Sports gear, athletic equipments

Steve Paustian wants to know what’s ideal when it comes to the so-called Veterans Home Athletic Complex.

The Grand Island parks and recreation director posed the question to a group of about a dozen softball, baseball and soccer association representatives during an open house discussion Wednesday night at City Hall.

Paustian was looking for input on the design drawing of the city-owned softball, baseball and soccer fields that will be relocated from Fonner Park to land near the Grand Island Veterans Home to make way for State Fair parking.

“We aren’t going to be able to be all things to all people. We realize that,” he told the group.

There were questions and comments about the restrooms, concession stands, the size of the fields and the use of moveable fences, among other things. Several minutes of the hourlong discussion centered on who uses what fields for what reasons.

Jason Meister of the Grand Island Sluggers said he has traveled to a number of fields in Nebraska with a traveling team and having the ability to host tournaments would be an economic boon to the community.

Grand Island Senior High softball coach K.C. Hehnke, who also assists with the Grand Island Scorpions softball club, said there will be a fight for the fields once they’re built, and that’s a good thing for the city.

Both Meister and Hehnke said their teams are playing a number of out-of-town games because there’s no room in Grand Island.

Ben Arrants, who is with the Grand Island Softball Association’s adult league, said it is hard to get weekend tournaments here because the Fonner Park complex is always busy. The new facility could be built to compete for tournaments, some of which he thinks Hastings would give up because it is having a hard time keeping up with demand.

He also said he had heard talk about the playground space at Fonner Park and asked if there would be similar areas at the new location. Paustian pointed out two areas that have the potential for playground equipment.

In addition to the actual games, Meister said practice space is a big issue. At times, nearly every available space with a backstop is being used by some group, he said.

“There’s no way this is going to solve all our needs,” Paustian said of the new facility.

There were several questions about the completion date. Paustian said the Fonner Park fields will be available until August 2010. He hopes to have the softball fields near the Veterans Home finished by the following summer, with the other sports to follow. He said he understands that some of the associations might have to cancel activities for the fall or spring as a result, but he added that Ryder Park would still be available, as would the soccer fields on Webb Road.

Jason Allen of the Grand Island Soccer Club asked about moving sod from Fonner Park to the new location. Paustian said that isn’t necessarily an option because the sod won’t take. Planting seed will result in better grass in the long run, he said.

Greg Bostleman, Grand Island park maintenance supervisor, suggested sending out a survey to the various associations in order to get feedback on what they want and need, what they would use and when they would use it, and their growth projections.

“We need to know our user base so we can help design this,” he said. “What do we expect out of this field?”

The meeting attendees agreed and Paustian said he would look into sending out such a survey.

SOURCE : http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2009/05/27/news/local/doc4a1e033c09974691429338.txt

Steve Paustian wants to know what’s ideal when it comes to the so-called Veterans Home Athletic Complex.

The Grand Island parks and recreation director posed the question to a group of about a dozen softball, baseball and soccer association representatives during an open house discussion Wednesday night at City Hall.

Paustian was looking for input on the design drawing of the city-owned softball, baseball and soccer fields that will be relocated from Fonner Park to land near the Grand Island Veterans Home to make way for State Fair parking.

“We aren’t going to be able to be all things to all people. We realize that,” he told the group.

There were questions and comments about the restrooms, concession stands, the size of the fields and the use of moveable fences, among other things. Several minutes of the hourlong discussion centered on who uses what fields for what reasons.

Jason Meister of the Grand Island Sluggers said he has traveled to a number of fields in Nebraska with a traveling team and having the ability to host tournaments would be an economic boon to the community.

Grand Island Senior High softball coach K.C. Hehnke, who also assists with the Grand Island Scorpions softball club, said there will be a fight for the fields once they’re built, and that’s a good thing for the city.

Both Meister and Hehnke said their teams are playing a number of out-of-town games because there’s no room in Grand Island.

Ben Arrants, who is with the Grand Island Softball Association’s adult league, said it is hard to get weekend tournaments here because the Fonner Park complex is always busy. The new facility could be built to compete for tournaments, some of which he thinks Hastings would give up because it is having a hard time keeping up with demand.

