The first session of the season is a significant affair, whether you’re new to coaching minor baseball or have been doing it for decades. You’ll meet new kids (and their parents), and you’ll have to figure out where they belong on the baseball field quickly. You want every youngster to be a stronger player by the end of the season, starting with solid first practice.

Here are a few pointers to help you get the season started right.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?

First and foremost, there are a few essential items you should bring to the first practice:

Items for First Aid
a Gatorade cooler or individual water bottles for the entire team
Baseball bats, balls, and other teaching equipment

PREPARE FOR THE FIRST PRACTICE

The majority of leagues begin the season with a draught in which players are assigned to their respective clubs. You should have a list of each player’s name, address, phone number, and email address once your team is complete. Consider sending a message that contains a brief introduction, your contact information, and any upcoming activities in the form of a letter, email, or even a group text.

CALENDAR A MEETING WITH THE PARENTS

Hold a quick meeting with the parents either before the first practice or on the day of the course. This is, without a doubt, the most critical aspect of preseason preparation. Take a look at the following information:

• What each child will require during the holiday season (directed and optional equipment).
• The locations of the games, as well as directions to each field.
• Assign parent responsibilities for the season, which can range from coaching to concession booth management.
• Inform parents about the kind of actions that will not be accepted during the season (coaching from the stands, coming onto the field, yelling at umpires, etc.). Assure parents that you and your colleague’s coaches will be ready to speak with them privately about any concerns they may have.
• Tell parents how important it is for their children to attend each practice. Players that do not practice should have their playing time reduced.
• Request that parents inform you of any particular requirements their children may have (allergies, medical conditions, etc.).
• Set expectations for the season, perhaps most importantly. Make an effort to explain that children have a variety of abilities. Some will play infield, while others will play outfield. Some will pitch, while others will not. Tell parents that you will do your best to help each child develop but that putting players in particular positions before they are ready is simply harmful.

INTRODUCTIONS

Gather your players and introduce yourselves after everyone has arrived. Tell them how long you’ve been coaching, how long you’ve been playing the game, and a few interesting things about yourself (favorite team, player, superhero, food, etc.) Next, take a moment to introduce any assistant coaches who may be there.

Then go around the room and ask each child their name, age, and a fun question. It will be easier for the youngsters to relax if you keep it short and sweet.

COVER THE ESSENTIALS

The first practice is an excellent opportunity to review the fundamentals. Review the rules that apply to your league and age level, such as stealing, leading, and sliding. Because you’re likely to have youngsters who have never played the game before, take a few minutes to go over each position’s responsibilities.

GETTING STARTED WITH PRACTICE

Consider beginning practice with light stretching for younger players, say those under the age of 12. Not only will this teach the students a great lesson about loosening up, but it will also allow you to communicate the practice schedule for the day. If you don’t tell the kids what’s going to happen that day upfront, they’ll probably spend the entire practice asking you questions about what will happen next. Lay everything down in front of you.

You might wish to incorporate some warm-up routines as well. It may be as simple as jogging the bases for younger kids, and it’s a fantastic way to start and conclude practices.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Focus on fundamental drills at first practice because you will most likely be meeting some of your players for the first time, and some of them may have never played the game before. A little bit of everything is covered.

Consider dividing the children into four or five groups. Send each group off with a coach to work on various fundamentals: ground ball fielding, fly ball catching, and hitting fundamentals are all terrific places to start.

DO YOU REQUIRE A DRILL?

Are you looking for a fun and safe first practice drill? Take a look at the Tire Drill. Set up a tire somewhere on the field and suspend it from a fence with bungee cables or something similar. Set up throwing stations with cones to replicate infield positions such as second base, shortstop, etc. Allow the kids to take turns throwing the ball through the tire. You can even make it a game by assigning points for things like the ball going through the tire, hitting the tire, and so on.

This is an excellent drill for learning a little more about your athletes. You’ll be able to observe who has the most robust and most precise arms, as well as who might need some work.

Check out these baseball training articles for more baseball drills.

FINAL PRACTICE

Before sending the kids home, take a few minutes to go over what you covered in practice that day. Concentrate on one central point (ex: step into the throw).

