always good!!

Next you need to show your confidence. You do that by using assertive language and showing her just how strong you are and demonstrating that in your writing. This is what they mean by conveying not saying. Convey that you are a confident person!

Finally we end the profile with some more humor. Maybe say something like, "So stop reading and start writing. Believe me, you want nothing to do with the guy below me. He still lives in his Parent's basement!"

So, to recap, we wrote an eye-catching headline using the power of ambiguity. Then we started our write up by using some humor. Next, we conveyed our confidence by using assertive language and finally we finished off with more humor.

THAT, my friend is the secret formula.

Think about it.

What are the two things that women find most attractive in a man?

Ask any woman and she'll tell you it's his confidence and his personality or sense of humor. So THESE are the two things that must really shine in your profile.

Remember, women aren't like men. All we want to see are some sexy pictures and then we'll look at her personality. Well, women want to see a sexy personality first!!

So, go sign up to your favorite online dating site and use these tips right away. Once you do, your Internet Dating success will go through the roof! Count on it!!

Integrating and Putting It All Together

Across 17 chapters, mental preparation concepts and techniques have been discussed in detail in this book. We now look at how to bring it all together in an easy step-by-step approach for a grappler or combat athlete to start applying these methods on a regular basis. Some key points from earlier chapters will be highlighted here to emphasize their importance in a comprehensive mental preparation program. The steps outlined here take into account all aspects of mental preparation discussed in this book. It gives you a complete and integrated approach to mental preparation. Grapplers and combat athletes who believe that they are already good at some aspects of mental preparation can choose the ones in which they believe they need help.

Twenty Steps to an Integrated Mental Preparation Program

STEP 1: At the very top the heap, the very first thing you should do is goal setting.

Several aspects of your mental framework are dependent on the goals that you start out with in your grappling or combat athletics career. Your goals will

• decide your motivation levels
• define you career track
• define your ambition
• indicate your level of commitment to the sport

Goals have to be set over an extended length of time (i.e., long-, medium-, and short-term goals), to give you the right perspective on where you are headed. You have to also periodically set performance-based goals based on your assessment of the skill areas in which you are deficient. Let's take a look at an abridged version of the key issues in achieving your goals.

Achieving your goals:

Your long-term goals (5-10+ years) are your vision for yourself and path that you hope your grappling or combat athletics career will take in the coming years. Your preparation has to start now, both mentally and physically if you want to participate in a national title or world title in a few years.

Getting mentally ready for major tournaments is a composite of your preparation and experiences over several years. Learning and skill development go through a gradual progression in eventually preparing you for the cherished big fights.

Medium-term goals (1-5 years) require that you constantly assess what is happening within the grappling and combat athletics fraternities, look for opportunities, evaluate the competition in terms wins and losses, and so on.

Short-term goals (6 months), given their immediacy, will require planning the exact dates when you should practice, train, and get yourself physically and mentally ready. The fitness regimen that you will follow, your diet program, your mental preparation, and the coaching sessions that you plan to attend all fall into place when you do the planning to achieve your short-term goals.

Performance-based goal setting:

This requires that you and your coach make an objective identification of weak areas or deficiencies in your and go about finding ways to improve your skills in those areas. These deficiencies could be in technique or they could even be in mental skills. You basically have to identify those aspects of your preparation that need enhancement to deliver peak performance. Since this type of goal setting is performance related, players feel motivated enough to see it through and overcome the weak, in their performance. What emerges is a goal-directed, mental skills training program, whereby the goals that have been set could be measured over time.

STEP 2: Commit yourself to consistency in mental skills preparation and follow the techniques on a regular basis. Mental skills work best if they are practiced and applied regularly. Develop a daily regimen. It can be as low as half an hour per day, but the positive results will be evident within a few weeks.

STEP 3: If you nurse a bloated ego, tone it down much before the match begins. A bloated diminishes the urge and ability to learn during practice sessions. You need an ego in order to develop the right competitive frame of mind, but too much of an ego can eventually pull you down. Use tips provided in Chapter 7 to deal with a big ego.

STEP 4: Sizing up your opponent is the next thing you should do in your mental preparation.

a) Analyze the history of the opponent's performance in terms of wins or losses and skills weak points displayed in previous matches.

b) Try to recall and bring to the fore any tactics that your opponent uses, so that you can build a strategy to neutralize them.

STEP 5: Apply the four-point approach to strategizing.

• Play to your plus points
• Be aware of shortcomings and vulnerabilities in your opponent
• Be aware of your own vulnerabilities
• Be flexible and develop alternative strategies

Build-in "If statements" to make your strategy as flexible as possible. Also, develop specific tactics to make your strategy workable.

STEP 6: Use simple methods like writing, audio-recordings, or computers to store your plan and strategy and commit it to your memory. Writing things down is one of the easiest ways to commit something to memory. Your recall of the information will significantly go up. It is also readily available to you for reference whenever you need to refresh your memory.

STEP 7: Use simulation to recreate the challenges and stresses in a real match.

STEP 8: Learn to visualize in order to mentally extend your practice time and to rehearse your moves in your mind on a regular basis.

Steps 9-14 have to be learned and applied almost simultaneously for the best effect. These steps address the many issues related to the critical mental process of achieving "Focus."

One of the most critical aspects of mental preparation is in applying all the mental skills required to achieve the multidimensional quality of focus.

Multidimensional facets of focus:

• If you are motivated, it brings focus to your game.
• If you have a healthy ego rather than a bloated ego, it brings focus to your game.
• If you concentrate on the task on hand, it brings focus to your game.
• If you are alert and attentive, it brings focus to your game.
• If you have a winning attitude, it brings focus to your game.
• If you have ambition and killer instinct, it brings focus to your game.
• If you have passion for the game, it brings focus to your game.
• If you shed mental baggage and negativity, it brings focus to your game.
• If you are consistent with your training, it brings focus to your game.
• If you develop your memory retrieval skills, it brings focus to your game.

