The Win Report

One of the most telling stats of the first week of the NFL
playoffs was the defense. Washington amassed a ridiculous 120
yards of offense against the Buccaneers. Even more ridiculous is
that they WON the game! The Patriots followed Saturday night
with a dominating performance against the Jaguars, allowing 3
points. Both games sailed under the total.

Isn’t it always like this? Defense is what wins in January and
February, more so than offense. The better defensive teams
generally make it into the playoffs, then have an edge on their
opponents, especially if that opponent has defensive weaknesses
that can be exploited. This was evident Sunday when the Steelers
fell behind 17-7 at Cincinnati, but remained calm as their
defense forced Bengal punt after punt and a slew of
interceptions. Truth be told, the Bengals have a strong,
balanced offense, but that defense struggled badly in the second
half of the year. And that poor defense is why Pittsburgh came
roaring back to a 31-17 victory. And a large factor in why
Cincinnati will be home watching the rest of the postseason.

That game crept over the total, but the other Sunday game,
Carolina’s 23-0 shutout at the NY Giants, went under. Which
means 75% of the playoff games have gone under the total thus
far. The Bengals electrified the home crowd with a 10-0 first
quarter lead behind their talented offense. However, when the
final gun had sounded, the Steelers had 144 rushing yards, which
is their bread and butter, and once they got the lead, their
defense did the rest.

It’s important for a team that goes deeper into the playoffs to
have some semblance of a balanced offense and a tough defense.
An effective running game adds so much to an offense. If it’s
second and five or third and three, having a reliable ground
game forces the defense into having to watch for the pass AND
the run. Offensive flexibility and options are important
weapons. An offense that can’t run well and is forced to pass
often, however, like the Bengals and Jaguars were in the second
half, makes it easier for a defense to attack. The defense can
sit back in coverage and look for interceptions, or mix in
blitzes to harass a quarterback who they know is very likely to
be dropping back for a pass. This creates sacks and
opportunities for hurried passes and interceptions. The Steelers
and Patriots’ defenses were both textbook examples this weekend.

Notice that the top five rushing teams as far as percentage of
running plays called this season were the Steelers (57%),
followed by the Broncos, Bears, Falcons, and Seahawks. What
stands out about that group? Four of the five are still alive
for the Super Bowl, with three earning first round byes.

While the Steelers used defense and several trick plays in their
impressive comeback, the Carolina Panthers didn’t do anything
fancy Sunday. They ran the football for 223 yards against the
Giants, then played an aggressive, choking defense that held the
Giants to 132 total yards. That formula may not excite TV
viewers, but the Panthers used that same plan to win the NFC
title just two years ago. In the NFC championship game that
season, Carolina upset the Eagles 14-6 on the road, in a game
that went way under the total. And the Panthers had the same
blueprint Sunday in their 23-0 rout at the NY Giants as a road
dog. The Bears play a similar style under Lovie Smith with the
No. 2 overall defense and the best defense yet of all the
remaining playoff teams. And they face the Panthers this
weekend. Don’t look for a lot of trickery, especially in the
Chicago cold, but for both sides to play their games: power
football and smash-mouth defense. A 14-6 game may not get huge
TV ratings, but history shows that formula wins often in
January. Good luck, as always…Al McMordie.

Great hiking socks are critical. Do yours deliver in all these
important areas? Learn how to pick the hiking sock that is smart
for your trip.

Your hiking socks are probably like you at work… they do a lot
more than they’re given credit for. They must be comfortable,
wick moisture, protect against shear, support your natural
posture, keep your feet at a good temperature, distribute
pressure, promote circulation, absorb shock, and be tough.
That’s no small order.

They are almost as important as your boots and shoes when it
comes to your comfort. Here are some things to consider.

Blood Flow- This is the circulation of blood through the foot. A
decrease or cut-off in blood flow can be caused by unyielding
fabrics in hiking socks. Acrylics in combination with other
fibers and a terry weave can help with this and shear.

Moisture- With exertion one foot can sweat 1-2 pints of
vapor/fluid per day. That’s why wicking technology in hiking
socks is so important. Without it bacteria and fungus can become
a problem. Hungry yet?
Position- If your hiking socks don’t help to maintain correct
anatomical alignment this can cause premature fatigue. Correct
posture also helps to correctly position your foot in your boot
or shoe to make it feel like it’s an extension of your body.

Pressure Areas- Pressure can cause discomfort and lead to damage
if it’s not addressed. A good example of this is a bedsore. Most
people hopefully won’t experience pressure to this degree, but
it’s something you want to keep in mind when looking at hiking
socks. Padding is especially important around bony areas like
the heal and ball of the foot.

Shearing Force- This happens when your tissue is moving in
opposite directions, like when jumping over a stream, or
descending a steep slope. Part of your skin is moving one way
and the tissue under it another, this causes a tearing action
just under the surface of the skin. This is the most common way
of getting blisters.

