While it may seem that playing in the outfield is
one of the most relaxed positions in baseball, coaches know the truth
is that the outfield demands a high level of communication, precise
movement, and acute awareness. This is why outfield drills are so important.
One of the main challenges for outfielders is the need to
effectively communicate with each other. In many situations, multiple
outfielders can converge on a fly ball, and without clear communication,
collisions can occur. This risk not only poses a danger to the players
involved but can also lead to missed plays that could change the outcome
of a game.
Establishing a system of verbal and non-verbal cues is essential
for ensuring that each player knows who is responsible for making the
catch. Drills that focus on improving vocal communication and instilling
confidence in one another can transform a group of individuals into a
cohesive unit.
Additionally, the movement required in the outfield is far from
straightforward. It involves not only running but also quick direction
changes, timing jumps for catches, and assessing batted balls’
trajectories. Outfielders need to have a keen sense of positioning,
understanding the hitters’ tendencies, and knowing when to take
aggressive routes to the ball.
Practicing shifts, angles, and the art of the jump can give a
team a significant advantage. Drills designed to simulate different game
scenarios can help players develop these critical skills, allowing them
to react instinctively during actual games.
By implementing targeted drills that enhance these skills, teams
can minimize the risk of errors and elevate their overall performance,
turning what is perceived as an easy position into one of the greatest
strengths of the team.
While there are plenty of effective
outfield drills out there, few focus on developing the communication and
movement patterns necessary to ensure safety and success for players of
all ages and skill levels. But coach Todd Dulin, Head Coach at North
Andover High School (Massachusetts), provides an in-depth, structured
approach to mastering defensive excellence in baseball, specifically in
the outfield with his ‘Outfield Play with Todd Dulin’ clinic.
Whether
you're an aspiring outfielder or a coach seeking expert drills and
strategies, this course provides the knowledge and structure to elevate
defensive skills and build a championship-caliber mentality.
We have pulled two drills from Coach Dulin’s clinic and included them below.
The Rhythm Drill
One of Coach Dulin’s drills is called the Rhythm
Drill, a fundamental exercise to develop smooth, controlled, and
accurate outfield throws while preserving arm strength.
The
movement and footwork involved in fielding a grounder in the outfield
and then executing a strong and accurate throw to a specific base may
sound easy, but coaches know that it can often be much more difficult
than initially conceived.
This is why this simple rhythm
drill is perfect, which starts with a coach having a bucket of balls, a
fungo, and standing at home plate. The players will line up in two lines
in the outfield, and the coach will just hit balls to each line.
Each player will then take turns fielding the ground ball while
ensuring they remain on the balls of their feet so they don’t get off
balance. From there, they will stay in an athletic stance,
execute a crop hop, and deliver a throw to the assigned base, which will
have a screen behind it.
By repeating this drill with a steady rhythm, outfielders
enhance their throwing mechanics, reinforce good habits, and prepare
for game-like situations with precision and efficiency.
Another way to improve this drill is by hitting the ball between the two lines and forcing them to communicate on who is going to field the ball and which base they should throw to.
The Sprinkler Drill
The next drill that Coach Dulin discusses in his
clinic is what he calls the sprinker drill, which is a dynamic outfield
exercise designed to improve tracking, catching on the move, and
communication.
The drill begins with all the outfielders
along the right field like, and the coach has a bucket and a fungo. The
player who’s first in line will then start jogging across the
outfield while fielding multiple fly balls, progressively moving toward
left field with each ball hit.
A great way to
enhance communication with this drill is to make two different lines and
hit the ball either between them or behind them, so that they have to
run near the fence. This will force the two players in line to
communicate about who is catching the ball and where the ball is while
also tracking down the fly ball.
This drill is
especially effective early in the season, when players haven’t learned
each other’s communication preferences and are still acclimating to
tracking balls down on the fly.
This drill is also fun and
engaging, while also working as a conditioning exercise because of all
the running that players will need to do.
What inspired me to write about this topic was a conversation I had
with a friend who was a Spanish teacher at the same high school where I
taught mathematics. Being devout to a particular faith, he occasionally
asked me about my relationship with God, which differed significantly
from his.
I told him that in my youthful years, I would attend a local church
with my parents, having participated in the various aspects of it.
