Three solutions for run-off areas in Formula One

Sports & Recreation,

During the last lap of the USGP at Austin, Max Verstappen overtook Kimi Raikkonen on the outside of the track and subsequently lost the place due to a penalty handed out minutes later. The penalty caused a lot of controversy but highlights one of the biggest issues in modern Formula One: run-off areas. In the last couple of years, use of run-off areas by drivers to gain an advantage has increased, making life difficult for the stewards. Here are three solutions for solving the problem:

Grass and Gravel

Traditional racing circuits had a very little run-off area, and the little they did was mostly grass or gravel. Probably the best way to ensure that drivers respect the boundary of the track and avoid using run-off is to convert circuits with tarmac run-off back to gravel or grass. When a driver goes off-line, he will pay for it, either with retirement or loss of time.

Grass Strips

One of the arguments against a gravel and grass run-off is its utility to other racing categories. The change would benefit Formula One, and possibly other four-wheel series. However, MotoGP and other bike series would protest at the change. Gravel especially increases the risk of spinal injuries during an accident. The solution: add strips of grass, creating a barrier between the curb and the asphalt run-off.

Penalty

The final solution involves no changes to the circuit. Instead, there should be clear penalties for any violation of track limites. For example, if a driver makes a mistakes and goes off-track, there should be an automatic penalty.

 

Why Athletes Should Wear Contact Lenses

General Interest,

Weak vision, such as having trouble focusing on objects that are close to you or further away, is a medical condition that affects several people every year. The sources of this issue can vary widely, such as sun or light exposure, diet, genetic reasons, or general lifestyle. Regardless, modern technology has made it possible for doctors to treat most vision-related troubles.

If you are an athlete, be it for an intramural team or for a professional organization, wearing contact lenses may be the most practical solution.

Flexible Use

One of the main draws of contact lenses is just how unobtrusive they are. If you play football and have to wear a tight helmet filled with padding to protect your head, it would make sense to wear biofinity contact lenses. Wearing standard eyeglasses would be impractical, as you would need to regularly adjust them and you could potentially break them after a rough tackle. Contact lenses are much more compatible with safety gear.

Increased Safety

Contact lenses are also much safer to use than eyeglasses. Some sports, especially contact ones, can become more dangerous when competition gets tough. If you fall or if someone knocks into you on the field the frames can break and cause a serious injury. The glass that the lenses are made out of could also break and become a health hazard. Places like Lens.com have a variety of lenses that will not pose any serious safety risks when you compete, no matter how rough and physical a match-up may get.

Youth Soccer Development: The Mental Impact of Juggling

Soccer, Sports & Recreation, ,

Article by Spike Soccer Store.

Summary: Juggling is a skill that requires agility, balance, and mental awareness.

Developing the proper juggling skills in training provides key benefits to players like balance, agility, and touch. This guide will over all the aspects individually to help you train your youth soccer team.

The Importance of Juggling

When you juggle, you need to combine both body control and touch. Being able to make quick, on-the-spot, decisions and adjustments with your large and small muscles is a requirement for juggling, and players that have elite balance are the ones that bring their game to a whole new level. For instance, if one of your players develops the right tendencies, you’ll see him or her be able to drive to the right but also be able to stop on the dime and shoot with his or her left without losing balance. It’s a critical aspect that plays an important role in the game.

The Power of Touch

The pro players can essentially feel the ball through their shoes. They know what part of the foot touches the ball and how each stroke of contact will affect the ball’s velocity and direction. This is done through practice and muscle memory. For instance, tossing a ball from back and forth from one hand to another can be done relatively easy, right? What makes you think that you can’t train your players to do the same with a soccer ball instead? Your mind is essentially your fingertips. By encouraging juggling, you’ll develop touch, which translates into a more well-rounded game for any player. Passes will become more accurate, opponents will have a more difficult time defending, and pressure won’t equate to anything as your players will be able to successfully hold the ball without fear of it getting ripped from them.

An Agile Nature and a Sharp Mind

The ability to change directions on the fly is a crucial component of soccer. As stated before, juggling increase balance and can also improve one’s overall agility. Combining both agile nature and fluid motion can help improve one’s passing and striking ability. Be sure to incorporate plenty o group juggling exercises that incorporate both movement and control. The key to these exercises is challenging the players and making them think about what they’re going to do with each step. This forces the body to contort in ways they’re not accustomed to. And, with enough practice, it’ll become second nature to them – turning them into a versatile weapon that can be used on every part of the field.