STEP 9: Identify your motivators. Motivation is the fulcrum on which your sports career hinges.

If demotivated, use the tips provided in Chapter 7 to tide you over the depressed feeling. For instance, never view a single failure in isolation-you have to take a collective approach to your triumphs and failures. Your self-assessment has to straddle a set of tournaments rather than any one tournament where you could not achieve a win.

STEP 10: You can learn the "Distraction Breakers" and/or "Concentration Builders" to improve your involvement in your matches. When you concentrate, you will be able to use your mind at optimal levels to call on all aspects of your preparation and prepared at all times. Each of these can bring a high level of focus into your learning process and your performance in a match.

STEP 11: Analyze your attitude to the game and toward competition. Attitude is all about developing the right mindset and outlook to play in a competitive game. Attitude actually comprises three distinct traits:

a) Professional approach to competition: The "Assertive" approach is without a doubt the most professional approach to competition, and it is the best way to develop a winning attitude.

b) Determination and grit

c) Passion for the game

STEP 12: Override negativity by getting rid of mental baggage such as injury trauma, game failure, or problems in your personal life. Regain control over your thought processes and move ahead.

STEP 13: Make good use of practice sessions to develop both technique and mental skills.

• Prior to starting your practice, spend a few minutes thinking about what you would like to do, learn, and improve. Clearly outline issues that you want to deal with, such as styles, moves, concentration, intensity, alertness and so on.
• Display proactiveness and drive during training and treat it like a real game.
• Exercise control over your thought processes during training in much the same way that you will have to do in a match.
• After the practice session, spend a few minutes reflecting on what you learned and what you can follow up on in your spare time.

Maintain a performance monitor diary or audio recording.

STEP 14: Improve memory retrieval to efficiently apply the mental skills techniques.

Learn to use the "Image Cue Technique" and the "Structured Memory Technique:" They will help you with quick retrieval of your game plan, your styles, and your moves, during a match.

Steps 15 and 16 have to be followed a lot more diligently in the last few days before a match begins because that's when confidence wanes and stress sets in.

STEP 15: Use confidence-building techniques like positive self-talk, and "weeding-out," to build confidence in yourself. Learn to believe in your abilities.

Confidence + Belief in Self = Toughness

STEP 16: Relax: Try out the many relaxation techniques outlined in the book.

STEP 17: Deal with emotions-anger, fear-using the techniques provided.

STEP 18: Continue to use mental preparation in the few minutes before the game. These include breathing exercises, visualization and self-talk. The breathing exercises will help you stay calm visualization will bring top-of-mind the key styles and techniques that you want to use, and self-talk will maintain your confidence at high levels.

STEP 19: During the match, concentrate on the game as it unfolds, play your game as you planned it, be proactive and aggressive, pay attention and gauge your opponent's strategy, and be wary and alert at all times. You should also refocus as often as necessary so that you don't lose track of your game plan. Use breathing techniques if necessary to assist you in refocusing.

STEP 20: Post match review - Be brutally honest with yourself when you evaluate your performance. It will help pinpoint any weaknesses in your technique or mental skills. You can then run these weak areas more often in your preparation for the next match.

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Horse racing, The Sport of Kings

Horse racing, The Sport of Kings, is one of the most widely watched sports in the world, and most of the people who are watching, will also have placed a bet on one of the horses.

This makes it a huge business financially. From the punter who places the minimum bet, just for the fun of it, to the professional gambler who bets tens of thousands of dollars, pounds or euros, on a race, there are millions bet world-wide each day.

The old adage "there's no such thing as a poor bookie" is probably true. Every bookmaker, who is worth his salt, doesn't worry if a punter wins. What he will have done, when the bet is laid, is to have taken a small 'commission', as his share, and laid the balance off with another bookie. Remember that the bookmaker is not a book-keeper, and gambling is his game.

Before laying a bet the professional punter will 'shop-around' for the best prices available. Let's face it, if you are laying a bet of 10K, just one point can make a huge difference to your winnings.

Recently, after being kicked out of bed by my wife for continual snoring at 4am, I was able to find a price of 14/1 on a horse whilst surfing the different web-sites. During the course of the day the odds plummeted, and by the off my selection was 2^nd favourite at 5/2! I had placed my bet each way and he came second. I had put a 5-figure amount on the race and did quite nicely, thank you.

Back in the days pre mobile phones, PC's and lap-tops when I started on my career as a gambler, I often wonder, when looking back, how I could have managed.

Shopping around for prices, in the bad old days, involved making phone calls to the various bookies, few, if any, offered ante-post odds. This was not only time consuming but was expensive, but it was either that or visit each shop!

That was the era of the10% betting tax. This was payable only in the betting shops, and so I decided to go to the courses.

I was betting £100 per race, even in those days (most race cards were only 6 races, unlike now). So I figured the £60 a day that I would save was better spent on my expenses than the government's.

Today I can go on-line and get the best prices available ante-post.

The racing press' information is, and it cannot be helped, slightly out of date, especially as far as 'the going' is concerned. That is because it is printed overnight. Nowadays we can get up-to-the-minute information on-line. Torrential overnight rain can, and does, make a huge difference.

By no stretch of the imagination could I be considered anything but computer semi-illiterate. I do use a computer nowadays, but I am not an expert. I feel that if I can do it, then anybody can!

The playing fields have now been levelled. We, the not so expert on computer generation, can do it quite simply. Just think what an expert could do!

Warming up for Softball Drills

It is a must that before any game performance, you must incorporate in your softball drills the different warm up exercises so that each player will have a long-lasting event in playing. It is already a proven and a given fact that there is a need to warm up before you start whatever softball drill so that there will be a continuous flow of mental and physical tasks ahead.

