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A Quick Introduction To Pickleball – The Sport Growing In Popularity Across The U.S.

A key focus of my blog is Athletics/Sports. Many people don’t know about the sport of Pickleball which is gaining popularity across the United States. The following contributed post is entitled, A Quick Introduction To Pickleball – The Sport Growing In Popularity Across The U.S.

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Image credit: Pexels, Free to Use Licence.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport that incorporates elements of tennis, badminton, ping-pong, and squash. Played both indoors and outdoors on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net, the game can be played as singles or doubles by people of all ages and abilities. Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island by three fathers whose children were bored with their usual games, Pickleball has since evolved from a home-made game to a national and international sport, played by more than 2.5 million people in the U.S alone.

How is pickleball played?

Pickleball can be played as singles or doubles and has a very simple set of rules.

1. The ball must always be served diagonally across the net.

2. Players on both sides must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed.

3. Volleys cannot be played from the ‘no volley zone’ which occupies seven feet each side of the net to avoid spiking

4. The player who is serving will continue to do so until a fault is made by the other player or they make a fault themselves. Then the serve moves to the other player or team.

5. The first person, or side, to score eleven points and to lead by at least two points wins.

Pickleball faults

A team, or player, takes a fault whenever:
A. If they enter or touch the non-volley zone during a serve
B. They hit the ball out of bounds
C. They do not clear the net
D. They volley within the non-volley zone
E. Or the ball is volleyed before one bounce has occurred on each side.

What equipment do you need to play pickleball?

Originally, pickleball was played with simple home-made paddles, however as the sport has grown, this has been replaced with more specialist equipment. To play pickleball, all you need is a pickleball paddle, which is smaller than a tennis racquet but larger than a ping-pong paddle, and a pickleball, which is unique to the sport and is based on the Wiffle ball. Pickleballs come in a variety of colors and differ slightly depending on whether you are playing indoors or outdoors. Ideally, pickleball will be played on a badminton-sized court with a pickleball net, however, theoretically, it can be played on any modified court.

What do you wear when playing pickleball?

Pickleball is a sport accessible to all, and no specialist attire is required. Generally, it is suggested that players wear athletic wear to allow them a full range of motion and wear some style of court shoes with the correct foot support. Although not essential, committed pickleball players often choose to purchase specific pickleball shoes and also store their equipment in the best pickleball bags to make it easier to transport their equipment and clothing to and from the court.

Where to play pickleball!

Pickleball is growing in popularity across the U.S, Canada and into Europe, and is often played in schools as well as by private clubs. If you want to give pickleball a try where you live, then if you live in the U.S then you can use this link to find an official place to play. If you live abroad, then a simple Google search will usually notify you of any local pickleball clubs.

So there you have it – a brief introduction to the world of pickleball. Have you ever played? maybe it’s a new hobby to try this year?

Should We Compare The Sports Heroes Of Today To The Ones Of Yesteryear?

A key focus of my blog is Athletics and Sports. People debate sports all the time. What’s particularly compelling is the comparison of heroes/players from different eras. While great points are made on both sides, these comparisons of eras are typically impossible to make and inconclusive due to numerous factors. The following contributed post is entitled, Should We Compare The Sports Heroes Of Today To The Ones Of Yesteryear?

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They just don’t make them like they used to, do they? Or is this statement completely irrelevant in the modern age? In terms of sports, we always look to the Muhammad Alis, Johnny Unitas’, and Magic Johnsons of the world, and think that the modern sports hero cannot hold a torch to them. But is it even fair for us to compare the sports heroes of today to the ones of yesteryear? Or do we just have a romanticized view of sport back in the olden days? In fact, is it even fair to compare the two? Are the modern sports heroes under so much more pressure, and are they more physically adroit than the older champions?

The Trials And Tribulations
You can look at it from two perspectives: the social media struggle, and the political one. You can look at the modern sports hero fighting a torrent of social media abuse, which is part and parcel of any game. But even if you look at the heroes of yesteryear, like Niagara Falls basketball legend Carlos Bradberry, there was a different sort of struggle. Naturally, there was a major political struggle back in the heyday of sports in the 1960s and 1970s, which is still, in some areas, carrying through to today. Especially when you look at the topic of transgender issues in sport and even the topic of religion can bring up a whole plethora of debate. Whether it’s the major NFL stars that are observing Ramadan, or younger players like Parker Sniatynski and their Christian beliefs, the modern sports hero has their battles on more than just the playing field. The modern sports hero, it can be argued, have fewer issues to contend with because we supposedly live in a more tolerant world. But it all depends on who you ask! There is still an inherent amount of political struggle in any sport.

The Physical Strength
This depends on the game. While there is a steady increment of records being broken in pretty much every sport with every passing year, can you even compare the physical prowess of a modern football player to the heroes of the 50s and 60s? Training regimes are tougher, and there’s more science behind it, but likewise, you can still argue that the old training methods are the best. There’s a reason why many bodybuilders stick to the classic approaches pioneered by people like Reg Park. These days, from the perspective of an outsider, the modern approach to building muscle is all about quick fixes and cutting corners, when physical strength is really all about the classic methods. With this device, you can also argue that the modern sports star has a lot more comfort in their lives. This could have a major bearing on how they play the game.

