The Importance of In-Season Training for Student Athletes

For the athletes that have trained hard during the off-season to prepare themselves for the physical riggers of the season, staying strong is just as important as getting strong.

Athlete's who've spent the summer in rigorous pre-season workouts such as weights and specific sport conditioning turn up for pre-season training in great shape and ready to perform at their highest level for coach and team.

Unfortunately, too many athletes let their off-season hard work go to waste by not training in-season and failing to maintain the physical attributes they worked so hard to enhance. They feel they can rely on pre-conditioning done in earlier months to see them through the season.

But fall-off in performance and fitness can be quick and in a short season sport such as Football there is no time to recover especially during the critical end-of-season competition when championships are on the line. Why be at the strongest at the start only to be weak at the all important final competitions?

Performance deterioration caused by cessation of training will lead to a decrease in time to exhaustion which on the playing field means less playing time, or in cross-country out of contention for medals.

From the perspective of a Sports Performance Coach, it can be very difficult and frustrating when it comes to educating athletes, coaches, and parents on the importance and benefits of in-season training. It is my experience that the lack of in-season training can be attributed to hectic schedules, fear of over training, and lack of physiological knowledge.

There are some major benefits to in-season training.

In season training will allow the athlete to maintain the strength, speed, and explosiveness they developed in the off-season. Maintaining these attributes should allow the athlete to avoid physically breaking down as the season progresses. When an athlete does not maintain these attributes it can lead to a decrease in performance and increased rate of injury.

Also, in-season training can allow the athlete to recover faster from practices and games.

It is understandable that there can be difficulty finding a time for in-season training while trying to appropriately balance schoolwork, practice, work, etc. Also, many coaches want to spend in-season practice time on skill development and strategy. Fortunately, the benefits of in-season training can be attained by as little as 1-2 maintenance sessions per week with each session lasting about 45-60 minutes.

There are many studies supporting performance deterioration by not performing conditioning workouts during in-season and those athlete's, and coaches, who utilize in-season training, are more likely to reach their full potential than those who do not.

The goals of an athlete's in season program must be clearly defined in accordance with the physical demands of their sport.

Liane Blyn is the co-owner of Athletic Based Training in the Metro-West Boston area and helps athletes of all levels and ages optimize their athletic performance. Liane runs programs for Strength and Conditioning in Milford and Holliston Massachusetts locations and you can get more details about her programs at her website here: http://www.athleticbasedtraining.com/

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A Comparison of Land Metal Detecting With Water Metal Detecting

Swinging a metal detector over a sandy beach is how most people visualize metal detecting. While this is a big part of metal detecting, there are however, many other places where people can and do metal detect.

Other places to detect on land include in parks, around old house sites, at recreational fields, school yards, and many other places only limited by the imagination. Most start out in the hobby of metal detecting on land, and that is where the majority continue to detect.

One kind of metal detecting that many people are not aware of is detecting in the water. I always have people look at me incredulously when I tell them that I detect primarily in the water. Most don't realize that it can be done.

Here are a few "bullet" points comparing metal detecting on land with detecting in the water.
Generally, the cost of water metal detectors is higher due to their water proof construction. There are a greater variety of land metal detectors available, usually with more features than water metal detectors have.
When working in the water, you need a long handled scoop which has to be fairly rugged and is somewhat costly. It is also a bit more difficult to pin point your target in the water. Recovery of items on land is generally easier.
Detecting in the water can be cold and uncomfortable, which can limit when and how long you can detect. Detecting on land is not so limiting.
More older coins and relics are found on land than you will find in the water. On the other hand, many sites on land have already been detected and finding older items could be limited.
Though there may only be a few water detecting sites in your area, check out what beaches that are nearby as they tend to attract a lot of people on hot days. Gold and silver jewelry are replenished more quickly in the water.
You may not find as many older items in the water as you do on land, but in the water is where you'll tend to find the most valuable items such as gold, silver, and platinum jewelry.
Detecting in the water can be fatiguing, especially on your arms and shoulders because of water resistance in both swinging the coil and digging the target. Detecting on land less so.
Wind can kick up the waves and make the water a little murky, making detecting in water a bit difficult.
There are potential hazards in the water such as broken glass, rusted jagged metal, and dangerous critters that make it more difficult to detect in the water.

There are other differences between land metal detecting and water metal detecting, but in general, it is somewhat easier over all to detect on dry land than in the water. Most detectorists who detect in the water also detect on land, but only a small percentage of those who detect on land detect in the water. There is some cross over as many with land detectors will use them in shallow water since the coil is usually water proof. If you choose to try this, be careful not to drop your detector into the water or let water splash on to the detector housing. Repairs could cost you a lot of money and end your detecting season early.

To sum up, metal detecting on land is where you generally start to learn the hobby and it can be rewarding with finding relics and older coins. This is great for the hobbyist and collector. Metal detecting in the water is more difficult, but can be more financially rewarding considering recent high prices for silver, gold, and platinum.

Finally, if you'd like to learn more about metal detectors and metal detecting, you'll find lots of great information at Metal Detecting Resource.com.

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Bocce Ball Sets - Different Materials Result in Different Qualities

Bocce ball sets represent equipment sold to people who play the sport of bocce. A set generally comes with eight bocce balls, a smaller ball called a pallino, a generic rule book, and a carrying bag or case. In the below paragraphs, we will cover the three main categories of bocce sets and their differences.

Composite Resin Bocce Ball Sets

The highest quality and most expensive bocce ball sets are made of composite resin. Resin most commonly comes in two forms, natural and synthetic. Natural resin comes from plants and is sticky and durable when dried. Pine sap is an example of a natural resin. Synthetic resin is a manufactured resin. Synthetic resin is more stable and cheaper than natural resin because it is easier to refine and created in a controlled environment.

Because composite resin is more durable than plastic, resin sets are more expensive. They typically start around $60 and run well north of $100. They are most commonly purchased by serious players that play in tournaments and leagues on a regular basis.

Plastic Molded Bocce Ball Sets

Plastic molded bocce ball sets are sets made of plastic. They are not as durable as resin-based sets and are more prone to cracking and splitting under heavy use. They typically range between $30 and $50. They are commonly purchased by casual players consisting of families and friends that enjoy playing bocce in the backyard as well as players looking for a cheap entry into the sport.

Water-Filled Bocce Ball Sets

Water-filled bocce ball sets are self-explanatory. They are made of molded plastic, but with a twist. Instead of being solid, the centers of the balls are hollow. To weigh down the balls and allow for play, the player fills them with water.

Water-filled sets are inexpensive and usually cost $40 or less including shipping. They are relatively cheap for a few reasons. First, they are made of molded plastic. Plastic is inexpensive to use in manufacturing once the dyes are created and paid for. Secondly, the inside of the balls are hollow, requiring less plastic to manufacture. As with the plastic molded sets listed above, water-filled bocce sets are generally purchased by casual players that want to enjoy playing bocce with friends and family and not pay north of $100 to do it.

Conclusion

The above three categories represent most of the available bocce sets on the market today. Wood, glow sets, and indoor cushion sets also exist and can be purchased, but represent the niche markets of bocce sets. When choosing a bocce set for purchase, the above categories will help in determining if you need to purchase a high quality, expensive set or a lower quality, inexpensive set.

The author is a bocce enthusiast and fan of the sport. He also co-owns a company that sells bocce ball sets located at http://www.bocceballssets.com/. They have a wide variety of bocce sets and pride themselves on great customer service. Visit today!

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