Archive for May, 2010

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Breathing For Swimming

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Keith Tennent asked:




In many sports, breathing exercises are treated as a simple warm-up. It often takes some effort to convince players, and even coaches, of their real importance. However, it is quite the opposite with sports and hobbies related to swimming. Divers and swimming relay racers cannot help but see that it is essential for them to be able to breathe efficiently and above all, safely.

During a swimming race, it is very important to time your breathing to your strokes. If you take a breath a split second too late or early, while your nose and mouth are under water, you will have much more to worry about than simply falling behind.

Deep breathing exercises can also improve swimmers’ performance in diving competitions. At first, this may seem odd. After all, a competitive diver hardly spends any time under water in the course of a round. However, breathing also helps you to maintain balance and concentration, both critical aspects when the slightest error in timing and positioning can ruin what might have been a great dive. You also need to time your breathing to prevent water entering your nose and mouth upon impact. Very inexperienced swimmers might have this problem, particularly if the water is very cold, since the shock causes their mouths to open.

Breathing safely becomes even more of an imperative if you are going to try free diving. This is when you dive, without an oxygen tank, to depths in which most people would be using scuba gear, or at the very least, a snorkel. Do not expect to be able to use the same type of breathing exercises for free diving as the ones you use for swimming in a pool. When you free dive, you are going down to depths where the pressure is significantly different from the water at the surface.

Going scuba diving is also much safer if you know how to build endurance. You will be able to stay under water longer, while still using the same amount of oxygen. Proper breathing can help you to depressurize more quickly after you go diving. This means you will have to spend less time in a depressurization chamber, and lowers the risk of you getting the bends because you rushed the depressurization process.

If you are into endurance running, you will probably be good at swimming. In fact, some swimmers incorporate running laps or treadmill exercise as part of their training. In other words, the inclusion of swimming and running events in multi-sport races like decathlons is not an example of athletic ******. Rather, it is very sensible to include events whose shared stress on endurance, rhythm and breathing allow your skills in one to reinforce your abilities in the other. Running breathing can also be good for swimming, with some adjustments. Increase running aspects of your training, but be sure to time the swimming and running portions safely so you do not develop cramps.

Swimming is one sport in which it is very easy to recognize the many uses of good breathing. It can only be hoped the other sports will follow suit.

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Total Alkalinity Levels in Swimming Pools

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Elkin H Jones asked:




The total alkalinity for swimming pools and spas, is the measure of the ability of the water in these attractions to resist any changes in their pH levels. It is the buffer that is used in relation to the other chemicals when it comes to maintaining proper pool water chemistry. To make it a little more clearer, it is the measure of the amount of the total concentration of the alkaline substances or materials that are present in the pool water.

Because the alkaline materials found in the water contain carbonates and bicarbonates, it is an absolute must that we know the total alkalinity level of our pool water. This is especially true in all pool or installations, that have equipment that may be exposed to a corrosive environment due to alkaline water conditions. Examples of some of these installations or applications are your swimming pool pumps, your pool or spa heating systems, and your air conditioning systems. This buffering system is the chemical system that will resist any changes to your pool water whenever you add an acid or a base.

Any swimming pool or spa water that does not have any buffering capabilities, will have an uncontrollable pH. This uncontrolled or dramatic swing in the pH of your swimming pool is what we call pH bounce. In order for your pool disinfectant to stay within the required state regulation standards, you have to maintain a proper level of total alkalinity at all times. Failure to maintain this key element in your pool water chemistry will result in some serious pool water problems. Ideally the desired level for the total alkalinity in a swimming pool is between 80 and 120 ppm. Achieving and maintaining this desired level will prevent any rapid changes or pH swings.

Pool Water Problems

So what are some of the water problems that can arise from a poorly maintained pool water chemistry? Firstly, look at the problems that occur when your total alkalinity is too low. When your buffering capabilities are too low, your pool water will become very corrosive. This is a pool water problem that will cause other problems such as:

Your pool wall surfaces as well as the bottom will becoming etched (pitted). The metal parts that are installed in your pool plumbing will become corroded. These metals will begin to dissolve back into your pool or spa. The walls of your pool or spa can become stained. You will get unwanted changes in your pH levels (pH bounce). Your pool water chemistry is greatly effected. This can cause your pool water to turn green.