Remember, these are just a few ideas to begin thinking about what you should do during your first practice session. It’s ultimately up to you how you run it, and you could do something completely different. In either case, the best thing you can do is make a strategy ahead of time to ensure a smooth and efficient first practice. Consider putting together a practice plan and emailing it to the players/parents ahead of time. Everyone will know what to expect in this manner.

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Although Gretzky was a hockey player, his adage about scoring goals applies to any sport, including soccer. Many kids at our EduKick soccer camps and boarding schools are hesitant to shoot at first. We teach them to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. You’ll never score if you never hit.

Here are a few pointers to help you get the most out of every shot:

Shooting advice for soccer:

Keep an eye on the goalkeeper’s position. Have they left a loophole that you can take advantage of?

Choose the most appropriate approach for your shot. A sidefoot shot will be more accurate, but an image from the instep (laces) with proper follow-through will be more powerful.

Alongside the ball, place your non-kicking foot.

When striking, keep your head down and your eyes on the ball.

Maintain your body’s position over the ball.

Make contact with the ball’s middle to the top half.

Maintain a calm demeanor.

Tips on how to increase your chances of getting a good score:

Rather than shooting high, shoot broad. There’s a more significant chance of catching the goalkeeper off guard with a deflection.

Low is the way to go. It’s more difficult for a goalkeeper to reach shots on the ground since they have to travel further. It’s simple for them to jump up and save, but it’s far more difficult for them to crouch down and grab it.

Cross the keeper with a shot. They’ll have a more challenging time holding these shots, which means they’ll have to redirect the ball back into the path of another attacker.

Where Do the Most Shots Get Fired?

Have you ever wondered if a soccer goal has a “sweet spot”? A place where you could kick the ball practically every time it went in?

While there may not be a precise “sweet spot,” a recent study looked at where scored goals were most frequently scored. The following are the outcomes:

8 percent (top left)

4% in the top center

5% on the top right corner

Ouch. As you can see, you are shooting high results in a poor probability of actually scoring.

7% in the middle left.

8 percent in the middle.

6% in the middle right.

While shooting to the middle rather than the top gives you a higher chance of scoring, the odds are still not in your favor.

22 percent at the bottom left

21 percent in the bottom center

19% on the bottom right

Take a look at these numbers: Sixty-two percent of all goals were scored at a low level. This makes sense because goalkeepers find it challenging to get down to the ground, exceptionally tall ones. Jumping high is considerably more accessible and more natural for them.

In addition, statistics show that 67 percent of goals were scored in the corners, compared to 33 percent in the center. You should have a considerably higher success percentage in scoring goals if you mix the two statistics and shoot low into the corner.

If you want to enhance your shooting talents, you must train like any other soccer technique. Fortunately, the shooting skills are comparable to the passing tactics. As a result, you can develop two crucial soccer skills at the same time.

But, most crucial, shoot if you see the goal!

This one piece of advice is worth repeating: You will miss 100% of the shots you never take. Take advantage of any shooting opportunities you come across. These suggestions will only be helpful if you put them into practice and in games.

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1. If you’re still growing, get a baseball glove that fits instead of one that you’ll grow into. Wearing a glove that works well is the best method to develop fielding and catching techniques. Outfielders typically wear giant gloves, whereas infielders typically wear smaller gloves with a smaller pocket.
2. After you’ve purchased a glove, you’ll need to break it in. Playing catch with pals is the most acceptable way to break in a new baseball glove, and it’s also a lot of fun.
3. If you don’t have time to break in your glove, spreading shaving cream into the pocket, inserting a ball in the bag, tying a rope or sock around the glove, and then leaving the glove in a dry spot is one way to speed up the process.
4. Use your glove to practice catching. Keep in mind that you’ll be catching with your weaker hand to free up your throwing arm. If you’re right-handed, for example, you should wear a glove on your left hand. You might not be used to catching with your weaker hand, so it’s a good idea to practice.
5. Make sure you understand the rules of your league before purchasing a baseball bat. There are minor changes in bat size and weight allowed by different clubs, and whether they are made of wood or aluminum, don’t waste your money on something you won’t be able to use.
6. When you’re playing for the first time, don’t put yourself on vital defensive positions like catcher or first base unless you’re entirely sure. If you don’t take advantage of these opportunities, you’ll lose confidence.
7. When batting, avoid swinging at anything below your knees or above your shoulders, as this is the area that the umpire should consider outside the hypothetical “strike zone” — the place where the ball must be pitched to be considered legal.
8. Don’t make the typical error of gazing at the pitcher’s eyes before hitting. Instead, concentrate on the location where the pitcher’s hand will emerge from the sky to deliver the ball.
9. Simply throwing a lot will help you develop your throwing strength. You’ll have some natural arm strength, but you’ll have to work hard to enhance it. Do some throwing drills two to three times a week, during which you should toss the ball for three minutes at various distances, such as 9m (30ft), 18m (60ft), 27m (90ft), and 36m (120ft).
10. When it comes to sports, keep in mind that everyone makes mistakes, even the finest players. If you make a mistake, especially as a novice, don’t get too worked up about it; learn from it and move on with your game.