Initially, I was baptized (sprinkled) in water as a baby, which
according to their doctrine causes an infant to become a child of God or
a son of light. First comes repentance that the parent(s) of the child
provide. And afterward, at the time of the sprinkling, the congregation
would be praying for the Holy Spirit to show up. This, they argue, would
bring about the forgiveness of sins.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
of God.
Literal water, along with the reality of the Holy Spirit, would allow
an infant to enter God’s kingdom. This, they’d say, is the baptism that
now saves us as supported by Scripture. The sacrament of water baptism
is the sacrament of regeneration. The result of this rite is that the
new child of God becomes freed from the power of darkness, liberated
from sin, and is brought into the realm of the freedom of the children
of God.
Years later, when I reached the age of seven, I began attending
catechism, which was the mechanism used to teach the fundamental truths
of the faith. This instruction prepared me to receive certain of the
seven sacraments, which are ceremonies that point to what is sacred,
significant, and essential. I eventually received my first communion
(the elements of the bread and wine are that which nourish the disciple
with Christ’s literal body and blood for his or her transformation into
Him). A short time later, between the ages of eight and twelve, I was
confirmed. According to this sacrament, the Holy Spirit was given at
this time to those already baptized in order to make them strong and
perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.
Attending church weekly, occasionally participating in the confession
of sins to a priest, observing the six days of obligation throughout
the year, as well as the two church fasts of Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday, became my routine. At some point, a neighborhood friend who was
an altar boy in a local Catholic church I attended, asked me if I, too,
wanted to become an altar boy. I said yes and proceeded to enroll in
special classes at the church for this purpose.
I told my colleague at the school where we taught that as I grew
older, in my teens and early twenties, I stopped attending church
altogether. I felt that something or someone was missing. Church became
boring. It seemed as if I’d never met the God I was trying to obey and
follow.
In my mid-twenties, not being thrilled with how my life was turning
out (e.g., job difficulties, girlfriend relationship issues, family
conflicts, alcohol abuse, etc.), I decided to go on a quest to determine
if God existed. I reasoned that if He did, He’d help me address these
problem areas of my life.
So, how was I to begin? Where might I find this higher power? I’d
assume in church. There are so many faiths; it would be hard not to
figure that He would be operating in at least one of them. Which one? I
had no idea. So, I decided to attend just about every church assembly in
my home city. As I’d enter and leave the church setting of each faith,
there was nothing I heard in any of their teachings that I heard that
stood out. What I mean is I recognized that there were evident
differences in theology, but for the most part, the way to heaven was
similar. Obey the church’s teachings, and hopefully, when you die, you
might make it there.
This approach didn’t sit too well with me. I needed some kind of
evidence that substantiated a God reality and an assurance of eternal
life. Eventually, something happened to me that changed my life forever.
I heard about this through what I now believe were providential
circumstances. A certain church Bible study was being conducted near
where I was living at this time. I attended the study and after the
pastor gave the message, he asked if anyone wanted to have a personal
relationship with God. He said God’s desire was to come into a person’s
life and indwell, thus providing them with a new nature, a new life, a
divine purpose for living, and a secured afterlife. This got my full
attention. I wondered what I’d have to do in order for these spiritual
possibilities to take place in my life.
He went on to say that in order for God to come into a person’s life,
they must respond to what is called the gospel. The gospel? This gospel
is otherwise known as good news. The good news is that if an unbeliever
repents (acknowledges and expresses a desire to turn from their sins)
to God the Father and believes in His Son Jesus Christ, then their life
will forever change at that moment.
I decided that I wanted this new life. So, I repented (God, I
acknowledge my sins and no longer want to continue committing them) and
repeated the following words about Jesus out loud after the pastor
verbally expressed them. I believe in Jesus, who:
●Pre-existed time as one of the members of the Trinity (one God in
three persons), the other two being God the Father and God the Holy
Spirit.
●Came to the earth (God come in the flesh), deity (having divine
nature), and took upon Him the form of a man, being born of a virgin.
●Lived a sinless life.
●Listened to and obeyed the directives of His Father.
●Went to the cross and paid for the penalty of and forgave (wiped away the debt) the sins of the whole world.
●Rose from the dead after three days, never to die again.
●Walked the earth for forty days in His glorified body, witnessing His resurrection.
●Ascended into heaven.