On the other hand, you can experience problems that are just as serious when your total alkalinity is too high as well. When it is too high, it will result in scaling water. Some of the pool water problems from this are as follows:

Clogged swimming pool filters. You will experience a drop in your pool water circulation (drop in water flow). Your pool or spa water will become cloudy. Your pH level continues to move in an upward direction.
How to Prevent Pool Water Problems

To avoid or prevent the above mentioned pool water problems, it is highly recommended that you test the TA in your swimming pool or spa regularly. Regular testing of your TA will let you know if you have to take action/s to correct it. This can be either to lower or raise it. In the swimming pool and spa industry sodium bicarbonate is the chemical of choice for raising the alkalinity levels in swimming pools. Sodium bicarbonate is used because it will raise your TA level without greatly affecting your pH level. To add the correct dosage of this pool chemical to your pool or spa, you have to calculate it. This process can be very time consuming. This is due to the fact that you have to add the sodium bicarbonate to your pool at a rate of 1 kg per 50,000 gallons of water.

This is done every few days until the desired level of TA is reached. This procedure also involves constant testing so that you avoid adding to much sodium bicarbonate at one given time. Now there will be times when you will be required to lower the TA levels in your swimming pool or spa. Lowering your TA is just as time consuming as raising it. The pool chemicals of choice for achieving this task are Muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate. However as a safety precaution, it is highly recommended that you firstly dilute the acid with water in a bucket and then add the mixture to the deep end of your pool. The addition of the acid treatment to your pool or spa should be done slowly because lowering your TA can take a few days or weeks in some cases.

Besides, you do not want to drop your TA level too fast. You should always add the acid to the water and not the water to the acid. Your pool filtration system should be turn off during this addition as well. Again this is a calculated procedure that you have to carry out in order for you to add the correct amount of muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate. To successfully maintain your pools TA, you have to know its size and volume in order to calculate the correct dosage for the acid and bicarbonate. Once you have your correct dosage for either chemical, you can go ahead and properly correct the total alkalinity in any swimming pool or spa.

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Swimming is the Best Exercise

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Anand Upadhye asked:




Swimming

Swimming can be considered a universal sport. Seniors, overweight people, pregnant women, people suffering from chronic back pain … everyone, or almost everyone can swim. Buoyed by water, the body is lighter, thus facilitating the movement and relieving the joints. At the same time, resistance to water makes the muscles work harder.

Benefits for Health

For asthma, it is common practice to advise (saturation in water vapor and increased lung capacity by the demands of respiratory muscles responsible for the development of the rib cage). Swimming is beneficial for muscles training thighs, legs, back, shoulders, arms, abdominals. It can also help you stay fit and it has beneficial effects on the heart activity and resistance, cardiac training, recovery, blood pressure, cholesterol control. It also provides improved pulmonary activity and respiration, it has positive effects on weight control, and it is extremely relaxing.

The disadvantages of swimming are that not everybody can take it up. Apart from the usual affections that forbid taking up a sport (heart disease, lung or kidney affections), swimming is also forbidden in case of epilepsy, otitis, sinusitis.

As far as accidents and other insignificant problems are concerned, we can say that the bronchi may be irritated, in time, by chlorine fumes and there can be problems with skin fungus, plantar wart, or dry skin. Tendinitis at the level of the shoulder or the knee can be a problem, as well as back pain, due to bad swimming techniques, especially in the breaststroke and butterfly style. Exposed to chlorinated water, ears and sinuses can become a location of infections or inflammations.

In order to avoid unpleasant situations several precautions are required. Use a good technique and correct gestures to avoid accidents. Take a shower before and after swimming in order to prevent fungal infections. Wear sandals in the locker room to reduce the risk of plantar warts or fungus and wear goggles to protect your eyes. Wear a rubber cap, for reasons of hygiene. It can also protect your hair. Get into the water gradually, especially if it is cold, therefore get your neck wet first, then your shoulders. You have to know your limits and respect them, which means that you must stop when you are tired.

