Ways to stay safe when cycling

The initial stage of cycling is you first learn how to ride on a tricycle, then you learn how to ride a proper bike. For all the years that followed,  you rode your bicycle on a road that is usually less busy, and when you reached your teenage years you progressed to busier roads. How can you ride safely on a busy road?
You should be aware of cycling safety tips as cycling is great but it can be dangerous in some cases. Most cyclist out there love to drift, speed and wheel off, but if care is not taken it can lead to injuries. Even great cyclists have been involved in bad accidents due to faults of careless drivers.
When you learn how to ride a bicycle the first thing you were taught was how to balance on your bike. Balancing is not just the basic but it is the main part of learning to ride. If you are not good at balancing then you need to practice a bit more before riding on busy roads. When the era of balancing is over then the time is right to go out and ride on the road. Ensure you always ride central on narrow roads and away from the pavement or gutter, and  keeping appropriate space between you and the driver is one of the most important thing to keep in mind. Another good trick is to ride towards the middle of the lane if the road is too narrow, and of course ride in the same direction with the car. When approaching a parked car it is advisable, if possible to ride at a door width from the car and in the case of HGVs, stay behind them as they may not be able to see you usually.
There are still other few basic precaution you need to take when cycling;
You should check the brakes always. Bad brakes can cause injury or serious harm to you. Make sure the brakes are tight and depending on your bike you should know when to use the front wheel brake and back wheel brake. In some road conditions, using the front wheel brake might turn your bike over, whereas the back wheel brake will stabilize the stop.
You should wear bright clothing during the day or reflective clothing at night. If cycling to work, you should try to have a bright or reflective accessories on you, don’t forget the to always wear your helmet, it might be inconvenient for your hair style but it might save your life.
Don’t use mobile phone or earphones, and if you do need to listen to music make sure you can hear the traffic because riding your bike without the ability to hear the traffic can be really dangerous.
Other tips include;  use appropriate hand signals when turning, make eye contact with drivers to be sure they notice you, use light after dark and always apply common sense as safety is more important than been right on the right side of the law.

Murray mania, will it ever end?

Yes, I know it has been just over three weeks since Andy Murray won Wimbledon, but lets face it, a British man took 77 years to win it. So talking about it three weeks later is nothing!
I do not think that Murray mania will die down any time soon, and his sponsors, especially Head Tennis will be incredibly happy over this.
Andy Murray, the brand, will continue to grow rapidly for at least another five years. There are five main reasons for this.
1) Firstly, as said before it has been 77 years since a British man has gone all the way and won SW19, the most prestigious title in tennis. Arguably one of the most prestigious titles in the world of sport.

2) Secondly, Andy Murray is the clear favourite to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year. It will be a shock if he did not win this award in December. After winning his first grand slam and also Olympic Gold he came third in the public opinion poll. But when matched up against all the other British Olympians that was understandable. He will have major competition this year still, with the likes of Chris Froome and potentially the England Ashes Cricket Team to contend with. However it has been 16 years since a British Tennis player won this award, and Greg Rusedski had certainly not won what Andy has. On top of this, Chris Froome may have won the Tour De France but Bradley Wiggins became the first ever Brit to do so last year, and also won Olympic Gold, which deservedly won him last year's Sports Personality of the Year. Furthermore the England Cricket team are apparently against the 'worst Australian Ashes team' ever. So we are expected to win, so I do not believe that any famous exploits by Jimmy Anderson or Co would win one of them this award. The only threat I can see to the Murray brigade is if Lewis Hamilton makes the comeback of the century after his Hungarian Grand Prix win and wins the 2013 F1 Championships.

3) Andy Murray is clear favourite to win the US Open this year. Not only after his victory last year but also after winning Wimbledon in straight sets. On top of this, the likely opponent will be Novak Djokovic, who Murray seems to be able to get the better off lately. If he wins his third grand slam in a year then Murray fandom will hit the roof.

4) Murray may become the World Number one soon. This prestigious rank may be out of his reach at the current moment but with a possible US Open victory and the world tour finals soon after, he could become the greatest player on the planet. This would however, depend on what Djokovic does in the near future. He is not a man to underestimate. Murray being world number one would make him the first British man to get that high since, yes you guessed it, Fred Perry. The buzz a British number one would have on Britain would be incredible.

5) While Tennis is not the most political of sports (you don't see stories about Swizz V Spanish politics during Federer V Nadal matches whereas England V Germany in football always has a massive cultural buzz), Murray being Scottish is bound to have a huge impact in the next 12 months. In June 2014 the people of Scotland will decide whether to remain in the United Kingdom, and I feel a lot of talk will be about the Scot, who wins things for Britain. As an Olympic Gold medallist, and a resident of England, will he be happy to no longer be a part of Britain? You highly doubt it. More importantly, would the rest of Britain be happy to lose such a great Tennis player? Yet again, you highly doubt it.

For whatever the reasons then, the next year will certainly be 'Murray this, Murray that' and more than likely for a few years beyond that. When considering Tim Henman had a hill in Wimbledon named after him after reaching a few semi finals, you can fully expect this train to keep on travelling until he is Sir Andrew Murray, and has his statue outside SW19. Which by the end of his career, he will probably deserve.

Shopping for the Football Enthusiast, by SportsDirect.com

Christmas shopping for people who are football mad can be especially difficult, particularly if the shopper doesn’t share the same enthusiasm. They probably already have the latest football boots, or have pre-ordered them, and another football mug or themed glass isn’t as thoughtful three years in. SportsDirect.com take a look at the top football gifts that will be appreciated this year.
Now that Winter has set in, footballers will be wanting to stay warm on the pitch. Football base layers, although they may not seem like the most exciting gift, will be extremely practical and useful during the Winter matches. Available in long and short sleeves, and in a range of different colours, there are plenty to choose from. The Sondico and Nike Pro ranges are equally as popular and benefit from a compression fit and incorporates technology that aims to lock heat in but also wick away moisture for a dry and comfortable feel. As football and fashion continue to go hand in hand, looking colour co-ordinated on the pitch has never been more important. Football socks are always a well-received gift and now there is even more choice in various colours and designs, there are sure to be a pair to match any football boots. They are perfect as a Christmas stocking filler.
By the end the year football boot bags usually end up tatty and ripped, so they perfect for replacing at Christmastime. Some are available that are in the same design as the brand’s latest football boots, for example the adidas F50 Boot Bag. Why not fill the bag with extra little gifts for even more surprises?
Similarly, shin guards are also available in the same style as the football boot, for example the Nike Mercurial CR7 galaxy themed football boots have matching shin guards – the Nike Mercurial Lite CR7 shin guards, this is the same across many brands and style of boot. They are perfect for a more personal gift.
Other football accessories such as especially designed gloves and hats, or performance trackers such as the adidas miCoach Speedpod or the Nike Plus sensor are also great ideas for the serious footballer.

For more information and to keep up-to-date visit SportsDirect's Facebook and Twitter pages. 

Keeping active …… South American style!

If there was one thing I thoroughly enjoyed doing during my 4 month stay in Ecuador, it was keeping active. Ecuador is the only country in the world that has a coast, mountain range and jungle, and with amazing opportunities to explore these aspects, it is hard to not get out and about to see the stunning scenery and  experience the exciting adventures this wonderful country has to offer!

