Most student-athletes and their family will let the college coach dominate the interview process. The students and their parents should begin to control the process by asking the right questions and understand the coach is making hundreds of calls to other prospects, so find out quickly if there is interest on both sides.
Below are the top 10 questions the student-athlete should ask any college coach or one of their staff members during the one-on-one interview before making a commitment:
1. Based on what you know now, what are my earliest opportunities at playing my position?
2. How many athletes are you recruiting that play my position?
3. How many strong undergraduates are ready to move into the position I play?
4. Do you intend to play me at another position than what I played in high school?
5. What allowances are made for class and exam preparation?
6. Does the athletic program have an off-season schedule?
7. What is the breakdown of the staff, coaches, and their specialties and who will I be working with if I decide to commit to play for your college?
8. If I am offered a partial scholarship, what do I need to do to get a full scholarship?
9. How much money is a typical athletic scholarship worth?
10. If I get hurt, and cannot play anymore, what provisions are available for me in order to keep my scholarship?
The college coach’s main intent is to get the student-athlete to commit, it is very important you ask the right questions so both parties have a clear understand as well as a comfort level before moving to the next step.
Baseball season is upon us. Young baseball players, especially pitchers, may experience “Little League Elbow.”
The elbow is a joint where the upper arm bone (humerus) meets the two bones of the lower arm (Ulna and Radius). The elbow is a hinge and pivot joint. The hinge part of the joint allows the elbow to bend; the pivot part allows the lower arm to rotate. The throwing motion combines elbow flexion/extension and rotation. The repetitive forces from the above motion may pull tiny bone fragments away from the humerus. This can disrupt normal bone growth resulting in deformity.
This occurs when repetitive throwing creates a strong pull of the tendons and ligaments at the elbow growth plate. Growth plates are made of soft cartilage, and therefore are not as tolerant to forces as ligaments, tendons, or mature bone. It is generally the weak link for young pitchers.
The young athlete will complain of pain at the bump on the inside of the elbow. They may also complain of decrease range of motion. Pain is generally worse during and after pitching.
To help prevent ‘Little League Elbow’ all children should be limited in the number of pitches thrown per day. The USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee have published guidelines for maximum pitch counts based on age.
Maximum number of pitches/day
AGE (PITCHES PER DAY)
17-18 (105)
13-16 (95)
11-12 (85)
9-10 (75)
7-8 (50)
American Sports Medicine Institute 2008
How much rest do youth pitchers need? Rest is a critical part to preventing injury. Below are charts to indicate proper rest time. Rest time indicates rest from pitching only. The athlete may play other positions on their ‘rest days.’
For pitchers age 7 to 16:
Pitches in a Day (Rest Time)
61 or more (3 days)
41-60 (2 days)
21-40 (1 day)
1-20 (0 days)
For pitchers age 17 to 18:
Pitches in a Day (Rest Time)
76 or more (3 days)
51-75 (2 days)
26-50 (1 day)
1-25 (0 days)
Little League International, 2008
If a child is complaining of elbow pain and/or restricted range of motion you should have them rest for a few days. If symptoms persist or reoccur when throwing is resumed discontinue throwing and consult a Sports Medicine Physician. The earlier an injury is diagnosed, the earlier treatment can begin. The result is everyone’s goal; shorter healing time and faster return to pitching.
Source: Jeannine K. Hurst MS, ATC is a Certified Athletic Trainer at Providence Athletic Medicine. She holds a Bachelors degree in Sports Medicine and a Masters degree in Sports Medicine/Biomechanics
Under Armour, Inc. which outfits and warms some of the top athletes around the world, just signed a deal to dress youngsters playing football.
Vienna-based USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, had no previous outfitter prior to the deal with the Baltimore-based sportswear apparel company (NYSE: UA).
“It’s a partnership that goes through 2009 with a mix of cash, performance apparel and media,” said Steve Alic, director of communications for USA Football. “Under Armour represents a ground-breaking outfitter partnership for USA Football’s national team program.”
USA Football recently picked Chicago-based Riddell as its official football helmet and protective equipment partner.
USA Football will conduct more than 100 football training events nationwide this year that UA will provide apparel for.
USA’s members that benefit from the training sessions include coaches, game officials and league administrators, who reside in every state and D.C.
The partnership also gives UA the exclusive right to outfit USA Football’s 2009 Junior National Team, America’s first high school-aged national team in football. It will compete this summer, dressed in Under Armour uniforms, against seven other nations at the world championship in Ohio.
UA will also participate in USA Football’s grant program, which awards uniforms and equipment grants each year to youth leagues and high school football programs, based on merit and need. UA’s existing youth partnerships include the Under Armour High School Football All-America Game, and it recently amped up its relationships with universities.
