By Giuseppe Mathis
 Goals are the salt and pepper of soccer and they can only be scored by either shooting, or heading the ball. Heading the ball is an unnatural process, whereas kicking the ball is quite a natural "need" that humans have, deep down. How many times have you walked on the street and instinctively kicked a leaf, or some small rock, just for the heck of it?
Now, how many times have you walked on the street and started hitting your head against solid objects? I hope not a lot. So heading is a lot harder to train, because we have to fight against our own natural fear of hitting our head against an object. That's why soccer shooting drills are so much more diverse and common in training sessions. Let's take a look at the different types of shooting drills.
-Soccer Shooting Drills - Static Positions
Static position soccer shooting drills refer to the player's position, not the ball (although in the case of free kicks, both the ball and the player are static). Free kicks are very helpful for
your players in training their shot accuracy and usually they are used for just that, instead of being a means to get your shot power trained. You could try having all your players execute free kicks, or just select a handful that you noticed are better at this role and form them as specialists in free kicks.
The other way you can practice soccer shooting drills in a static position is by having one player in the center, receiving passes from the sides and shooting, without moving towards the ball. This simulates a match scenario that occurs quite often, with a striker or a central midfielder having to shoot the ball with a single touch from a static position, because he has no space to move around, or no time to do so.
-Soccer Shooting Drills - Dynamic Positions
There's a wider array of soccer drills for shooting that can be practiced from dynamic positions, than from static ones. One of the most popular is the run-and-shoot: have your players positioned in a line at the center of the pitch and send a keeper in the goal. Now, have each player sprint with the ball at his feet up to a certain point that you decide (place a cone as a visual marker), then cannon a shot to goal from there.
If you want to practice long range shots, you'll obviously have them shooting for far away, whereas if you want more finishing accuracy, you will have your players shoot from the edge of the box, or even inside it.
A slight variation of the run and shoot soccer drill is the wall-and-shoot. Basically, you'll have the same setup, with the players at half court and a goalkeeper guarding the net of one of the goals, but you will also have a player somewhere near the penalty area, who will act as a wall passer for your incoming players. So a player will sprint with the ball, when he is close to the wall passer he initiates a one-two and shoots the ball in full-on sprint, as soon as he receives it back.
After a while, the above mentioned soccer drills for shooting tend to get repetitive, so you might want to dig up some more, or simply create variations of these. You can work around the dynamic position ones and create new drills of your own.
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Taking A Look At Sports Eyewear
By Cory Lynch
 With more and more people participating in outdoor and extreme sports adequate eye protection is a must. The two biggest dangers to the eyes in this environment are ultra violet (UV) light from the sun and impact from a direct blow to the face. The safety aspect of sports eyewear, however, is not solely the concern of the elite or extreme sports person. Sports people at all levels are wise to take some time in considering the type of sports eyewear they choose. With sports participation becoming more and more popular the demand for expertise in sports vision is increasing.
Eye Safety
Both elite and recreational sports enthusiasts need to ensure that their sports sunglasses offer one hundred percent protection from harmful UVA and UVB light as well as being impact resistant in case of mishaps! These are features that many 'fashion' sunglasses lack. For this reason fashion sunglasses should never be worn during sport. They are unlikely to withstand impact and may shatter causing eye or facial injury. The ideal material for sports eyewear is polycarbonate which is a thermoplastic polymer. This material is lightweight and has excellent impact resistance.
Always check the label on any sports sunglasses to ensure that the lenses offer maximum UV protection. Exposing the eye to UV light can contribute to the develoment of cataracts, eye tumours and macular degeneration. The eye can even get 'sunburn' - a condition known as 'keratitis'. This is especially a concern in sports during which the eye is exposed to excessive reflected light such as skiing, snowboarding and water sports. UV bounces off snow and water even on cloudy days therefore it is important to always wear tinted goggles or sports sunglasses during these sports. Polarised lenses are the best choice for these sports as they absorb about ninety eight percent of reflected glare. Swimming goggles are now available with tinted or mirrored lenses to reduce glare in outdoor swimming and other water sports.
Sports sunglasses are also designed with features to make sure they stay on your face! This may sound like an obvious point but it is an important safety consideration. Rubber non-slip temple and nose grips are common features of sports sunglasses. Most are available with inexpensive rubber head straps to further increase security.
A safety feature of skiing goggles is anti-fogging properties. Not only is fogging a huge frustration for skiers and snowboarders, it can lead to potential accidents and injury. Double lenses, anti-fog coating and controllable vents are features to look for in goggles.
You wouldn't wear your regular footwear for sport so why wear your regular sunglasses! Some Optometrists are now specialising in sports vision and are best placed to offer specific advice regarding the safety aspect of sports eyewear. Your eyes are precious and vulnerable - protect them well and enjoy your sport!