Cycling
One of my favourite things to do in Ecuador was hop on a bike and cycle for hours. Cycling was one of the best ways to explore the many beautiful and intriguing places and as you were that enthralled by the draw dropping scenery you never noticed that you were riding round for hours at a time whilst briefly stopping to capture the amazing views on camera and then excitedly jumping back on your bike to venture to the next spot!
The bike ride that I will never forget was a route that took you from the top of an active volcano all the way down to the bottom. It took most of the day but felt like it lasted only seconds due to the sheer beauty and aura of the desolate land that we were exploring. There were wild horses galloping around a landscape that could only be described as prehistoric and looked like no humans had ever stepped foot there. On the way down we rode through streams and valleys and encountered many wonderful species of strange and wonderful wild life I had never seen or heard of before. We even stumbled across the Ecuadorian football team training on the side of the volcano half way down for fitness at altitude. The whole experience was mind blowing and even fitness phobes  wouldn’t have turned this amazing workout down!
Horse riding
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this at first as I had  never rode a horse in my life and with all the restrictions in this country when u first take to the saddle, I thought my ride would be very controlled and held back. I couldn’t of been more wrong!
 As I mounted a horse, scarily named Lightning, I was apprehensive yet excited to start my trek around a cloud forest deep in the heart of the Ecuadorian mountain range. Sure enough a trot turned into a canter which soon transformed into a gallop! Even though at times I was fearing for my life, I couldn’t help but enjoy the freedom and excitement the horse ride had to offer. I cant simply put into words how breath taking the cloud forest was and it defiantly lived up to its name as  whilst we meandered our way through the trees on our horses, we were engulfed by bellows of cloud as we dipped into ravines. It felt like we were entering another world and the feeling was incredible! Our horses lead us through beautiful parts of the forest and it felt electrifying at the end of the trek when we galloped our way across a river. I felt like I was in a film. Something I will never forgot and it was a very active day.
Hiking
I don’t know where to start with this one as I had never hiked so much until I arrived in Ecuador. Each hike differentiated in so many ways even if it was the same route! The landscape and surroundings changed daily as did the views due to the diverse weather which transformed the skyline into different pieces of artwork each time. As I lived in the Andean mountain range, it was hard to turn a corner and not stop for a few seconds to take in the memorizing scenery, especially the higher up the mountain you got, the panoramic views were incomparable to any others I had ever experienced.
My favourite route was a 5 hour hike around the mouth of a dormant volcano that lay sleeping for thousands of years. Conveniently it neighboured the school where I taught so the children and I would regularly go exploring around the lake and in the secret caves that surrounded the land. On some of the colder days, the route would be thick with snow so we would put on our winter snow boots and go sledging down the many rolling hills  and winding paths which the children loved immensely! It was a hike no one could ever get bored of and certainly a worth while workout.


During my time in Ecuador I lost well over a stone, toned up all my major muscle groups and massively  increased my breathing capacity, I came back feeling like a new person but at no point do I remember exercising and working out … all I recall is going on adventures, exploring and creating memories that will last a lifetime!

Trampolining: The sport that's grasping the nation's children

Back in the late 2000s trampolining really kicked off, trampolines sprung up in back gardens across the nation. The craze is still incredibly popular, with  indoor trampolining parks opening worldwide where you can literally bounce off the walls (already in some parts of the UK).
As children, we all loved the feeling of jumping as high as we could, whether it was on a bouncy castle or a trampoline but we all knew nine (change to numbers)  times out of ten you would land safely. The only time I got to use a trampoline was when the fair came to town, but now due to their relatively low costs children can use them everyday in the comfort of their own garden. Not only is it a great way of keeping children fit, but adults can burn around 150 calories by doing 30 minutes of moderate bouncing and having fun at the same time.
From my experience, the bigger the diameter of the trampoline the better the bounce is, plus you can get more people on. Dunlop sport have a selection of 8ft, 10ft and 12ft trampolines (don’t link too much) to choose from, all with a mesh safety guard to keep you or your children safe. The safety guard is now a common feature on most models of trampolines and is a necessity as most are injured by either falling off or being left unsupervised.
There is a wide variety of tricks and stunts that you can do on a trampoline, one of my favourites is the simple seat drop, where you land in a seated position pushing yourself back up with your hands. For somebody who was dreadful at gymnastics at school this skill is rather easy to pick up and does not require expertise. For the more adventurous jumper the somersault is the trick everybody wants to do, whether it be forwards or backwards. Although it may sound obvious, if you or your child is going to attempt to do a somersault ensure that nobody else is on the trampoline and (that you are) are positioned in the centre of the trampoline.
So if you’re thinking about buying a trampoline, my top tip would be to lay a hosepipe/wire in your garden with the diameter of the trampoline you wish to purchase in order to get a rough idea of where it could go and how it would fit.
But remember to enjoy this summer and most importantly have fun.

WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS AND HOW TO COMBAT THEM

Accidents happen at work all the time. Everyone in a work environment is responsible for the safety at work and this means employers and employees have a major role to play. Health and Safety bodies have put in place regulations and set standards for employers to meet but his is not enough because employees too have to follow rules set by their employers.
There are several types of accidents that can happen in a workplace and there are also measures that can be put in place to prevent them from happening. Below are examples of accidents at work and how to prevent them;
• Trips and Falls-  These accidents are very common in a workplace. They are caused by spillage of fluids on the floor, inappropriate flooring or unsuitable footwear in a particular work environment.
Ways of prevention
 Use the most appropriate footwear for the work environment such as work boots or safety boots.
 Effective management and carrying out risk assessments
 Appropriate flooring in the workplace
 Inform people of spillages using caution signs
A SPILL, A SLIP, A HOSPITAL TRIP. STAY SAFE AT WORK
• Heights – Falling from a great height  is also very common in a workplace. Working at heights needs to be done safely. These are caused by fragile surfaces, inappropriate work equipment, weather conditions and lack of concentration to name a few.
Ways of prevention
 Proper planning and supervision
 Use of appropriate equipment
 Plan for emergencies and rescue
 Effective risk assessment
 Control risks from fragile surfaces
DON’T STEP BACK TO ADMIRE YOUR WORK WHILE ON A LADDER
• Manual Handling – this can involve lowering, lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying. Each one of these tasks needs to be carried out with care to minimise risk of injury. These accidents can be caused by poor risk assessment, environmental conditions, individual capability, and nature of the load.
Ways of prevention
 Reduce carrying distances where possible
 Assess the weight before lifting and seek help when required
 Avoid lifting heavy loads from floor level or above shoulder height
 Maintain a good posture
USE YOUR HEAD AND YOUR BACK WILL THANK YOU

Skin and Hair Care for Swimmers

Introduction
This blog  talks about tips and tricks for protecting your skin and hair from chlorine damage when swimming. I talk through my own routine and how I prepare myself, what I do during my swim and how I get rid of any lingering chlorine when I’m done!  There are some fairly common products and tips and a couple of unusual ones that will help you protect your coloured hair from turning green!

Pre Swim Beauty Regime
To begin, my routine before I swim. I always take a quick shower before entering the pool to hydrate the top layer of my skin and wet my hair which prevents it from soaking up chemicals in the water and helps fight against chemical damage. A great tip for those of you with blonde or coloured hair, is to use coconut oil to prevent the chlorine turning your hair green! It hydrates the hair cuticle with a layer of moisturiser that seals and blocks the chlorine effecting your hair colour. If like me your skin is sensitive to chlorine, you can buy chlorine neutralising body lotion and use this in your pre dip shower! Some swimmers may find that areas of the body chafe throughout their workout, this may be the inner thighs due to the amount of work your legs do during your swim. A good tip is to apply petroleum jelly to these areas prior to your swim to ease the irritation and avoid damage to the skin.

Swimming Workout
Now, I’m ready to dive in! It is important to me to get the most out of my swim, as I have to take a lot of care protecting my hair and skin from the chlorine, my swim has to be worth it! I find doing lengths for 45 minutes gets rather boring, so I make sure I switch it up and use tools to make it harder and ultimately work myself harder! I enjoy using resistance gloves, you can feel the effect they have whilst you’re swimming, so you know they are working! I tend to do 6 lengths with the gloves and then change it up. I then use my kickboard which is a great tool because it helps me work certain areas of my body harder, depending  on the stroke. Again I will do about 6 lengths per stroke with the kickboard so in total I manage around 30! For my first set of lengths I stick to a traditional kick, so swimming with the kickboard in front of me, this works on strengthening my quadriceps and hamstrings. Next, I do a breast stroke, this move is quite tough and you can really feel the burn in your thighs after a length or two! To ease it up I then do the back kick, which is a lot more relaxing! Similar to the traditional kick, lying on my back with the kickboard above my head. Finally I do a side kick, only 3 lengths for this move and then 3 lengths on the other side, to make sure both sides work evenly!

During My Swim
During my swim I always take a bottle of water to leave at the edge of the pool. It is very important to stay hydrated, just as you would doing any other sport! If you are dehydrated your skin is more likely to be damaged by the chlorine, so keeping refreshed and having a sip of water every couple of lengths is an easy and effective way to protect your skin from drying up.