Late last year, Under Armour inked a deal to spend $11 million over five years to outfit the entire Texas Tech University athletic program.
In September, Under Armour and the University of Maryland athletic department announced a five-year, $17.5 million all-apparel pact.
HEAD announced the launch of the new MicroGel Extreme Series featured by a revolutionary material called Teflon® friction reducing polymer. Teflon® friction reducing polymer has been integrated successfully in various branches and HEAD is the first brand to introduce it in the tennis racquet industry. The concept of reducing the friction between the racquet and the strings results in more power on the court.
The new MicroGel Extreme series will be available in January, fabricated with Teflon® friction reducing polymer mixed with Polyamide (PA = standard material for grommets), which is injected before the racquet’s molding process. The result is a racquet designed with a built-in lubricating effect that enables strings to glide fluidly through the grommets with nearly no friction, losing no energy during ball impact.
“The DuPont Teflon® friction reducing polymer is one of the premier innovations on the market today, and we’re extremely proud and excited to be teaming with this brand to improve tennis,” said Robert Marte, Executive Vice President of HEAD Racquetsports. “With its combination of MicroGel technology and Teflon®, the racquet series is one of the most advanced on the market today.”
The Teflon® friction reducing polymer also allows the racquet to maintain a constant and even contact surface over all the grommets, which creates a consistency in the string tension and offers a bigger sweetspot.
In addition to the Teflon® friction reducing polymer, the grommet strip extends around the frame as an inlay into the bumper, which is reinforced by high-resistance aramid fibers, which provide maximum protection against impact and abrasions from competitive court use.
- The MicroGel Extreme with Teflon® polymer offers a perfect combination of weight and balance, allowing it to be quick through the air while still providing rock-solid-feel
- The MicroGel Extreme Pro with Teflon® polymer offers the extra touch and power aggressive players want on the court
- The MicroGel Extreme Team with Teflon® polymer frame shares many of the characteristics of the tour racquets, ensuring maximum spin and power with a unique solid feel and touch.
In addition, HEAD introduced the new Tour Team bag line. The new bag lines are designed with extreme abrasion and dirt resistant material on the bottom; longer, padded shoulder straps; metal buckles; and a detachable, adjustable, convertible shoulder strap system. The new Tour Package is available now in pro/specialty and sporting goods stores.
*Teflon® is a registered trademark of DuPont and is used under license by HEAD Sport AG as of Jan. 1st, 2009
Hexpad Technology is a padding system that bonds dozens of individual athletic foam pads permanently into fabrics. Hexpads are machine washable and cost effective allowing the development of a new generation of apparel that incorporates protection right into the shirt or pant, unlike anything seen before. Hexpad Technology allows the replacement of your existing undershirts, pants and sleeves with true performance products.
Comfort: Hexpad Technology utilizes super- lightweight athletic foam that conforms to and stretches with your body. It doesn’t pinch or bind like traditional sports padding. It breathes for comfort and maximizes the benefits of our Ultra hDc™ moisture management technology, keeping you cool and dry.
Protection: Hexpads use high quality closed cell athletic foam padding, the same padding density and impact resistance that is used in pads for football and other impact sports. The lighter weight Hexpads allow for greater coverage at the same or less weight than traditional padding systems.
Compression: Incorporated into compression (spandex) shorts and shirts, Hexpad products also offer all the benefits of this snug fitting fabric. It supports large muscle groups to help reduce pulls and fatigue. It moves with your body to prevent skin irritation, chafing and abrasions.
Durability: Products using Hexpad Technology have been designed and tested to be durable. They have been used in some of the most rugged sports like football and rugby and wear well through at least one full season. They may be machine washed and dried. Follow directions on the label.
Acceptance: Hexpads are being embraced by athletes in virtually all contact and collision sports including most college football and basketball, all NBA teams, elite soccer teams, lacrosse, rugby and volleyball to name a few.
Introducing the latest advanced technology in combating heat stroke and heat related illnesses in football players. Developed by Physicians and Scientists from the University of Florida Research Foundation.
Significant changes in the body core temperature cause conditions ranging from mild weakness and fatigue to decreased athletic performance, coma and death.
Cool, compressed air enters the pad then flows through vertical air flow channels that are open next to the chest and back of the player.
Athletes, coaches, and even armchair quarterbacks know that successful athletes need conditioning. But did you realize that they need ‘air’ conditioning?
One of the most dangerous health risks to football players has always been the risk of heat stroke. Two years ago, after having gone through the tragedy of losing an athlete to heat related complications during practice, Physicians and scientists from the University of Florida immediately began researching a means to prevent this dangerous and sometimes fatal condition.