He also said he had heard talk about the playground space at Fonner Park and asked if there would be similar areas at the new location. Paustian pointed out two areas that have the potential for playground equipment.

In addition to the actual games, Meister said practice space is a big issue. At times, nearly every available space with a backstop is being used by some group, he said.

“There’s no way this is going to solve all our needs,” Paustian said of the new facility.

There were several questions about the completion date. Paustian said the Fonner Park fields will be available until August 2010. He hopes to have the softball fields near the Veterans Home finished by the following summer, with the other sports to follow. He said he understands that some of the associations might have to cancel activities for the fall or spring as a result, but he added that Ryder Park would still be available, as would the soccer fields on Webb Road.

Jason Allen of the Grand Island Soccer Club asked about moving sod from Fonner Park to the new location. Paustian said that isn’t necessarily an option because the sod won’t take. Planting seed will result in better grass in the long run, he said.

Greg Bostleman, Grand Island park maintenance supervisor, suggested sending out a survey to the various associations in order to get feedback on what they want and need, what they would use and when they would use it, and their growth projections.

“We need to know our user base so we can help design this,” he said. “What do we expect out of this field?”

The meeting attendees agreed and Paustian said he would look into sending out such a survey.

SOURCE : http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2009/05/27/news/local/doc4a1e033c09974691429338.txt

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri baseball team is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight year.

The Tigers (34-25) face Western Kentucky (39-18) Friday at a regional site in Oxford, Miss. Seven other Big 12 Conference teams will join Missouri in the postseason tournament.

Such athletic success is becoming routine at a school that until recently was known more for its high-profile heartbreaks than signature wins. Missouri is the first team in Big 12 history to send teams to the championship game in football, baseball and men’s basketball in the same academic year.

And the Missouri softball team (50-10) returns to the Women’s College World Series for the first time in 15 years after winning two of three games against 11-time champion UCLA in southern California.

SOURCE : http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/6441690.html

The unlikeliest gold medal winner from the Beijing Olympics, at least in track and field, returns to the College of San Mateo on Sunday for a little discus throwing in the USATF’s Pacific Association Championships.

Stephanie Brown Trafton of Galt (Sacramento County) was the surprise winner of the gold medal when her first throw of 212 feet, 5 inches held up for the win. She became the first U.S. woman to win Olympic gold in the discus since Lillian Copeland in 1932.

A year ago, Brown Trafton came to San Mateo for the Pacific Association meet and came away with a win in this low-key meet.

Brown Trafton will be opposed Sunday by American record-holder Suzy Powell Roos. A three-time Olympian, Modesto’s Powell Roos threw 222-0 in 2007 to break the American record. Brown Trafton’s personal best is 217-1.

Other Olympians in the Pacific Association meet are high jumper Amy Acuff of Isleton and triple jumper Erica McLain, a 2008 Stanford graduate.

Running events begin at 9 a.m. Sunday. Field events start at 10 a.m. Admission is free.

SOURCE : http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/22/SPVA17OOJH.DTL

The Huntington Booster Club rarely rests. The group is pursuing a new initiative at J. Taylor Finley Middle School that it calls the “Devil’s Den.” It will provide athletes in need with the equipment and supplies they need to participate on one of the sports teams at the school.

Finley Principal John Amato provided the club with a 14 x 5 foot caged in area for use as the initiative’s base of operations. Club members recently cleaned the space and erected shelving, purchased from a store that was going out of business. Grant monies obtained through Assemb. James D. Conte (R-Huntington Station) were used to fund set-up materials and the shelves were put in place over a two day period. Finishing touches have included bins, hooks and posters.

“Hopefully, it will be stocked with gently used and new athletic equipment and clothing,” Booster Club President Barbara Cutrone said. “It will be a resource for coaches who recognize a child in need and can go there and outfit a kid for a sport. We are hoping to be able to give a kid a baseball glove, lacrosse equipment, cleats – you get the idea. The booster club has wanted to do this for awhile, but we needed space. Mr. Amato graciously gave us a cage.”

