Sports & Fitness: Performance Training, Rules & Recovery

Elite athletic performance and general fitness are sustained through structured hypertrophy strategies, sport-specific conditioning, and rigorous adherence to injury prevention protocols.

Senior fly fisherman standing in lake covered with fog, casting line

Lake Fishing Hot Spots in Western Washington

Western Washington is home to some of the best fishing lakes in the Pacific Northwest. Deep reservoirs and clear mountain lakes provide anglers with numerous opportunities to hook up with bass, trout and a variety of other game fish.

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People playing a volleyball game

Regulation Height for a Volleyball Net

The regulation height of a volleyball net depends on certain factors, such as if the game is being played by men or women, as well as the age of the players involved and the number of players on a team. Whether the game is being played indoors or out also plays a role in determining the height.

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Causes of Shoulder Blades Sticking Out

The shoulder blade, or scapula, is one of the largest bones in the upper body. Several muscles attach to the scapula and act as stabilizers. If these muscles do not function properly, a condition can develop in which the inside edge of the scapula sticks outward.

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Heart Rate Increase & Alcohol Consumption

Heart rate refers to the number of heart beats per minute, or bpm. A normal heart rate for an average adult, according to the Mayo Clinic, is between 60 and 100 bpm. As you age, your heart rate will gradually slow.

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What Muscles Are Used in Climbing Ropes?

Rope climbing is a traditional exercise used by armed forces to prepare soldiers for climbing up and down from hovering helicopters and scaling tall buildings. Rope climbing has also become a mainstream conditioning exercise used by certain training groups like Cross Fit.

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Man wearing scuba mask, underwater view, close-up

Diving & Ear Problems

Dramatic changes in pressure affect your ears and sinuses. You might have experienced ear popping as an airplane descends, for example. As you descend to begin a dive, the pressure increases dramatically with increased depth.

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Woman running

Why Does My Stomach Hurt After Running 13.1 Miles?

The rewards for distance running are numerous. However, most runners who are logging big weekly miles can appreciate that stomach problems are, too often, part of the experience. Gastric problems can occur whether you are a six-minute miler or a 10-minute miler.

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What Are the Benefits of Kettlebell Snatches?

The kettlebell snatch is a full-body, power exercise. It works the hamstrings, quads, back, and shoulders. You pull a kettlebell off the floor from a squat position, swing the weight up, then dip under it, and press it overhead. Perform the movement quickly and explosively.

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Negative Health Effects of Central Air Conditioning

Central air conditioning is used in homes and businesses worldwide, but many of central air's negative effects get little recognition. Central air conditioning is essential in hot climates and makes summertime more comfortable.

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Soccer player kicking the ball in mid air

Football Soccer Tactics & Skills

Soccer players must learn fundamental skills and tactical awareness to succeed during competitive games. Important soccer skills to master include ball control, passing, dribbling, shooting and defending.

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Men playing badminton

Official Badminton Net Height

The Badminton World Federation mandated the official net height in 1934 and it has not changed since. The universally accepted net height, for singles and doubles play, is 5 feet in the center and 5 feet, 1 inch at the poles, which are situated just outside the court's doubles lines.

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Batting cages with blue sky, puffy clouds and rolling hills

How to Build a Batting Cage at Home

Building your own batting cage at home can provide hours of valuable practice time. By hitting balls inside the protective netting, you avoid having to stop and chase down balls. Making your own cage from inexpensive materials is a fun, easy project.

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Badminton racket and shuttlecock on artificial turf

List of Badminton Equipment

In badminton, players use rackets to hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a net. Badminton equipment must meet certain rules and specifications. The Badminton World Federation’s Laws of Badminton provide a standard for equipment in competitive badminton.

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Basketball players

Basketball Rules on Reaching

Learn the truth about 'reach-in' fouls in basketball. We debunk the myth surrounding this common basketball rule and provide clarity on what constitutes a foul.

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Games for Swimming Lessons

Learning to swim, a rite of passage for many children, can be a positive experience when instructors use patience and creativity. Through age-appropriate games, fledgling swimmers learn water safety skills and basic swim strokes that encourage a lifetime of fun and fitness.

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fitness ball exercise

Power Exercises & Drills

Power describes your ability to generate force quickly, an important quality if you are involved in sports. Throwing a baseball, kicking a soccer ball, sprinting and jumping are all examples of power activities, and there are exercises and drills you can use to help develop power.

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Yoga Exercises for Prominent Jawline

Yoga improves blood flow, strengthens the muscles and increases flexibility. Facial yoga emphasizes postures that direct attention to the face, jawline and neck. Doing facial yoga can stimulate oxygen flow to the muscles of the face, jawline and neck to help smooth and tighten the skin, according to the L.A.

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