It was determined that the air temperature under the players’ shoulder pads often reached dangerously high levels leading to severe dehydration through perspiration. Although players frequently removed their helmets, this only fooled their bodies into thinking that they were cooler, when in fact, the temperature surrounding the player’s body remained dangerously elevated.
It was farther determined that the way to alleviate this condition was to lower temperature of the body’s core. The researchers found that they were able to successfully cool the body core by passing cool air over the strategic areas of the player’s shoulder and back. Dr. Nik Gravenstein from the University of Florida came up with the concept of a pad that players could wear that would address the real issue of heat-related illness. This invention was brought to Fred Williams of Williams Sports Group, LLC of Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Williams has invented numerous protective designs which are being used by numerous NFL and college football programs. Fred Williams developed an ‘air flow channel system’ which, when built into the protective cushion of an existing shoulder pad would provide a unique system of air delivery. This system is the revolutionary new ‘Temperature Management System’ (TMS).
In the TMS system, cool, dry air effectively lowers his core body temperature, keeping it from rising to dangerous levels. The device was field tested by University of Florida research scientists and has been incorporated into the Douglas Custom Pro and Riddell Power Shoulder Pads.
Heat related illness is second only to head injuries as a cause of death among athletes in the United States.
The TMS system will replace the air across a players chest and back over 100 times per minute.
A rise in body temperature is also associated with a decline in athletic performance.
Iwerk completes Easton Sports’ HitMatrix microsite: The Royal Oak, Michigan software development company Iwerk recently completed a highly interactive microsite for Easton Sports’ revolutionary new HitMatrix – the world’s first complete hitting system. Built for every swing, the HitMatrix is a unique system of baseball and softball bats available in all-composite, composite handle-aluminum barrel and all-aluminum options. Using compelling visuals, the microsite, www.hitmatrix.com, showcases the Stealth IMX, Synergy IMX, SV12 and V12 bats in addition to video featuring Major League Baseball talent, detailed technology graphics and statistical descriptions. It includes a streaming video series titled “Hardball Made Easy,” plus a register-to-win sweepstakes for Easton gear. Working closely with Easton Sports’ advertising agency, Omelet, Iwerk helped to bring their designs to life on the microsite.
Athlete of the Year Award winners Chanelle Price, National Girls Track
and Field Player of the Year, and Matt Barkley, National Football
Player of the Year, show their trophies after being named the top prep
male and female athletes, Wednesday, July 16, 2008 in Los Angeles.
Introduced in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year award honors high
school athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and
exceptional character.
Gatorade Athlete of the Year Award winner Matt Barkley, center, shakes hands
with Matt Leinart, 2001 California Football Player of the Year, left,
as Greg Oden, 2006 Gatorade Athlete of the Year, looks on after Barkley
was named the top prep male athlete, Wednesday, July 16, 2008 in Los
Angeles. Introduced in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year award
honors high school athletes for their athletic excellence, academic
achievement and exceptional character.
High School Stars Share Stage on Sports' Biggest Awards Day
-- The biggest names in high school
and professional sports convened in Hollywood today as Gatorade honored the
top prep male and female athletes with the sixth annual Gatorade High
School Athlete of the Year awards. Gatorade National Football Player of the
Year Matt Barkley (Mater Dei HS/Santa Ana, Calif.) was named Gatorade High
School Male Athlete of the Year, while Gatorade National Girls Track &
Field Athlete of the Year Chanelle Price (Easton Area HS/Easton, Pa.)
received Gatorade High School Female Athlete of the Year honors.
Barkley and Price received their awards at a luncheon emceed by ESPN's
Stuart Scott and attended by Matt Leinart of the Arizona Cardinals (2001
California Football Player of the Year), Greg Oden of the Portland
Trailblazers (2005/2006 National Basketball Player of the Year & 2006
Gatorade Athlete of the Year), Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks
(2003/2004 National Basketball Player of the Year & 2004 Gatorade Athlete
of the Year), Allyson Felix (2003 National Track & Field Athlete of the
Year & 2003 Athlete of the Year) and soccer legend Mia Hamm.
Introduced in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year award was one of
the first national awards to honor high school athletes for their athletic
excellence, academic achievement and exceptional character. In 2003, the
Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards were established to
identify and honor the nation's top overall male and female high school
athlete from among the 12 Gatorade National Players of the Year honored
during the high school athletic season.
All Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year nominees will walk the
ESPY red carpet and be featured as special guests during The ESPY Awards
Show. The show will take place this evening and air on ESPN on Sunday, July
20, at 9:00 p.m. EDT.
