The "Youth Sports Digest" Blog is dedicated to promoting sports and fitness for today's youth

I Speak Soccer

Mar07
2011 6 Comments Written by admin

Soccer is the world’s most popular game. It’s also the most photogenic. Yet, 99% of the world’s players never get their picture taken…It’s their turn! Join American Terry Kegel as he embarks on a world-wide tour of pickup soccer. Unlike professional or amateur league games, pickup is an unofficial, public, and self-defined version of sport. Without a referee to enforce internationally standardized rules, players create their own structure and style, which are influenced by their cultural and physical environment. Discover the power of this informal play as both an honest reflection of our diversity and an inspiring force in community-building. A deeply personal journey, shot over four years on six continents, the film is a cultural and linguistic whirlwind, and a beautiful tribute to the true heroes of the game!

Runtime: 84 minutes
Languages: English, Portuguese, Thai, Yoruba, and Pidgin with English subtitles

Writer/Editor/Director: Terry Kegel
Sound/Online Editor: David Fine
Color Correction: Darren Lund
Music Editor: Matt Swanson
Music by: Jujuba
Grupo Axe Capoeira Seattle
Matt Swanson
Ben Gown

All profits from this film will be donated to: Right to Play.

Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in the most disadvantaged areas of the world. www.righttoplay.com

Posted in Video

What is Good Nutrition?

Mar01
2011 6 Comments Written by admin

There are so many mixed messages out there about nutrition. Everyone has an opinion on the foods we should or should not eat. It’s hard to know what the best decisions are for disease prevention and weight maintenance.

Key Points:

  • Have at least 3 meals per day to keep your metabolism moving.
  • Consume at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day.
  • Make sure that at least half of your carbohydrates are whole grain.
  • Regardless of the number of grains, it’s the word ‘whole’ that is most important.
  • Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese).
  • Have a minimum of 5 fruit and vegetable servings per day.
  • Fats from vegetable sources are preferred over those from animal sources.
  • Nutrition supplements can be a beneficial addition to any daily plan.
  • 20-30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 times per week is a great start!

Remember…

All foods can be worked into a healthy plan.

Variety and moderation make the difference!

Posted in Nutrition

Weight Training for Kids

Feb15
2011 11 Comments Written by admin

A supervised strength training program can be a great way for your up-and-coming young athlete to gain a step or two on the competition in the very competitive field of youth sports.

Your child can improve their endurance, sports performance, and overall fitness, while helping in the prevention of nagging injuries. Before beginning any weight program it would be wise to consult a certified personal trainer, as many make the mistake of using an adult program for their children, which is not the wisest or safest way for them to train.

The best training for a beginner is using their body weight to build muscle, such as with pushup and sit ups. This will allow the body to gradually prepare for weight training and gradually build towards free-weights and exercise machines.

The key to weight training for both children and adults is technique. Proper form allows the targeted muscle to fully gain from the training while not injuring other parts of the body.

Write down your child’s daily workout routine as in number of repetitions of each exercise and have them attempt to increase the amount of reps each week. Ex: if your athlete does 20 pushups in week one, attempt 25 in week two, 30 in week three, and so on. If you child hits a wall and can’t complete the set, have them return to last week’s goal and attempt the increase the following week. Always encourage your athlete and congratulate them on a job well done. Never have them leave a week thinking they have failed if they didn’t reach their particular goal. 

Once the child has progressed with their body weight for several consecutive weeks, begin slowly bring weights into the picture. Begin with the smallest amount of weight possible and between sets allow ample time for their young muscles to heal. At least 1-2 minutes of rest between each set.
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Posted in Fitness

The Mental Push to Win

Feb15
2011 7 Comments Written by admin

The biggest struggle a young athlete faces when beginning his or her sports career is consistency. Very few master their given sport of choice, but the confidence of a rookie is most fragile at the very start. Learning as much as you possibly can, both as an individual player and as part of a team will help develop that consistency. Confidence begins and ends in the metal part of the game. Allow yourself the time and patience to make mistakes. Mistakes are common; you will make them, even after playing for several years. Overcoming the initial fear of failure, and continuing onward until each step of the game is developed to the level you desire, are key elements to success.

Even the most confident player doubts himself at times, but figuring out how to turn around those negative feelings and emotions and turning them into motivation to strive harder is critical. Don’t allow those negativities to settle.

Turn them around to a positive as fast as they rolled in. Don’t allow the negative to break your focus of the task at hand. Managing negative emotions will help you become a better player even before you step on the field and will help your game advance much more quickly.

In future posts on Youth Sports Digest we will provide tips on how to develop proper mental toughness. Topics such as

“How to cope with injuries”, “How to play well under extreme pressure”, and “How to reach you sports potential” will be highlighted.

Posted in Mental Fitness
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