Athletic mastery depends on understanding official gameplay rules, optimizing equipment technology, and implementing sport-specific conditioning drills.
The Amateur Softball Association of American sets the universal rules for softball in the United States. According to their official rule book, obstruction is when a defensive player affects or prevents a batter from swinging at a pitched ball or hinders the progress of a runner.
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Goalkeepers are the only players on the soccer field who get to use their hands without incurring a penalty. They even wear different uniforms than the rest of the players. This enables them to stand out to other players and officials and to protect themselves from injuries.
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A successful 800-meter race requires a lot more than just the 90 to 120 seconds you see during competition. Training includes long runs, interval workouts, cross training and weight training -- with five to six days of training and double workouts on some days.
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Hockey demands speed, quickness, agility and balance, plus the ability to absorb and dish out impacts. You often perform these simultaneously -- such as when you get checked into the boards and try to remain on your skates while fighting for the puck.
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A 10-speed bike is a type of road bicycle that allows you to change the pedaling resistance through a shifting mechanism. The various gears provide up to 10 different resistance settings, or speeds. This type of bicycle engineering makes riding on hilly terrain over long distances easier.
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Strength training or weightlifting for basketball players is different than lifting in other sports due to the skill demands of the sport. According to the Sports Fitness Advisor, basketball players need explosive power and coordination more than size.
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Swimming is a low-impact form of cardiovascular exercise that is appropriate for most people. It uses muscles in your core, upper and lower body to move you through the water and raise your heart and respiration rate.
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Michael Jordan's high school basketball career is best known for what didn't happen. In the fall of 1978, Jordan didn't make the varsity team as a sophomore at Laney High School in Wilmington, N.C. He played for the junior varsity instead.
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Basketball teams employ various types of pressure defenses designed to create turnovers and easy baskets. A 1-2-2 defensive trap is one kind of press that teams often employ. Teams can use a 1-2-2 in full-court or half-court situations.
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Soccer is one of the world's most popular sports, with millions of players at every level from youth to professional. Mastering the game takes years of training and practice, with players of high skill levels earning opportunities to compete at the high school, college and professional levels.
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Recovery time for a broken finger can vary. It’s partly based on the severity of the fracture. Severe breaks can take longer to heal and rehabilitate than minor injuries. But recovery time is also affected by your body’s response to treatment.
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Although there are dangers involved with any type of high diving, even when training in controlled conditions for platform diving, the biggest dangers are associated with jumping into unknown waters from cliffs or other high elevations. When diving from great heights, water doesn't soften your landing.
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Once youngsters have become interested and passionate about baseball, training can begin in earnest. This is particularly true of young pitchers, who will likely want to try to add pitches to their repertoire and attempt to throw with more velocity as they gain experience.
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Technological advances have multiplied the flooring options for basketball. Previous generation of players competed indoors on wood, tile or tartan surfaces and outdoors on either concrete or asphalt, but new synthetic surfaces and sports court technologies have created a whole new range of choices.
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Selecting the right size of basketball shoe can be one of the most important decisions you make when playing. According to Podcare.com, wearing basketball shoes of the wrong size can damage your feet causing problems that range from blisters and ingrown toenails to orthopedic issues with your ankles.
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Baseball is one of the few sports in which spectators can have a physical influence on the outcome of the game. Because this potential exists, Major League Baseball created rules to govern any situation involving fan interference in a game.
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Football players wear gloves for a variety of reasons. They include improving performance, keeping the players' hands warm and preventing injury. Most football gloves come with a size ranging from small to extra-large, but to determine what size you wear can be a little tricky.
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Throwing the ball is one of the most fundamental skills in football. Quarterbacks like to throw the ball farther so they can stretch the defense and complete long passes, which can help create a variety of options for the offense. To throw the football farther, quarterbacks must work to increase their arm strength.
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Modern running shoes are feats of design. As the single most important piece of equipment a runner needs, shoes have to provide support, flexibility, grip and stability.
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Although the phrase "there is no I in team" is often overused, it resonates strongly when you talk about volleyball squads. University of Northern Iowa volleyball coach Bobbi Petersen, in an article in the "Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier," said, "Volleyball is one of the most team sports there is.
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