"The Gatorade Athlete of the Year Awards stand apart in that they honor
those who are not only the best on the field of play, but are also proven
performers academically, and actively give back to their communities," said
Jeff Urban, Gatorade senior vice president of sports marketing. "Matt and
Chanelle are outstanding examples of what a leader and a student-athlete
should be."
2008 GATORADE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
Matt Barkley: The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior quarterback threw for
3,576 yards and 35 touchdowns, completing 63 percent of his passes
(214-of-340) against just nine interceptions. The first junior captain in
Mater Dei history, Barkley averaged 325 yards and 3.2 touchdown passes per
game in leading the Monarchs (9-2) to the quarterfinals of PAC-5 Division
Southern Section 2007 Football Championships, where they fell to Serra
League top seed Crespi Carmelite High. Barkley has maintained a 3.77 GPA in
the classroom and enthusiastically donates his time, spearheading the
team's Monarchs for Marines initiative, lending tangible support and
morale-boosting contributions to the Marines and Sailors of Camp Pendleton.
As part of the effort, Barkley has helped raise more than $100,000 for a
charity benefiting the families of wounded and fallen Marines.
--First-ever non-senior to be awarded Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year
and Gatorade National Football Player of the Year honors
--2007 PARADE Magazine Player of the Year
--Earned All-CIF honors, All-League honors and All-Metro honors
--Rated the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2009 by Rivals.com
Chanelle Price: No stranger to international competition, the senior
half-miler placed sixth in the 800-meter run against a world-class field at
the Prefontaine Classic earlier this month with a time of 2:01.61, clocking
the second-best time in scholastic history and eclipsing a milestone set by
track legend Mary Decker. Shattering the state record and winning her third
consecutive gold medal in the 800-meter with a time of 2:02.90 at the PIAA
Class AAA state meet in May, Price helped the Red Rovers to a seventh-place
finish as a team. Price has maintained a 99.28 average in the classroom,
placing her in the top five percent of her class. Price donates her time as
a Special Olympics volunteer and as a local VacationBibleSchool
counselor.
--2008 National Scholastic Indoor Championships 800-meter run champion
(2:05.93)
--Ran 12th-fastest Open 800 preliminary-heat time (2:08.39) at USATF
Indoor Championships in February 2008 (running vs. collegians and
pros)
--Three-time PIAA Class 3A 800-meter champion
--2007 Nike Outdoor (2:02.76) and Indoor (2:07.43) Nationals 800-meter
champion
--Set age 16 national record in July 2007, breaking Joetta Clark's 1979
mark of 2:03.54
For more information on the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year
awards and the Gatorade Player of the Year program, visit
Sports Motion has taken the guess-work out of motion analysis. Their motion analysis systems are truly turnkey systems. All of our systems are engineered to work flawlessly right out of the box. There’s no setup or software installation to worry about and you’re guaranteed to have the right equipment to do the job. Pictured at the right is what’s included in a typical Pro-Trainer portable motion analysis system: a custom-built notebook or tablet PC (used in our Traveler series) configured specifically for video applications, our Pro-Trainer software pre-installed and customized for your sport or application, an adjustable shutter digital camcorder, remote control, a portable color printer, a professional tripod/head with our patented equipment tray and a custom-designed foam-padded, water-tight carrying case. Also included are all connecting cables, power supplies, instructions and a starter-kit with supplies. Click on the picture below for a virtual tour of our hardware systems.
Pro-Trainer hardware systems represent the latest in technology for computerized motion analysis. Our notebook field systems are designed and built expressly for coaches, trainers and other professionals who require the convenience of a fully portable motion analysis system. Our portable systems consist of powerful notebook computers, high quality digital camcorders, video accessories and multi-camera video motion analysis software. This combination of hardware and software delivers high quality video images at a full 60 frames per second with total control over every aspect of motion analysis including instant replay, freeze-frame, angle, speed and distance measurements, on-screen graphics and more.
FRS Health Energy Products offers a great way give your body a boost of energy at any time. Soft Chews are there whenever you need them. The soft chews are individually wrapped in a 30 chew bag and are ideal for travel or for a gym bag or briefcase. Two FRS Chews are equal to one serving of liquid or powdered FRS. Each serving of chews is powered by 250 mg of quercetin.
Adidas worked with Wariner for more than two years to create the revolutionary adidas Lone Star spike, which is named after Wariner’s home state of Texas.In addition to Jeremy’s new logo, the adidas Innovation Team introduces multiple pioneering technologies in this spike, making this the most technologically advanced and one of the lightest spikes to-date.The Lone Star is the world’s first asymmetrical 400m spike,featuringthe firstever full-length carbon nanotubes reinforced plate and the exclusive adidas progressive-compression spike.
