A Set Of Helpful Standards

The National Alliance For Youth Sports has developed the following standards for parents in developing and administering youth sports for children. Involved parents should:

* Consider and carefully choose the proper environment for their child, including the appropriate age and development for participation, the type of sport, the rules in the sport, the age range of the participants, and the proper level of physical and emotional stress.

* Select youth programs that are developed and organized to enhance the emotional, physical, social and educational well-being of children.

* Encourage a drug, tobacco and alcohol-free environment.

* Recognize that youth sports are only a small part of a child’s life.

* Insist that coaches be trained and certified.

* Make a serious effort to take an active role in the youth sports experience of their child.

* Be a positive role model exhibiting sportsmanlike behavior at games, practices, and home, and give positive reinforcement to their child and support to the coaches.

* Demonstrate a commitment to their child’s youth sports experience by annually signing a parental code of ethics.

Keeping Sports Fun
* If you decide to let your child play on a “Select” team, recognize that your child may face additional pressures, and you may need to take steps to keep sports at that level in perspective.

* While virtually all coaches want to make sports an enjoyable activity for kids, there are a few coaches who will use their position to exploit children. Following are questions for parents suggested by the Florida branch of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:

1. Does the organization do a background check on coaches?

2. What is the coach’s philosophy about winning and sportsmanship?

3. Are there other adults who supervise off-site travel?

4. Do children use a locker room to dress, and are there multiple adults present in the locker room when children are using it?

5. Do you as a parent have input into the sporting activity?

6. Does the coach promise to make your child a champion player, or want to spend time alone with your child outside of scheduled activities?

7. Do you as a parent talk to your child about how he or she likes the coach or the sport?

Where Does It Hurt?

In every sport there is a risk of injury. To reduce the risk:

* Take your child for a complete physical exam before taking part in any sport. Some children have serious physical conditions that can be aggravated by exertion.

* Become educated on the possible injuries that can occur in the sport. Talk with a sports medicine doctor or trainer to develop a fitness plan, and to get guidelines on preventing overuse injuries.

* Begin conditioning exercises before the season begins.

* Make sure your child has good equipment that fits well.

* Use eye guards and mouth guards for high-risk sports.

* Don’t ignore pain. If a child says something hurts, see a sports medicine doctor.

* Buy a book on sports medicine and keep it handy. It will help you treat minor injuries at home. It will also help you oversee your child’s general physical condition.

* Insist on safe playing facilities, healthful playing situations, and proper first aid applications.

* Know the answer to these questions: Where is the nearest hospital? How would I get there in an emergency? Who can I call for immediate attention if my child is injured?

* A trainer, parent or coach trained in CPR, and access to a telephone, should be available near the playing field.

* Children are especially vulnerable to overuse injuries because of the softness of their growing bones and the relative tightness of their ligaments and tendons during growth spurts. One way to avoid overuse injuries is to never increase intensity, duration, frequency or distance by more than 10 percent a week.

* Watch the weather. Heat illness can occur when it’s hotter than 85 degrees with a humidity of 70 percent or more.

* Make sure your child drinks enough water during a sporting contest. If a child asks for water, give it to him or her. Their body is sending an important signal.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Myre

1. You bought a video camera

2. You want to shoot sports of your kid

3. Here is how to do it right!

What a wonderful age of technology we live in. You can buy the greatest gadgets now days to record video and music and play them in all sorts of ways on other great technology gadgets from computers, DVD’s, MP3 players, VCR’s, and many more. It is all great stuff. But they all come with thick owners manuals that do not always get you going the right direction. You may eventually learn to use your great new camera for instance, but that does not mean you will necessarily take pictures that are worth looking at down the road. Rolling tape in your camera is one thing and creating video that is high quality and interesting is another thing. The goal of this product is to bring you up to speed with using your video camera (whatever format, and whatever brand) to get the best results for recording those precious moments of your kid’s athletic achievements.

We as parents spend plenty of hours out on the field, court, pool, or track watching our kids take part in and compete in youth sports. If you have a video camera you are going to want to record some of these events for posterity and perhaps education. Following the simple steps in this guide will help you to capture them in the best possible fashion so that it is watch able but also usable down the road.

