3 Recommendations for Running Coach and Volunteer Background Checks in Youth Sports

No child should ever have to suffer from sexual abuse, especially while participating in a sports organization that is supposed to be about having fun, making friends and learning new things. While it takes a continued and dedicated effort from sports organizations, coaches, parents, volunteers and the rest of the community at large to protect youth athletes from sexual abuse, volunteer background checks can stop a lot of would-be predators from ever entering a youth sports organization. Here are a few things to consider:

1. All adult volunteers must complete a background check prior to working with any youth sports organization, including criminal history and sex offender registry checks. This includes anyone that might work for the league such as a coach, official, groundskeeper and so forth. Anyone who might have any contact (or opportunity to interact) with the children should be required to complete a background check, no matter how unlikely it seems that they would be a predator. The youth league is ultimately responsible for who is allowed into the organization and it's much better to be extra strict on making sure everyone passes a background check than risk letting even one potential predator slip through the cracks.

2. It's important that the league determines what offenses that could appear during a background check would automatically disqualify a volunteer from being allowed to join the organization. While someone with a history of abuse or violence is easy to disqualify, should people with DUIs on their records be allowed to volunteer? The league needs to decide that. Look at things in black and white; when everyone knows where the line in the sand is it's much easier to create a safe environment for youth athletes. No one should be exempt from this "no go" list, no matter what their qualifications may be.

3. Fingerprint-based screening is often considered the "gold standard" of background checks; however it is not permitted in some states and can be too expensive for many sports organizations to implement even if they do have legal access to it. While the laws from state to state may vary, each organization should make use of the most comprehensive screening available. Keep in mind that different states may have different information on the same person. Someone volunteering in California might have a criminal past in Pennsylvania, but that information might show up in the California state check.

Sports Conditioning Training: 4 Essential Elements

Sports conditioning training is complex, and requires athletes to understand many important elements. This is why athletes' conditioning routines are often times a topic of debate. The debate is the result of thousands of different viewpoints from athletic professionals who have their own separate ideas about which conditioning methods are most beneficial for athletes.

In order to understand sports conditioning, you need to learn about four important elements.

The first question is, what energy system is necessary for your individual sport?

What kind of movement does your sport require? Non-linear or linear?

Does your sport require short explosive movements or repetitive single-speed movement?

Do you train year-round?

All four of these questions are essential for developing a proper conditioning training routine.

Uncovering Energy Systems

Every athlete must understand what energy system his or her sport requires. In every sporting event, there are two energy systems that the body uses. The first is the anaerobic system. For something to identify as anaerobic, it must be a movement that last for less than two minutes.

Anaerobic exercises are typically used to increase explosiveness, increase lean muscle mass, eliminate fat storage, and increase overall conditioning levels. This is because most anaerobic routines are of high-intensity. Some popular anaerobic exercises include weightlifting, sprints, or plyometrics.

In sports, some anaerobic movements include hitting a golf ball, swinging a bat, rebounding a basketball, or scoring a touchdown to name only a few. On the contrary, the aerobic energy system is completely different. Typically, a movement is considered aerobic when it lasts longer than two minutes, maintains a singular pace, and is used for a long duration of time. While many aerobic exercises can decrease fat storage, they can also decrease muscle mass. Aerobic exercises are designed to increase slow twitch muscle fibers.

Some aerobic exercises including swimming, cycling, or long distance running.

Sports that rely primarily on the aerobic system include swimming, cross-country, and triathlon athletes.

What is Linear and Non-linear Movement?

Every athlete must determine what type of movements their particular sport requires. By doing so, it will be easier to structure a conditioning training regime that is sport-specific.

Players must understand that linear is any movement that is in a direct line, and non-linear is any movement with immediate change of direction. In reality, the majority of sports utilize non-linear movements. This is why it's important to include conditioning exercises that involve non-linear movements.