Post Swim Beauty Regime
Once I leave the pool the next step of my beauty regime commences! I make sure I have a thorough shower for several minutes to allow the fresh water to wash away as much chlorine as possible. I use aqueous cream to wash my body as it is neutralising and gentle on my skin. Other lotions that are lanolin based or contain aloe vera, I also find are good for the skin after swimming. I wash my hair with a clarifying shampoo that contains EDTA to make sure there is no chemical residue remaining in my hair. A handy tip is that apple cider vinegar is a natural remedy to remove residue in your hair, although I have never taken this to my local swimming baths! Finally, I always condition my hair after washing to leave it soft and shiny!

Drying Tips
Now, I’m out of the pool, out of the shower and it’s almost time to get dressed! For some reason whenever we go swimming it seems impossible to fully dry ourselves before trying to slip back into our clothes! So, I always take talcum powder with me and apply it to the areas that need it most, usually my feet and upper body! This seems to work wonders every time and makes it much easier to get dressed! My final step is to apply a moisturiser to rehydrate my skin and leave it feeling smooth!

Washing
Once I arrive home from my swim I like to get my costume washed straight away and get rid of any residing chlorine! Giving  your swimwear a thorough wash as soon as you can helps them last longer as well as removing the chlorine ready for next time you put it on!

Conclusion
So, there are lots of handy tips to help protect yourself from chlorine damage, however if you’re short for time you could always pop on a swimming cap! Looking after your skin is important and if you are a regular swimmer it is a good tip to follow a similar regime throughout the week, so your skin is always prepared. The more sensitive your skin is the more precautions you need to take, so as well as the tips in my blog you could also check out similar blogs or sensitive skin related blogs that may talk about more specific products that could really improve your skin!

What Kind of Christmas Shopper are you

Christmas, do you love it or loathe it? Every year we are overwhelmed with shops bursting full of decorations, kids Christmas gifts, seasonal food and Christmas songs playing in the background. For children especially, Christmas can be a magical time full of excitement and surprises. On the other hand, you may just think that Christmas comes around too quick, the shops start pushing Christmas too early and overall it’s just too expensive. This may be the case, but with a little planning and tactical gift buying, you can wrap up this Christmas with some great deals.
Do you like to do your gift buying in the busy hustle and bustle of Christmas surrounded by decorations and carol songs, festive spirit and every Christmas gift you can imagine? Perhaps you prefer to get it done early and avoid overspending on useless novelty gifts you need to buy but will never really use. The other type of Christmas shoppers are little more extreme, do you leave it until the 20 something of December and grab yourself some last minute deals? At the other end of the spectrum perhaps you like to buy next years Christmas gifts in the January sales to find yourself a whole heap of amazing bargains!
We all approach Christmas differently, some of us have large families to cater for whilst others have fussy family members to please! If you’re on a small budget the idea of Christmas shopping in the sales may be appealing to help you save some extra pennies. To get the most out of your Christmas shopping, you need to prepare. This may mean thinking about Christmas as soon as we’ve waved goodbye to Summer, but it will mean a stress free Christmas later in the year.
To get prepared you should firstly write down a list for everyone you need to buy gifts for. Once you've established this, work out your Christmas  budget and then decide how much you want to spend on each person. Brain storm some ideas of useful presents for each person, perhaps they have a hobby or there’s something they really need that would make a great gift. Once you have a rough idea of what you’d like to buy everyone, do some research online and find the best prices and special offers to help save some money. Now that you've found the deals, you can decide whether to order online or take a trip to your local shopping center to pick it all up. Don't forget to buy some wrapping paper to wrap up all of your gifts!
You can view our great range of Christmas gifts for men, ladies and kids as well as secret Santa and stocking filler ideas here.

Top tips on improving your table tennis game

Table tennis is now becoming popular with a wide range of people from the elderly to the young. Everyone has a competitiveness spirit within us; we just really want to win. No one wants to lose. An option is to get a table tennis coach to help you improve; however the cheapest table tennis coach will charge at least £30 per hour. However, there are ways of improving your game without getting a coach. All it takes is a few tips. The following tips will help you on the quest of beating everyone you know-
1. Good shoes- you need to be comfortable to move around in. So no high heels or football boots! The shoes will ensure that you can move across the table and concentrate on the game properly. Also the shoes would need good grip. This will stop you from sliding away from the table.
2. Gripping the bat- there are different ways of holding the bat e.g. the pen grip, shake hands grip and the seemiller grip. Try out all of these grips and try out which one is the most comfortable for you. Then you can play a range of shots and beat your opponent well
3. Practice- like any sport, if you practice you get better; you can practice your serves and your accuracy by hitting the ball into a bucket. To practice a rally, you can push your table tennis up to a wall and practice your rally against the wall
4. Keep your cool- If you’re on a run of losing points, keep cool and be patient. Try to find out why your losing and try a different approach. If at first you don’t succeed try again
5. Mix up your table tennis tactics- its best to mix up your range of shots; this stops you from becoming a predictable opponent. It’s best to use a variety of serves, different return lengths and different amount of spin. This would make you a difficult player for your opponent

Using these tips will surely increase your table tennis game up to another level. Make sue that you keep your cool, keep practicing and keep to these tips

The Evolution of the Hoody

In 2006, David Cameron categorised hoodies as a visual symbol of “What was wrong with Britain’s youth”. Hoodies had begun to attract a large amount of negative attention from the media as they were focused on as an item that allowed Britain’s criminal youth to hide from CCTV cameras and during criminal activity. They became linked to increasing inner-city crimes, and the image of “thugs in hoodies” was created. Pictures of imposing hooded figures became a common feature in newspapers and magazines as they were used to shock and scare the public. The fact that hoodies allowed individuals to hide their faces quickly created an element of fear, and this made a large proportion of the population wary of buying them because of the negative stereotype they carried.
However, interest in hoodies grew on a MASSIVE scale during the twentieth century.

So why is it that the hoody suddenly became so much more acceptable?

The answer is simple, it entered the fashion arena thanks to a few daring celebrities and has now become socially acceptable as well as becoming a desirable fashion element! Hoodies were worn by celebrities, and fashion designers started to include them within their catwalk shows. Designer brands began to stock vast ranges of hoodies for women and men, reaching out in particular to the female population who had previously steered clear. Those who had previously worn hoodies and were not committing crimes stepped up and showed that it was not the hoodies they wore that defined the criminals, defending their clothing honour.

It now seems they have lost the tags once associated to them for most, and Ladies Hoodies are now worn for all occasions; exercise, summer BBQs, and evening walks to name a few. A change in their designs may have had something to do with this. Hoodies are now available in a broad range of colours and materials. You can buy thick cuddly fleecy ones for winter, as well as compact lightweight ones for summer evenings. You can even get personalised ones and ones that are windproof!

It is perhaps due to this that hoodies have become more acceptable in the fashion realm, and have even found a market in the more upper end fashion shops.

Are you a hoody wearer? Do you agree that hoodies have become more acceptable or do you think they still portray a certain image? We’d love to hear your opinion.

Dummies guide to squash balls

Depending on whether you are a beginner, intermediate or professional squash player, you will need a specific sort of squash ball. There is a huge range specifically made balls for different abilities.
There are 7 sorts of squash ball. They are between 39.5 and 40.5 mm in diameter, and have a mass of 23 to 25 grams. They are hollow and made form a rubber compound that is then glued together and buffed with a matte finish. The balls are different because you need different balls depending on the temperature and the atmospheric conditions(to make the ball bounce higher). It also depends on how experienced the player is. More experienced players use balls with less bounce which are slower.
The squash balls are distinguishable by their small coloured dot. This indicates how bouncy the ball is, and the speed.
• Double yellow - extra super slow - very low bounce - for experienced players
• Yellow - super slow - low bounce – for advanced players
• White – slow – low bounce – for advanced/ intermediate players
• Green – slow/extra super slow – very low – for high altitude
• Orange – extra super slow – very low speed – for high altitude
• No dots or red – medium – average bounce – recreational
• Blue – fast – very high bounce – for beginners/juniors

The double-yellow dot ball, was introduced in 2000, this is currently the competition standard, replacing the earlier yellow-dot ball. There is also an orange dot ball, which is even less bouncy than the double yellow dot ball, this is intended for use at high altitude.
Hopefully this will help you choose the best ball for you.