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This year’s NHL 15 is EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour. The gameplay is fantastic in the moment, and everyone can play it thanks to a few simple control schemes. But there’s a lacklustre, shallow sports game underneath the swinging, putting, and aesthetics. There’s no way around it.

And it’s a shame because the game gets off to a great start thanks to the high production rates that are instantly apparent. Character models’ clothing wrinkles, professional golfers seem incredibly lifelike, and authentic courses like Chambers Bay and St. Andrews feel like a virtual tour of the real thing.

Arcade game

And the good doesn’t have to end with the aesthetics; golfing has never felt so good. There are three different control schemes to choose from: Arcade, Classic, and Tour. Returning players will probably be most familiar with Arcade; the shot range is determined by how far you pull the analogue stick back, and the accuracy is determined by how straight your motion is. Classic, on the other hand, reinstates the three-click swing and decides the accuracy of your shot. If you want to get serious, try Tour controls, which take into account the pace of your follow through and backswing and don’t have any extras like ball spin or zoom. Quick rounds are also worth mentioning, as they allow you to complete a four-round tournament in the time it would take you to complete 18 holes. Because of the Frostbite 3 engine, there are no load times between holes, which is a bonus.

Unfortunately, that’s where the majority of the good comes to an end. Although the included courses look and play fantastically, there aren’t as many as there were in the previous instalment of the series. So, while the scenic vistas of the Pacific Northwest or the historical links of Scotland may appeal to you, you’ll grow tired of playing the same holes after a while. After a few rounds, even fantasy courses like the one based on the Battlefield map Paracel Storm become stale.

Look no further than career mode to see how stripped-down EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour really is. You’ll begin by creating your player, selecting from a disappointing list of preset faces and deciding if he or she is a prodigy, a college star, or a teacher hoping to make it big on the tour. You’ll choose your outfits and clubs before heading to the next tour stop. But that’s about the extent of the personalization. Your XP will be added up after each round, but you will not be able to select where it will be distributed. Want to have the putting prowess of Tiger Woods from the early 2000s or Dustin Johnson’s driving prowess? Hopefully, the system would assign the XP to the appropriate categories. You’ll play in the BioWare Classic at a made-up course rather than The Masters at Augusta National due to a shortage of authentic courses. Furthermore, you won’t be able to see how much money you earned from an event (not that money matters in this game), you won’t be able to search a tournament’s full leaderboard, and you won’t be able to look ahead and see future tournaments on your calendar.

Golf Without Boundaries

The absence of meat on the bones does not end there. Do you want to play as Bubba Watson or Tiger Woods for a fast 18 this time? You can’t do it. With a few buddies, want to play a game of alternate shot or Bingo Bango Bongo? You can’t do it. Want to join a country club online or start your own? Sorry, but you won’t be able to. To be honest, the feature strip feels cheap – particularly after the series took a year off to update to new-gen and rebrand itself as ‘Golf Without Limits,’ a taunting rather than enticing tagline.