The “store” is available to help needy student-athletes participating in the spring season. “It looks great,” Cutrone said. “We are starting to collect gently used or new sporting equipment. We are going to give them to athletes that cannot afford to purchase the necessary items needed to compete. You could also donate new items like new socks, tee shirts and mouth pieces. Our goal is to have the cage look like a store and a coach can go and outfit a student.”

Cutrone and fellow Huntington Booster Club officers Christina Plant and Carol Scully put in the “elbow grease” to get the space ready. “The boosters started the idea of the ‘Devil’s Den’ because we saw such a great need for equipment of all kinds for the student athletes in need,” Plant said, adding that many people have approached club members at events over the past two years seeking to swap various types of equipment.

Donated equipment and supplies can be dropped off in the main office at Finley or the district’s athletic office at Huntington High School. The initiative is an effort to maximize participation, provide student-athletes with an improved experience and contribute to a strong foundation for the Blue Devil sports program and its ultimate success.

It’s hoped that eventually the Devil’s Den will be able to make available items such as gloves, helmets, sticks, shin guards, bats and racquets. “It is a new project and we are still working the kinks out, but I think it will be very successful,” Plant said.

SOURCE : http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/local/suffolk/huntington/blog/2009/03/huntington_boosters_stock_athl.html

No matter the athletic exercise you participate in, an increased ability to jump higher is especially advantageous. This article will cover ways in which you can increase your vertical leap. It simply doesn’t matter what sort of athlete you are or what game you play… every sport requires muscular speed and power, and an ability to jump higher will only help you. Ethnicity, height, weight, gender, along with how old you are have no effect in the developing of a fine vertical leap. Any individual, regardless of situation or condition, can learn to leap higher.

No tangible results can be obtained in your quest to increase your vertical leap if you do not aim to maximize your explosiveness and muscular power. It probably goes without saying, but if you want to get that improved power generation in your leg muscles, you really need to pay a visit to your local gym. The most productive thing you can do in your jump training plan is learn to do the squat correctly. Do low reps coupled with heavy weight–as much as you can do safely. Leg extensions are an added efficient way of building up your quads. The thighs produce a large fraction of your leaping power, on the other hand make certain to concentrate on your hamstrings as well to curtail possible injury.

Beef up your ab muscles. Your abdominals are the core foundation of your entire musculature, and a six pack will assist you in all power movements, allowing you to leap higher. Believe it or not, solid arm muscles such as deltoids make a difference in helping you leap higher as well. Upon each jump, swing your arms up powerfully. The velocity generated by the power of your arms aid you go higher. One often-asked question is, “Can flexibility help you in your quest to attain a higher vertical?” The answer is a resounding yes. The reason is that more flexible muscles have a greater springback effect, and can increase power loading when preparing to jump.

No matter what you do, do not neglect to get enough rest in between your jump training workouts.  Without sufficient rest your muscles cannot grow and build power, and you may even suffer the ignominy of your hard-earned gains going down the drain. Vertical jump training moreover taxes your central nervous system, which also calls for a plenty of recuperation period subsequent to each physical exertion. The primary point is that you do must not exercise too constantly while developing your vertical jump. Shoot for a target of two to three times per week.

To conclude, here are some bits of info in ways you could raise your hops effectively.

Box Jumps are a great plyometric method to build a massive vertical leap. Coaches today know that plyometrics have been proven to work effectively. While on top of a solid object similar to a wooden box, leap down to the floor, and bound back up onto the object as fast as you can. Do 3 sets of ten reps.

Possessing strong calves is indispensable for leaping higher. Do toe raises in order to improve the power in your calf muscles. Each time you do this movement, be certain to do it with as much force as you can. Do 50 to 100 toe raises on a daily basis, adding weight as your calves get bigger and harder.

Jump roping is a fantastic exercise for bulking up your quad muscles and calves. Don’t do it “boxer style” where you are barely jumping off the floor, but rebound into the air as high as you can on each leap. Do a single set of forty to sixty reps.