The Beginners Guide to Golf

For beginners who want to start out at golf it can feel quite daunting. To begin with there’s the decision of what golf clubs and accessories to buy, then there’s the rules of golf course etiquette and finally there’s the terminology to get the grips with. It can all feel a little bit confusing, however, we’re here to help that!
What equipment do I need?
A great way to begin is to get hold of a golf set, once you’ve acquired one of these you’re 90% there. These sets normally include a selection of irons, a pitching wedge (PW), sand wedge (SW), putter, driver, wood and hybrid club. Following this, the only kit left to acquire are golf tees and golf balls. You might wonder (if you’ve ever looked at the vast selection of golf balls on offer) why there are so many and which ones to use. A pro such as Lee Westwood, for example, uses Titleist Golf Balls, specifically the V1x, however for a beginner who is more than likely going to lose a good number of golf balls to the water/undergrowth/farmers field, a more ‘economical’ (i.e. cheaper) option is recommended, at least until your technique improves. As with most sports, technique is much more important than the very best equipment.
Where to learn
Driving ranges and ‘Pitch-and-Putts’ are much more ‘beginner friendly’ than golf clubs are. Everything is very informal and it’s a perfect place to perfect your swing and get a feel for your new golf set before taking it to a club. Driving ranges for example deliver you with the opportunity to work on your swing in a no pressure environment, and for around £6.00 provide you with a bucket of around 120 balls to practice with. Many driving ranges also offer one-to-one golf lessons and are something to definitely consider, in most cases a good teacher can teach you more in a 30 minute lesson than you could teach yourself over several weeks.  
What club to use when
Knowing when and which club to use will come with practice, however as a general rule, drivers/woods provide you with the greatest distance, followed by irons (with distance decreasing the higher the iron used), pitching wedges and sand wedges. Understanding which clubs match which distance will help you in achieving ‘par’ (the pre-determined number of strokes a golfer should aim to complete a hole in) and hopefully even beat it. Our golf scoring terminology chart can help you understand what score you are achieving and instantly make you sound like a golfer!
My recommendations
For the beginner who is looking to take their first steps into the world of golf I would recommend the Dunlop 65i Golf Set for adults or the Dunlop Junior Golf Set for junior golfers. The majority of
the golf clubs mentioned above are included within these package and it is generally the perfect place to start without breaking the bank.

Sporting Recovery & Injury Prevention

Track athletes  strive for the best time, field athletes the best distance, and power lifters, the greatest possible weight. Increasing weight or decreasing time is the primary focus of overall training, and it can often be forgotten that this is literally the tip of the iceberg. You aim to break your records maybe on 1 or 2 big occasions  each season, maybe more if you’re a novice, yet 99.9% of your energy, your time and efforts are spent outside the stadium.
To succeed you must listen to your body, and care for it appropriately. This could be from on going rehab throughout training, such as stretching pre and post workout, to full sporting physiotherapy each week, or when appropriate. The majority of amateur  athletes train around a busy schedule of family, work and other commitments, very few of whom are able to say that sport is their only focus. Professionals and emerging amateurs may be lucky enough to secure a sponsorship deal of some form, maybe even a coach to enforce and assist with rest and recovery routines.
For most of us, this isn’t the case, so it comes down to us. After all it is our body, so why neglect your long term health to save just minutes each workout?
Whether it’s stretching out specific muscles before using them, or warming up with full body cardio, or the use of light weights mimicking the movement of the exercise, doing these not only will get your muscles warm and stretched out to help avoid injury, but you may also find helps you perform better, lift more weights or avoid cramps during training.
This is a good time to listen to your body. If you feel any slight discomfort at this stage, it may be the sign to stretch further or not to push yourself too hard during the session.
Equally important, is the session conclusion. You’ve trained hard, made some improvements so get yourself home, sat on the sofa. NO! STOP!
You stretched before, now stretch out or cool down with some light cardio to relax your muscles and bring your heart rate down. Stretching sore muscles WILL help with muscular soreness in the following days, reducing recovery time and preventing any injury.
Also recovery can be assisted by your diet. Higher carbohydrate intake and a Whey Protein shake on training days will go a long way.
With all this said, the most important piece of training advice, which far supersedes the importance of diet, hard training or motivation, is to listen to your body. If you’re feeling stronger, push yourself, but equally back off if you’re fatigued or feel an injury.
Your body knows best, regardless of ‘mind over matter’.

Pain is not always an illusion, share your sporting injuries, and how you could have prevented them!

The Top Winter Breaks by SportsDirect.com

With the hustle and bustle of Christmas sometimes it is nice to escape before, after or even for Christmas Day. SportsDirect.com take a look at the top places to go on holiday during the Winter period.
There are various types of holidays that are available during Christmastime depending  on personal choices, including a secluded cottage break, city break or packing your larger suitcases and heading abroad.

Cottages
Low lighting, log fires and beautiful wooden beams all signify a traditional Christmas and that is what makes cottage holidays perfect at this time of year. If you’re after a quiet family retreat then a cottage is perfect, there is also the bonus that you can take the whole family with you if you wanted as some sleep up to 12 people. They are also scattered up and down the country with stunning cottages located in Norfolk, Gloucestershire, Northumberland, Yorkshire and so on, so you can have your ideal Christmas wherever you want!

Cities
Christmas brings out the best in cities. With decorations hanging from the top of the high street to the bottom, teamed with authentic Christmas markets and carollers,  they do tend to have a magical atmosphere. Although cities will be bursting at this time of year, they are ideal for people who want to get into the festive spirit and keep busy by taking a walk through snowy parks, ice skating in the outdoors or enjoying the brightly lit streets and festive food!

Skiing
Skiing is the typical Winter/Christmas getaway. Layer up, head on the slopes and take in the gorgeous snowy scenery, as well as ending your day snuggled  up in the Après-Ski, it will literally be a Winter Wonderland and you are guaranteed to get a festive feeling! Some Christmas Ski holidays also offer Christmas decorations in your chalet, Christmas dinner and an array of festive treats.

Hot deals
If being cold really isn’t for you, or you aren’t a massive Christmas fan then jet setting somewhere warm and sunny is probably more suited to you. Destinations like Egypt, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote all offer Winter sun, as well as the obvious places like Mexico, Florida and The Caribbean, and last minute holiday sites have plenty of great deals on too. Whether you envisage Christmas morning on a beach supping a cocktail or a hot haven  before or after the stress of Christmas, venturing further afield this Winter could make the Christmas you have always dreamed of.

Visit www.sportsdirect.com and treat yourself to the perfect suitcase or holdall before your Winter retreat! Keep up to date on our latest deals and Christmas competitions at www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk and www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk .

HORSE RIDING AND DISABILITY

Horse riding has been a popular sport and recreational activity for decades that can be enjoyed by all individuals, including those with disabilities. Unlike other sports and activities, horse riding is not something that many people would associate as suitable for people with disabilities but there are many organisations and stables that are trained to help riders experience all of the benefits.
Individuals who take up horse riding can expect to experience a number of benefits; enjoyment, achievement and even therapy depending on the rider’s requirements (added an apostrophe). It can be of particular benefit to those with disabilities, those who require help gaining confidence and building strong relationships. The warmth of the horse combined with its 3D movements helps the  rider relax,  improve their posture, balance and coordination. The rider’s core stability would also be strengthened over time. Another benefit of horse riding is that it offers an element of risk; which is often denied to people who have been affected by a serious illness or accident. It also offers those with progressive diseases and congenital illnesses the opportunity to keep active, mobile and experience a sense of freedom.
Lee Pearson is a good example for the disabled. He doesn't allow his disability to stop him from taking part in a sport activity. He is now a successful dressage rider with ten gold medals, a silver and bronze to his name in summer games dressage competitions.
Therefore, whether you’re an individual who is recovering from an accident, illness or you have a disability, horse riding is for you. Before you start, you will need to look for a local riding school that has trained instructors and then head down to your local sports retailer and invest in a horse riding helmet, riding boots, jodhpurs and a body protector; then you’re ready to go.

Jeggings vs. Jeans

Recently I have been thinking of what’s best to invest in: Jeggings or Jeans.

Here I have included the top ten ways in which Ladies Jeggings differ to Ladies Jeans, in order to see whether there is a clear winner between the two!
1. Jeggings don’t often have pockets, some do, but mostly the front ones are sewn together which can be impractical if you need somewhere to put your phone. One solution to this is to pick up a little bargain handbag from somewhere! Voila, crisis avoided.

2. The elasticated waistband on some jeggings can be a little unflattering, therefore wearing short/crop tops may not look as good as when wearing them with low-slung jeans.

3. Jeans have a top button and zips instead of the stretchy material jeggings are made from, therefore you have to undo them when you have eaten too much instead of being able to let your waistband stretch around you!