Wicketkeepers who are also great outfielders

Sports & Recreation, ,

Wicketkeeping is one of the toughest roles in modern cricket, and many of the same properties that make a great wicketkeeper also make a great outfielder. However, it is also hard for a wicketkeeper to make the transition to fielding. The lack of the gloves, the anticipation of the spin on the ball along the outfield are just a few reasons why. Despite all of these obstacles, there are some notable examples of wicketkeepers who became excellent fielders. They get the opportunity to shine as a fielder when they join a team purely as a batsman, which has a wicketkeeper. Here are some examples of cricketers that made the transition well:

AB de Villiers

Most people did not know that AB de Villiers started off his career as a wicketkeeper-batsman. AB is, without doubt, one of South Africa’s greatest batsmen and one of the best fielders in the team. He is a quick runner and even at his age of 33, can still throw himself to either side in close quarter fielding. De Villiers has made backward point his own and always fields there when it is needed.

Sam Billings

Sam Billings is England’s on-again-off-again wicket keeper batsmen. Although he plays more T20 games due to other issues, he is a natural athlete, and you can see how good a fielder he is when he is in the team as a batsman. Many will remember him for some of his spectacular catches in the last few years.

Do’s and Don’ts When Buying Soccer Shoes

Sports & Recreation, ,

Written by Soccer Shoes.us

Selecting the right soccer cleats can be daunting. There is a large variety of soccer shoes in the market. Make a few wrong assumptions and you might end up with the wrong pair for you. Here are a few Do’s and Don’ts:

Do’s:

Buy shoes according to the surface you play on. Find out the surfaces you will be playing on throughout the season and then buy accordingly. Sometimes you might need multiple pairs for multiple conditions.

Make your selection according to the position you play. Strikers will always need different shoes. This will also vary according to your pay style.

Always buy shoes that fit perfectly, not slightly loose nor slightly tight. Go during the time of day you will end up playing when buying your shoes.

Try to find shoes appropriate to the shape of your feet. This can be tricky because if you have a slightly different foot shape you might need to find custom shoes.

Don’ts:

Never buy a pair of soccer shoes, just because your favorite player just bought them. Always stick to what is best for you. The same applies to your soccer uniform.

Do not limit yourself to buying from a physical store, try a search online and find the best deal. Sometimes you can try on a shoe in a physical store and get it cheaper online.

Do not prefer economy over quality. A lot of the time cheaper does not mean better. This is one of those instances. Stick to brands like Adidas soccer shoes.

Where does Formula 1 get its revenue?

General Interest,

The sport of Formula 1 is considered the pinnacle of motor racing. Although it does not have a large footprint in the United States (it has one race in Texas), it has races on every continent. But how does the sport make its $3 billion in revenue?

The revenue stream for the sport comes from three sources:

The first revenue stream is from race hosting fees. Circuits pay the sport to be able to host and run a race weekend. This is the largest source of income for the sport and is how Bernie Ecclestone has been able to get revenues (and profits) to skyrocket. Because emerging economies want to get their countries on the map, they are willing to pay as much as $80 million per race.

The second revenue stream comes from TV rights. Sky reportedly paid F1 over a billion Dollars for six years of exclusive coverage starting from 2019. Thanks to these gigantic figures, the TV viewing figures have dropped considerably as free to air TV can no longer afford these fees.

The third revenue stream is from long-term advertising deals. Heineken has agreed to pay $150 million for the next five years to promote the sport. In addition, there are trackside advertising deals that also contribute directly to F1 and not the circuits.

Now with the sale of F1 to Liberty Media, it remains to be seen what track they will take when it comes to marketing the sport.

 

Shopping for Soccer Season: The Basics Every Player Needs

Sports & Recreation, ,

Article by: Top Soccer Buy

It’s time for the holidays, and that means lots of parents and friends of small kids are hitting the Web in search of discount soccer equipment. The good news is that you can almost always find deals on major brands, like Diadora soccer or adidas, but you should be sure you’re purchasing equipment your players will actually use.

Soccer is a game that requires few piece of equipment to get started, but the right equipment can make a big difference to the players in your life.

Cleats

Is your child playing indoors or outdoors? That makes a difference, as indoor cleats won’t have as much traction on grass. Indoor cleats are designed to look more like a regular shoe you’d wear on the street. Imagine a low profile and gum outsole and you’ve basically got the gist. Outdoor soccer cleats have varying degrees of firmness designed for different field conditions. Even artificial turf has recommended shoes players should don before hitting the pitch. Traction makes a big difference.

Without a doubt, Adidas soccer shoes are one of the most recognizable and high-end brands. Diadora and Nike are two other reputable brands that offer superior quality to all levels of play.

Ball

A quality ball doesn’t necessarily mean an expensive one. The first thing to notice is the size of the ball, as different leagues have varying requirements regarding size. High-quality balls use a polyester thread that is hand stitched, while most manufactured balls use machinery for this process. The panels are turned inside out and stitched together so none of the stitching will show. Check the packaging for what details you can glean.

