Pretty Basic

Flag football: the coolest fall sport

Flag football is the latest rage for girls wanting fun and action without the intense pressure of many team sports. The game, which is a summer camp staple and often played at family picnics and in gym class, follows basic rules similar to those of mainstream football (often called “tackle football” for contrast).  Instead of tackling players... [Read more]

Ultimate Frisbee 101

Combining the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football, a game of Ultimate is played by two seven-player squads with a high-tech plastic disc on a field similar to football. 10 Simple Rules THE FIELD – A rectangular shape with endzones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards by 40 yards,... [Read more]

Bodyboard Basics

What: A form of wave riding using a foam bodyboard. Bodyboarders predominantly ride prone on their stomachs though they can also be ride in a half-standing stance with one knee touching the board known as ‘dropknee’. Many bodyboarders wear swimfins on both feet to aid in controlling trajectory, adjusting speed while riding, paddling out,... [Read more]

Tennis Lingo

ACE serve that is neither touched nor returned by the receiving player. ADVANTAGE (“In” or “Out”) – the first point won by a side, following deuce. When the serving side wins this point it is called advantage-in. If the non-serving side wins the point, it becomes “break point” and the advantage is out. ALLEY The... [Read more]

Surf’s Up – The Basics

Girl Surfing Summer is in full swing so what better time to head to the beach and try surfing? If you’ve never tried it, surfing can be a bit intimidating. But fear not, we have all the tips you need to get  started. The Basics Learning to surf is not as scary or hard core as you may think.  It does, however, require patience so don’t... [Read more]

PT Playbook: Softball 101

Softball is a direct descendant of baseball (sometimes referred to as hardball to differentiate the two), but differs from it in several ways, of which the chief four are: The ball is always pitched (thrown to the opposing team’s batter) underarm – in other words, it is released when the hand is below the hip and no further away from... [Read more]

Questions to ask when choosing a sports camp

When choosing a sports camp, there are many, many questions to ask. The size of the program, number of session days, distance from home, and philosophy should all influence your decision. The cost, length, and type of a particular program are not necessarily connected with “results.” Research all potential programs and if possible, meet... [Read more]

Training: A Kick in the Class

Fitness classes cater primarily to women. Guys generally shy away from group exercise because so many of the classes involve dance moves and that intimidates them. Whatever your chromosome mix, here’s a quick guide to the best class offerings: Pilates: a series of movements that improve strength and balance. Pros: good for abs and core strength,... [Read more]

BMX Basics

It is commonly accepted that BMX (bicycle motocross) began with kids in California. For those with the desire to participate in motocross but not the means, BMX offered similar action at low cost. BMX shot into popular culture in 1982 with the release of E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial which showed characters riding BMX bikes. As the popularity of BMX grew,... [Read more]

Pretty Tough Guide to Yoga

Yoga is an activity that includes mental and physical exercises which develop breathing and preserve health. The word Yoga comes from Sanskrit “yuj” meaning unity, to join, to yoke. Ultimately the purpose of yoga is to connect you with your true self in the present moment, uniting body and spirit through the breath in preparation for meditation.... [Read more]

Softball: Throwing like a girl

Softball season is underway and girls everywhere are out there practicing their skills. So you probably know that if you’ve ever been told “You throw like a girl,” it means your throw kinda sucks. The “girl throw” refers to a wimpy style a lot of girls seem to have. Girls often face the target with their forearm cocked... [Read more]

Vancouver 101: Speaking Canadian

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, will be held on February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the resort town of Whistler nearby. The 2010 Winter Olympics will be the third Olympics hosted by Canada, and the first by the province of British... [Read more]

Sport Speak: Football A-Z

Blitz – When defensive secondary players rush through the offensive line into the backfield to try to “sack” the quarterback. Blocking – Offensive players use their bodies and arms as a means to impede defenders from making tackles, moving them away from the path of the ball carrier. Bomb – A very long forward pass. Buttonhook... [Read more]

Figure Skating A-Z

Swizzles, axels and camels– what does it all mean? Keep reading to learn to speak like an ice skater. Axel A figure skating jump with a forward take-off. It is named after the Norwegian skater Axel Paulsen who first performed the jump in 1882. Besti Squat A spread eagle in a squating position with the torso held upright; named for Natalia Bestemianova. Butterfly... [Read more]

Freestyle Ski A – Z

180 A 180-degree rotation of the body and skis. Air When a skier performs a jump in the mogul run. Two airs are required in each moguls run. Aerials A freestyle skiing discipline where skiers perform airborne  maneuver after skiing down a slope and taking off from a kicker (ramp). Back Full A backflip with a full twist. Back Layout Single backflip... [Read more]

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