If the shallow career mode and vapid Play Now choices become too much for you, try out the latest Night Club Challenges, which allow you to practise your target shooting at night on neon-lit courses. It’ll also give you a break from the new team of Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo’s monotonous commentary. Although the replacements for Jim Nantz and David Feherty provide in-depth and interesting previews, they often offer the wrong lines for situations. Rich will start complaining about how frustrating your whole round has been if you are four-under on the day and hit one bad shot. Also, don’t drive a putt too far past the hole, or you’ll get the “Wow, he hit that one like a plumber!” line over and over.

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The hockey community is proud of its sport, close-knit, and devoted to it. The latest edition of EA’s long-running hockey sports game simulation NHL 17 puts a lot of effort into satisfying the audience, and it mostly succeeds, but not by much. NHL 17’s best modes and features reflect a willingness to cater to the game’s core audience, including the excellent online multiplayer mode EA Sports Hockey League (EASHL) and a completely realised World Cup of Hockey. The biggest issue facing the game now and in the future is whether it would be enough to cater to a larger audience of sports video game players in a crowded and highly competitive release schedule.

The World Cup of Hockey is a big deal in sports.

With EASHL, NHL 17 seizes its biggest advantage over other sports games on the market and rides it hard. This season, the best mode of its kind available is bigger than ever. The feeling of having a few friends on the ice to step up the rankings and then being rewarded by unlocking amazing team design and arena customization choices based on that performance (though limited to presets with no opportunity to make your own) is intriguing and enjoyable in NHL 17.

Even better, winning in EASHL is all about making good decisions and growing organically rather than buying upgrades. The well-designed player options allow you to craft a team based on individual strengths as you learn how to play with your mates. Of course, being able to arrange time with those friends is essential to having fun in EASHL. So if that’s not easy for someone, they’ll be missing out on some of NHL 17’s best features.

The World Cup of Hockey kicks off on September 17th, and NHL 17 features it heavily. For years, international play has been under-represented in the series, so being able to play as one of the eight authentic teams in the tournament is a welcome addition. From the right groupings to the championship match, the entire World Cup tournament is covered. Unfortunately, there is no way to complete a tournament online, and the WCOH is likely to be overlooked once the regular NHL season begins.

Hockey’s World Cup is held every four years.

After debuting in Madden and FIFA last year, the Draft Champions mode makes its way into the game. The draught is well-presented, even though the “legend” cards are difficult to read and figure out who they are, and it’s a pleasant process to complete. The issue becomes one that has troubled the series in recent years: insufficient differentiation between lower-tier and very-good-to-elite player scores. When the games begin, it doesn’t feel particularly satisfying because the players, for the most part, feel and perform similarly. Many who don’t play the team-building mode Ultimate Team will also have no reason to play Draft Champions since the incentives received only apply to Ultimate Team.

This year, Franchise introduces ownership responsibilities. The factors such as setting ticket and concession rates are usually unsatisfactory, but the opportunity to move franchises is a major selling point. Las Vegas (the new team won’t be in until NHL 18), Seattle, and Quebec City are among the 19 cities available. Franchise, unfortunately, does not have an online component, so players will be forced to play their seasons alone, without the social aspect of playing with others.

NHL 17 arrives as a well-oiled machine, following the series’ strong comeback year in 2015. Although it relies on tried-and-true modes and features, it excels at the most crucial aspects of a modern sports video game simulation. Veterans enjoy mature on-ice gameplay that tackles several problems that were present in previous instalments while also leaving the all-too-familiar feeling that not much has changed. Newcomers to the series will appreciate the range and scope of choices it provides, despite the fact that it’s an incredibly difficult game to understand at its launch.

The game’s biggest problems are often beyond its influence, such as making a name for itself in a crowded sports video game release calendar. It will struggle to compete for publicity with the other big-name titles releasing around it if it lacks a ‘jumping off the shelf’ new feature. NHL 17 will have to hope that hockey fans have the budget and inclination to buy it this fall, as it lacks a huge new feature like FIFA 17’s all-new storey mode, Madden 17’s massive popularity of the NFL, or NBA 2K17’s recent history of impressive quality and insane level of content.

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Football (soccer) is one of the world’s oldest sports, and it is perhaps one of the most well-known. The Football World Cup represents the pinnacle of the international game. Tournaments such as the Euro Championships, Copa America, and the African Cup of Nations are also held. The best domestic leagues are England’s Premier League, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, and Germany’s Bundesliga (Bundesliga). Soccer is another name for the sport in some parts of the world.