“We spent more than two years working with Jeremy Wariner, the best curve runner in the world to design the adidas Lone Star,” said Mic Lussier, adidas Innovation Team Leader, adidas America.“We know long-sprint races are won and lost in the curves so we looked at what he already does best and from there created the finest curve running shoes in the world.The adidas Lone Star allows Jeremy to push even better in the turn and provides him with even more physical confidence, stability and efficiency.”
World’s First Asymmetrical 400m Spikes
After studying Wariner’s running pattern in the adidas labs through high-speed video and pressure mapping, adidas worked with him to create something entirely new in long-sprint running.The adidas team of advanced engineers, designers and biomechanists were able to see how differently Wariner uses each foot as he runs.
As a result of these differences, they developed the first-ever asymmetrical spikes to cater to the specific needs and the role of each foot, and to build on the fact that long-sprint races are won in the curves.Similar to a race car having different suspension on the left and right sides to race in the curves, adidas created different shoes to build on the fact that Wariner uses his left foot for stabilization and his right foot for propulsion.
First Ever Carbon Nanotubes Full-Length Plate
Leveraging new innovations from the plastics industry, adidas applied materials only previously used in the automotive and aerospace industries to design a carbon nanotubes reinforced full-length plate (nanoplate).This thinner and stronger one piece, full-length plate provides Wariner more stability, comfort, better torsion, safety and increased flexibility while minimizing the energy loss.
Mechanical and chemical bonds with the microscopically tiny nanotubes increase the structural integrity and durability of the plate, allowing adidas to build one continual flexible piece as opposed to the previous three-piece design, which included metal screw-in spikes and multiple fold points adhered together by cement.The new full-length plate measures about 1/3 the thickness of Jeremy’s previous spike and weighs 50 percent less, making it the lightest spike ever created by adidas.
With less material between his foot and the track, the new plate allows Jeremy’s feet to be closer to the ground, therefore promoting more natural movement of the foot.The material’s defining physical properties result in increased flexibility, torsion and less energy loss as Jeremy’s foot comes off the track.
New adidas Progressive-Compression Spike
Acting like a piston on the track, the progressive-compression spike design innovation is exclusive to adidas.Traditional spikes cut into the track material causing athletes to exert unnecessary energy with each stride as they pull the spike back out of the track.The revolutionary spike on Jeremy’s shoe allows him to compress the track, thus riding its surface like a piston instead of digging in and out of it with each stride and wasting valuable energy.The tapered grooves of the progressive-compression spike provide the best penetration/compression ratio, thus optimizing the spring-like elastic property of the track surface.
Split Upper with POWERWEB Bands
The split upper in the forefoot allowed adidas to better tailor the shoe to hold Jeremy’s foot, creating a glove-like fit.The POWERWEB bands on the back of the shoe are similar to the look and functionality of adidas TECHFIT™POWERWEB apparel Jeremy races in.POWERWEB bands mimic the skeletal-muscles complex and are placed on the shoe to wrap and hold his heel and midfoot for increased support and stability.
Jeremy’s traditional “Pookie” nickname is replaced on the adidas Lone Star with a new logo of the letter W stylized as a crown and illustrating Jeremy as the undefeated champion.The name of the shoe, Lone Star, comes to life with an outline of the state of Texas on the tongue.
In addition to Jeremy’s spike technology, Allyson Felix and Tyson Gay will also wear custom adidas track spikes in Eugene and leading up to competition in Beijing.Both Felix’s “Shug,” spike and Gay’s “Trinity” spike feature specific performance innovations that cater to their race specialty and running style.Their spikes were a design collaboration between adidas and the athletes to represent their personalities with colors, style and logos.Tyson’s vintage design was inspired by the spikes made by Adi Dassler for Jesse Owens to wear in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. adiZero and Bounce running shoe versions of the athlete inspired custom spikes will be available in retail starting January 2009.
adidas’ Olympic tradition dates back to 1928, when adidas founder Adi Dassler created his first track spike for athletes in the Amsterdam games and since then athletes such as Jesse Owens who won four gold medals in Berlin to Emil Zatopek, Wilma Rudolph, Bob Beamon, Dick Fosbury and Haile Gebrselassie have all marked milestones in Olympic history in adidas products. Today, adidas’ remains committed to making the best running products available and introducing leading innovations with footwear like the Supernova and adiStar Control featuring the revolutionary adidas ForMotion innovation.Adidas is the official sportswear partner of the Beijing 2008 OlympicGames. Along with the official sponsorship of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, adidas sponsors 16 NOCs, including China, 214 Olympic Federations and over 3,000 individual athletes, which is more than any other brand.In total adidas will be supplying more than 500,000 pieces of apparel and footwear for the games.