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What To Look For When Purchasing A Set Of Skis
By Cory Lynch
 New ski equipment can be expensive, and even used ski gear costs a pretty penny, so it is important to make sure that you have found the perfect pair of skis before you take out your checkbook. The right skis will feel almost like an extension of your body as you zip down the slopes with ease, whereas the wrong skis can be cumbersome and uncomfortable, weighing you down and keeping you from reaching your full athletic potential.
The key to finding your ideal gear for hitting the slopes is research. The more you know about the different kinds of skis available, the better you will be able to select the best option for your needs.
Before you purchase your own set of skis, it is a good idea to spend some time trying out various models and makes of skis. Most people learn to ski on rented equipment, and trying out a variety of different kinds of skis through a rental agency is a great way to get a feel for your personal ski preferences. Investing some funds in renting a variety of different skis for research purposes can actually save you quite a bit of money in the long run, as the more you know about what you like on the slopes the more likely you will be to purchase a pair of skis that will help you ski at your best. Following the old adage "try before you buy" can be the key to taking home the perfect gear for your physical build and skiing style.
Once you have determined what sort of skis you feel most comfortable on, spend some time thinking about what kind of a skier you want to become in the future. Because skis are such a serious investment, you will want to purchase a pair that will grow with you as you become more accomplished. When in doubt it is better to buy skis you are not quite ready for rather than skis you will quickly outgrow. In addition to your level of accomplishment, consider what kind of skiing style you hope to be able to master.
Before you buy a pair of skis, it is vital to decide whether you plan to pursue only a single form of skiing, or whether you will need a pair of skis that are versatile enough to take on many different kinds of courses in varied situations. Skiers who only plan to tackle resort slopes are usually best served by Alpine skis. But, some athletes with bigger ideas in mind will need a set of gear that will be equally at home in both downhill and telemark scenarios.
The perfect pair of skis will be able to bridge the gap between the skier you are today and the skier you hope to become. Many beginners make the mistake of buying the skis that are best suited to their current skill level, but smart shoppers are well aware of the fact that a pair of skis should open up the possibility of further advancement rather than stunting the athlete's progress. It is vital to your enjoyment and safety to buy skis that you can use today, but it is also important to choose a pair that will still suit you tomorrow.
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Having A Blast At The Beach Playing Volleyball
By Arnoldo Watson
 There are many social opportunities to be realized when young people play volleyball at the beach with family and friends. While some people come to the beach for relaxation, they can also enjoy playing volleyball to get some form of exercise during their time off from work or other responsibilities in their busy life. Playing volleyball at the beach will also give people the opportunity to work on their tan, and by the time the day is over, they will generally be well ahead of the color scheme that they are trying to achieve in their body.
Playing volleyball at the beach does not require a lot of people but larger crowds are generally more fun and make the game more exciting. As few as two people are required to get a game of volleyball started, and there are likely to be more people that come around later that will volunteer to play for a while and this will simply add to the fun in the friendly game. Boys use volleyball games to get girls into polite conversation, and while they are learning how athletic the girls are, they are also probably learning what their telephone numbers are and what school they go to.
Some girls can show off their athletic talents by challenging boys to a volleyball match spontaneously. These girls know how good they are at volleyball because they play the game competitively in their school's athletic program. The boys might think that they will beat the girls because they think they are more athletically inclined to do it. These boys will be sorely distressed when the girl's volleyball team beats them two games out of three.
Volleyball is based more on body techniques than the amount of muscles that a person has, but young people do enjoy looking at flexing muscles that come into being when boys extend their bodies in pursuit of a volleyball that is in their playing area. The girls do not mind at all that the boys are smug and so self-assured, and this type of behavior will usually motivate the girls to play harder than they are used to. Girls can get a lot of satisfaction out of beating boys at any game, but while playing volleyball against boys, the girls might also have other things in mind and let the boys win more than they were supposed to.
An enjoyable day can be experienced by playing volleyball because other activities can be done at the same time. Some people will set up grills and barbeque hamburgers and hotdogs while watching other players enjoy the volleyball game. Most beaches will have volleyball nets set up to entice vacationers to enjoy the beach. Playing games of volleyball relaxes people and gives them the perfect option for enjoying oceanic sceneries while doing it.
People can enjoy playing louder music than normal when they are playing volleyball on the beach. The wide open spaces offered on a public beach make it possible for large groups of people to meet without feeling confined in any way. Some people will make new friends that they can go out with at a later date, because people that like the physical conditioning provided by volleyball practice will likely enjoy other sports as well. Volleyball players can enjoy weight training to harden their muscles to be ready for the next volleyball match that they play on vacation.