Some linear methods are effective like sprints or hills sprints, but for the most part, athletes should focus on gaining quicker change of direction. Cross-country and sprinting are both sports that can rely more on linear techniques since both sports are completely linear by nature. However, it's still important that these athletes utilize non-linear techniques as well.

Does your sport require explosive movements?

This is a pretty easy question to answer because it's obvious whether or not your sport is explosive. Do any of the movements in your sport require you to accelerate into motion or change direct?

If the answer is yes, then your sport is explosive. In this case, your conditioning training should always be structured to increase explosiveness. Avoid running long distance, and pretty much avoid all forms of aerobic conditioning.

Athletes Must Train Year-Round

Athletes must train year-round in order to maintain and increase conditioning capacity. Athletes must not lose their gains during the season, and need to focus on increase their conditioning ability during the off-season.

Don't let all your hard-work from the off-season be lost during the season! Now that you understand some important sports conditioning requirements, you know that your routine is depends on the nature of your sport.

Table Tennis Is a Pastime That Never Gets Old

Table tennis, or ping-pong, is a game in which two opponents hit a small ping pong ball back and forth across a table, divided by a net, using ping pong paddles. Created in 1926, table tennis has changed and become more of a sport over the decades and has even been classified as an Olympic sport. While created originally as a favorite hobby for the young and old alike, this game has become a competitive sport, and has been redesigned by many players to accommodate their wants and size of social gatherings. You can even find any type of table to meet your sporting needs.

While the original table tennis table was a hard table approximately 9 feet long and 5 feet wide, many different types have been created to accommodate more than just two players, and to give the player a different feel when competing. There are many options available, such as a triangular table to allow 3 players to play, an octagonal table that allows 4 players to play, and even a hexapong table designed to allow 6 players to compete at once. In colleges across the world, young adults have even created their own version of this multi-faceted game called beer pong. While there are no official rules or table guidelines for this version of table tennis, the general idea is to get your ping pong ball into your opponents beer cup, which in turn has them consume the entire glass of beer. The first person to give up is considered the loser, while the remaining opponent in crowned champion.

Choosing a paddle is just as important as choosing the table you will be playing on because different table tennis paddles offer different speeds, spins, and will be easier to control based on the type of grip you choose. While paddles are generally made up of wood covered in some sort of thin rubber material, choosing a paddle with a straight handled grip is the best option which will give the player more flexibility and control. If playing professionally, choosing something sturdy with a sponge like cover is the best option, while really anything that allows you to hit the ball with ease will work for in-home play.

Ping pong is one of the few pastimes that refuses to go out of style. With new techniques, tables, and rules created with every generation, this sport is sure to stay in style for decades to come. This is truly a pastime that never gets old.

Flying Remote Control Planes Alone (Part 1)

Two basic options are relevant to the subject; the first is "Will you be flying alone or with a group of flight enthusiasts?". If you are flying alone, there are some basic considerations that must be taken into account. We will cover flying in groups later in a separate articles.

When flying alone, a few things to keep in mind are as follows:

a) Location: If there is a good runway without obstructions, high voltage lines, or lots of people then you are most likely safe and good to go. Let's explore this a little further. Obstructions must be flown around and if your skill level is not top notch, it is very likely that you will cause a catastrophic loss to your aircraft. High voltage line while easy to miss do pose a threat as they can interfere with your transmitter which again will create a likelihood that you will crash. Remember that people are obstructions and the more people the higher the possibility that you may crash your plane into a crowd causing injury and possible lawsuits. It is fun to have people watch your flight and many people will gravitate to the lure of flight; but, you need to be proficient. If you are just starting out, make sure you are alone or with trusted friends standing behind you.