Traditionally, most of the athletes from all sorts of sports are using gentle cardiovascular work-outs and stretching offs in order to raise their body temperature. Jogging for a couple of laps could also get your body warm. Sitting and chatting for the next half an hour will just turn an athlete cold mentally and physically. This activity would make any athlete warm up all over again. This also means a waste of time and effort as well.

In this situation, you have to keep a mindset that says, "I should keep going!" Without a persistent and consistent mind frame that you can finish all of your tasks, you cannot achieve something. That is why there is a much need of a warm-up plan before the start of any softball drills so that you can very well go to the next level of exercise without feeling tired and cold.

So, how then is the proper way of warming-up your body?

You need to follow the succeeding warm-up guidance. This warm-up exercise is good for those running-based sports and softball is definitely one of them.

In softball, you need to be flexible in order for you to run effectively in terms of power, relaxation and injury avoidance. It is also a needed fact that you practice running efficiently so that you can make a quick changes of your direction just in case there are accidental changes of plans.

For such athletes, there are specific varieties of movements required in the shoulders, lower back hips, hamstrings, quads, calf muscles and Achilles tendons. However, the preparations for these areas don't necessitate dynamic activity and lengthy periods of passive stretching.

Initially, you have to increase your body temperature by doing the 5-10 minutes cardiovascular work-outs. Running in a slow-paced manner is a very particular way of warming up the muscles in order to have faster-paced efforts. What more is that this kind of exercise preparation will give you time to prepare the cardiovascular system for more strenuous activities. You can perform drills that will increase your speed component such as Lunge Walk, High knee lift, Elbow-to-inside-of-ankle lunge, Calf walk, Sideways and backwards skipping/running and other warm-up exercises such as Simulated running arm action, standing or seated, Leg drives, and Leg cycling.

These activities will boost up your nervous system and will amplify the strength and vibrancy of your muscles for handling more self-motivated contractions. Performing these drills can also trim down the danger of common running injuries. So, in order for you to become more energetic and lively with your daily softball drills, don't forget to incorporate warm-up exercises.

Pakistan Captain Younus Khan Wants to Tour

Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Younus Khan wants to tour his team despite the uncertain security.

"Everybody's following Twenty20 and now we are champions it would be good if we could get some home series," he said as he also announced his T20 retirement.

"I'd like all the countries to come to Pakistan again. The situation is not good but it's not our fault.

"If there isn't any cricket in Pakistan how can we motivate the youngsters."

Unfortunately Pakistan have suffered by their politic recently when their hosting rights for the 2011 World cup were taken away. Pakistan is currently suffering with political problems and constant acts of terrorism.

In March the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by gun men as it headed to a test match inLahore.

But Younus insisted: "I would say to the world, please come to Pakistan and play. I am very proud of my nation, I'm a proud man and this victory is good for all of us."

Other than the ill-fated series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, they have not hosted a home Test series since South Africa visited in October 2007 and their last one-day series was at home to Bangladesh over a year ago.

Younus, draped in a Pakistan flag as he spoke to journalists after the game, dedicated the final triumph to former coach Bob Woolmer, who died suddenly in Jamaica during the 2007 World Cup.

"This final must be dedicated to Bob because he did a lot of good for us, especially my cricket," said Younus. "He would be very proud if he was still alive.

"He was a father figure for us at that time. He was the guy who kept saying to the chairman and the selectors that Younus would be the next captain and because of him I have become a captain."

Younus reflected on Pakistan's remarkable journey through the tournament, which featured a solitary win against the Netherlands amid defeats to England and Sri Lanka early on.

"It's fantastic. We were the underdogs and nobody picked us. But we certainly turned it on in the big games."
Shahid Afridi's return to form with the bat was a vital aspect. He hit half-centuries in both the semi-final and final - picking up the man-of-the-match award each time.

Younus said of Afridi: "We need him at the top of the order, especially in the one-day game. He knows that he's a match-winner for us. Especially in the last two innings, he was really fantastic for us."

Afridi who using CA cricket helmets, once a big hitter to make all bowling attacks run scared, had been in poor form with the bat in recent times.
The 29-year-old, part of the side beaten in the 1999 World Cup and the 2007 Twenty20 final, said his skipper had helped him to rediscover his form in this tournament.

"The last two and a half, three years I have bowled really well but I was struggling with my batting.

"Younus gave me good confidence. I told him that I wanted to bat at number three in the order and he said OK, if you're confident just go and play. Don't worry about anything, just go.

"The guys really motivated themselves and Younus really supported the guys and told us to go and enjoy our cricket. Twenty20 is all about enjoyment and entertainment, if you do this then you perform well."

Experienced batsman Shoaib Malik who woodworm cricket equipment including cricket pads was part of the match-winning stand with Afridi, as Pakistan nervelessly chased a target of 139 to win by eight wickets with eight balls remaining.

"I think it was a pressure game. When I was on my way to batting I just kept thinking about that, that I had to stay there until the 20th over and I did it," said Malik.

It was Afridi who played the big shots, though, as Malik acknowledged.

"The way Shahid was batting too was awesome. I was saying to him please stay at the wicket, if you stay at the wicket I will also get some runs and if we stand together I'm sure we can finish the game. He is a great cricketer."

Explaining why he was choosing to retire from Twenty20 cricket, Younus added: "I am now 34, I am old for this kind of cricket. The good thing is we have some good youngsters."

Beaten captain Kumar Sangakkara said his bowlers had done his country proud, calling them "the best bowling unit in the world at the moment and they are expert in use cricket balls in variations to beat any batsman of world."

He added: "It was always tough for our bowling unit to keep defending totals right throughout the tournament when we probably could have scored 20 runs more.

"Hopefully we can get stronger, get better, and learn from what we've done as we've got a lot more crickets coming up. We'll really look forward to more cricket to toughen us up both physically and mentally."