Because of the principle of Archimedes, swimming is practiced in a state of near-weightlessness so our bones and joints are unloaded with weight. It can therefore be practiced by people with back problems or joint problems. Swimming is often used for the rehabilitation for land sports, in case of injury of the upper or lower limbs. It is also used as a relaxing activity after athletics or a team sport for example.

There is no age limit; there are even “baby swimmers.” In fact, the ideal age to learn to swim is around 6 or 7 years. Before, you learn essentially to float. Once they can swim, children can start swimming competitions. There is no upper age limit. On the contrary, for older people, swimming is an advisable sport, since it preserves the joints and can be adapted to the rhythm of each person.

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Swimming vs. Golf

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Kevin Koskella asked:




Recently, I have taken up golf, and I can’t help but notice the similarities between learning golf and learning swimming. Both are finesse sports that require large amounts of concentration and practice to get right, and it is unnecessary (and ill-advised) to gain great amounts of strength to make major improvements in either sport. Let’s look at some specific ways golf is like swimming:

1. It Starts with Head Position. In golf, you must keep your head still and look straight at the ball while you swing in order to make contact. In swimming, you must keep your head still and look straight down at the bottom of the pool while you rotate in order to get the most out of your stroke.

2. Concentration is Key. The moment you start thinking about more than one thing when you are about to hit the ball is the moment that something goes wrong. If I get 2 tips on my golf swing and I think about both of them the next time I tee up, I tend to have an underwhelming result! The same goes for doing the swimming drills. As a coach, if I give a swimmer several things to think about, inevitably, nothing will go right. The idea is to concentrate on one aspect, practice it, master it, and move on.

3. The Fewer Strokes, The Better. When improving your score in golf, you want to take fewer strokes to get the ball in the hole. To improve your swim (especially open water), you want to take fewer strokes per length, in order to utilize your energy for the entire swim or triathlon.

4. Follow Through is Important. When you hit the ball, it is important that you follow through all the way with your club. In freestyle swimming, to get the most out of your stroke, you must extend your arm and glide.

5. Power Comes from the Core. Your arms and legs themselves do not need to be incredibly powerful to have success in either sport. With both sports, the power comes from the core- abdominal muscles, lower back, and hips. Legs are used more for stabilization than to propel you forward in swimming. Legs in golf are also used more for stabilization, rather than for more powerful strokes.

Both sports can also be frustrating, but with practice, patience, and persistence, swimming and golf can both present you with a meditative-like form of exercise that I have found to be both fulfilling and fun!

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Swimming – The Four Strokes

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Paul Callis asked:




When it comes to competitive swimming there are various strokes and distances that can be competed in at most competitions. Competitive swimming started to become increasingly popular in the in the 1800′s , and due to its popularity is and has been for a long time one of the most popular events in the summer Olympics.

Competitive swimming has an international governing body that goes by the world recognized name of FINA. The governing body of FINA includes local sub groups such as Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and Swimming Teachers Association (STA) in the United Kingdom ,USA Swimming (USAS) and United States Masters Swimming (USMS) in the United States. FINA regulates the four swimming disciplines, swum over different distances as outlined below.

Freestyle, also known as ‘front crawl’, can be swum using any technique or style the swimmer chooses, although front crawl is swum 99% of the time, and thus in swimming competitions bares no restrictions on what action the swimmers use. The only exception to this is when the swimmer is swimming the freestyle part of an individual medley event. The following events are held for freestyle in distances of 50 m, 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m. All of these can be swum in regular competitions and major games.

Butterfly events require that the swimmer’s actions are equal at both sides; therefore the left side of the body has to do the same as the right. The leg kick of the butterfly stroke is commonly known as the ‘dolphin’ leg kick. Butterfly is considered one of the most physically challenging of the swimming strokes. The following events are held for Butterfly at distances of 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m. The 50m Butterfly can be swum in practically all competitions accept for the Olympics at the time of writing this, much this may change in the future.