Padding

Soccer is a physical sport, but not to the same degree as tackle football. The main focus for protection should be the player’s legs. Tackling in soccer puts a player’s legs at risk, so shin guards and knee-high socks are fairly standard purchases for new players. Goalkeepers will also want to grab gloves to help absorb the impact of the ball being kicked at them.

Loose Ends

It’s a good idea to have a bag you can use to carry all of this equipment inside, and teams will feel more cohesive if you have matching kits for the players to wear before they hit the pitch. Be sure you speak with your organization to find out what they are covering. Some teams order the matching kit and take your money, rather than you finding this uniform on your own.
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Ferrari wins the Australian Grand Prix

Sports & Recreation,

Sebastian Vettel won the opening round of the Formula One World Championship in Melbourne, Australia. The prancing horse beat favorites and 2016 world champions Mercedes to the line, with Lewis Hamilton finishing second and team-mate Valterri Bottas following in third place.

Ferrari showed good form in the pre-season tests, often setting the pace. However, between the different compounds of tires and fuel loads, it was anyone’s guess who held the advantage going into the first round of the season. Ferrari’s unusual silence on their prospects added to the fan frenzy.

During the practice sessions, Mercedes held the upper hand, as Ferrari struggled with set up and the lower than usual track temperature. Qualifying showed the ultimate pace of the Mercedes over a single lap with Lewis Hamilton comfortably taking pole position. It was all down to race pace on Sunday.

The new rules for this year saw aggressive looking cars with wider tires. Unfortunately, this meant that overtaking became harder than it already was. Even with DRS system to enhance overtaking, the nature of the Melbourne circuit along with the new aerodynamic meant that track position took on additional importance.

Ultimately, Ferrari was easier on its tires then Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton came out behind Max Verstappens Red Bull after his pitstop. Hamilton was unable to overtake the Red Bull, giving Vettel a chance to build a gap big enough to come ahead. Once Vettel came out ahead, he was able to pull out a 10 second gap on his way to victory.

The next round is in China.

Hamilton extends his lead in the Formula One World Championship

Sports & Recreation

In the space of four races, Lewis Hamilton increased his lead in the World Championship and is now the favorite to seal the 2017 F1 World Championship, his fourth drivers crown. Here are the events that lead to his commanding lead:

Singapore

The Singapore Grand Prix was one to forget for Ferrari. The rain-soaked weekend saw a Ferrari on pole and the second row, with Hamilton far behind. Unfortunately, with Vettel cutting in on his right and a fast charging Kimi Raikkonen on his left, Max Verstappen had nowhere to go. The result was both Ferrari’s and the Red Bull out of the race and Hamilton in the lead.

Malaysia

The race in Malaysia was another nightmare for Ferrari. Due to an issue with the turbocharger, Vettel started from the back of the grid. Raikkonen made a mistake in the final qualifying run and conceded pole position to Hamilton. Vettel did the best he could and finished fourth. The second Ferrari did not even start the race due to the same turbo issue.

Japan

The race in Suzuka was probably the final nail in the coffin for Vettel championship chances. After starting second on the grid, the Ferrari developed an issue with one of the spark plugs and Vettel retired on the fifth lap. Hamilton held off a hard-charging Verstappen to claim victory and a 59 point lead.

With only 100 points left, it would take at least two retirements for Lewis Hamilton to see Vettel have any chance of fighting for the championship.

Has Michael Phelps spoken to Ryan Lochte following the Rio robbery scandal?

Sports & Recreation, , ,

Article written by : Heartland Football : News & Articles about Football ( Soccer )

The star swimmer Michael Phelps has spoken about Ryan Lochte’s involvement in the Rio robbery scandal, but has not spoken to Lochte directly.

He said that he thinks that the controversy will work itself out, because “good people taking care of it, so hopefully.”

Phelps arrived back in the US days after three other Team USA swimmers became the focus of the alleged robbery.

Phelps was met by reporters at Starbucks, when he addressed the news. Onlookers said that although the team has had to deal with a rough couple of days,  Phelps seemed relaxed during outing. He made sure he stopped to greet and thank fans, who congratulated him on his performance.

The Brazilian police said that both Congar and Bentz had been detained prior to leaving Rio. They were then questioned and they came forward and told authorities that the robbery was “fabricated.”

The police said that Lochte and his fellow swimmers, had stopped at a gas station to use the restroom. They had then noticed that the restroom was locked and had started breaking it down, when a security guard had approached them. They had paid the gas station manager approximately $50 for damages.

Lochte issued a statement regarding the controversy by saying “I want to apologize for my behavior last weekend—for not being more careful and candid in how I described the events of that early morning and for my role in taking the focus away from the many athletes fulfilling their dreams of participating in the Olympics,”