My video expertise stems from two decades as a network television cameraman and as a parent with several kids actively involved in youth sports. In my years of shooting video professionally I have been around the world and seen just about every type of news event. I also spent 15 years covering pro sports events for my employer. These were the best type of assignments as far as I was concerned. In my entire career the things I have enjoyed most is being able to go to places where the average person cannot. In sports that usually means being on the field, next to the court, in the press box, or in the pit. I have shot football games of all levels up to and including NFC and AFC championship games. Living in the Bay Area has allowed me to cover many baseball pennant races and several World Series. I was right behind home plate the night the earth shook in the 1989 World Series. Talk about a shock. I had to give up covering a World Series between the two Bay Area teams to go and cover a huge news event. Baseball seemed small for a while after the magnitude of the earthquake. The point in this is that I love sports, have been around sports my whole life and I know how to shoot video of sports. With that in mind I will do my best to give you advice on how to do the same.

Gear

Now whether you have the latest DV camera in your hands or an old VHS format camera there are basic things you will need to keep in mind if you are going to shoot sports. As we say in the video business your camera is only as good as the glass that you hang in front of it. The better the lens the better the results will be no matter what kind of recording format you use. Now you already have a camera in hand and may never have heard this particular bit of advice so it is too late to factor it into the equation. However if you have camera in hand and it has any limitations on what it can do due to the lens being less than wonderful there are things you can do to mitigate the situation. We will discuss those things in more detail later on.

The key factors before setting out on your game day video assignment are to make sure you know the operating functions of the gear, have a tape supply in hand (soon to be DVDs with the revolution in gear design that is taking place right now), and batteries fully charged. I know these may seem like the simply obvious things but even the pros have to constantly remind themselves to check and double check these items.

A little aside here about preparation. Over the many years of covering news I learned lots of little tips from other photographers in the field and applied them to my work regimen. In the early days of video we always had to carry around a portable hair dryer because the record decks would seize up if the moisture levels got to high. So in the winter time if you came in from the cold outside into a nice warm building the air would condense inside the machine and cause moisture build up. The warning light would come on and bang we were dead in the water. One of us would have to run to the car and get the hair dryer, fire it up and chase the water away from the record heads of the deck. It caused some very funny moments in public places I can assure you. (This by the way can still be a problem even today with electronics/VCRs/lenses. Too much moisture can cause havoc. So just remember a portable hair dryer can save your day)

Another thing I learned from others is the value of backup. A few years ago I was out on assignment and we had a young eager college intern along with us in the field. This young man wanted to learn all about what we did in our job. He was very interested in how to take pictures, unlike most of our interns who only wanted to become reporters or anchors. He asked many questions and after seeing that he was really paying attention I decided to take him under my wing and really fill him up with information. One tidbit that I shared with him was to always have an emergency stash of tape in his car when out on assignment. He didn’t quite understand the importance of this at first since I had already drilled him about always bringing tape stock with him when going out on assignment. I filled him with stories of times when something or other happened and I’ll be darned if you didn’t need another tape and there under the seat of the car was that emergency spare. So anyway he went off to graduate from college and get a job in a small market TV station. He would send us progress reports from time to time, which I really enjoyed. Then lo and behold one day he sends me a letter telling me how he got into a jam one day on a story and needed that emergency tape. He had dutifully tucked one under the back seat and it was there to save the day. I hope that what you learn in this book will in some way keep you from having a video failure down the road. What I learned in my career is that video production is 80% of it is dealing with the curves and problems that are thrown at you and 20% talent. If you can learn to trouble shoot then you will always be successful.

My first suggestion for shooting your kids sports activities is to go watch TV. Yes sit down put your feet up and watch some sports on TV. Really watch how they make it interesting at the top level. Then watch the news and see how they cover the games from a news perspective. Don’t pay attention to the content; just watch how it develops visually. Now of course you can never duplicate what the networks are doing with just your one camera. However if you can glean anything from watching it should be how they try to bring intimacy with the athletes out in the broadcast. All the new improvements in covering sports have to do with getting you the viewer as close to the athlete as they can. Bring you into their world. From cameras on wires overhead that swoop along the field to cameras in the net of a hockey game to cameras inside the cars at Daytona, it brings you into the game. Now you cannot stand on the pitchers mound at your kids’ baseball game but you can learn some techniques that can make your baseball video more intimate and therefore more compelling to watch.

A side note here, if your task is to capture the whole game or sporting activity for review as a coaching tool you should focus mainly on getting a good high view and putting the camera on a tripod. Pan slowly to follow action and don’t zoom in and out. My main goal here is not to teach you this skill since it is pretty darn basic. However if this is what you are doing you should do it right. Find the right framing to keep as much of the activity in the frame and follow it carefully. Some sports move quickly from one end to the other and you will have to be smooth. Resist the temptation to follow the ball on full zoom. You will lose. Those guys that shoot sports on TV are full on pros using much better gear than you will ever have at your disposal.