b) Pre-Flight Checks: Just as pilots of full size aircraft complete a pre-flight check list, you must also do the same before taking flight. The reason is simple; mechanical and electrical devices are prone to failure. Ensure that the transmitter controls are in a neutral position. Example: do not have the throttle at full speed. Then place your plane on the ground and turn on the transmitter and connect the battery on the plane to the appropriate connection. Check your transmitter battery power level as weak batteries could bring your plane down. While your plane is on the ground, test out the controls on the transmitter to ensure they respond as expected. This applies to three, four, or even six channel controllers. Select a good take off runway and taxi your plane down the runway and back without actually getting enough speed to leave the runway. If everything seems to be operating as expected, go down the run way with a little more speed and gently lift off the ground and then land again. Do this several times. Things you want to look for when you lift off are shifts in your planes direction (left or right). Adjust any shifting issues with the trim controls on your controller. If this does not fix the problem, you may need to adjust the hard linkage to correct the problem.

Good luck (skill) to you and expect more to follow on this subject.

Ten Tips For First Time Nudists

For some people, nudism is just a way to enjoy recreation without the constriction of clothing. For others, it's a way of life. But for all, it fosters the acceptance of their own bodies, whatever age or shape. If you're ready to experience the freedom of clothes-free recreation and learn to stop hating your body, start by reading these ten tips for first time nudists.

1) Do some research. There are different types of nudist places, and one type may be more comfortable for you than another. You may choose to visit a non-landed nudist club, a nude beach, a nudist resort, or any of a number of venues. Just be sure that the place you're considering is not a lifestyle club that covers up its swinger activities by using the term "nudist" or "naturist." Nudism is a wholesome activity that has nothing to do with sex.

2) Enlist a friend. Anything new is easier when you do it with someone you know and trust. But if you don't have any friends who would like to try nudism, go ahead and venture into it alone. You'll soon have new friends who already enjoy clothes-free activities.

3) Make concrete plans. Decide which nudist place you feel you would like to visit. Make a reservation if one is required. If not, set a date to visit and write it on the calendar. This makes it more like a commitment, and you'll be more likely to follow through.

4) Keep it to yourself. If you are at all nervous about visiting a nudist place for the first time, don't tell anyone else you are going. Even if you're not embarrassed about it, other people might be. If they don't understand naturism, they might try to talk you out of going. Don't let their objections deter you.

5) Show up. As the date for your planned visit approaches, you may start to get cold feet. Don't let fear stop you. If you're going with a friend you can encourage each other. If you are going alone, see if there is someone at the entrance who can show you around so you don't have that awkward feeling of not knowing where everything is.

6) Sit on a towel. One of the most common rules of etiquette at a nudist place is to never sit directly on any surface. Always have a towel with you so you can respect this hygienic practice.

7) Be friendly. It doesn't matter where you are or what the situation - if you stay in your shell and don't talk to anyone, you're going to feel conspicuous and uncomfortable. Once you're in the midst of the group, introduce yourself and let people know you're a first time nudist. Everyone has a "first time" story, and soon you'll realize that your initial nervousness is not unique.

8) Don't make inappropriate jokes or comments. Nudism is about enjoying life in a natural state, and participants want to feel they can do so in a safe and respectful environment. Jokes of a sexual nature or disparaging remarks about people's bodies can make the others feel uncomfortable, and you won't be welcome.

9) Show respect for others. At first you may worry about keeping your eyes above or below a certain point when you look at other people. Relax and let your eyes drift naturally. It's okay to look around, but don't stare. Also, don't photograph people without their permission. Some folks don't mind, but others do. Always ask first.

10) Respect the boundaries, both of the location and of the people. Once on the nudist grounds, don't wander outside of the established nude areas. Don't be a pest. Just as in any situation, there are times when people want to have their own space. If you sense someone wants privacy, leave them alone. Refrain from sexual activity. That is not the purpose of a nudist place. Nudity does not equate to sex, and if you overstep this boundary, you will be asked to leave.

Bonus tip for men - Sexual arousal is frowned upon at nudist places, but it is understood that any number of things can cause involuntary arousal in a man. If it happens to you, simply go for a swim or cover up with a towel until things relax.