When playing a sport it is important that your ankles are strong. Every single time that there is a sprained ankle it weakens and leads to a large ankle sprain. When there is a sprained ankle usually the athlete comes back to early. This keeps them from having an ankle that is strong enough to not be able to need an ankle brace.
Ankle braces help keep it from moving side to side or from a hard jerking movement. Having an ankle brace tight on your ankle will help keep it from doing movements that are bad for the ankle. If the ankle brace isn't tight then there is no point in wearing it. If your ankle can move around freely without any worries, then you should be prepared to have an ankle problem. You don't want to have your ankle brace so tight that your ankle loses blood flow, or is painful when you are walking.
Some coaches don't believe in ankle braces, because they believe that it weakens the ankle. You will see some college teams all wearing ankle braces, or not one player wearing the ankle braces. This is usually decided by the coach on what he or she believes in. Some girls that have had ankle problems will either wear ankle braces or tape their ankle to be in place of an ankle brace. There is also some players that will tape their ankle and wear an ankle brace at the same time. This will happen when the player comes back too early and their ankle is still really sore and weak. This is not a bad thing, but will make your ankle weaker and it makes it harder for it to come back stronger and better than before.
Ankle braces are a good thing for players that in their mind think and worry about hurting their ankle again. In this situation an ankle brace is a great thing for that person, because if they are constantly worried about hurting their ankle all the time. This will be a good solution for them, because the ankle brace will help them believe that their ankle will be fine when going hard at playing the sport you love. I suggest not wearing an ankle brace unless you are think about your ankle being injured again. It is completely your choice.
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Tryouts
Once that final whistle blows in the state tournament for high school, the players know it's club season. The after school practices and team dinners are over with. No more hanging with the girls outside of practice. It is time to find a club that will take you far and will show your talents off to a college volleyball coach.
Club tryouts are probably the most stressful thing. There are so many girls that show up and what if you don't pass, hit or set a ball good when the coaches are looking at you? There is so little time to show what you got. Some coaches on the other hand know some players and know how they play. They have either coached them in the past or have seen them play in their high school season and then doesn't have to keep a close eye on them at tryouts.
Tryouts are at minimum two hours. Depending on the club it could be longer. They consist of many drills and then some playing at the end. The coaches want to make sure you can not only pass a free ball, but can play outstanding defense too. For the front row they want to make sure the hitters can move side to side quickly and jump super high. To be a good front row player, you have to be able to close the block when you are off. Coaches look at the players who communicate extremely well and have the compassion for the game. If you are the type of player that laughs or say oh well when making a mistake coaches won't appreciate you more than they will for other girls. Tryouts is all about which girl is making the extra effort for a ball or giving encouragement to other players.
At the end of the tryout, the coaches round all the athletes up and discuss what will happen in the next few days. When a phone call will occur or an email will come their way to get asked to play for their team. At this time you have shown everything you can offer to the team and is just hoping to receive a call or an email, asking them to come to their team. There is a cut off for when you will be able to tell the coaches that you are going to attend their team.
Club tryouts are probably the most stressful thing. There are so many girls that show up and what if you don't pass, hit or set a ball good when the coaches are looking at you? There is so little time to show what you got. Some coaches on the other hand know some players and know how they play. They have either coached them in the past or have seen them play in their high school season and then doesn't have to keep a close eye on them at tryouts.
Tryouts are at minimum two hours. Depending on the club it could be longer. They consist of many drills and then some playing at the end. The coaches want to make sure you can not only pass a free ball, but can play outstanding defense too. For the front row they want to make sure the hitters can move side to side quickly and jump super high. To be a good front row player, you have to be able to close the block when you are off. Coaches look at the players who communicate extremely well and have the compassion for the game. If you are the type of player that laughs or say oh well when making a mistake coaches won't appreciate you more than they will for other girls. Tryouts is all about which girl is making the extra effort for a ball or giving encouragement to other players.
At the end of the tryout, the coaches round all the athletes up and discuss what will happen in the next few days. When a phone call will occur or an email will come their way to get asked to play for their team. At this time you have shown everything you can offer to the team and is just hoping to receive a call or an email, asking them to come to their team. There is a cut off for when you will be able to tell the coaches that you are going to attend their team.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Being In Shape
Every sport has its on kind of shape. Basketball is sprints going up and down the court multiple times for a certain amount of time. On top of sprinting basketball has defense which is staying in a squat position for awhile and moving side to side. Soccer is a jog sport that once in awhile you have to sprint up the field. Soccer is a sport that you start to sprint and play hard when the soccer ball comes near you. Volleyball is a totally different kind of sport. There is always a dead ball in volleyball for a time to rest. Front row is jumping to block and then running out to get a big transition to be able to jump high and get a kill. Back row is staying in a low squat position the entire time. They are in a base position and then move staying in a squat position to dig the ball from the hitter.