After which, he mentioned to me that according to Scripture,
whosoever repents and believes in Christ will receive another member of
the Trinity, this being the Holy Spirit, who’ll come inside their body
and reside. I followed his lead, but unfortunately, nothing happened. I
thought, shouldn’t I somehow be aware that God had come into my life?
Then, after a few moments, the pastor made a comment that surprised
me. He said that I was currently involved in an illicit relationship
with a married woman and needed to confess this sin to God the Father
and not continue with this involvement any longer. I admit that I was
taken aback by this declaration. How did he know about this? I confessed
this interaction as a sin and stated that this wouldn’t continue.
Immediately, I was filled with divine peace and joy that permeated my
whole being. God the Holy Spirit had come into my life.
When I told my fellow colleague about this God encounter, he
responded that, likewise, God had come into his life, albeit in a
different manner. He said that when he partakes of the elements of
communion at church, the bread becomes the literal body of Christ and
the wine becomes the literal blood of Christ. And the more frequently he
chose to receive communion, the more he’d experience an increase in
Christlikeness (i.e., a lessening of racial and national prejudices or
neighborhood resentments, and an increase in neighborliness, compassion,
patience, and forbearance [toward] others1). He was essentially saying
that partaking in the elements of communion resulted in him being
spiritually nourished by Christ’s literal body and blood. And this is
what would change his character into evidencing divine qualities toward
others.
He asked me what my thought about this particular teaching was. Well,
having been a member of this church, I was aware of this church
doctrine as being otherwise known as the doctrine of Transubstantiation.
This view states that when any member of this faith partakes in the
elements of communion, the bread turns into the literal body of Christ,
and the wine turns into the literal blood of Christ.
My response to him was that I believed there could be an alternative
interpretation concerning the purpose of partaking in communion.
According to this perspective, the bread symbolizes Christ’s body, and
the wine symbolizes His blood. For what purpose? We’ll find out as this
study progresses. I then proceeded to ask him the million-dollar
question.
Why does this church believe in the literal perspective of the elements of communion?
He said that their belief was based on a view held by most of the
early church fathers (these are Christian writers who lived during and
following the lifetime of the original apostles of Christ) whose
writings reflected the history, doctrines, and traditions of the early
church. I wondered if what he’d just told me had merit (basis, in fact).
I told him that I’d write a paper on this subject and when it was done,
I’d bring it to him so that he could read it over and provide comments.
With that said, some of the questions that this study will attempt to answer are the following.
Do the elements of the bread and wine actually become the literal body and blood of Christ at communion?
Did most of the early church fathers believe this to be the case?
Does the partaking of communion frequently cause the participant to
increase in godliness, thus exhibiting Christlike compassion, patience,
and forbearance toward others?
By the way, I’m not writing this study to give offense to what this
church might consider a cardinal doctrine of their faith. Like any
biblical topic, shouldn’t Scripture be the basis for such if it’s to be
substantiated? So, let’s see if this is indeed the case.
Did you know that this doctrinal belief isn’t just ascribed to this
faith? There are a few other religions that also believe in this literal
view.
Some of the names of these faiths are as follows.
The Catholic Churches are located throughout the world and have 1.345 billion members.
The Oriental Orthodox Churches are comprised of over sixty million
followers that are part of the World Council of Churches. Most live in
Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, and Armenia.
The Eastern Orthodox Churches purportedly has over two hundred twenty
million members. Most live in the former Soviet Union, parts of Europe,
the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
The Church of the East is comprised today of two separate, distinct
churches totaling about one million adherents. Many live in India.
The Anglican Church, known as the Church of England, has over
eighty-five million members worldwide. Their view on the elements of
communion differs from the Catholic position of Transubstantiation.
According to their theology, the literal body and blood of Christ are
received at the intake of the bread and wine for spiritual nourishment
and growth, but the bread and wine don’t literally become His body and
blood.
Many of my studies and books that I’ve written on various biblical
topics provide in-depth analyses and contrast from opposing views so
that a reader will understand why their church believes what they
espouse and why other churches believe differently. Hopefully, this kind
of teaching will incorporate accurate scriptural interpretation called
hermeneutics, which is based on an analysis of grammatical features and
historical background that will reinforce one’s belief system or provide
an alternative perspective.
Are you ready to join me in the search for truth in this crucial doctrinal subject?
