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Sports health and safety issues

April 16, 2012 By

As anyone who is serious about sports will know, health and safety is a vital part of enjoying sports safely. It is important to be aware of health and safety issues within sport to allow you to enjoy your workouts and sports effectively, without putting yourself or others in danger.

Within sports, health and safety can apply to both the equipment that you use and the way you use and look after your own body, so be aware of this before you embark upon a new sport or fitness regime.

With hockey, as with all competitive sports, being aware of and respectful of other players is imperative when you are playing. Following the rules and not putting other players in danger makes the game much more fun for everybody involved and means you are all at much less risk of accident or injury.

Knowing how to use sporting equipment is another important factor within sports and fitness. You might not necessarily need a manual handling certificate to play your favourite sport, but it is important to be aware of the basics.

If you are a real fan of a particular sport and want to coach or train others, then online health and safety courses related to sports will be especially useful for you. The last thing you want to do is put yourself or others in danger when you are coaching or training them in your favourite sport.

You will be able to do many of the necessary health and safety courses online but some training you may need to attend college for, or undertake practical elements. Whether you are interested in sports training or coaching or are simply a fitness fanatic who wishes to get the most out of your workouts, sports health and safety is an area which you simply can’t afford to overlook.

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Making the most of the great outdoors on holiday

March 29, 2012 By

If you love getting out in the open air and doing sports like climbing, bouldering and mountain biking, then you’ll probably enjoy camping too. In fact outdoors activities and camping often go hand in hand as campsites are usually found in beautiful countryside or coastal locations, with easy access to this kind of activity.

This applies to many countries in the world, and taking your camping equipment with you when you go on holiday opens up many possibilities of seeing beautiful and remote locations at their finest – at the break of dawn and when the sun is setting.

For example, Thailand has over a hundred national parks where you can camp overnight. Many of the parks have hiking trails and water-based activities to take part in. Thailand is also a great location for climbing and there are many climbing centres where you can find guides to take you on exciting routes.

In Croatia, there’s an amazing nature reserve called Plitvice Lakes National Park which has UNESCO World Heritage status. Nature lovers might be able to spot bears and wolves while camping here. There are sixteen beautiful turquoise blue lakes to walk and hike around, and they are connected with cascades and waterfalls. Be warned, though, you’re not allowed to swim in the lakes as they’re protected to keep them pure.

In Vietnam, there are lots of organised trek and camping trips. For example, you can book a two or three day trip to climb to the Roof of Indochina – otherwise known as Fanispan Peak – in northwest Vietnam. When you’re in another country, it’s often good to join a guided tour as you’ll get to hear a lot more about the history of the area and you’re bound to meet interesting people in the group.

Of course, wherever you live in the world, your own country will have plenty to offer – both for outdoors activities and sports and locations to sleep under the stars. Wherever you are, you’ll be able to make use of your camping kit, but even if you don’t always take a tent on your travels make sure you pack your fleece jackets and sleeping bags just in case an unexpected camping opportunity comes up.

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Eating for fitness

March 7, 2012 By

As a fitness fan and hockey fanatic, I am well aware of the importance of diet in maintaining physical fitness and overall good health. Without the right fuel, our bodies are unable to perform the tasks we need them to, and this is especially the case when it comes to sports.

One of the best tips for maintaining peak physical fitness and good health is to ensure that you eat a good breakfast to give you the energy you need to get started and to keep going until lunchtime. A good piece of advice is to include complex carbohydrates and fibre for slow release energy throughout the morning. A personal favourite is poached eggs and mushrooms on Hovis bread or baked beans on toasted wheatgerm bread. As well as fibre and complex carbohydrates, both contain protein which is vital for muscle building and repair as well as strong, healthy bones.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are of course an essential part of any healthy diet, and this is even more so the case for fitness and sports fanatics. Try and vary the types of fruit and vegetables you eat and include them in your main meals as well as choosing them as snacks.

Another great snack for energy is nuts, particularly unsalted. They are full of protein and unsaturated fat, so make sure you have a ready supply at hand rather than reaching for junk food such as crisps and chocolate that won’t give you long lasting energy and are full of saturated fat.