Transition from sport to sport is tough when you aren't in the shape for it. Going from soccer to basketball is not that bad, because you are already used to running constantly even if it is a light jog. Going from volleyball to basketball is extremely tough, because you are not used to a constant sprint. There is a comparison with the position of squatting. There is a constant squat position in the game of volleyball, so being able to play defense is much easier, because you are already used to that position.
The first couple of weeks of practice when going to a new sport is seriously hell. The coaches work the athletes ass off until their bodies are used to the sport. You feel like you are dying on the inside. Now me, it feels like my mouth fills up with blood and that I'm tasting my own blood, but we all know that isn't true. You dread the first two weeks of practice, because you know you are just going to die.
Why Therapy Is a Good Thing
All athletes should participate in therapy. Therapy strengthens the muscles in a way that can't be done by lifting. Lifting gets muscles big and strong to look bigger. Therapy helps train your muscles and ligaments to land correctly, to cut correctly, run correctly etc. Therapy can help prevent injuries. How a large injury happens is from smaller injuries before the big one happens. A sprained ankle can lead to a broken ankle. Hip pain can lead to back injuries or knee injuries. By going to therapy this large injuries can be prevented.
Therapy is also required after an injury has occurred. If there is no therapy after an injury than that muscle or ligament will not get stronger. It will stay weak and will not be ready to play a sport again. Therapy is the opposite of a chiropractor. Chiropractors crack the area on the body to adjust it. This works sometimes but by massaging and strengthening will overall be the better route. You want to have your muscles learn the right way to move. This will help your body as you get older too. Your ligaments won't be worn out when you are at an age where it is hard to walk or get up from the couch.
Have you ever heard the saying, "A habit will come to you when the repetition is repeated for two weeks"? Now in therapy that saying is adjusted. By repeating an exercise like one legged squats it will take longer than two weeks for your body to naturally bend that way. In therapy, the athlete is training themselves a knew way to do things. In knee bending, you have to make sure your knee is trained to bend straight. You don't want your knee going towards the inside. If anything you would rather have the knee bend towards outside of the body. If the knee is constantly bending towards the inside it will more likely end up in a torn ACL or another torn ligament.
Professional athletes and college athletes are participating in therapy, three times a week if not everyday. It is strengthening your own body parts in a way that will make you more successful and better at a sport. I would recommend in therapy on your knees, due to more knee injuries occurring recently.
Therapy is also required after an injury has occurred. If there is no therapy after an injury than that muscle or ligament will not get stronger. It will stay weak and will not be ready to play a sport again. Therapy is the opposite of a chiropractor. Chiropractors crack the area on the body to adjust it. This works sometimes but by massaging and strengthening will overall be the better route. You want to have your muscles learn the right way to move. This will help your body as you get older too. Your ligaments won't be worn out when you are at an age where it is hard to walk or get up from the couch.
Have you ever heard the saying, "A habit will come to you when the repetition is repeated for two weeks"? Now in therapy that saying is adjusted. By repeating an exercise like one legged squats it will take longer than two weeks for your body to naturally bend that way. In therapy, the athlete is training themselves a knew way to do things. In knee bending, you have to make sure your knee is trained to bend straight. You don't want your knee going towards the inside. If anything you would rather have the knee bend towards outside of the body. If the knee is constantly bending towards the inside it will more likely end up in a torn ACL or another torn ligament.
Professional athletes and college athletes are participating in therapy, three times a week if not everyday. It is strengthening your own body parts in a way that will make you more successful and better at a sport. I would recommend in therapy on your knees, due to more knee injuries occurring recently.
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Are Knee Pads Needed
How many volleyball players really know how to dive for a ball? Not many actually. When you are learning how to play the game of volleyball they don't usually teach you how to dive. This lesson is usually taught later, because learning the technique of passing is much more important than diving. Playing volleyball you want to pass the ball before you dive. If a volleyball player is always on the floor and not getting balls up then they aren't doing anything for the team. There is a saying that goes, "my grandmother can dive too. STAY ON YOUR FEET."
When on defensive and there is a strong powerful hitter coming up against the defenders, the defense is usually on their heels so when they tip the defenders will dive for the ball, because they aren't ready for it. Coaches and the other teammates get pissed off if the defender misses the tip. Tips are the easiest kind of balls to pick up.
The correct way to dive is by tucking in your leg and landing on your outer thigh. Knee pads are to protect your knees from brusies and cuts. Because many players don't learn how to dive at a young age, they land on their knees using their knee pads. This is extremely dangerous and bad for their knees. It is important to learn how to dive right, so they can not only save their knees but get balls up that they wouldn't be able to get up before.
When going after a ball you are going to take a big step towards that direction and then tuck your leg and land on your thigh. After the dive you will either do a log roll or a summer salt roll. the summer salt roll is when after the ball is up you will roll over the shoulder that is on the same side of the thigh that you dove on. A log roll is when you roll side ways like a log. The summer salt roll is used more often. It really depends on what the person is doing in the moment on which roll they choose.