4. If you happen to change what you weigh (say from putting on a little over the Christmas months), unlike jeans which instantly become too tight, jeggings just mould to your changing shape! This is a massive perk, as buying new pairs of jeans in other sizes can be an expensive job.

5. Jeans are heavier than jeggings, which is often why people chose not to wear them to the office or for a night out.

6. Jeans take longer than jeggings to dry when it’s raining (we feel for you if you are unfortunate enough to get caught out in it!).

7. When you sit down for a long time in jeans they can make the back of your knees sore, yet this doesn’t happen even in a tight fitting pair of jeggings.

8. Jeggings tend to look a lot better when wearing heels than jeans do.

9. Jeggings can stretch, whereas jeans can shrink in the wash.

10. Price wise there isn’t a lot in it, yet jeggings are usually less expensive.

Verdict?
Jeggings are the WINNER!
It seems that jeggings are a MUST HAVE over jeans as they have more positives than negatives!
The fact that they are made from stretchy material alone makes us veer towards them as the best option. It seems as if there is finally an item which allows comfort and fashion to go hand in hand, and us ladies deserve it! Do you agree with our verdict? If you can think of any reasons why jeans should win instead, get in touch!

Scrum Cap Hero!

The British and Irish Lions have done it!! After 16 years the Lions have won the series 2-1 over all against Australia in Sydney. Leigh Halfpenny, the scrum cap hero, has deserve ably the player of the series landed 21 points from the boot as well as setting up two tries.
In this new age the scrum cap has become increasingly popular within the backs although traditionally worn by the forwards. This is mainly due to the scrum, when scrimmaging, a players ears will rub against the head or hip of another player creating cauliflower ear. Cauliflower ear is when the outer ear becomes permanently swollen and deformed.
Leigh Halfpenny and Jonathan Davies (both Wales and British and Irish Lions players) wear scrum caps as it gives them a ‘no fear’ attitude, helps build confidence and protects the scalp and ears against abrasions and small tears. Headgear will help in negating the getting of cauliflower ears and some players use them to keep their hair out of their eyes.
On the downside the scrum caps can make it hard to hear and can get very hot sometimes, but hey that might not be bad on the frosty winter days. Also You don’t see it restricting top flight players, especially Leigh Halfpenny who is arguably one of the best rugby players at this time.
On a final note, before you buy, scrum caps were not designed to make you less vulnerable to serious head injuries as the material is only a thin foam padding. The cap was designed to protect the ears and soft tissue of the head, not bone to bone collisions. However maybe these new hero’s of the modern day rugby have persuaded you to also be a scrum caped hero this season.

Squash versus tennis shoes

The decision to wear either Squash or tennis shoes when playing squash, is a decision that many Squash players struggle to make. If you want a pair of shoes for all of your indoor sports activities, then, I can see that  tennis shoes are definitely a tempting choice. However, squash etiquette indicates the use of proper squash footwear.
The rules of squash dictate that all players must wear a pair of clean, non-scuffing squash shoes on the court. This suggests that the shoes that you want to wear when you play, are not the same shoes that you wore on your way to play, I.e. In the car, or if you walked. Outside shoes will obviously track dirt onto the playing area. When the squash court is dirty, it can make the surface very slippery, which will lead to the players injuring themselves.
Tennis shoes are not recommended for playing squash. Cross-trainers are not suitable for playing squash either, nor are basketball shoes. Running shoes are also a poor choice for the serious squash player. This is because they all leave marks, black-soled shoes are not appropriate to wear when playing squash for this reason too.
The outer soles of most indoor court shoes and squash shoes are made out of gum rubber. Gum rubber is generally sandy or light beige in colour. This is the first thing you should be looking for when selecting quality squash shoes. If the shoes you are considering have gum rubber on the outer part of the soles, they are designed for indoor sport courts and should suit the squash player perfectly.
That said, the best sort of she for Squash players to use are actual Squash shoes!,

What do you put on your feet?

The design and construction of sports shoes  have advanced considerably in recent years with the shoes being designed for specific sports, playing surfaces and the foot type of the player.  And there is no exception to current badminton shoes with manufactures claiming that there shoes will improve performance, reduce fatigue and also reduce the chances of injury.  So does this mean that if you want to be a top badminton player you need to splash your cash and get the most expensive and latest shoes on the market?
Designers are always looking to make shoes lighter,  however this will have no considerable impact on performance and will literally be down to the personal preference of the individual player on whether they prefer a slightly lighter or heavier shoe.  Another claim is that badminton shoes will offer lower energy expenditure and will reduce muscle fatigue due to the cushioning of the midsole.  However there is very little evidence that increasing the energy return of the shoe will have an enhancing effect on the players performance.
Another claim is increased foot stability which is obviously a key interest to many badminton players, with quick changes in direction you will want a shoe which you have confidence in and will support your foot when changing direction.  There is mixed research in this area with some studies claiming a softer sole hardness is required and others saying a harder sole hardness is better.  So with this in mind it is probably best to go for a shoe which doesn’t have too much of a hard or soft sole, however again it is mainly due to personal preference as foot shape will also effect the performance of the shoe in this area.
Overall, even though manufactures keep performing research on new technologies to design new shoes which will reduce the effects of injury and improve performance, it is more important that the shoe feels right to the player who is wearing it, so that they feel confident and are able to enhance their performance. This means that it will not always be the most expensive shoe which suits the player, and more importantly the shoes will improve  their ability and confidence in their equipment to keep doing what they are doing.

The New Sondico Flair Football Boots

Sondico have a new range of football boots that will soon be hitting the market. The Precision FG and Flair SG are not to be released until later on this year, however the Flair FG football boots are now ready and available. SportsDirect.com take a look at what they offer and how they compare to other football boots already on the market.

Released in time for Christmas the new Sondico Flair FG football boots are available at SportsDirect.com for just £29.99 and boast a number of features that the latest football boots from the likes of Puma and Nike have, such as offering a lightweight performance, excellent cushioning systems and a textured forefoot.

Comfort, precision and speed are just some of the most important qualities to a football boot and Sondico have worked hard to ensure that their insole provides the up-to-date technologies that will improve the players game.

A laminate construction has been implemented into the insole and  has been especially engineered for extra comfort, impact cushioning in the heel and increased propulsion in the forefoot for supreme power transfer when sprinting, turning and stopping. This combined with Poron Performance Cushioning foam in the heel for shock absorption and increased resilience means not only does the boot provide comfort but it also reduces the likeliness of knee and ankle injuries.

Similar to the Puma evoSPEED and the Nike Mercurial Veloce CR7 football boots, Sondico focussed on increasing control. The textured forefoot area of the Flair enables greater grip which in turn maximises control of the ball as well as improving responsiveness, comfort and confidence when out on the pitch. The forefoot also features Energy Activated Cushioning foam technology to redirect shock forces to return increased energy on the toe lift for maximum propulsion , power and responsiveness.
Aesthetically, the Flair football boots offer a two-toned design with a swerve divider and the classic Sondico logo for a modern look. They are complete with triangular moulded studs for increased traction and maximum performance.

At a fraction of the price of other big name football boots, they are perfect for beginners and players who want to increase their performance without forking out for the big brands, they are also available in both junior and adult sizes.

Keep an eye out on www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk and www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk for the latest products and Christmas gift guide.

Golfing: Join the club!

With the buzz from the British Open still lingering in the office and the weather gracing us with glorious sunshine, what better time is there to grab your clubs, balls and golf tees and get outside for a round of golf! This is precisely what Liam from the Ecommerce team got up to at the weekend!
Having not golfed in well over 8 years I opted for the more relaxed (and less formal) game of a pitch-and-putt. Admittedly pitch-and-putt is not golf per se, however it does include the same gear (albeit a limited selection) and the same end goal of getting a ball into a hole within a certain number of shots. To be truly honest I was quite nervous, not so much as a result of my lack of recent golfing experience, but mainly because I was golfing against my dad.
As the hole length of a pitch-and-putt doesn’t often exceed 100 yards a full golf set isn’t really necessary. As a result, we opted for the Dunlop Tour TP13 putter and 9 iron as our weapons of choice. After handing over our money to the golf course warden who was sat in his wooden kiosk (which slightly resembled an upmarket garden shed), we headed to hole number 1.
I was up first, and to be honest my first swing wasn’t great, I’d sliced it. The ball spun off sideways into the rough, nicely accompanied by a backing track of laughter from my dad. I was glad that we’d turned up to the course early as the place was dead, so no one else could see me mess up (which is great for a beginner!). My dads first shot was much better than mine, perfected by years of practice and the many hours sat watching golf on the TV.  By the end of the first hole my dad was on par whilst I was +1, but hey, it’s only the first hole right?
Unfortunately not. 40% of the time I was slicing the ball, shooting it off into the rough, however thankfully my putting skills were much better. It wasn’t until the last two holes that I actually started getting into the ‘swing of things’,  having pulled out a birdie on both!
So there we have it, after 8 snapped tees and 1 lost golf ball later we had completed the game. Although I had lost (but not by as much as I had originally expected +1), it was a great morning out and definitely a nice way to kill a few hours.
RECOMMENDED!