Breaststroke is the stroke from which butterfly evolved. The restriction with Breaststroke is that the swimmer’s hands must be pushed forward together from the chest. Breaststroke is the slowest stroke in competitive swimming, and always will be. The following events are held for Breaststroke at distances of 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m. The 50m Breaststroke can be swum in practically all competitions accept for the Olympics at the time of writing this, much this may change in the future.

Backstroke is basically front crawl on your back. Swimmers have to lie on their back at all times except during turns to perform the stroke. Swimmers rotate their arms back over their shoulder one at a time and pull their arms back through under the water to provide a push, with a constant flowing leg kick. The following events are held for Backstroke at distances of 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m. The 50m Backstroke can be swum in practically all competitions accept for the Olympics at the time of writing this, much this may change in the future.

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Are The Olympics Unfair

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Chris M Smith asked:




Some people have suggested that the Olympics are unfair and would be made more fair if we would add age, height, and weight classes to each sport. This would include more people who would otherwise not be able to play and would produce more winners.

They have suggested that some of the games favor taller athletes, for instance, so we should include a class for the shorter athletes, and so on and so forth.

I’ve never thought about this before, but maybe they’re on to something. Let’s explore this a bit, shall we?

I’m built like a football lineman, but I’ve always thought I’d make a good jockey – you know, the guys that ride the horses. It’s not fair, though, that the other jockeys are so light. I think I should be given a Clydesdale because of my extra weight and they should be given mini-horses. That would be fair.

Let’s not stop there, though.

Let’s lower the basketball hoop for short people. Short guys on the volleyball court should be given stilts. Heavy guys like me could play half-court basketball. Tall people have to wear weight belts so they can’t jump as high.

Heck, let’s not pick our Olympic athletes based on their ability at all. We could create a lottery system so everyone would have a chance to make the team.

We wouldn’t keep score and everyone would get a participation medal.

Instead of holding up score cards with “9″, “9.5″, or “10″, we could hold up cards that say, “Nice Try”, “You Did Great!”, or “We’re Really Proud Of You!”

Give me a break!!

The Olympics represent world-class competition. It’s not about giving everyone an equal chance to participate. These are world-class athletes who have trained for years and years.

The Olympic spots belong to those who are most qualified – those who have dedicated their life to being the best at what they do and there should be no special provisions for height, weight, or age differences, except in sports like boxing and wrestling.

The Olympics aren’t fair? Well, I have news for you. Life is not fair. Adding divisions for height, weight, and age classes for Olympics sports is completely ridiculous.

I have no delusions that I could compete in the Olympics, but if I did, I would sure pick a sport that favored my physical characteristics, my interests, and my natural abilities.

As a big guy, maybe I’d try out Sumo wrestling, weight lifting, or wrestling. I sure wouldn’t go for figure skating, gymnastics, or sprinting. Nor should there ever be a heavy weight figure skating division just because I want to compete.

If I’m good enough to compete with the others who are already competing, then that’s one thing. Inventing a new weight class just so I can be included and not get my feelings hurt is quite another.

The Olympics are all about world-class sports and not about including more people, regardless of their talent and abilities – and that’s the way it should stay. If you want to be included in the Olympics, then I’m sorry, you’ll have to get up off the couch and dedicate long hours to perfecting your sport just like the other Olympians.

What happened to common sense?

Just one guy’s opinion – worth what you paid for it!

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Estimating Form and Class in Horse Racing Handicapping

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Bill Peterson asked:




There are as many opinions about what constitutes form and class in horse racing as there are CEO’s looking for a handout in Washington. Some people believe that performance is what counts and if a horse races against $25,000 claimers and doesn’t show much run that it isn’t much of a bet if it drops a little in class. Others argue that a small class drop can have a significant effect on a horse’s mental state and it may get new courage even though the rivals are only slightly weaker.

On top of the class problem, we also have the form problem. It is true that the same horse never races twice. What that means is that even though it is the same animal with the same name, physically, it has changed. Like any other athletes, horses go through cycles when they are stronger and weaker and also more interested in racing.