Softball hitting is not just a hit, hit, and hit

Any kind of sport gives fun and excitement both to the players and the audience especially when your team is winning in every game. But just like any other sports, your team cannot always make sure winning in the game. You cannot avoid losing in the game sometimes. One of the reasons why a team is losing in the game is the wrong movement of the players.

You cannot change the fact that you lost but you can do something to improve the quality of your game. In the softball, softball hitting is one of the major skills that should be learned by the players especially when you are appointed to be the hitter of the team. When you say hitting, it is not merely hitting the ball, because you need to know the right techniques to make sure that you will do a perfect hit.

Softball hitting is a skill that needs to be practiced over and over again. You need to be patient and persistent to undergo continuous training with the supervision of your coach. They say that a good softball player is the one who has a great ability when it comes to hitting. There are few things that needed to be taken into account when it comes to this skill. Such things include your choice of bat, your stance, and stride. These things should be always remembered because they have a great contribution in making you to a best softball hitter.

If you are the hitter, always remember that your bat is your major partner. Often it has the major part in the way you hit the ball that is why it is a must for you to choose the perfect bat for you. The common mistake of the players when they are choosing their bat is that they pick bats which are too big for them. You should not forget that the bat has its advantages but if it is too big for your small size, your speed in hitting will be affected. Thus instead of making a perfect hit, you might miss the ball making your team lose a point.

In selecting your partner in hitting, you must always consider the size of the bat. Bat hitting is always important so to make sure that you will have a great bat speed, you must choose a bat that will really suits you. In hitting and handling the bat, it is a must that you possess a strong arms and hands.

Stance is also an important factor in softball hitting. Your feet should be more than the width of your shoulder but make sure that your stance is not too wide. The secret of having a perfect stance is balanced stride. Make sure that your knees are always been unlock and bend on your waist. You should also learn the two main triggers which are the slight inward turn and slightly picking up the front foot. These can be use in your hitting but always watch for the movement of the pitcher. Always focus your attention to him.

Stride is has also its role in hitting. You need a perfect timing in your stride. Always watch for your step. Do not stride too early, too open or too far. Always step with the front shoulder close. Your hands must be in the proper place when you are holding the bat. It should be strong always to have enough energy when you hit the ball. You should look at the pitcher and make sure that you will follow the direction of the ball. This way you will prevent yourself from losing the ball.

The Difference between Electric Bikes and scooters, motorcycles.

An electric bike can simply be confused with other vehicles like scooters or motorcycles. However, they are not at all the same thing. Many people like to use an electric bike because that they can get around easy without having to depend on a car. There are many rules involved when riding an electric bike. Make sure that you know all of those rules and laws for where you live. Many electric bike owners have had the misfortune of receiving tickets after disobeying laws that they hadn't been aware of.

An electric bike is much cheaper to power than a scooter or motorcycle. It is not a vehicle in any way. All it requires is the ability to recharge. Electric bikes do not require any fuel at all and this is one reason why many people choose them. It can save a lot of money on gas and car expenses if you do not have all that far to go to get to work or school. Comparing to e-bike motorcycles is more expensive. An electric bike is a fantastic green option for those that are seeking a clean way to get around without harming the environment.

An electric bike experiences much less reduction than a car or a scooter since it is fundamentally just a good bicycle that is powered, if it is kept in good shape the resale value reduce minimally. You can take care of your bike by storing it away correctly in a garage. Don't leave it outside in the elements or it could rust and not work properly. Store it and keep it clean so you lose almost none of the value.

Modes of transportation such as scooters or motorbikes cannot run on solar energy. An electric bike can be designed to use solar power so that the source of your energy is all natural. It costs nothing once you already have your bike equipped to use solar power. It also prevents the need for a gas station. Since solar powered cars are not yet a commonly produced product, electric bikes have a great advantage over all regular petrol fuelled vehicles.

Scooters and motorbikes have an actual engine that requires gasoline to run. Electric bikes do not have a flammable engine. Therefore, they have totally no greenhouse gas emission the way those types of transportation do. Those vehicles also need a special driver's license to drive them. If you can ride a bike, then you are ready to go on your electric bike with no further permits required.

Though some states may require that an electric bike be registered, they usually do not. And they rarely ever require any form of insurance since it is a bicycle that has been electrically equipped. A regular bicycle can be turned into an electric bike by purchasing a conversion kit. This makes electric bikes a transportation method all their own. Motorbikes and scooters are not at all in the same class. The advantages of an electric bike are apparent. They can squeeze into all of those tiny spaces a car or motorbike never could and they are environmentally friendly.

Six Secrets Common to Champs in Mental Preparation

Champs have many positive qualities and many characteristics that set them apart in a class of their own. Lets' understands the 6 secrets further.

Six Secrets of Champs

1) Picking up overall intensity: Champs display awesome aggression by playing to potential.

The full force of their abilities is unleashed through a high level of concentration and attentiveness.

2) Maintaining a business-like attitude and consistency: A single-minded focus on playing the game right, a professional approach to competition and maintaining a high level of quality, and excellence in performance

3) Displaying rare composure: Incredible fortitude, rarely show emotion or fall prey to. Are determined, and have the ability to fight, despite difficulties encountered on the mat

4) Handling pressure, surmounting any crisis: The ability to withstanding pressure and surmount a crisis is the true mark of a champ. The experience and knowledge built up over the years provides the necessary mental strength to handle pressures.

5) Seizing the moment of opportunity: Champs can accelerate the pace, use intuition and instincts to guide performance, and anticipate moves in advance. Champs don't drop their guard at any stage.

6) Adhering to training, both mental and physical: Sustaining the mental preparation process and strengthening all aspects of preparation regularly despite the star status; no complacency no matter how many championship titles have been won.

Besides these secrets of champs that make their game stand out, it is also important to understand the mental framework of a champ to gain insights into their approach to the game.

