supporting your team

Cheering on your favorite team is fun. Just remember that you don't have to cheer against another team to cheer for your team. Keep all your comments positive and directed at your team. Rooting against another team is not required! Be loud, but be proud of what you say.

Tough?

Where is the line between being tough and putting yourself in danger? If you are injured to the point of limited range of motion, swelling, or pain that keeps you from doing normal activities then you should seek medical attention. If your symptoms last more than a few days you definitely need to see a doctor.

If the "injury" does not cause loss of motion, strength or require pain medicine to cope then a kiss from MOMMY should do the trick!

Stay in the game.....

TEAM

What does it mean to be a team? Everyone has to believe in what the team is trying to accomplish, and their own part in that. Most successful teams have a lot of players who play a "role" without being the star. A team will only go as far as the weakest link can go, so it benefits everyone to help and encourage all members of the team. One person's success is the team's success.

There is no "I" in team......

Irish Dancing

Try something new today!!!! Irish dancing is great exercise, and fun to do. Watch a video, grab some friends and give it a try......have fun!

Invented games

This weekend at my son's baseball games I watched a group of younger siblings entertain themselves with old rackets and an old tennis ball and some baseball gloves. They all got together and invented a game using the equipment they had and the space available to them. They agreed on the rules, divided into teams and played for HOURS! Any arguments were decided by the group, and even the youngest was included.

Kids don't need the best equipment, instruction or even space. They just need their imaginations and some time. It was a joy to watch.

Winning and losing

In competition, winning is the goal. Every effort is made to win the game. As long as the rules are followed by all, the competition is fair and the outcome accepted. What happens when someone breaks the rules or the spirit of the competition? Is the winner legitimate?

Try something new

Our bodies become used to the demands we put on them. Sometimes doing something different can break us out of a holding pattern in our fitness. If you usually run, try swimming or stair climbing. If you usually play basketball, try soccer. If you usually do yoga, try a martial art. If you are a gym rat, try getting outside.

This can be true of everyone, not just adults. Kids need to be exposed to many different activities so that they can really know what they like. A lot of kids will have preconceived notions about certain sports and games. It is only after getting a chance to learn and play in a safe environment that they realize they actually like something.

Resolve to try something new with your kids at least once a month. Be willing to go outside your comfort zone!

Exercise and sickness

When are you too sick to work out or play? Any time you have a fever, are vomiting, or are dizzy. If you feel like you want to get some activity then you probably can. Make sure to drink plenty of water and drop the intensity down several notches. If your body is fighting off an infection, it needs all its energy to devote to that. Any activity should not be too taxing to your system.

A short walk to get some fresh air and sunshine usually does wonders!

Competitive spirit

Can you be competitive without being mean? Absolutely! One of the toughest matches I played in college tennis was against a very nice girl from our main rivals. We played three tie-break sets for two and a half hours. The level of play was high. Neither one of us questioned a call the whole match. Even though I lost the match, it is still the match I am most proud of playing.

Some people get very mean and rude when they are competing in games. They believe they have to be this way to win. NOT SO! Watch the NFL players help each other up after smashing tackles. Watch a tennis player applaud his opponents good shot. Watch NBA players shake hands before a game and hug after one! You can compete at a high level and still be a nice guy!

Winning and losing is inconsequential if you are not a good sport.

basic skills

Would you ask a child to do division without first teaching the addition, subtraction and multiplication skills required? Of course not! So why do we throw out a ball and expect kids to be able to play a game without first being taught the basic skills and rules involved? Even a small amount of time spent learning and practicing basic skills can make a huge difference in how successful a student will be trying to play any given game.

Wind Blown

When does the weather win? When you let it! Sometimes the weather is so bad that you really should NOT try to get outside to exercise. It can actually be unsafe. At these times it is tempting to just blow off your workout, but you can still get some activity inside even if you don't have access to a gym. Use the stairs in your house, or create a step if you don't have any. Set up an obstacle course using several rooms. Compete against yourself, or your family for time. See how many reps you can do of sit ups, push ups, dips, jumping jacks......be creative and have fun!

Short bursts!

Did you know that short bursts of intense activity can burn MORE energy than an even pace of exercise? A few bursts of hard effort thrown into a workout can increase the benefits you get from the activity. And guess how most kids play? When left to their own, most games kids play contain short bursts of hard activity mixed with some slower paced. This is our natural inclination, so why fight it? Play like a kid!