So when you are handicapping horse races and trying to estimate class, you also have to take into account that a horse who only had a few races and couldn’t compete in the $25,000 claiming ranks, may be a legitimate contender at that level a month later. let’s take a look at a hypothetical situation to see how this applies.

Suppose a horse who won at the $10,000 claiming level has come back to the races after a 5 month layoff. Many handicappers won’t bet on a horse until it has had a few races to tighten it. If the horse races at the $10,000 level in its first race back and finishes up the track, it doesn’t mean the horse doesn’t have the class to compete at the $10,000 level, it only means some more conditioning is in order.

Even though it finished poorly, it may do well in its next race, may even win. Smart handicappers use a combination of form and class to spot longshot bets. They wait for a horse to reach the top of its form cycle and then see where the trainer places it. If they see that the trainer with the proven $10,000 claimer has moved the horse up a notch to that level, they will still bet it at a price. They realize that as form increases, many trainer will keep moving the horse up so it is always forced to compete at its peak level until it finally is in great shape and ready to score at a proven level.

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Head Over Heels For Gymnastic Classes

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Katie Appleby asked:




What comes to your mind’s eye when you think “gymnastic class”? Is it the Olympian smiling out from the cover of Sports Illustrated? Gymnastic classes benefit all kinds of people.

Every year, millions of gymnasts enroll in gymnastic classes, from toddlers on small-scale equipment in parent/child classes, through teenagers learning skills on balance beam, uneven bars, floor exercise, and vault (for girls); and pommel horse, high bar, rings, parallel bars, floor exercise, and vault (for boys).

Keep these factors in mind when enrolling your child in a gymnastic class:

Safety

Although your child’s first goal upon setting foot in the gym may be to flip and leap, you should investigate the gym’s safety record first. Safety includes the physical setup of the gym as well as the certifications held by coaches, such as CPR and basic first aid. Find out if your gym’s staff has taken the USA Gymnastics Safety/Risk Management Certification course.

How Does Class Start?

Before your child does his or her first skill, warming up, stretching, and body preparation are critical to get his or her circulation moving and prepare joints for impact.

Learn About the Gym

Word of mouth is always useful, but keep in mind that each child’s experience is different. Some children like a big gym with lots of classes going on simultaneously. Others prefer a smaller, more individualized environment. Either way, an 8:1 ratio is best for children ages 4 and up.

Municipal gyms are often cheaper than private facilities. Private gyms, on the other hand, may offer some amenities that municipal gyms do not. Be on the lookout, however, for a private gym that wants to accelerate your child through the ten levels of gymnastics sooner than your child is ready solely to rake in more tuition money.

Communication

You and your gymnast should have a very clear idea of what to expect your child to experience, as well as what is expected of him or her. Gymnastics is learned very incrementally; coaches and parents should help kids deal with the patience involved in learning the sport.

Although gym policies about parents watching workouts vary, the gym should never completely deny you access; if the gym does not want you to observe their coaching techniques, you should stay away.

Gym Joy!

Coaches have many responsibilities, including supervising young children in a potentially hazardous environment, motivating kids to do more than they thought themselves capable of, and fitting in the planned activities for each section (oh, and then there is the topic of managing parents, whose expectations are frequently out of touch with their child’s abilities).

In the long run, however, the experience of a gymnastic class should be fun. Once a child is training competitively, the ratio of “fun” to “pure hard work” grows smaller, but for a recreational gymnast, the enjoyment of the sport should outweigh the challenges

Vault your child to fun – enroll him or her in gymnastic classes!

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Snowboarding Classes For Beginners

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Jim Garza asked:




Snowboarding, since it’s introduction in 1965, has become an extremely popular sport – the second most popular winter sport in the United States. It is the fastest growing winter sport in the U.S. Only skiing remains more popular.

With that in mind, more ski resorts than ever are beginning to open up some of their ski slopes for either exclusive or shared snowboarding use. For the beginning snowboarder, looking to learn the basic skills, there will be no shortage of places to practice. But snowboarding is not a natural or instinctive skill, so where do you start?