Mental Framework of Champs

The preceding segment on the secrets of champs gave us insight into the match behavior of champs. Let's now take a look at the mental framework of champs.

• Champs enjoy challenges and never shy away from them.
• Champs constantly challenge themselves to greater heights.
• Champs don't think about winning all the time.

They are not preoccupied with thoughts of winning. They focus their thoughts on playing a good game and tackling their opponent effectively. The message from this is: if you let go of the need to win and instead raise your mind to a higher state that is performance driven, then your chances of triumph increase.

• Champs focus on putting on a truly magnificent performance.

The pure aspects of the game interest them so much that you get to see game techniques and tactics that are incredibly awe inspiring. And when they win, it's often truly deserving.

• Champs have leadership qualities.

A champ in grappling or combat athletics may not participate in a team event or ever captain a team. Even if all the encounters are one-on-one, there are certain leadership qualities that go into the mental framework of a champ.

A champ's mental framework blends in the following leadership qualities that convey a distinct winning attitude:

• Champs like to take charge
• Champs like to be in control of the game: they strive for the upper hand
• Champs have courage
• Champs are astute and display a combination of shrewdness and wisdom
• Champs have an underlying confidence
• Champs believe in themselves
• Champs are humble enough to learn from mistakes
• Champs have adaptability; they listen to other's views and are open to ideas and suggestions on improving their techniques
• Champs have a self-awareness of their strengths and weaknesses
• Champs willingly ask for feedback

These leadership qualities that a champ embodies bring out a cutting-edge game performance. It is a mental framework that is used to being at the top of the heap, but humble enough to constantly learn and improve.

• Champs are extremely dedicated to the sport.

Champs have an almost fanatical interest in grappling and combat athletics. This dedication goes beyond motivation or passion for the game to a feeling of complete lifelong commitment.

Think like a champ

When you start thinking like a champion, your mental approach is different and your performance will most certainly scale new heights. If you want to follow a career path that is similar to top grapplers and combat athletes in this field, you have to imbibe their qualities and consciously work on your thoughts and behavior. Your mental framework has to undergo a transition from being a run-of-the-mill grappler or combat athlete to one who truly knows how to excel.

Winning Edge of a Seasoned Player

Those who've spent a significant number of years in the sport and weathered innumerable matches and tournaments are often referred to as seasoned players. They are highly accomplished at the game, have been champions of many a high-profile title, and have a lot to teach to upcoming grapplers and combat athletes or new entrants.

This article was meant to be a guideline on how to develop your thinking along the lines of front­runners and winners in grappling and combat athletics. It is meant to give some direction on how to shape your thinking and mindset to reach the highest levels as a professional grappler or combat athlete.

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Excellent Softball Drills - Improve Play

Repetition is the key to muscle memory, which is necessary in order to play sports at a competitive level. It is important to involve repetitive movement, but the movements must also be performed correctly. And, this applies to softball game. If you want to succeed as a softball player, you need to take things more seriously than most people who only take up the sport as a hobby, which covers from how well and how long you practice to the amount of focus that you have on every game.

Softball drills need a lot of time and effort and to be able to practice these effectively, one must have a coach. Whether they are a volunteering parent, a first time coach, or veteran, it does not matter as long as they familiarize themselves with a large variety of youth softball drills in order to improve the proficiency of their players. Moreover, for coaches, it is necessary for them to know and understand youth softball drills before they can implement these drills for their players.

The first drill is the Youth Softball Base Running Drills, this is one of the often overlooked secrets to base running is the ability of the runners to cut the corners of the bases when rounding them and proceeding to the next base. This involves hitting the base at an angle so that your right foot cuts the bag. In that way, your left foot is on stride and heading toward the next base. You can cut down on the time it takes to circle the bases by practicing cutting the bases in this manner.

Secondly is the Youth Softball Throwing Drills, this is one of the softball drills that will improve your throwing ability, by practicing a quick release. This can be done by lining up players at home plate, and at each base. You have the throws emanate from home plate where pitchers and catchers are located. The first line of players takes their positions in the field. The catcher throws the softball to the fielder at second base, who tosses it to the third baseman, who tosses it to the first baseman, who tosses it back home to the catcher. Repeat this drill three times, and use a stop watch to note time. The team with the quickest time gets a reward.

Youth Softball Batting Drills is the last but not the least youth drills. One way to improve players' hitting is to improve their ability to recognize a pitch, such as a fastball, a changeup, a curve, swerve or slider. If you paint a number on the softball, the batter must concentrate and identify the number as the pitch comes to the plate. After the batter swings at the pitch, he or she must identify the number on the softball.

By implementing youth softball drills as a customary part of your practice sessions, you will be helping to elevate your abilities in order for you to play softball game at a highest possible level.

Excellent Softball Drills – Improve Play

Repetition is the key to muscle memory, which is necessary in order to play sports at a competitive level. It is important to involve repetitive movement, but the movements must also be performed correctly. And, this applies to softball game. If you want to succeed as a softball player, you need to take things more seriously than most people who only take up the sport as a hobby, which covers from how well and how long you practice to the amount of focus that you have on every game.

Softball drills need a lot of time and effort and to be able to practice these effectively, one must have a coach. Whether they are a volunteering parent, a first time coach, or veteran, it does not matter as long as they familiarize themselves with a large variety of youth softball drills in order to improve the proficiency of their players. Moreover, for coaches, it is necessary for them to know and understand youth softball drills before they can implement these drills for their players.

The first drill is the Youth Softball Base Running Drills, this is one of the often overlooked secrets to base running is the ability of the runners to cut the corners of the bases when rounding them and proceeding to the next base. This involves hitting the base at an angle so that your right foot cuts the bag. In that way, your left foot is on stride and heading toward the next base. You can cut down on the time it takes to circle the bases by practicing cutting the bases in this manner.