When on defensive and there is a strong powerful hitter coming up against the defenders, the defense is usually on their heels so when they tip the defenders will dive for the ball, because they aren't ready for it. Coaches and the other teammates get pissed off if the defender misses the tip. Tips are the easiest kind of balls to pick up.
The correct way to dive is by tucking in your leg and landing on your outer thigh. Knee pads are to protect your knees from brusies and cuts. Because many players don't learn how to dive at a young age, they land on their knees using their knee pads. This is extremely dangerous and bad for their knees. It is important to learn how to dive right, so they can not only save their knees but get balls up that they wouldn't be able to get up before.
When going after a ball you are going to take a big step towards that direction and then tuck your leg and land on your thigh. After the dive you will either do a log roll or a summer salt roll. the summer salt roll is when after the ball is up you will roll over the shoulder that is on the same side of the thigh that you dove on. A log roll is when you roll side ways like a log. The summer salt roll is used more often. It really depends on what the person is doing in the moment on which roll they choose.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Girl Vs. Boy Basketball
There is a large difference between girls and boys when playing sports. They have different body types and have different ways of learning the game.
Boys play fast moving. They are always quick and can jump out of the gym making boys seem so athletic. When you are watching mens basketball you hear their shoes squeak and you are constantly turning your head watching them run up and down the court. When watching girls it is a lot slower. You don't hear their shoes squeaking or turning your head all the time. The ball movement is slower and there aren't as many shots that are being put up due to the game being slower. When boys take a jump shot, it is like they hang in the air for awhile when they shoot. Girls don't do this. It is a quick jump shot. They don't hang in the air or whip their passes to their teammates. You will see more steals in girls basketball than in boys basketball, because of the way they pass the ball. Girls passes are softer and don't whip it to their teammates. This is also a reason why mens basketball is considered faster moving than girls basketball.
Coaches for mens basketball are a lot more mean and can say what they want to their players. Girl coaches are more soft, because girls are drama queens. Coaches could get in more trouble for saying harsh things to girls than to boys.
Boys play fast moving. They are always quick and can jump out of the gym making boys seem so athletic. When you are watching mens basketball you hear their shoes squeak and you are constantly turning your head watching them run up and down the court. When watching girls it is a lot slower. You don't hear their shoes squeaking or turning your head all the time. The ball movement is slower and there aren't as many shots that are being put up due to the game being slower. When boys take a jump shot, it is like they hang in the air for awhile when they shoot. Girls don't do this. It is a quick jump shot. They don't hang in the air or whip their passes to their teammates. You will see more steals in girls basketball than in boys basketball, because of the way they pass the ball. Girls passes are softer and don't whip it to their teammates. This is also a reason why mens basketball is considered faster moving than girls basketball.
Coaches for mens basketball are a lot more mean and can say what they want to their players. Girl coaches are more soft, because girls are drama queens. Coaches could get in more trouble for saying harsh things to girls than to boys.
Powder Buff
Kennedy girls volleyball hosts a boys volleyball tournament for the student body. The girls on the team are the coaches and some will ref the games too. The boys can meet to coordinate clothes to wear and make up a team name. The head volleyball coach for the girls varsity team creates a bracket. This tournament is for fun and to start introducing boys volleyball in the state of Iowa.
The boys get crazy and take this tournament seriously. Yeah they don't have good technique or know how to play at all, but they all want to win. There is a lot of yelling, cheering and laughter in the gym around this time. Some people come and watch these boys play. We usually only have time for two or three games due to having football practice or volleyball practice. The coaches don't actually coach, because they don't really know how to play and they don't comprehend volleyball terminology. They boys will make the subs themselves. They can yell at each other and be mean, because boys don't care about what they say to each other. If the girl coach subbed them out then they would get mad and say things to her that they shouldn't say.
Now whatever team wins earns bragging rights over the other team. Usually there is a freshman, sophomore, junior, varsity team and sports teams like football, golf and soccer. It is pretty cool to watch the boys play and pick up the game fast. The team that loses, gets upset and is pissed off. Powder Buff is a thing we have been doing for three years now and all the boys love it. Come out and watch or play next time we host it!
The boys get crazy and take this tournament seriously. Yeah they don't have good technique or know how to play at all, but they all want to win. There is a lot of yelling, cheering and laughter in the gym around this time. Some people come and watch these boys play. We usually only have time for two or three games due to having football practice or volleyball practice. The coaches don't actually coach, because they don't really know how to play and they don't comprehend volleyball terminology. They boys will make the subs themselves. They can yell at each other and be mean, because boys don't care about what they say to each other. If the girl coach subbed them out then they would get mad and say things to her that they shouldn't say.
Now whatever team wins earns bragging rights over the other team. Usually there is a freshman, sophomore, junior, varsity team and sports teams like football, golf and soccer. It is pretty cool to watch the boys play and pick up the game fast. The team that loses, gets upset and is pissed off. Powder Buff is a thing we have been doing for three years now and all the boys love it. Come out and watch or play next time we host it!
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