The Evolving Of The Game
Most may think that there hasn’t been much change to the game, regardless of the surroundings. But from the Olympics to football and everything in between, there has been a major period of evolving. Because any athlete has to work harder to break the previous records, this means that the game has to change with the times. The game can become harder, not necessary by the rules changing, but by the people playing the game becoming a higher caliber. As the game evolves it’s blatantly unfair to make comparisons to those that came before. The game can change, but only by the stimuli that surrounds it. The rules remain the same, but the players will change.

The Inspiration Of The Old Guard
The reasons that these big names are considered legends, because they are pioneers. As such, we need to hold these members of the old guard in high regard. And when we look to our heroes, and those that triumphed over adversity or limiting circumstances, we can’t help but feel inspired, but also feel that we have got a lot more to help us become better at the game. The sportspeople of yesteryear had to overcome trial-and-error, whereas we can have it put on a plate as to the right workout plan, nutritional guidelines, and so on. We just have to stick to them. But we need to make an impact on the game in a different way. It’s about learning that mental toughness that those heroes overcame. As such, while it may be unfair to compare the sports heroes of today to those of yesteryear, in terms of physical prowess or the game itself, most definitely, the people that came before us have had it more difficult.

Sport Could Change Your Life: How Do You Plan On Letting It Change Yours?

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“Sport can honestly change your life, but how it changes it is entirely up to you.”

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Two of the focuses of my blog are Athletics and Sports, and Health and Wellness. In addition to teaching life lessons through competition, sports are overall good for our quality of life. The following contributed post is thus entitled, Sport Could Change Your Life: How Do You Plan On Letting It Change Yours?

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Let’s get a little serious for a moment, shall we? Sport can honestly change your life, but how it changes it is entirely up to you. We see so much online and in print about how exercise and perhaps even taking part in sports is so good for you. Not just physically, but mentally as well, but yet many of us will still openly admit that sport or physical exercise is not a part of our normal routine. I wanted to share with you some of the ways that you could introduce sport or physical exercise into your life and how those ways could really transform the way you live and think. It sounds dramatic, but it is true. Here are my suggestions.

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Play a sport and get involved with a team or class

One of the first things you could try would be to find yourself a local class or team in the sport you want to play and just have the courage to get involved. It may sound difficult at first to overcome such a mental fear as this, which is on the same lines of stepping out of your comfort zone, but it could make the world of difference. Being part of a team also gives you that social aspect, which can add to the enjoyment and even give you the chance to make some new friends.

Watch a sport live and feel the adrenalin

At first, just join a team or even doing something yourself may feel like a big step to take, so actually being a spectator of sport can give you the inspiration and motivation to get started yourself. Seeing a hockey game live and buying tickets, or attending your first ever football game, it can give you a new sense of passion for the sport as well as the motivation to start out yourself.

Get yourself a pet dog

Maybe you just need a reason to be more active, and one of the best things to do is walking. Buy walking yourself may feel a little overbearing, so having a dog to do it with you could be the ideal way to start being more active on a day to day basis. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise to take, believe it or not, and it can actually be a great way to build up fitness levels and confidence.

Set yourself a challenge or target to achieve

Finally, why not set yourself a goal or a challenge to get started with? This could be a great way for you to start feeling motivated about taking part in specific sports or exercises. Having a big goal is great, but don’t forget to set yourself smaller targets along the way to help you along the way. This really helps you to stay motivated on track.

If you’re looking for a simple way to start incorporating sport into your life, even from home, consider trying your hand at golf. It’s a sport that sharpens both focus and patience, and you don’t even need a full course to begin. With golf mats for sale online, you can practice your swing right in your backyard or garage. It’s a low-pressure, enjoyable way to stay active, clear your mind, and maybe even spark a passion you didn’t know you had.

Find an immersive sport

Sports that require a particular focus or drive can be life-changing as they help you develop a specific mindset. This mindset can involve long or short bouts of concentration, like running long distance vs. sprinting. Cultivating a new mentality can be useful in all areas of life as it can help you focus over more extended periods. Sports that have many different components to them can also be engaging and immersive. If you enjoy shooting, for example, there are many ways to improve your knowledge of the subject, like learning about the different gun accessories available to be safe when enjoying the sport.

Get a mento

A mentor isn’t just someone who helps you build the business you want. They are also someone who can coach you in sports, particularly those that might be a little off the radar.

Equestrian and hunting expert Freddie Vasquez Jr explains that there are lots of these individuals around. These are often people who have experience in a niche area and are looking to share their knowledge with up-and-coming individuals.

So there you have it, my thoughts on how sport could change your life. However you choose to enjoy it, I hope you start to notice some of the differences yourself.