Now in order to get a good video of your child’s game you need to find that emotion and excitement that exists in any game. Think of it as capturing a few of the things that occur and making those golden. Does the team do a pre game cheer? Get up close, stick your camera wither way up high over their heads looking down or get underneath looking up and shoot it in a way that takes the viewer where they can’t go. Capture an at bat in baseball by taking a full pitch cycle in close-up of the pitcher, and then one of the catcher and then as close as you can of the hitter. Show their face if you can. If they get the big hit don’t go crazy rushing to zoom out. Follow the runner down the line. It will be almost impossible to follow the ball so stay with the runner. Look for the angles that will give you these emotional shots.

Some sports are more of a challenge due to the size of the field and the amount of movement up and down the field. Take soccer of instance, if you follow the ball the camera is moving all over the place and the viewer gets queasy. To capture some good video of your kid playing you need to focus on specific shots and not try to follow the play. Look for moments such as throw ins, free kicks, kick offs when things are predictable and you can get closer to the action. Walk down the sideline and wait for the action to come to you. If you child is playing right forward then get ahead of the play and when you see the ball moving towards you then you can find you child and roll tape in anticipation of them playing the ball. Be sure to get some shots of the crowd cheering, the coach watching (not yelling I hope) the goalie waiting in anticipation.

Hold your shots steady for 6-10 seconds at a time. If you are taking a shot of someone watching the game actually count it out in your head (thousand one thousand two…) This will ensure that you get good solid shots and that you don’t run on and on with the shot. Brace your arm against your chest for stability and use your other arm across your belly underneath to create a stabilizing platform. This is in lieu of a tripod of course. If you have a tripod it can always be a good thing to use if it does not get in the way.

Use creative angles as much as possible. Get down low and wait for the action to run by you. Don’t pan with it but rather let the action race through the frame. At a swim meet get the camera down on the deck for more of a swimmers perspective of the action. Of course you may not want to stay there when the swimmers approach for a turn. Digital electronics do not like water inside them. I was getting the most awesome low angle shots of some open water ocean swimmers one time and the boat lurched on me and salt water sprayed over the camera. I had a cover on the camera but salt water seeped into the crannies and it caused us much grief getting it cleaned out so as to avoid damaging the electronics of the camera.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Rockwell

First and foremost, do not allow your child to become a prisoner of their own schedules. Most children cannot handle and do not want to be a part of seven different activities each week. At times this can be from the parents trying to mold their children into something they themselves were unable to accomplish as children or even as adults. Allow your child to express their interests in which sports they would like o be a part of and choose the ones they have talent in or enjoy playing and that fit well into their schedules. Once they are enrolled in the activities it is vital to ensure their needs are being met physically. This means going to bed at a reasonable hour and eating a healthy diet of foods necessary to fuel their sports playing.

Next is time management, what you teach your child as far as how to manage their day when they are young will stick with them for years and as they are adults. If you are always late, it will either annoy your child and they will become someone who is always early or they too will be people that are always late. Do not allow your child to sing up for a team sport and arrive late or miss practices or games as it is not only rude, but the child will not gain the same amount of skill that the others do. It is important to teach your child that what they commit to in sports or anything is life is something they should always follow through with and finish. Allowing them to miss events will only set them for more behavior to miss classes in college and find it completely acceptable, which then leads to missing work and overall becoming a very unstable adult.

While participating in the sports always be sure to encourage your child and not push them. When a parent becomes overbearing toward the child during sports, it gets inside the child’s mind and distracts them from what they are trying to do. It can also be embarrassing to them with their peers close by. Do note ever yell or shout at your child during any sporting events as the consequences can be very damaging. Instead, always smile and they know they can come to you if they need to. Save the criticisms for the ride home and not in a public place that may upset your child. Whether your child is great athlete or not, allowing them to participate in team sports is healthy and a great way to build a well rounded adult in the future. Always be positive and with that kind of support they can achieve anything.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jesus_Smith

The classic NHL home and away jerseys are the most popular, as they are what the players wear during games. All teams have white jerseys that they wear on the road, while these teams’ home jerseys come in the team’s colors. If you plan to support your team in their home rink, purchasing a home jersey is probably a good idea, as that is what most fans in these buildings will wear. These NHL jerseys come in a number of different sizes and even in a woman’s cut, so you will have multiple choices the next time you buy a present for a family member.