SOURCE : http://sportsmarkllc.com/uncategorized/the-facts-about-how-to-jump-higher-and-increase-vertical-leap

No. 1 North Carolina begins the home stretch of its regular season this week by hosting Longwood’s Lancers (25-17) Thursday at 6 p.m. in what will be the last regular-season game at Boshamer Stadium. After that, the Tar Heels have a crucial ACC series at N.C. State on Friday-Saturday-Sunday, then close out on the road next week at Charlotte and at Boston College. After that comes the ACC Tournament in Durham and then the NCAA post-season.

MAY 12

PREPS — Golf: State Championships, final rounds, TBA. Softball: Mid-State Conference Tournament, TBA. Tennis: NCHSAA Dual Team playoffs, 2nd round, pairings TBD, 4 p.m.

UNC — Baseball at Charlotte, 6 p.m. Track & Field at Deacon ‘Combined Events’ meet, (at Winston-Salem) 9 a.m.

MAY 13

PREPS — Boys Lacrosse: NCHSLA state semifinals, pairings & times TBD. Soccer: NCHSAA 1st Round Playoffs, TBA. Softball: Mid-State Conference Tournament, TBA.

UNC — Track & Field at Deacon ‘Combined Events’ meet, (at Winston-Salem) 9 a.m.

MAY 14

PREPS — Baseball: NCHSAA Playoffs, 1st round, pairings & times TBD. Tennis: NCHSAA Individual State Championships, 10 a.m. Tennis: 2A State Championships, TBA.

UNC — Baseball at Boston College, 1:30 p.m. Men’s Golf: NCAA Regionals, All Day.

MAY 15

UNC — Baseball at Boston College, 1:30 p.m. Men’s Golf: NCAA Regionals, All Day. Softball: NCAA Regionals, TBA. Track & Field at Georgia Tech, noon.

MAY 16

CBS Fishing — The Carolina Bass Series will host its next open tournament close to Chapel Hill at Jordan Lake’s Farrington Point. The next tournament in the CBS points series will be May 23 at Jordan Lake, again at Farrington Point. (Anyone can fish in the points series events, but they won’t be eligible for the championship unless they sign up for the series.) For the results of past events or to see a complete schedule, go to www.carolinabassseries.com.

PREPS — Boys Lacrosse: NCHSLA Championship, at Koskinen Stadium, Duke University, 7:00 p.m. Boys Tennis: 2A State Championships, TBA. Boys Track: NCHSAA Regionals, TBA. Girls Soccer: NCHSAA 2nd Round Playoffs, TBA. Girls Track: NCHSAA Regionals, TBA. Track & Field: NCHSAA 4-A Regionals.

UNC — Baseball at Boston College, 1 p.m. Men’s Golf: NCAA Regionals, All Day. Softball: NCAA Regionals, TBA. Track & Field at Georgia Tech, noon.

MAY 17

UNC — Softball: NCAA Regionals, TBA. Track & Field: the Tar Heel & Aggie Classic – some athletes at North Carolina A&T’s Belk Track in Greensboro and some athletes at UNC’s Belk Track in Chapel Hill, with heats beginning at both sites at noon.

MAY 18

UNC — Men’s Tennis: NCAA Championships, in College Station, Texas, times TBA.

MAY 19

PREPS — Softball: NCHSAA Playoffs, 1st round, pairings & times TBD

Tennis: NCHSAA Dual Team quarterfinals, pairings TBD, 4 p.m.

UNC — Men’s Tennis: NCAA Championships, in College Station, Texas, times TBA. Women’s Golf: NCAA Championship, at Owings Mills, Md., All Day.

MAY 20

PREPS — Soccer: NCHSAA district championships, pairings TBA.

UNC — Baseball: ACC Tournament, at the DBAP in Durham, pairings & times TBD. Men’s Tennis: NCAA Championships, in College Station, Texas, times TBA. Women’s Golf: NCAA Championship, at Owings Mills, Md., All Day.

SOURCE : http://www.chapelhillnews.com/sports/story/49619.html