Kids will always be kids

We’ve all heard stories about our parents and grandparents allowing their children to play on the street until late at night. However times have since changed, roads have become busier and communities now have a different feel. Although the first Wednesday in August marks the annual national Playday, where kids across the UK are encouraged to play children’s outdoor games on their streets, recent statistics show that controversy has sparked between parents, children and their neighbours, but who is correct?
Playing outside is one of the greatest learning experiences for any child, although some parents fear leaving their child unsupervised will lead to them being judged by their neighbours. There are thousands of online forums around the subject and we all hear stories about kids causing nuisance, but the major problem is everybody blames each other.
It could be due to a lack of areas that children can play safely or  the family garden has become  too small for kids to play in. We’ve seen parents coming together and taking action by closing streets at weekends (particularly streets with traditional terraced housing) in order for their children to play games safely. Not only does this allow  the children to mix, it also helps parents to integrate with their neighbours helping to bring  that community spirit back.
As a child I use to play across the whole of my village, we obviously had our favourite places to “hang” out and cause mischief. There was one street where we me and my friends would congregate due to one of our friends living there. I can guarantee that this must have annoyed some of the neighbours, but nothing was ever said. Things changed as a teen, we had our favourite areas to go and sit but never caused any nuisance to others.  
People blame it on the lack of areas for young people to go, but would this solve the problem or worsen things? Giving kids/teens an area to hang could solve a number of problems but there will still people who don’t want this in their back yard. The problem is you can’t please everybody.  
Kids will be kids, why can’t we just leave them to it?

Powerlifting against all odds!

Powerlifting is arguably one of the most strenuous activities the human body can undergo. Requiring incredible all over  body strength, and excellent explosive power, there is no room for error. Diet, training and conditioning are all imperative. If all these aren’t carried out at 100% efficiency then something is going to fail. At the worst you will fail a lift, worst case scenario could be far more serious. As Matthias Steiner of Germany found out in the London Olympics, the sport can come close to ending your life in a matter of seconds! The sport is incredibly demanding, and requires every ounce of your motivation and physical strength.

Now try imagining having some form of disability, and still pushing incredible weights above your head, or smashing Bench Press records. Due to physical limitations, Paralympic lifts only comprise of the bench press. Under IPC rules, discrepancies in arm lock out ARE allowed depending on disabilities. Sporting events such as the special Olympics host powerlifting events, in the 3 main powerlifting disciplines, bench, squat and deadlift, for individuals with a mental disability.
The world record bench press in the 100kg+ Men’s Paralympic Powerlifting class is set by Siamand Rahman, and is in excess of 300.00kg. Despite his disability, and young age (25) he is tipped to become one of the greatest RAW bench presses of all time. He is close to breaking the all time Open raw world record, that is unassisted by a bench suit, in disabled or able bodied competition! He is an incredible inspiration to young people with a disability, particularly those with great sporting aspirations.

Equally inspiring are some incredible achievements during the special Olympics and related events, such as Jackie Barret, who back in 2010 set a new specials Olympics squat record, of 265.5kg. A huge number, well deserved by the huge talent this young man possesses.
These performances are incredibly strong for able bodied athletes, and the determination and drive to get to such a standard in Paralympic/special Olympic events leaves me in total awe. It just goes to show that regardless of your situation in life, absolutely anything is possible.

Stay hungry, Stay Driven, Stay Strong!

The daredevil Warner turns a deaf ear to warnings

David Warner was the first Australian cricketer selected to the national side without playing a first class game in over a century while he debuted in 2009. He made a whooping 89 from 43 balls with 7 fours and 6 sixes and since then he has been known for his aggression with the bat and otherwise. But 2013 has seen Warner highlighted by the media for wrong reasons.
The India – Australia test matches are always under immense tension after the Monkeygate racial spat in 2007-08.For those of you who haven’t heard about it before – during a test match in between the two team s in Sydney Cricket Ground, Aussie player Andrew Symonds complained against Indian Spinner Harbhajan Singh for racial abuse and calling him a Monkey. Though the spinner was suspended for three test matches, the decision was later overturned upon threat by the Indian team to quit the tour. This year in March, the Aussies toured India and Mr. Warner started a verbal tilt with Ravindra Jadeja. Indian captain MS Dhoni also got involved to support his batting partner. Poor Sir Jadeja, as he is mocked by his team mates was no competition to Warner and his verbal abuse and decided to get the umpires involved.
Warner was more than happy to defend himself than being apologetic and said that Aussie cricket was all about unsettling the opposition. He takes credit of Dhoni’s dismissal immediately after the row. He definitely is proud of his actions but doubt if Cricket Australia is.
The Aussie tour was over and the stage for the next controversy was again India but Warner was now wearing the Delhi Dare Devil uniform in the IPL .Though IPL was never out of controversies, the spot fixing scandal this year made things worse. The entire world was talking about it and so was the two celebrated Australian cricket writers Robert Craddock and Malcolm Conn. Craddock’s article had Warner’s image alongside the article which provoked the Australian opener. The Delhi camper’s tweets had very strong words used against the writers and Cricket Australia fined him $ 5750 hoping that he would change for the better. That accounted for just a meagre 0.77% of his IPL salary of $750000.Our man did come out with an apology but it wasn’t long before he again got into trouble.
This time the venue for his anger and aggression was a pub in Birmingham, England. The Walkabout Australian pub was star studded on an evening during the Champions Trophy this June. The players of the English and Aussie team were enjoying the ambience and the drinks when Warner threw a punch at the boy from Yorkshire, Joe Root who had a fake beard on. Warner believed that the beard was worn to ridicule South African Hashim Amla and decided to punish little Root, but the English board confirms that he was poking fun at himself as he team mates taunted that he was too young to grow facial hair. This time Cricket Australia decides to go one step further with the punishment. He was fined $11500 , dropped from the Champions trophy team and for the Ashes series. This is not all, he was sent to join the Australian A team in Africa to get proper practise for test matches. Well, we would like to believe the idea of giving practise to the big hitter for all his experience in the longer format of the game.
No punishment is really going to calm down Mr. Warner. He picks up another fight in Africa with the South African wicket keeper and the umpires had to stop the match twice on two consecutive days to bring things under control. The problem child of Australian cricket has now been called back to represent the Aussie team which is in serious trouble in the Ashes series trailing 0-2 against England. One should wait and watch the welcome he would get from the English team and Joe Root as this is the first time they are back on field facing each other after the Walkabout attack. Cricket Australia has to shell out funds for researching on innovative ideas to keep David Warner out of trouble.

Choosing the right sweatshirt

Last week I was fortunate enough to spend an afternoon sitting in on fashion buyer meetings, (which I must say any girl who likes clothes would LOVE), and they were discussing what is next on the fashion agenda for Autumn/Winter 2013. I will start by sharing a little of some of what I learnt from one of the representatives for USC.

Currently in trend are ladies sweatshirts. The types that are set to be most popular are bold animal prints, patterns, floral, textured materials and even velour!
When it comes to choosing the right sweatshirt for you:
There are many styles of sweatshirts; crew neck, round neck, scooped neck, high neck and v neck, the list goes on.. It is important that you get the correct sweater for your shape and fashion style. There are online guides to choosing the right sweatshirt for your figure, so it may be an idea to look at these first if you are still unsure about what best suits you. Choosing the right style for you is just as important as choosing the right colour!