To being with, you should never try to learn snowboarding by yourself. There’s too much unnecessary chance of injury. You should always find a qualified expert to teach you. Now this qualified expert can be from a structured environment like a snowboarding school or it can be a friend or family member who has been snowboarding for year and has the knowledge and patience to teach. The important thing is to get trained properly.

No one, especially a beginner should feel embarrassed about attending a snowboarding school. Even snow boarding trainers attend classes in an effort to keep up with the latest snowboarding styles, techniques, and safety protocols. The main decision you will have to make is what type of training you want. Most ski and snowboarding resorts will be able to accommodate you in whichever choice you make.

The most popular type of lesson is the group lesson. Group lessons are relatively inexpensive, well organized, and easy to find. Snowboarding group classes are usually divided by skill levels, so choose the beginning group and you will have few problems. Before enrolling check how many participants are expected in the class. More than 8 snowboarders in a class will probably be too many to allow the instructor to give you the level of attention you need.

To further save on money, if you plan in advance, you can often find coupons or discount books that will give you a nice percentage off of the class fee if you enroll in advance and are willing to pay with a credit card.

If you have the money, and feel that you need more support and attention, you can sign up for a private lesson. Of course, private lessons are more pricey. As the only student, however, you can be sure of receiving instructions geared expressly for your skill level. You will also be more comfortable in learning at your own pace as there will be no other students to hold you back.

A nice compromise between group lessons and private lessons is the private group lesson where you and friends can hire an instructor to teach you as a class. This has the benefit of letting you learn in a relaxed environment with friends and while usually more expensive than group lessons, will be much less expensive than private lessons.

The popularity of snowboard Olympic winners like Shaun White, Hannah Teter, Seth Wescott, and others will only increase the popularity of snowboarding itself. Want to see what all the funs about? Sign up for your snowboarding class today.

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A Look at Different Classes of Sport Bikes

Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Ace Smith asked:




Motorcycles are categorized in three classes. They are the dual-sport, off-road and street classes. One good example of a motorcycle that belongs to the street categorization is the sport bike.

There are a number of design fundamentals that most sport bikes will share. They usually feature a fairly high performance engine concealed within a lightweight frame. The braking system have higher performance multi-piston calipers and brake pads which clamp onto outsize vented rotors.

These bikes also features advanced suspension systems in terms of materials and adjustments for increased stability and durability. Its rear and front tires are designed to be wider and bigger than the tires of other classes of motorcycles to accommodate greater lean angles and superior cornering speeds.

A sport bike may or may not have fairings. These fairings are installed to lessen aerodynamic drag. When they are compared to other kinds of motorcycles, its general design traits make it less practical for street use.

Sport bikes are not officially distinguished by any key motorcycle organization. But in spite of it, the different variations can normally be classified into a number of different classes, wherein each class possesses unique features.

One example of these classes is the Kawasaki Ninja 500R/250R and Suzuki GS500E entry-level bikes. Those in this class are motorcycles which are intended to bring motorcyclists to the sport bike model. Kawasaki Ninja 500R/250R and Suzuki GS500E are relatively inexpensive, heavy-duty and lightweight.

There are no fairings mounted to trim down on cost, maintenance and repairs if the motorcycles were to be slumped. Although this class is capable of more power, its engines are normally detuned for durability and longevity. Riders of all weights and heights can usually be accommodated by this entry-level sport bikes.

Another class is the smaller capacity which have 120 cc to 400 cc engine sizes. There are also Small capacity sport bikes that are designed with smaller 50 cc engine. They are offered in both two-stroke and four-stroke cycles.

They are generally undersized and can suit a shorter rider. Although the bikes of this class have less power than the larger ones, they can still perform relatively. Examples of small capacity bikes include the Honda CBR125R and the Aprilia RS250.

Middleweight or super sport are another class of sport bikes. This class is focused for best possible performance on a race track. Super sport bikes are typically built around an undersized displacement powerplant which is usually sized around 600 cc to 800 cc. Some good examples of super sport bikes include the Triumph Daytona 675, Honda CBR600RR, Suzuki GSX-R600 and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. GP

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