Temperature- Good hiking socks need to be appropriate for their
intended use, from a warm weather day hike to a week-long
mountaineering trip. Once in their appropriate environment they
should maintain a consistent comfortable temperature.

Like a shoe or boot your hiking socks should be matched to the
type of hiking you’ll be doing.

Liners- Thin socks called liners are made to be worn under your
hiking socks next to your skin so they can wick the moisture
away and keep your feet dry…

If you’d like more information on hiking socks please click here for the
entire article. Also you may want to take a look at this
related article on hiking boots and what’s important regarding
fit and construction.

Gymnastics: Injury, Prevention, Treatment - A Brief Overview

In every sport–not just gymnastics–there stands the risk
of injury, no matter how adept or flexible your gymnast
happens to be. The sport requires a lot of psychological
and physical preparation, in part because it is extremely
rigorous, and in part because it demands a higher level of
skill than most other sports. The complexity that routines
entail increases the risk of painful injury and fatigue if
proper preparations are not taken to ensure all-around
safety.

The most common injuries to the body are those to the ankles
and feet, the lower back, knees, hands, and wrists. These
can be due to overuse or simple stress. The lower body
injuries are generally because of unbalanced landings,
while the back experiences strain when insufficient
stretching has been performed. Scrapes and bruises are to
be expected, even if your gymnast is properly attired — so
simply be prepared. Any injury to a gymnast’s body can be
detrimental to his or her performance in the future.
Stiffness can result from lack of use of a limb or of the
back if he or she is put out of the game for too long–that
is, if the injury is serious. For the most part, as a
parent, you will have to deal with less serious injuries
(hopefully), and you will not need to visit the doctor’s
office to have them treated.

In any case, the best course of action is indeed prevention.
The standard safety measures in any sport are simple and
easily implemented, most especially for gymnastics.

First, you will want to make sure that your gymnast wears
the proper clothing. If he or she has long hair, tie it
back, braid it, or otherwise secure it. Do not allow them
to wear clothing that is too loose or baggy and conducive
to tripping; the same goes for socks and shoes - nothing
that will cause them to slide on a nonporous surface.
Remove all jewelry. Rings, for instance, can be caught on
swelling fingers if one is sprained. Earrings can be torn
from earlobes or carteliage in a mishap.

Then, make sure that you and your gymnast takes stock of the
surroundings. Wires from equipment can trip or cut;
running into poles or other gymnasts can be a disaster. To
trip on a mat that is higher than the current surface might
be painful.

Next, have them warm up. Warmups are vital to any sport,
and every gymnast, whether they are a preschooler or a
professional, should do them before starting any strenuous
activity. This includes jogging, speed walking, and
stretching — anything to get the blood moving and the
heart pumping. Believe it or not, a good stretch decreases
the risk of a strained or pulled muscle, and it actually
feels good. If you’re training with your young gymnast at
home or otherwise on your own time, it’s advisable to be a
good role model and join them in their warm-ups. Turn on
some music and move too. It’s a triple plus: you’ll be
showing her or him how to properly warm up, that you are
interested in what they are doing, and you will be getting
your heart rate going strong too.

When your gymnast is out on the floor, make sure that he or
she takes breaks for water frequently. Hydration is key to
good health. If he or she is sweating profusely,
dehydration is possible, and that too can be a disaster
waiting in the wings.

Beyond all of the hazards of gymnastics, there is treatment
for any injuries received. Of course, if your gymnast is
injured severely, a doctor visit might be the best idea –
or even the emergency room. However, that is simply common
sense. On the other hand, if your child is not injured
severely, you may wish to take care of him or her yourself.

But whatever you decide to do, please understand I am not a
doctor and you should always consult your family doctor if
you have any problems or concerns.

For sprains, strains, bumps and bruises, you should use
ice for the first twenty four hours. Ice cubes in a
plastic bag with a facecloth or a hand towel wrapped around
the bag itself is sufficient if you do not have a medical
ice pack. Never place ice directly against skin - and
never ice for more than twenty to thirty minutes at a time.

Three or four times in the first day after the injury
should be sufficient. After that, gentle heat compresses
will help to relax any muscle spasms or pain that isn’t
taken care of with some kind of pain reliever (consult a
doctor before giving your gymnast ANY medication).

Hopefully, you’ll never have to deal with injuries — but
remember, prevention is better than anything else. Keep
this in mind and be safe.

Good luck!

By Murray Hughes
Gymnastics Secrets Revealed
“The book EVERY gymnastics parent should read”

http://www.gymnasticssecretsrevealed.com/gymnastics-articles/gymnastics-injuries.htm

About the Author

If your child is a gymnast and you enjoyed this article, you
will definitely enjoy reading the zero cost, 5-day course
Gymnastics Tips Course written especially for gymnastics
parents by a gymnastics parent.
http://www.GymnasticsSecretsRevealed.com
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