The Goal of the Game

In football, the aim is to score more goals than your opponent in a 90-minute game. The game is divided into two 45-minute halves. After the first 45 minutes of play, the players will take a 15-minute break known as halftime. The second 45 minutes will begin, with any time considered necessary by the referee (injury time) being added on.

Players and their gear

There are 11 players on each side. One goalkeeper and ten outfield players make up this group. The dimensions of the pitch differ depending on the venue, but they are usually 120 yards long and 75 yards wide. There will be a 6 yard box next to the goal mouth, an 18 yard box surrounding the 6 yard box, and a centre circle on each pitch. In terms of dimensions, each half of the pitch must be a mirror image of the other.

A soccer match needs only two pieces of equipment: a pitch and a football. Players are also seen sporting studded football boots, shin pads, and matching shorts. Since goalkeepers are the only players permitted to handle the ball, they will also be wearing padded gloves. Each team will be led by a captain.

Keeping score

To score, the ball must enter the goal of your opponent. To be considered a legal target, the entire ball must cross the goal line. Apart from the hand and arm up to the hip, every part of the body can score a goal. The target itself is made up of an 8-foot-high and 8-yard-wide frame.

The Game’s Success

You must score more goals than your rivals in order to win. Except in cup games, where the game will go to extra time or even a penalty shootout to determine the winner if the scores are equal after 90 minutes, the game will end in a draw. Except for goalkeepers, who can use any part of their body inside the 18 yard box, players must kick the ball with their feet and are forbidden from using their hands (of which more can be found out in the next section).

Football Regulations (Soccer)

• A match consists of two 45-minute halves separated by a 15-minute rest time.
• A match requires a minimum of 7 players and each team must have at least 11 players (including one goalkeeper who is the only player permitted to handle the ball inside the 18 yard box).
• Artificial or natural grass must be used on the field. Pitch sizes can vary, but they must be between 100 and 130 yards long and 50 to 100 yards wide. A rectangular form around the perimeter of the pitch must be marked with out of bounds, two six yard boxes, two 18 yard boxes, and a centre circle. A penalty spot 12 yards out from both the goals and the centre circle must also be available.
• The ball must be circular in shape and have a diameter of 58-61cm.
• Each team has the option of naming up to seven replacement players. Substitutions can be made at any point during the game, with each team having a limit of three substitutions. If all three replacements are used and a player is forced to leave the field due to injury, the team will be forced to play without a replacement.
• One referee and two assistant referees are required for each game (linesmen). The referee’s job is to keep track of time and make any necessary decisions, such as fouls, free kicks, throw-ins, penalties, and extra time at the end of each game. At any point during the match, the referee can consult with the assistant referees about a decision. The assistant referee’s role is to spot offsides in the game (see below), throw ins for either team, and assist the referee in all decision-making processes where appropriate. If the game goes to extra time when both teams are tied, 30 minutes will be added in the form of two 15-minute halves after the allotted 90 minutes.
• If the teams are still tied after extra time, a penalty shootout is needed.
• To be considered a target, the entire ball must cross the goal line.
• A player can earn a yellow or red card for fouls committed, depending on the seriousness of the foul; this is at the discretion of the referee. A yellow card serves as a warning, while a red card results in the player’s dismissal. One red card is equivalent to two yellow cards. A player who has been sent off cannot be substituted.
• A throw in is awarded when a ball is knocked out of play by an opponent on one of the sidelines. It’s a goal kick if it comes out of action off an attacking player on the base line. It’s a corner kick if it comes from a defender.

In football, there is a rule known as the offside rule.

If a pass is played through to an attacking player who is in front of the last defender, offside can be called. The offside area is intended to deter players from simply waiting for a pass near the opponent’s goal. When the ball is played to them, they must be positioned behind the last defender to be onside. If the player is in front of the last defender, he is considered offside and a free kick is awarded to the opposing team.

In their own half, a player cannot be caught offside. A goalkeeper is not considered a defender. The player is not considered offside if the ball is played backwards and he is in front of the last defender.

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