Say what you will about the Patriots and their video tape scandal……. We are always looking for ways to get better, mentally as well as physically. Tom Brady is a prime example of getting ready to compete. Take a look at what Tom Brady has accomplished…..fighting his way to starting QB for U of M (6th on the depth chart during his 1st year) or being looked over when drafted to the NFL and becoming one of the top QB’s in NFL history! Learn from a winner, tough competitor and an outstanding athlete.
Everyone needs help with their golf swing.....do you get advice from a friend, go to a pro for more lessons? How about taking a look at your self, or should I say have a computer look at your golf swing and compare it to a pro’s swing. Take a look at V1 Golf’s V1 Home:
V1 Home 2.0 is the most advanced sport analysis software on the market today. Amateur and professional players of all sports rely on V1 Home to help analyze and improve their athletic form and technique.
With V1 Home, comparing your golf swing to your favorite professional has never been easier and more effective to do right from your own computer. Simply capture your swing for self analysis, or send it to a professional golf instructor through the V1 Golf Academy for a thorough swing analysis.
Features
Students can record their athletic motion onto their computer.
Students can receive, open, and review their athletic motions filmed by their instructor.
Students can playback their lessons in the video window.
Quickly compare two performances side by side to identify faults.
Transmit recorded performance via the Internet for feedback from a professional instructor.
Use overlaid drawing tools as a reference while reviewing the performance.
Remove the guesswork - it's hard to fix what you can't see. Motion analysis done easily and effectively with the touch of a button.
Cutters are an American company that have made their name and built their reputation by producing top quality professional gloves for baseball and American Football.
Now they have used their expertise and quality designs to create a range of golf gloves.
The gloves are made from a combination of re-engineered ultra thin C-TACKTM performance grip material and premium Grade A Cabretta leather which gives the glove a very soft, comfortable feel with an exceptionally strong grip.
The C-TACKTM grip is placed on the thumb and three finger tips, as well as to the side of the palm to allow for perfect slip-free grip for all types of golf swing. Getting used to the glove I realised how this helped me hold the club with less muscle tension.
This is a great improvement for someone relatively new to the game like myself, though would be as useful to a seasoned pro.
The Cutters Golf Gloves comes in two designs - Tour (left) and Humid (below).
I have used the C-TACKTM Humid over the past couple of weeks and found the grip to be excellent.
The back of the Humid glove is made of a breathable, lightweight material that, with the well positioned air holes, allowed my hand to breathe more readily and reduce a sweaty palm. This helped my game and was more comfortable on the hottest days.
The only difference between the design of the palms of the two glove design is the Humid Glove comes with an extra line of perspiration holes.
The C-TACKTM Humid comes in a choice of grey or orange.
The gloves are currently not stocked by UK retailers but can be bought direct from the Cutters website.
I would certainly recommend this glove as a major breakthrough because of the quality of the grip that it offers without compromises at all on the perfect fit, comfortable feel or durability of a golf glove.
Excited football players across the country will soon be getting their hands on one of the most anticipated new helmets in years – the AiR XP™ from Schutt Sports. The company has already begun shipping XPs, and teams across the country are putting them on their players as fast as they get them.
Many college and pro teams have already had the chance to get some playing time in the new AiR XP™ Helmets. Gus Granneman, Equipment Director for the New York Jets, got his hands on his set of AiR XP™ helmets a couple of weeks ago.
“We received our AiR XP™ helmets from Schutt in time for us to fit them on players for our first mini camp,” said Granneman. “The players that are using the AiR XP™ are very pleased with the comfort, fit and performance of the helmet.”
Schutt Sports rocked the football helmet industry by introducing two new helmets within the last seven months. The ION4D is a large standoff helmet that uses TPU Cushioning in the form of SKYDEX2®, while the AiR XP™ is a traditional helmet shell shape that also packs the TPU Cushioning. According to test results from independent research labs, the AiR XP™ absorbs up to 37% more impact than a Riddell® VSR-4 in game-like conditions. As opposed to the foam padding found in older traditional helmets, TPU Cushioning performs equally well at higher temperatures, does not take a compression set, eliminates the break-in period for the helmet and, unlike, is highly resistant to mold, bacteria and mildew.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the demand for this helmet,” says Mark Watts, Regional Sales Manager for Schutt Sports. “I’ve been here 18 years and have never seen reaction to a helmet like this. The NFL® teams are eating it up, as are the major college programs. We’re sending them out the door as fast we can make them.”
