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Lessons from Alaska

Topper — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:59:37 +0000

Back in the early 1990s, I spent a year in Alaska on a salmon boat to earn money for college. I had been warned about it as the work is long and rough. All I knew was that I needed the money to get through school so I didn’t have to do this kind of work the rest of my life. The job was everything you have heard of. There were long days, hard work, little sleep, but some good food to get you through. Part of my job was on the power skiff. My skipper was an Evinrude man, and I got very good at keeping Evinrude parts on hand. Time was money, and it was almost a whole day haul into port for a repair.

When the summer opener was over, I was an outboard parts expert. I became pretty good friends with the dealer at the cannery camp, too. He hooked me up with some marine accessories that dressed up the galley a bit for crew entertainment. Since that was where we ate, talked, watched TV, and hung out when the weather was bad, or down time happened, I helped make it more bearable.

It was a good life out at sea. It’s hard to explain to people now what I did, and when. Working on that skiff was a bit of a joy, because it was my alone time. The better I used it, the more I made. It was a good summer. I don’t have any student loans to p-ay off.

Technorati Tags: Alaska, Evinrude parts, marine accessories, outboard parts

Coaching an adult league dos and do nots

TSJ — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 20:37:21 +0000

Whether it is softball, basketball, or soccer, joining adult leagues can offer a variety of positive and enriching experiences. The same could be said for someone who wishes to coach or manage such a team. But with the fun aspects of coaching can come some very real challenges.

Among them is the ability to ensure that everyone works as a team and is well informed about events in practices.

To keep things running smoothly a manager must learn how to coach in a way that gains the respect of players.

This is why it is important to never belittle players or disrespect them in front of others. Arguments and disagreements should be addressed in private away from prying eyes and ears.

A coach should be tough but fair, and listen to players when they have a grievance. He should also manage his time efficiently making sure to give everyone in the league ample time to plan around practices and games.

This is why utilizing team management software is crucial to successfully managing your league. League software can help keep everyone informed and minimize the legwork one has to do to keep the team running.

With team software, you and your players can minimize annoying details and keep everyone’s eyes on the number one goal of sports - having fun.

Technorati Tags: adult leagues, how to coach, team management software

Therapeutic Exemptions

TSJ — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:51:24 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, the World Anti Doping Agency does allow for exemptions for therapeutic reasons. The first is that there is an absolute and essential need for the athlete to be on human growth hormones; the second allowance is if it will not significantly increase or enhance performance; the last is if there is no reasonable or feasible medical alternative to the drug. These exceptions do need a formal application and acceptance to be allowed. Once accepted, the athlete is then given a regulated and specific dose for the HGH supplements that cannot be modified or exceeded by the athlete but can be adjusted with a doctor and the committee’s approval.

The information on the application for use of HGH is then treated as medical data and kept extremely confidential by the World Anti Doping Agency. This is an excellent point to keep in mind when considering that often, human growth hormone can have very powerful therapeutic and medical potency, as opposed to just being a “doping” or performance enhancing “juice”, or drug. The World Anti Doping Agency does have a concern primarily for the athletes and their state of health and well-being. Policy should never interfere with proper treatment of an athlete.

Technorati Tags: exemptions for therapeutic reasons, hgh, hgh supplements, human growth hormones

Little Sluggers Clinic

TSJ — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:40:28 +0000

Have you always wanted to explore a baseball business opportunity? The best way to offer athletes comprehensive and cohesive growth is to offer the same methods of instruction, tools and technology. New franchise opportunities are always exciting because you’re starting your own business. The opportunity is even more exciting if you’re starting a business that will help athletes move closer to their dreams of professional baseball while providing you the tools, technology and methods that bring consistency to any athlete’s training. So how do you inspire young athletes (and their families) to become patrons of your new baseball training facility business opportunity? One method is to invite them to sign up for youth baseball camps, such as the Little Sluggers Clinic. Not only will young children learn the basics of baseball, but they’ll do so through fun games and activities that help them to practice and learn throwing, running and catching skills. Furthermore, parents are welcome to accompany their children and remain during camp sessions. This allows parents not only to see how much their children are learning, but also allows children to learn without having to worry about their parents leaving. Camps meet on Saturdays, which makes it easier to fit into both parents’ and children’s schedules.

Technorati Tags: baseball business opportunity, baseball training facility business opportunity, new franchise opportunities, professional baseball

Make a Day of Family Fly Fishing

Topper — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:19:23 +0000

Spending quality time together as a family will instill many valuable qualities in young children and can be an enjoyable event, as well. Sadly, most families do not get many opportunities to do things together because of busy work schedules and little time off. Spending the day fishing in ga can be very relaxing and soothing after a long week of the hustle bustle world. Everyone needs some time to unwind and slow down a bit; what better way than to make a day of family fly fishing.

Younger children may not enjoy the trip, but if they are over ten years old, they can learn the valuable and relaxing skill of fishing. You can consult one of the Georgia fly fishing guides to see if there are certain age limits for their day trips. If you would like to stay for the weekend, there is a quaint little campground there called ‘Morganton Point Campground’ where you can extend your GA fishing trip. There are 37 campsites that come with a grill, picnic table, drinking water and a tent pad. There are scenic trails that run along the lake for your family to go hiking. Swimming and fly fishing are popular in the clear lake which is approximately 3290 acres.

Technorati Tags: fishing in ga, GA fishing trip, Georgia fly fishing guides

Winter Olympics 2010

Topper — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:44:41 +0000

Vancouver, Canada will host the Winter Olympics in 2010. Olympic hopefuls are already training and trying out to make the team to represent Team USA at the games. On the winter games schedule, Olympians will be competing in the following sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross country skiing, luge, figure skating, ice hockey, snowboard, speed skating, ski jumping, and curling. Our children are looking forward to watching the competitions and try out some of the sports for themselves.

The various events on the winter schedule give children ideas about which sports they’d like to participate in. Already fans of skiing and snowboarding, using their youth snowboard jackets, they could try their skills at cross country skiing or bobsleighing. Since they already have youth snowboard gear and have tried snowboarding, they are excited to watch the Snowboarding competition on the television. With 5 different types of skiing on the event schedule, we look forward to brushing up on our ski skills and break out the children ski wear to participate in a little winter games of our own.

Winter Olympics 2010 will be a big event in our home. The kids will route the USA on to the gold against other nations and enjoy seeing all of the counties’ Olympians compete in the winter games.

Technorati Tags: children ski wear, youth snowboard gear, youth snowboard jackets