Colour wise, a favourite all year rounder is black, yet marl colours are also doing well (the ones which have an all over speckle) . Greys and golden brassy tones are also set to be the next big thing, in keeping with the autumn weather which sees the leaves changing to a lovely array of burnt orange and reddy brown tones.  The least popular colours are expected to be neon. Sales have slowed a little over the past year, and as they are bold statement pieces, they aren’t expected to do as well this time around. That’s not to say that if you fall in love with a neon sweater that you shouldn’t buy one! If you have enough style to pull it off then why not bring back the neon trend yourself!

If you are tall, make sure you try the sweatshirt on before you buy if you can! You don't want to get home and find that the sleeves are far too short for you, as a lot of styles are not very generous. Another idea is to buy clothes that are specially designed for those who are taller, as many shops do have separate sections now for tall and petite!

If you are a legging or jeggings wearer, why not invest in a dipped hem sweatshirt that will allow you to show off your pins and feel comfortably covered at the same time. This saves you having to wear jeans when you’re settled at home watching a movie.
A final point to consider is whether you want a loose fitting or a fitted sweater. There is a big difference! Boyfriend style/ oversized sweaters are baggy and go well with a pair of statement leggings and pumps. You may feel like you are a little girl again playing dress up the first time you put one on but they are the ultimate comfort! Fitted jumpers can be worn with a pair of skinny jeans and heels, or a smart pair of trousers depending on the occasion. Both types can be glammed up to look nice for evenings out, throw on a neckscarf or a chunky necklace and you are well away!

Pro Skateboarders and the Kickflip trick

For pro skaters like Tony Hawk, Ryan Scheckler and Rodney Mullen a lifetime of success and fame started with one like…a skateboard. A mechanism that is not only a summer sensation but an all round seasonal joy, be it indoor or outdoor the skateboard keeps you active, healthy and focused.
The popularity of extreme sport has put skateboarding at the top of its game, competing at a level that it has never done before. X-games this year has shown the skill and determination needed to be a pro skater, the focus and long hours  that must be put in to be at the top of your game. Least to say the rewards are worth reaping, traveling the world, competing in different countries and showing the world what you can do!
With a range of our skating products sports direct strives to produce the hottest skateboards for you, be it the new Tony Hawk and Birdhouse range, or the quality proof No Fear brand. Weather you’re a pro skater or just a beginner  the range of choices will give you all you need!
For those beginners we have a few tips to do some essential skill:
KickFlip- invented in 1982 by pro skater Rodney Mullen
Firstly put your back foot flat across the back/tail of the skateboard
Secondly put your front foot at the edge of your skateboard, crouching will help when it comes to jumping, as the lower your crouch the more force you will generate.
Thirdly jump forward  of your back foot while providing a flip with your front foot, this will send the boarding to rotate 360 degrees. Remember to hover above the board when you jump so that you do not make an awkward landing.
Take care when performing this trick and good luck!

Why don’t you get the kids into badminton this summer!

With the kids off now for the summer, are you stuck for things to do with them?  Why don’t you try badminton! This is a excellent sport and is the second most popular sport in the world and the most popular racket sport due to the fact that it doesn’t matter if you’ve played before or if it’s the first time you’re heading onto court anyone can get involved.
You don’t even need to higher out a court, all you need to do is buy a net and you can play anywhere, from the back garden to the beach or even the park.  Badminton is an great sport for you to do as it doesn’t even need to be competitive and just taking part in rally’s to see how many shots you can do between you, you could even see if you can beat the world record which is 154 shots in one rally during a game in the  Swiss Open 2010.
It is perfect to get your kids involved as it will keep them active and burning off all that extra energy they have, in a competitive game it is not surprising if players covered around 2-3km and in one game in the 1980’s both players covered just under 6.5km in a game that lasted only 76 minutes.  The longest badminton game lasted 124 minutes which could be a challenge to set the kids to see if they can last that long and in contrast to this the shortest competitive match which lasted only 6 minutes.   As well as them burning of all this energy that will be also increasing their other motor skills such as increasing their co-ordination, agility, footwork, speed and endurance all in a fun and safe environment.
Badminton is also an excellent social sport which will allow all of your family to meet new people especially your children to make new friends if you decide to send them down to a local summer camp in which they can play badminton.
Here are some interesting facts which you might not now about badminton:
o It originated in a stately home owned by the Duke of Beaufort in Gloucestershire.
o The best feather badminton shuttles are made from the left wing of a goose.
o It first became a Olympic sport in 1992.
o A shuttlecock can travel at up to 200km/h.
Why not you log onto our website where you can order a racket from £5 or get a family set for less than £15 which includes a net as well so you can play wherever and whenever you want, with your family and friends!

Be safe, Be smiley, Be ski savvy and protect your head!

Apart from enjoying yourself, one of the most important things that should be top of your priority when arriving at your destination for your holiday on the slopes is how you have prepared to protect yourself from the elements that the mountain will throw at you! One of the main perpetrators is the sun as the cold environment does a splendid job of masking how harmful those UV rays are, and at altitude they are 8 times stronger which causes considerably more damage. It is easy to be mislead so whether your out and about feeling liberated on the piste, outside enjoying the terrace views in the resort restaurant or stood on the slopes cheering on the slalom competitors, make sure you are clued up and being savvy when it comes to protecting your health and well fare.
Ski beanie boffin
Be clever with your choice of head wear! Make sure you try and keep your scalp covered as much as possible as soon as you get to the resort and make contact with that powdery snow. A good quality beanie hat that also covers your ears is always a good option as although you may not realise it, but your scalp absorbs those rays as much as other parts of your body and long term damage can be caused. I know they look fashionable ladies, but try and save the cable knit head bands for your après ski outfit unless you apply a strong sun cream to your hair line and visible parts of your scalp!
Neck warmer wizard
Conjure up the perfect remedy for suffering sunburn to the face by ensuring you step out in a ski neck warmer! Made out of light breathable fabric, these are a perfect accessory on the slopes to ensure your face is well protected from the sun and wind chill as you ski. They are highly convenient when that sun feels a little too hot on the nose too, and presuming you have already applied plenty of sunscreen, they offer extra added protection as your nose is most susceptible to burning. Just pull up the fabric to your eye line and you have a quick fix to making sure you don’t look like Rudolph for your après ski party!
Peepers prefect
Be top of the class in the subject of taking care of your eyes as it goes without saying how important it is that they stay fit and healthy for the duration of your life! When skiing or snowboarding ensure you have invested in a high quality pair of goggles that provide you with 100% protection against the harmful UV rays. When you reach the end of your run and you remove your goggles, it is imperative that you also have a quality pair of sunglasses to hand that does the same job. The glare of the snow and the heat of the sun can cause major damage to the eyes and growths can occur which will impair your vision. This is more common when skiing due to the altitude.
Hopefully you will have already previously considered these aspects when it comes to keeping safe on the slopes, but even the savviest of people need reminding from time to time. So whatever you do, have a great time on your trip and come back in great health with a big smile on your face!

Body image on the big screen!

For many of us, body image is something we are concerned about. We will actively try to change the way we look, for whatever reason that may be, and many people become obsessed with losing even more weight, or gaining even more muscle. Before you grab your gym kit and whey protein, sit tight for a moment and read the rest of this, then do as you please in the gym.
Just take a moment to name a plus size Hollywood star – Melissa McCarthy for example. Now have a think about those ripped stars – Ryan Reynolds, Channing Tatum, Taylor Lautner, Mark Wahlberg,  Gwyenth Paltrow the list goes on. The latter examples came into your head much faster, am I right?  Maybe it’s just me, but more notice is taken of these celebs, by name at least, than larger actors! Now if comedy performances are something to go on, I bet most of you could identify an actor or actress, maybe not by name though. Alan from super bad maybe, or Fat B*stard from Austin Powers, but I challenge you to name the actors off the top of your head. I can’t, maybe that’s just me?
In this ever increasing body conscious society, the Average Joe, or Josephine maybe, is feeling more and more pressure to look like the red carpet superstars, the ones in my second list, the Tatums and the Paltrows, but why? Do you need a six pack and a chiselled jawline to win over the girl of your dreams, or is that size zero figure really going to attract the right sort of men? Probably not. The depicted images are extremes. These people pretty much rely on their looks to succeed, after all Hollywood is an aesthetics driven business, regardless of what is said. Even the larger celebs are attractive, perfect hair and make up. Take for example the TV show ‘Glee’. The show is supposed to depict a group of social outcasts, those brought together due to an inability to fit into any other social group, yet not one of them would be classed as unattractive. Young people seeing these images are going to further increase their expectations of how they should look. “If Lea Michele isn’t attractive, and is a social outcast, what hope do I have?”
Lets be entirely honest. Does it really matter how you look if you have everything you need in life? Is image, or more to the point, should image be that important? As long as you have your health, your family and friends, and you are comfortable in life, what more do we need?