College teams have been so impressed with the AiR XP™ that they’re buying bunches of them all at once. Traditionally, teams are cautious about adopting new helmets, buying a few here at a time, slowly acclimating their players to the new product. That’s not the case with the AiR XP™. UNLV, for example, has purchased 60 of the helmets and already has plans in the works for more next year.
Other colleges that have lined up heavily with the AiR XP™ already include: USC, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Air Force, Stanford, SMU , Oklahoma State, Boston College, Illinois, BYU, Texas A&M, South Florida, TCU, Kentucky and Wyoming. More are on the way, as sales indicators at the Division 1 level are overwhelming. The AiR XP™ has also picked up a lot of traction at the team dealer level, both in the United States and internationally. Hayden’s Athletic, in Montgomery, Illinois – near Chicago, received AiR XP™ helmets, which they plan to sell to high schools in their territory, as well as to collegiate and pro customers.
“We’ve had very good success pre-selling the AiR XP™,” says Dave Cruz, of Hayden’s Athletic. “Now that we have them in our hands, we’ll fill existing orders for the helmet and really get out there and push. We think we’ll be able to open some doors with the XP.”
For those players who prefer the traditional helmet shell, the AiR XP™ is the perfect choice to help them perform at their best. And, thanks to some fantastic work by the manufacturing staff at Schutt Sports, the AiR XP™ is in the hands of players, coaches and equipment managers right now – ready to hit the field.
-- Aflac announced today during an on-field presentation held at Rangers Ballpark that RHP Matthew Graham (Oak Ridge HS) of Spring; LHP Matthew Purke (Klein HS) of Spring; OF Everett Williams (McCallum HS) of Austin; OF/RHP Jacob Morris (Coppell HS) and C/IF Jonathan Walsh (Coppell HS), both of Coppell; and OF/LHP Slade Heathcott (Texas HS) of Texarkana have been selected to the 2008 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game roster. The six stars were honored by Texas Rangers' second baseman Ian Kinsler, who presented them with their official team jerseys.
The premiere high school All-American game in the country, the Aflac All-American Game will take place Saturday, Aug. 9 in Dodger Stadium and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Net at noon Pacific Time.
"We're excited to have named these outstanding ballplayers to the Aflac All-American roster at the tour stop in Texas and when they play the game in August, they will also be helping us in our fight against pediatric cancer," said Al Johnson, 2nd Vice President, Advertising and Branding at Aflac.
The annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game showcases 38 of the nation's top high school players in an East versus West matchup following their junior year. Aflac All-Americans are chosen by the experts at our official selection partner, Perfect Game USA, and in consultation with the staff at baseball's most influential magazine, Baseball America.
As part of Aflac's ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, all game proceeds from the 2008 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game will benefit ThinkCure, the official charity of the Dodgers, which supports critical cancer research at City of Hope and Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. Since 2005, the game has generated nearly $525,000 for charity.
Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith will return as this year's honorary chairman, and in addition to promoting the game, will be on-site in Los Angeles for game week activities. This is the second consecutive year that Smith has served as honorary chairman. Past honorary chairmen have included Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson (2006), Cal Ripken (2004-05) and Stan Musial (2003).
"I wish this game existed when I was in high school, as it's such a tremendous opportunity for these young men to show their skills in front of a nationwide audience and MLB scouts," said Smith. "Aflac does a tremendous job promoting this game and working hard to support pediatric cancer research, and I'm proud to be a part of it once again."
The Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game is considered the country's marquee prep All-American event. All participants must have just completed their junior year of high school, be in good academic standing and display redeeming qualities off the field that embody the ideals of the sport of baseball, including discipline, determination and hard work.
For more information and tour stop photographs, visit http://www.aflacallamerican.com
Speedo, the world's leading
swimwear brand, today unveiled the special Olympic edition Team USA LZR RACER suit. Speedo worked with legendary design house Comme des Garcons to develop a one- of-kind look for Team USA featuring the red, white and blue
of the American flag.
The launch of the Team USA Speedo LZR RACER allows the original Comme des Garcons design to be finally revealed as the traditional gray and black silhouette has been updated with the patriotic stars and stripes of the USA flag. The design by visionary founder of Comme des Garcons, Rei Kawakubo, joins the distinctive metallic silver calligraphy that already appears on the suit. The calligraphy, painted by celebrated artist Inoue Yu-ichi, means 'kokoro' representing the heart, spirit and mind.