When you are exercising or playing sport it is important to stay well hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and remember to ensure you are hydrated before you begin exercise, as well as during. Herbal and fruit teas and squashes and juices also count towards your fluid intake, and you may find sports drinks useful for workouts.

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Get into climbing

January 24, 2012 By


Climbing is a great sport to get into and can be a really invigorating way of exploring the world. There are so many exciting places to climb and you can either do it independently or go on a specialist climbing holiday, where you’ll have other people to climb with and guides who know the best routes like the back of their hands.

Some of the best places to climb can be found in Europe – in France and Spain. In Spain, a lot of climbing routes are on the coast so you can get fantastic views out to sea as you scale the heights. And if you fancy going further afield, the Thai region of Krabi has some amazing climbing to offer.

Often it’s not necessary to take
rock climbing equipment with you; you can use the climbing company’s stuff or hire it locally. One thing you should take with you is your own climbing shoes and walking boots. It’s often a good idea to put your climbing shoes in a backpack until you get to the base of the climbing route and wear something like
Scarpa boots along the trails that take you to the start of the climb.

You can go on a climbing holiday even if you’re an absolute novice, but you’ll probably get more out of it when you’ve cut your teeth on some climbing walls and maybe even taken a short climbing course.

One of the best things about climbing in other countries is that you can take in amazing views that other tourists will never get to see at ground level. You get to feel a much stronger connection with the landscape of the country you are visiting.

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How to dress for exercise in cold weather

November 24, 2011 By

As winter begins, the temptation is to do less exercise as it’s not half as appealing to put on your kit and get out there when the temperature barely gets above freezing all day.
However if you make sure you’re wearing the right clothing, you’ll find that winter exercise can be just as satisfying as in the summer, and perhaps a little more invigorating.
There are some days when you simply won’t want to go outside because it’s raining too hard, or the ice on the ground makes it too dangerous to contemplate going running. These are the times to switch to a gym workout, or go running on an indoor track.
But if the sun’s shining, get out there and enjoy the fresh air. While running in the rain may not be much fun, it’s better to run in the rain that when it’s very windy. Wind increases heat loss and can make the cold weather feel colder. If it’s really much below freezing, it’s risky to exercise outdoors as hypothermia can take hold at really quite mild temperatures. The definition of hypothermia is when body temperature drops below 95°F (35°C).
The most important preparation you can make for outdoor exercise in cold weather is choosing the right clothing. Starting with the base layer, make sure you put on thermal underwear. Thermals keep you warm, but also allow moisture to wick away from your skin. Follow that with a second layer to insulate. You can vary the thickness of this layer depending on how cold the weather is. Finally add a waterproof shell to keep the heat in and to keep you protected from outside moisture, wind and cold. Don’t forget this layering system for your legs, too, and wear a pair of thermal gloves to protect your fingers from that frosty feeling. Top it off with some protection for your head, too.
If you’re out exercising in the early morning or in the evening, make sure you are easily seen – wear light coloured or reflective clothing. Choose to exercise in well-lit places and avoid areas where there is a lot of traffic.
Exercise in winter can be fun; just make sure you’re safe and warm while you’re out there.

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The Benefits Of A Fitness Assessment

August 8, 2011 By

A fitness assessment is a sequence of measurements that help establish physical fitness. There are many standard tests in a fitness assessment. Relying on the assessor, other tests might be added to attain a larger image of fitness or lack thereof. The primary tests in a fitness assessment judge body mass index, resting pulse rate and blood pressure, and aerobic fitness. [Read more...]

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Thorough Medicare Programme .

April 9, 2011 By

As an example, school and college scholars may end up in a bind when talking of obtaining reasonable medical insurance. Individual and family medical care insurance is the right way to go for many folks. These scholars can sign up for either a student health insurance policy, or they can sign up for an individual and family health insurance policy. But how are you able to find an inexpensive individual and family health insurance policy? Of course, individual health insurance policies are widely known for being costlier than the group health insurance plans you can get thru your employer, right?
That is true, but there are always techniques to find a reasonable individual and family health insurance policy. Start to shop for reasonable individual and family health care insurance. [Read more...]

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