Secondly is the Youth Softball Throwing Drills, this is one of the softball drills that will improve your throwing ability, by practicing a quick release. This can be done by lining up players at home plate, and at each base. You have the throws emanate from home plate where pitchers and catchers are located. The first line of players takes their positions in the field. The catcher throws the softball to the fielder at second base, who tosses it to the third baseman, who tosses it to the first baseman, who tosses it back home to the catcher. Repeat this drill three times, and use a stop watch to note time. The team with the quickest time gets a reward.

Youth Softball Batting Drills is the last but not the least youth drills. One way to improve players' hitting is to improve their ability to recognize a pitch, such as a fastball, a changeup, a curve, swerve or slider. If you paint a number on the softball, the batter must concentrate and identify the number as the pitch comes to the plate. After the batter swings at the pitch, he or she must identify the number on the softball.

By implementing youth softball drills as a customary part of your practice sessions, you will be helping to elevate your abilities in order for you to play softball game at a highest possible level.

Understand the Behavior of Spectators and Fans

Sports are a social phenomenon and from time immemorial, the spectators are as important a part of the game as the players themselves. Sports have news value. It's a discussion point, it's entertainment, it's something to think about for the average working person, it helps them to unwind and it certainly creates patriotic feelings. Sport marketers know that extensive promotion can increase TV audience sizes and attendance at sports venues and the business aspect of sports takes over.

Spectator behavior can unnerve players. Fans can be a blessing and fans can be a hindrance, too. Some fans get emotionally involved-their interest becomes intense and leads to crazy behavior. But, by and large every player secretly enjoys having fans, and fans add to a player's confidence levels. Fans make a sports professional feel valued. Teams always perform better on home turf, when are egged on by adoring fans.

Let's take a look at spectator behavior and its implications.

Psychology of Fans and Spectator

· Fans get caught up in the competitive aspects of the game and the excitement of for their chosen player.

· For some, it is an escape from the daily humdrum of life and work/family pressures.

· The need to identify with a winner creates the intense interest in a few key performers.

· Spectators get into a state of exuberance when they go a sports event. They mean to fun and enjoy themselves. When they scream out their favorite player's name, for them it is all part of having fun and enjoying the moment. There is rarely any other ulterior motive involved.

· When fans scream and shout out their favorite names, they are not consciously putting down any other player.

· Spectators sometimes seem to taunt or heckle a player for mistakes and slip-ups. You have to learn to take it in stride. They just want to see a good game.

· The sense of association that they create for themselves around lead performers is linked to their own identity and self-image.

· They have a sense of heightened expectation from their favorite players. Fans expect more from the players they support and root for.

· You have to go out there and do your best. If fans approve and enjoy your approach to Game, they will let you know of their appreciation by cheering you.

· Fans choose their heroes for various reasons. Their choice revolves around perceptions and sometimes fantasies. For example, a fan might think

I like "xyz" because he played very well in a previous match, and he was responsible for the winning goal.

I like "xyz" because he looks so cute.

Among teenagers, it is quite often based on the looks of the player. English Soccer player David Beckham has a huge fan following because of his movie-star looks. He is also a fashion icon and has a youth following all around the world. Wrestler A. J. Styles has quite a fan following reportedly because of his boyish good looks.

· Fans can be fickle as well and shift their focus when new players enter the scene and make their mark in a sport.

Here's an interesting example of fickle fan behavior. Grappler Bas Rutten is Dutch. His initial training is in the martial arts of Karate and Tae Kwon Do and later in Thai boxing. He became Dutch Champion, won just about everything, and had a huge adoring fan following. He however lost one match after a long spell of wins, and to his shocked surprise, fans turned their backs on him. After this incident, Bas decided never to play in Holland again.

What kind of approach should a player have toward fans and spectators?

It is easy for you to get disheartened when fans keep yelling out an opponent's name more often than yours. Fans are an important and integral part of sports events, but they have a peripheral role in the overall scheme of things. What they think, say, or yell out should have no bearing on your performance and should be treated as amusing background noise.

The point to remember is that their behavior is entirely personal and is based on the need to identify with someone who they perceive to be special. It's their personal choice; it's an individual thing. The game and your contribution to it are more important than concerning yourself with fan behavior.

Given here is the case of three high-profile players. Each of them reacts quite differently to fans.

· Wrestling Champion A. J. Styles (Alan Jones) is always willing to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. Let's take a look at his views on fans:

· Athletics distance-running legend Haile Gebrselassie won a decisive victory at the Boston Indoor Games in early 2004 in the 3000-meter track event. The event attracted a sell out crowd of 4000 spectators. Though the crowd was delighted, Gebrselassie felt that he I disappointed the crowd because he did not break the world record on that day.

· On the other hand, boxing legend Lennox Lewis remained aloof for much of his celebrated career, and this did not go down well with fans in America. He did not spend time prompting himself and his reclusive behavior is reported to have hurt his popularity. Tickets for matches were never sold out unless another well-known player was involved in the match.

All these players have different approaches to fans. Styles feels fans are important and that they car when they come to his matches. Gebrselassie is concerned with pleasing spectators, while Lewis just wants to be left alone.

The 2500 fans of NASCAR legend racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. were taken on a cruise, and every so often such events are planned for his fans. So, it's each to his or her ways.

It's really up to you; whether you choose to take into account the views of fans and spectators. Pay attention to your fan following, or stay away from it all. The key issue is to play your game in line with your goals and objectives. Fans matter, but only in a superficial way. Your decisionsyou're your career track are your own choice.

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Tips in Softball Hitting

Perfect Hit, How to make it? Softball hitting is said to be one of the most important skills in playing softball. I am certain that you have already read that statement for many times now. But then I am saying it again on this article because it's the truth.

It is essential for a team to have an excellent softball hitter. You are a softball hitter. As the hitter of the team, greater and bigger responsibilities lie in your hands. Sometimes these things caused a lot of pressure. As you watch a professional softball hitter, you are thinking on how he was able to do it. What did he do to make a perfect hit?