The great thing about NHL sports jerseys is that teams are constantly coming out with special jerseys that they will wear periodically. These third jerseys immediately become popular for a team, as they provide something a little different for fans to wear in addition to their traditional NHL sports jerseys. If you love NHL jerseys, you will definitely want to look into some of these third jerseys, as they allow you to be on the cutting edge of style, without venturing too far from your team’s colors. An example of a 3rd jersey in 2009 was the Calgary Flames home red jerseys, as they came in a retro look that was very similar to what the team wore in the 1980s. Teams with a rich history like the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs also wear retro jerseys on a regular basis, although many of these NHL jerseys come from the 1920s and 1930s.

Another great thing that NHL sports jerseys have done in recent years is come in the style of former NHL teams. For example, you can now buy NHL sports jerseys of the Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques, which are teams that have since relocated to different cities. By wearing the jersey of these defunct teams, you can show your support for the team, even though it does not exist anymore. This is always a popular choice for sports fans, as it gives them a chance to take a walk down memory lane by wearing jerseys from these teams.

Pick up your jersey today and begin supporting your team. The next time you watch a game at the rink or in a local pub, you will be happy that you have brought your NHL jersey, as it gives you a sense of camaraderie with other fans. Having something in common with other fans always makes the game more fun and these jerseys will definitely add this to your NHL experience.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Roberts

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints – Brees was in the center of one of the greatest sports stories in a decade, putting the Saints on his back and leading them to their first Super Bowl title. The undersized quarterback has had to fight off doubters his entire college and pro career, and winning the Super Bowl might have changed the conversation to where Brees ranks among all-time great quarterbacks. His popularity has skyrocketed since the Super Bowl victory, and his jersey is the No. 3 top-selling NFL jersey.

3. Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins – After a decade in Philadelphia, McNabb was shipped south to division rival Washington in a stunning move that was questioned by pretty much every NFL expert. Skins fans are now in the same situation that Vikings fans faced last season, rooting for a guy they booed and jeered for the last 10 years. McNabb instantly upgrades the quarterback position in Washington, and makes the Skins legitimate playoff contenders.

4. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos – Maybe the best college football quarterback ever, Tebow seemingly has it all: the talent, the good looks, the humbleness, and the faith. The only thing he doesn’t have is a starting job. Drafted No. 25 in the 2010 NFL Draft, Tebow is the Broncos backup signal-caller behind Kyle Orton but still is one of the most popular players in the league. Shortly after the draft in April, Tebow became the top-selling NFL jersey.

5. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder – Aside from LeBron and Kobe, no player in the NBA is as talented as Durant. At age 21, Durant became the youngest player in NBA history to win the scoring title, averaging 30.1 ppg last season. He only recently turned 22, and many around NBA circles predict that Durant will be the league MVP in 2010-11. He also has one of the coolest specialty jerseys around – pick up your own “Durantula” jersey here!

6. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers – Believe it or not, Bryant is entering his 15th NBA season, but at age 32 he is still one of the best players in the NBA. The five-time NBA champion led the Lakers to another title last season, and remains the most popular NBA player around the world. In fact, Bryant has had the top-selling NBA jersey for several years now. Look for Kobe to overcome injuries this season on his way to leading Los Angeles to a sixth NBA title and a “repeat threepeat.”

7. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies – Halladay will almost surely be the 2010 National League Cy Young award winner, having just finished a season where he went 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA. “Doc” was the biggest offseason acquisition heading into the 2010 season, and he performed even better than anyone could have hoped. Halladay tossed the 20th perfect game in MLB history on May 29 and threw the second no-hitter in postseason history, mowing down Cincinnati, for the icing on the cake.

8. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins – The 23-year-old finished second in the NHL in scoring with 109 points last season (51 goals and 58 assists). After losing to the Detroit Red Wings in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, the Penguins star became the youngest captain in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup when Pittsburgh won it a year later. Look for Crosby to be the face of the league for the next decade.

9. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees – Mr. November was drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 1992 amateur draft, and all these years later he just wrapped up his 16th season as a Yankee, where he has notched 2926 career hits and won five World Series. All this, and Jeter is still just 36 years old. Jeter has the top-selling MLB jersey and is one of the most popular players to ever don the Yankee pinstripes. He’ll likely end up back in the Bronx next season, where he’ll be on track to record hit No. 3000.

10. Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals – The first overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ovechkin has been a dominant force in the NHL for the last half of the decade. The left wing was named the league’s MVP in 2009 and was named to the First All-Star Team for a fifth consecutive season. Ovechkin is one of the league’s most popular players, and currently has the No. 2 top-selling NHL jersey.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_P._Kaiser