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Formula 1 Fans Are The Best
By Julio Trujillo
 What a wonderful and diverse world modern Formula 1 is. It offers a mystique, a sexiness, that no other motorsport can offer. Exhaustive research and analysis is carried out every year on the people that make up the F1 audience. We're told F1 supporters are intelligent, articulate, usually affluent and posses a "worldliness" and sophistication that has seen multinationals clamouring over themselves, pouring billions into the sport to try and associate themselves with the F1 brand.
Well for the first time, I have conducted my own highly technical and scientific research (I spoke to a couple of my mates down at the pub) to compile the definitive F1 Fan study. This should be essential reading for all the marketing directors out there.
THE SCHUSCIPLE
Distinguishing Features:
Exclusively wear scarlet red
Know that F1 started in 1991
Have had chin augmentation surgery
Located
Everywhere - they're like damn cockroaches - they just keep multiplying.
Favoured Products
Anything endorsed by St Michael of Maranello
Favourite Saying
I hope it rains, that will the "Rainmaster" at his best
Schumacher is the greatest of all time because..............
Schumacher is so great he could win in any car (this saying has recently been heard less often)
Marketing Tip
If you want to sell something to the Schusciple, either paint it scarlet red, or feature a picture of the man himself - no other work is needed.
Be prepared to spend $8 billion (Schumacher's current rate for an endorsement)
OLD SCHOOL
Distinguishing Features:
Believe Formula 1's glory days were circa 1520
Juan "Johnny Come Lately" Fangio marks the decline of Formula 1
Vehemently opposed to such ridiculous introductions as seat belts, brakes, helmets and engines.
Located
Zimmer frame or public library
Favoured Products
Gramophone
Wireless (no not the internet connection - radio)
Favourite Saying
I remember when...............
This will be the end of Formula 1
Marketing Tips
Unless your client owns a funeral home or manufactures hemorrhoid cream, don't bother.
GREASE MONKEYS
Distinguishing Features:
Lack of personal hygiene
Pungent Odour (see above)
Inability to communicate to the opposite sex
Drive $2000 vehicles with $150 000 modifications
Wardrobe consists of a variety of overalls (usually team colours)
Located:
Head firmly buried in an engine or "performance" magazine
Favoured Products
Anything that makes a vehicle louder (performance enhancement optional)
Favourite Saying
No-one has actually heard them speak, other than some grunting noises
Marketers Tips
Make sure all advertising has a big picture of an engine
Use little of no text (due to illiteracy)
TECHNIUMS
Distinguishing Feature:
Acne
Thick Rimmed Glasses
Bad Posture
Pocket protector
Usually single
Located
In front of a computer
Favoured Products
Any hi tech material known by an unpronounceable word
Favourite Saying
McLaren's new engine material - jargonium - is so advanced it's not even on the periodic table ha ha
Pinnacle of Motorsport
Marketers Tips
Any product or service should have the suffix of "ium"
Ensure that advertising is placed is Modern Metallurgy and is written entirely in nonsensium
F1 DISCO BUNNIES
Distinguishing Features
Easily distracted by bright shiny objects
Will do anything to be associated with an F1 "insider" (even 5th reserve driver will do)
Don't enjoy loud noises
Think the pit markings are a really big line of their favourite chemical
Located
Team hotels/motorhomes, usually in a perpetual horizontal position
Favoured Products
Anything shiny
Favourite Saying
If you can get me to meet Fernando I'll make it worth your while
Marketers Tips
Any breast enhancement product
CONSPIRACY THEORISTS
Distinguishing Features
Believe in the FIA = Ferrari formula
Believe Max Mosley is trying to ruin the sport
Located
In F1 forums posting latest wild plan of Mosley to destroy F1
Favoured Products
Mifepristone
Favourite Sayings
OK, so the 2006 Formula 1 season is exciting, that's got nothing to do with Max's changes
No longer the pinnacle of motor sport
Marketing Tips
Other than a "Max Is Satan" t-shirt not much you can sell this lot
WANNABES
Distinguishing Features
Their cars have 5 point safety harness
Wear a HANS device when doing the shopping or having a shower
Disproportionately developed neck muscles
Located
In front of the X-Box honing their skills for the pending call up to the show
Nearest kart track honing their skills for the pending call up to the show
Favoured Products
Any Formula 1 branded product
Favourite Saying
F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport
Kimi has great racecraft
I could do better than Ide
Marketing Tips
Stick an official Formula Logo on any piece of crud and they will lap it up
GRID GIRL CONNOSEUR
Distinguishing Features
Calluses on the inside of their hands
Blurred vision
Located
In front of a computer screen downloading "adult" entertainment
Nearest girly bar
Favoured Products
KY - Gel
Favourite Saying
Corrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Marketing Tips
Stick a picture of a gorgeous babe on any piece of crud and they'll buy it.
Also largest consumer segment of "enlargement" techniques.
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