Well, there is really no perfect formula when it comes to softball hitting. You may think of copying the strategies of the player that you are watching but then there is this tendency that his strategies in softball hitting will not suit you. The secret behind the success of every hit lies on the knowledge on what to do first and what to do next. It lies on the familiarization of the proper mechanics.

The stance. The stance is the position of the hitter when he will release a swing. This is that start of it all. This serves as the foundation for the swing. The hitter must have the proper position so that he will be able to have a perfect swing that would eventually result to a perfect hit. As a hitter, you must see to it that you feet are just outside your shoulders and your weight must be equally distributed to the inside balls of your feet. Balance is important. You should not forget that. The line drawn through your toes must extend directly to the pitcher who is about to throw the ball. Your hands must be level with your shoulders and it must be aligned of your rear shoulders. The distance of your hands from your body must be about four to six inches away.

Getting ready for the swing. This is the loading phase. This is when you are already shifting the weight of your hands backwards so that they can have a greater distance that can be applied before you hit the ball. You are loading your power during this time. The hands must now be aligned behind the shoulder and then gently stride the front foot forward directly toward the direction of the pitcher.

The swing. Successful and famous hitters always release perfect swings. They were able to do these because they keep on practicing and they do this thing repeatedly. You too can do this. The bottom of the palm down is the one that guides the bat. The top of the palm is the one that pushes the bat. Your arms must be bent slightly as the bat extends. Your eyes must be focused on the ball and the pitcher who is going to throw the ball. When you are about eight inches from the ball, your top wrist must now push the bat to finally hit the ball.

Football Betting: A Gambling Path to Success

For the serious sports gambler, football betting can provide an opportunity not found in many other games of chance. Football betting offers many nuances to the sports bettor that can provide for ways to become very successful beyond the normal methods of gambling such as card games. If you can learn these intricacies, such finding information that can help you beat the betting line, you will make money consistently.

Point spreads are the main method used to establish a baseline for gambling sites such as "www.betonline.com." These point spreads establish one team or another as the "favorite," which means that the team labeled the favorite has to win by the established point spread for the gambler who bets on them to win. Conversely, the gambler who is betting on the "underdog" receives points and can lose by one point less (or 1/2 point) than the established betting line but still win the wager. These point spreads are the key to football betting.

Football betting allows many ways for the sports gambler to win. If you follow a team closely and notice trends, such as perhaps one team playing the run better than another team, football wagering can offer an avenue to gambling success. This is only one way that football betting can be profitable. "Streaking" teams can signal another way for a gambler to succeed while betting on football. Weather is another way for the successful gambler to profit when football betting. Some teams don't play well in the cold, others do. If you can spot this trend, you will win in this type of wagering.

Injuries are a major part of the game of football and by watching the injury list, you can give yourself opportunities to beat the point spread. A player doesn't necessarily have to forced from the game for you to find an advantage this way. Often, a player coming back from injury is not capable of playing at 100% and this information, especially if it involves a key player, can be utilized to give you an advantage when football betting.

Although point spreads fluctuate all the way up until the kickoff for the game, the point spread you wager against is the only spread that affects your bet. If you can get a lot of points and wager while receiving those points, that is the football betting line that controls your wager. So if a player is injured in practice, your bet is not affected. However, that can also work against you if it is a player on the team you have bet on that is injured.

Football betting can be a very profitable proposition for the serious sports gambler. Following the point spread and betting when it is to your advantage can be a path to wagering success.

Top games of the 60’s

The swinging sixties, as it is known, is considered by many as the best decade for music, free spirit and generally everything you could want out of life. The sixties was also a great period for toys and games as well, with many of the best games coming from the sixties.

What would be considered retro toys now was the latest thing in the sixties, and here are some of the retro games that were played in the sixties that you can still buy today, making classic gifts for children or for someone who remembers the sixties first hand.

Etch a Sketch was a classic 1960's toy where you used knobs on a plastic board to draw a picture with straight lines. It was very difficult, even for the most gifted artist, but very addictive.

The 'Game of Life' was also created in the sixties and allowed families to play together on what would become one of the most popular board games of all time.

It may seem hard to believe but the plastic toys known as GI Joe were also from the sixties, and they're coming back in a big way with a Hollywood movie this summer.

One of the best retro toys that you can still buy in the shops now was from the sixties, Hot Wheels cars. They're exaggerated cars with cool paint effects and they'll travel as far as the room will allow when you push them; they were first released in 1969.

Stress Busters: Techniques to De-stress

• Confidence-building self-talk
• Exercise
• Refocusing through breath control
• Peaceful imagery
• Meditation
• Reorienting goals
• Articulating

Every grappler and combat athlete has to find his or her own stress buster by trying out these techniques and choosing one that works best for him/her during mental preparation.

Confidence-building self-talk:

The self-talk that you normally use to build your confidence levels can work on your stress levels, too. When you begin to feel more confident, your anxieties and fears reduce. Emotional balance can be achieved if you are able to keep your confidence level high even as unwelcome thoughts enter your mind and threaten to undermine your composure.

Exercise:

The exercise regimen that you follow for your physical fitness can have a positive effect in reducing stress as well. There is scientific research that shows that physical exercise can boost brain function, perk up your mood, and increase the ability to assimilate information. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and leads to the release of mood-altering chemicals in the brain.

The normal function of the brain is dependent on the volume of blood flow through its blood vessels. The brain relies on adequate blood flow for oxygen supply. If there is low oxygen supply, the brain may not be able to release the beneficial chemicals that effect behavior and mood.

The strenuousness of an exercise routine can lift the senses and invigorate the mind. This is caused by speeding up blood flow to the brain, and the increased oxygen levels release beneficial chemicals that clear the mind of recurring negative thought processes. The physical exertion develops a feeling of well-being in you and also helps you sleep soundly.