Introducing The Christmas Gift Guide

Gift guides are always a life saver come Christmas time and are perfect for keeping organised and keeping an eye on money too. SportsDirect.com’s Christmas Gift Guide is now live and is full of fantastic gift ideas to suit everyone’s budget.
Gifts for him and for her
Whether it’s for a loved one, your son, daughter or a close friend, SportsDirect.com have a range of items in their him and her sections to suit different personalities. Devised into socks and slippers, mugs, novelty gifts, sweets and pocket money gifts, which are perfect as a gift from your little ones, you can easily search by the type of gift you’re after.
There is also a gifts by price section, going from under £5, up to over £25 which means it’s never been easier to shop within your budget. Some of the gifts from the lower end of the spectrum go from toiletry sets and headphones, where as in the over £25 range you will find sports and fitness equipment, handbags and watches.
Gifts for kids
Split into socks and slippers, novelty gifts, sweets, toys and pocket money gifts, the gifts for kids section is bursting full of fun Christmas gifts that will light up your child’s face on Christmas morning, without breaking the bank. With the likes of interactive games and toys for a selection of age ranges and cool hats, t-shirts and socks there will be something that every child will love.
Christmas stockings are always a hit with children and SportsDirect.com have some great ideas for novelty stocking fillers, such as  hair accessories, jewellery and sports themed stationary, making them perfect for the sports mad and fashionista’s in your house.
Secret Santa gifts
Secret Santa has become somewhat of a phenomenon with both workplaces, friends and families now jumping on the bandwagon, and it is a great way to save money if you have a large family or friendship group. This section includes gift ideas from novelty, sports themed sweets and chocolates, calendars and novelty gifts such as a Pacman ice cube tray – which is ideal for people who love to throw parties!
Christmas jumpers
Whether you want to treat yourself to a Christmas treat after all of the hard work you’ve put into shopping, or you want to spread the festive cheer and give your loved one an early Christmas present, SportsDirect.com have an array of cute, funny and without a doubt, festive, jumpers. From snowman’s, to reindeers and Santa himself, there are jumpers for everyone!
Get organised this Christmas and visit SportsDirect.com for gifts that your friends and family will love. Also, check out www.facebook.com/SportsDirectUK and www.Twitter.com/SportsDirectUK for the latest news, updates and competitions!

Evolution of Footwear

New research suggests humans started wearing some sort of shoes about 40,000 years ago. But the existence of footwear can be dated back to about 10 million years ago. Early humans used materials in their natural form to create some sort of protection for their feet. They wrapped their feet with animal skin and dried leaves they obtained from the wild.
As civilisations began to develop, Egyptians developed thong sandals (antecedent to modern flip flop) but still preferred to walk barefoot. However, they did make use of‘sole less’ sandals which did not provide protection for their feet. Espadrilles were developed in the Middle Ages and were worn in the Pyrenees. They originated from the Catalonian region of Spain in the 13th century.
By the 15th century, Pattens (antecedents to modern high heeled shoes)  had become popular in Europe. Also during the 15th century, Chopines were created and was used to define status, symbol and social standing. Royalties such as Catherine de Medici and Mary I of England wore them in the 16th century.
Since the 17th century, modern shoe with the sewn-on sole has been in existence while in the mid 20th century, materials like rubber, plastics, cloths and industrial adhesives have allowed manufacturers produce shoes better than the early shoes made from traditional crafting techniques.
Modern technology has allowed us to produce shoes fit for purpose and for specific activities. There are a wide variety of different types of shoes such as athletic shoes, stilettos, leather shoes, slip-ons and safety footwear.
Safety footwear are very essential in an industrial and construction work environment. They protect workers feet from falling objects or compression. They comprise of steel toe cap, electrical resistance (conductive and antistatic), insulation (against cold and heat), and water penetration resistance. Also, they come in styles including safety boots and safety shoes.  
At SportsDirect.com, we offer safety footwear in different styles and sizes. Our wide selection provides you with options for various work environments.
Now we can carry out our daily activities knowing that we have some sort of protection for our feet. The sky is the limit to the improvements on the welfare of mankind.

A stress free day at the sea side!

Taking the children to the beach can be lots of fun but also lots of stress! Here are a few ideas of what to take to keep the kids busy and you relaxed!

Shelter
The beach can get very busy especially when the sun is shining, so it is a good idea to create some privacy and mark out a section for your family to sit and play. Windbreakers are a great idea because you can make sure young children stay within the enclosed area, which makes it much easier to keep an eye on them!
A beach shelter comes in handy several times throughout the day, so it’s a fantastic addition to the windbreakers! It provides a private area for everyone to get changed out of wet swimsuits as well as shelter from the sun during peak times. It is perfect for very young children and babies who will nap during the day to ensure they are not caught by the sun. At dinner time you can sit in peace away from pesky seagulls and avoid getting sand in your chips!

Beach Shoes
Beach shoes are a practical idea for little explorers! You can get waterproof shoes that have a good sole, so they protect feet from sharp objects on the beach and can be worn all day long! At the end of the day you won’t have to spend ages dusting off sandy feet, so you can have an extra 10 minutes sun bating!

Accidents
There are lots of potential accidents that could happen at the beach, from sand in someone’s eye, to cutting yourself on a rock, so it is a good idea to come prepared. Taking plenty of bottled water to clean wounds and rinse sand is a sensible idea. Lifeguards may not be close enough to offer immediate assistance and the road or your car could be a long walk away from where you are on the beach, so having the necessary equipment to deal with any accidents is very advisable. A small first aid kit with plasters and small bandages means you can both clean and protect and nasty cuts.

Food
Take plenty of nibbles for everyone to eat throughout the day. Again food outlets may be a good walk away and if kids get hungry they won’t want to wait! Keeping some fruit and easy foods such as crisps and tube yogurts in a cool box means you can keep everyone full and energized all day long!

Bucket and Spade
Last but not least don’t forget to take a bucket and spade to keep the kids busy building sand castles all day! There are lots of fun toys for the beach, but me mindful of how busy it is going to be! Footballs and bat and ball games may require a lot of space to run around and play, if the beach is heaving with people this will be inconvenient and people may get hit by balls!

Snooker Inspirations

If you’ve ever needed any inspiration to start playing snooker, then you should take a look at some of the finest players to have ever played the game. Over the years there has been some superb snooker players, none more so than the legendary Steve Davis and the “King of the Crucible” Stephen Hendry. These two players have enjoyed many battles over the years, and are regarded by many as two of snooker’s greatest ever players.
Steve Davis
DOB: 22/08/1957
Place of Birth: Plumstead, London
Nickname: The Nugget
Highest Ranking: 1
Highest Break: 147
Steve Davis has enjoyed an illustrious career in snooker since turning professional in 1978, with 28 ranking event victories to his name which include; 6 World Championships, 6 UK championships and 3 Masters. Davis was also the first player to win the three Triple Crown events in a single season (1987/1988), and was also the first player to complete a maximum 147 break at a televised event. Davis’s achievements in snooker, particularly his dominance in the eighties, have lead to many labelling him one of the greatest players of all time.
Stephen Hendry
DOB: 13/01/1969
Place of Birth: South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland
Nickname: The King of the Crucible
Highest Ranking: 1
Highest Break: 147
Stephen Hendry enjoyed life as a professional snooker player for 27 years (1985-2012), in which he won the World Championship seven times, the current record. Hendry also currently holds the record for most ranking event wins with 36, which include; 6 Masters, 5 UK Championships and 4 British Open Championships alongside the 7 World Championships. Hendry also shares the record for most 147’s with Ronnie O’Sullivan, both of whom have achieved this eleven times. Hendry was also known for having one of the strongest temperaments in Snooker, which he showed by achieving some great comebacks over the years, and saw him at number one in the rankings for eight consecutive years. And to think all of this started after his parents bought him a snooker cue  for Christmas back in 1981.
These two players are a couple of the highest regarded players in snooker history, and have set a great example for anyone wanting to get into the game! Let us know who your favourite player/inspiration is of all time!