Rei Kawakubo said, "I was interested in expressing the energy and the power that comes from the spirit, embodied in the meaning of the calligraphy, together with the will to win for one's country, symbolized by the iconic flag of the USA. I am very honored and proud that Team USA will be performing in the pool in Beijing with this strong creative design."
Though the Team USA LZR RACER suit will not officially debut until Beijing, it is being unveiled now in conjunction with the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Trials beginning June 29th in Omaha, Nebraska. Speedo's Team USA LZR RACER will be individually created for, and exclusively available to, all members of Team USA in Beijing.
"I've been wearing the Speedo LZR RACER suit for the past several months and I've had a lot of success in it," said U.S. Olympic Gold medalist and Speedo sponsored swimmer, Natalie Coughlin. "Not only is this the fastest suit out there but it now has a beautiful, patriotic feel to it which is very cool. I hope I have the opportunity to proudly swim in it in Beijing."
An unprecedented 38 world records have been broken by swimmers wearing the LZR Racer since its launch in February. Speedo harnessed the expertise of NASA and a number of international research institutes to create the suit which has 10% less passive drag* than Speedo's FASTSKIN FSII launched in 2004 and 5% less passive drag* than Speedo's FASTSKIN FS-PRO(R), which was launched in March 2007 and swimmers wearing it broke 21 World Records.
Made from an ultra lightweight, low drag, water repellent, and fast-drying fabric unique to Speedo called LZR PULSE(TM), the LZR RACER suit is the world's first fully bonded competition swimsuit. The suit is ultrasonically welded which gives the effect of no seams at all. Ultra low drag LZR panels are laminated onto the base fabric to create a Hydro Form Compression System helping to compress the entire swimmer's body into a more streamlined shape and enabling them to cut through the water with more
power and agility.
Ice Rink Engineering is making it possible for kids to enjoy hands-on hockey play this summer at the Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, N.C. The Marbles Kids Museum will be opening their "Marbles Olympics" summer exhibit, featuring the EZ Glide 350(TM) synthetic ice rink as "Center Ice" on July 12. The games will take place through August 24.
Kids will skate on the EZ Glide 350(TM) surface using their socks or supplied "booties."
Featuring Center Ice, Kids Decathlon, and Spirit of the Games, Marbles Olympics is the active summer sensation at the Marbles Kids Museum. Kids will enjoy hockey on a synthetic rink, negotiate the scooter kayak course, attempt a record-breaking leap in the long jump, and more.
Opening day activities include: a visit from Stormy, the Carolina Hurricanes' mascot; a hockey workshop with Carolina Hurricanes' staff; scooter kayak races; and Olympic decathlon relays.
The Marbles Olympics is presented by Wake Med Health and Hospitals; Center Ice is presented in partnership with the Carolina Hurricanes' Kids 'N Community Foundation.
This joint project would not be possible without the use of EZ Glide 350(TM) synthetic ice.
"With the use of EZ Glide 350(TM) synthetic ice, we are able to provide a non-refrigerated skating surface. And, together with the partnership of Marbles Kids Museum and the Carolina Hurricane's Kids 'N Community Foundations we are able to bring the experience of hockey team play to children who would not normally be exposed to it," Tami Durham, COO, Ice Rink Engineering, explains.
The EZ Glide 350(TM) synthetic ice skating surface is easily installed and requires no refrigeration or ongoing maintenance/resurfacing. This green technology saves energy.
Developed for any application or weather, EZ Glide 350 is made from an exclusive polymer compound that holds up to heavy commercial or residential use. Microscopic beading improves skating performance while an interlocking panel system makes installation fast, simple and ensures a tight seal between panels.
EZ Glide(TM) panels can be set up for temporary special events, or permanently installed for years of trouble-free use. EZ Glide is ideal for traveling theatrical skating shows as well as private or commercial hockey practice rinks and training facilities.
The ProBatter PX2 Professional Baseball System combines Major League quality pitching with life-size images of actual pitchers throwing realistic pitches, all integrated through computer controls. In a unique process, the ball comes through the screen from the machine perfectly synchronized with the video image.
Use a variety of pitches, locations and sequences to simulate game-like conditions for better quality practice:
Pitch a fastball inside, followed by a slider down and out, then a 12-to-6 curveball down and out—in the normal game time interval between pitches. The ProBatter also offers a full range of pitcher images including, Left or Right-Handed pitchers and throwing from wind-up or the stretch to simulate real game conditions.
Use versatile control options to customize practice for each user:
Our system offers Manual, Auto or Repeat Modes. An enables user to select sequences on a pitch-by-pitch basis or use pre-established sequences. Select from 9 different pre-set User Levels, based on age and skill level, from Little League to advanced adult.