Refocusing through breath control:

If stress makes you prone to panic attacks, then you need calming techniques. Refocusing your thoughts through breathing control is an effective way to stress reduction. This method can be used even in the midst of an encounter.

There are situations during an encounter when you are unable to summon the right moves and. if you are already stressed out, this leads to panic. Panic leads to freezing and going blank. To avoid this, you can apply the technique called refocusing that pushes out the panic and focuses your mind back to the task at hand, to help you reestablish yourself in the game.

The technique is based on the principle that "the present is all that matters." There is no point in feeling upset, and there is also no point in hassling that you may lose the match. The only thought in your mind should be "how do I move forward from here."

Simple tips to help you refocus:

Once you get yourself into the state of the present, the "here and now" and nothing else, there is a very simple approach you have to follow to stop the panic. You have to regulate your breathing.

If necessary, close your eyes and concentrate on slowing your breath and regulating it. You have to feel yourself inhaling and exhaling. All it takes is a few seconds. As your breathing starts flowing smoothly, you will find yourself calming down, and once you calm down you will be able to focus your thoughts on the moves that you should ideally make.

This is not as difficult as it sounds. If you are into adventure sports, I'm sure you've encountered a freeze moment while rock climbing or trekking. What did you do then? You must have taken a deep breath and focused your thoughts on the best way to move a leg or an arm in order to avoid a fall and get out of the spot you are in. It is very similar on the mat, too.

Also known as centering, refocusing can help you regain your composure. As the panic lifts, you are once again able to think clearly. When you stay calm, you can deal with tough situations far better. You can use this method in-between bouts so that you refresh your mind with your strategy for every sequence in the fight. After a while it will become an automatic process for you, and you enter every encounter with a set of tactics and strategies rather than a backlog of worries or negative thoughts.

You can also use this technique if you happen to panic a day before the fight. Simple steps to follow:

Step 1

You should first remind yourself to stop worrying about the match.

Step 2

Bring your thoughts back to the present. Tell yourself that right now, thinking through your plans. Strategies and practice is a lot more important.

Step 3

Carry out breath control for a short while.

Step 4

When your breathing calms you down, use a cue word like "refocus" or "centre".

Step 5

Then refocus your thoughts on your game plan or mental preparation methods like visualization.

Peaceful Imagery:

Another way to deal with stress and relax the mind in the days preceding a fight is through visualization of happy, cheerful and peaceful surroundings. Recall any environmental scene that created a sense of peace or harmony within you. It can be the beach, snow-clad mountains, sounds of a waterfall, or greenery. These images that made you feel good can serve as a mental retreat or sanctuary away from stressful thoughts.

Meditation:

In meditation, you completely focus your thoughts for a length of time on one particular relaxing thought. During this time, you hear the sound of silence and your mind concentrates fully. The process gives the mind and the body the opportunity to completely relax and rejuvenate. When you consistently use the technique, you fortify yourself against mental burnout.

There are several approaches to meditation. Meditation requires you to get into a comfortable sitting position and then use methods like­

• breathing
• the repetition of a "chant" word continuously
• focusing on a mental image of your choice

In meditation, you learn to hold a thought and go with it for a period of time. Your concentration also improves while your body and mind relax and de-stress.

Reorienting goals:

At times stress can be caused by aiming too high and not being mentally or physically prepared for a challenge. When you tone down your goals to realistic levels and participate in matches that suit your skill level at a particular stage of your career, then the source of stress is removed.

Articulating:

This is a simple process of talking about your anxieties, fears, or nervousness, and not necessarily to a counselors or sports psychologist. You can talk and articulate about your emotional tension to a friend, coach, or family member. Just getting it out in the open instead of internalizing it usually gives a grappler or combat athlete "emotional release" and sets you thinking of solutions to deal with the source of the stress.

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Softball Drills - Discover the Drills That Can Help You Improve Your Skills

It is very important that each player must do everything in order for them to increase their skill in playing softball. He must persevere and he must be willing to learn new things everyday or else he will be left behind. As time goes by, different softball drills are being introduced to help every player to develop their skills.

Skills like pitching, hitting, catching, and running are significant in softball. These skills are difficult but with the help of varied softball drills, these skills will not be impossible to improve. You and your team must do these drills repeatedly so that your skills will be perfected.

However, the coach must be aware that each player has different capacities. They have this different skill level. Aside from that, they also have this different role in the team. They can either be a hitter, a catcher, or a pitcher. A certain drill may be applicable to a certain player but it may not be applicable to everyone. So a coach must have varied drills that will suit and can be helpful to everyone.

In order to know what softball drills will suit your players, the first thing that you must do is observe them observe where field they lack and where is their strength. Once you have identified these things it will be much easier for you to choose what drills they are going to execute.

Here are some examples of the drills that you can introduce to your players:

• Run bases. The players just have to jog for even bases and sprint on the odd. You may think that this is just a very simple drill but then this can surely help a lot because it can improve the strength of the lower body of each player and it can also develop their speed which is a very essential thing in softball. This drill is fun and it is easy to follow.
• Sign Assigning. You must know that physical strength is not the only thing that needs to be developed in playing softball. Mental ability is also needed here because you are also thinking while you are playing. Sign assigning is a drill that focuses on improving mental toughness and alertness of every player. You must assign some signs that only you and your players know. Other teams must not have any idea about those signs. Use them during games. For sure the strategies of your team will remain as a secret by using these signs.
• Machine hitting. This drill will focus in improving the hitting skill of a player. You need to prepare ball that are green and blue in color. Hide the balls before putting them on a pitching machine. Tell your players to hit the green and bunt the blue. This will help your players to improve their focus and concentration.

You must not just pick a softball drill. Pick wisely and pick only those that will suit and will help your players. This will surely help in boosting the performance of your team and you will surely be declared as the champion next season.