I ask you, Lord, to help me in this endeavor. Provide me with your
insight utilizing the Word of God and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
We’ll begin by taking a look at what verses are used to substantiate
that the elements of communion become the literal body and blood of
Christ and, likewise, which ones are used to support the narrative that
the components of the Lord’s supper are figurative or symbolic of the
body and blood of Christ.
But before we do, you might be thinking, why should I study this at
all? What’s the fuss about whether the bread and wine turn into Christ’s
literal body and blood? I’ve left an article for you to read on this
sentiment.
PROTESTANT FRAY OVER [THE] MEANING OF BREAD, WINE
Lutherans vote this month for or against ‘full communion’ with four [faiths.]
Since the early days of Christendom, the meaning of the Lord’s Supper
- the ritual sharing in churches of bread and wine - has been a
battleground for the faithful. Martin Luther, disbelieving in a literal
transformation of bread and wine into the body of Jesus Christ, broke
with Rome partly over the Lord’s Supper. Protestants waged bloody wars
in Europe over whether Jesus was actually - or figuratively - present in
the Eucharist. In the theologically calmer 20th century, most
mainstream American Protestants have tended to view the Lord’s Supper,
one of the most sacred of the church rites, as a figurative or symbolic
act commemorating Jesus.
Yet [today,] a shift in that view of the Eucharist is under way. A
core group of liberal Protestants, many trying to reclaim 16th-century
reformer John Calvin’s ideas, are moving their denominations closer to
the position that Jesus is physically or “actively” present in the bread
and wine of communion. They want to find common sacred ground and,
through this rite, offer “meaning, mystery, and majesty.”The shift is
still limited to a scattering of theologians and pastors. But a push to
recognize the “real presence” of Christ in the eating and drinking of
the Eucharist is manifesting itself in more communion services, new
hymnals and prayer books, ecumenical dialogues, and workshops across the
Protestant spectrum. Though now small, the change could reopen one of
the deepest debates of the Reformation, having to do with the character
and nature of Christ Jesus. But it also represents a potential shift in
theology and worship that may echo into the 21st [century] and in time
move many Protestants closer to an evolving Roman Catholic view.
Later this month, for example, the largest Lutheran church in the US
will vote on whether to accept “full communion” with three other
Protestant churches. If accepted, ministers would be interchangeable
among the four faiths. But differing views of the Eucharist remain a
sticking point. Lutherans believe that Jesus is present in the bread and
wine. In order to join with the Lutherans, the other three, the
Presbyterians, the United Church of Christ (UCC), and the Reformed
Church of America, have been reexamining their [roots] and finding new
ground to share with Lutherans.“There’s a recovery of tradition,” says
Gabriel Fackre, a UCC theologian. “We can all affirm the real presence
of [Christ;] we just differ in the mode. We agree the Lord’s Supper is
not just a visual [aid] but represents the real presence in a sacrament
that ought to be celebrated every Sunday.”
Rediscovering sacraments
“[It’s fair to say there’s] a stronger push among mainstream
Protestants to find the presence of Christ in the Eucharist,” says
Geoffrey Wainwright of Duke University Divinity School. “The Catholics
are rediscovering the word, and the Protestants are rediscovering the
sacraments.” The new UCC hymnal includes a classic Catholic hymn by
Thomas Aquinas, stating that “underneath these forms lies your reality,”
a notion of Christ “in” the bread and wine. A new Methodist prayer
reads, “Pour out your Holy Spirit ... on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us, the body and blood of Christ.” The most recent
Presbyterian “book of worship” urges more liturgical services for the
Eucharist.
Other Protestants, from evangelicals to the mainstream, say the
evolving emphasis is misguided and smacks of betraying church history.
Much of the Protestant reformed tradition has held that Christ is purely
spiritual, can’t be evoked by a rite, and is not “containable” in a
finite ceremony. “As a conservative evangelical, I don’t believe in the
physical presence of Christ,” says Wayne Gruden of Trinity Evangelical
Divinity School in Deerfield, Ill. “I think this is a willingness to
sacrifice historical distinctiveness in our views in order to preserve
church structures in the face of declining membership.”
The Lord’s Supper is a form of ritual worship that dates back roughly
to AD 1000. The rite usually takes place after the sermon, involves a
sharing of bread and wine or juice, and derives from Jesus’ command to
his disciples before his crucifixion to “take” the bread and wine as his
body and blood. The ceremony can be modest or elaborate, depending [on]
the church tradition followed. Evangelical churches, and, until
recently, many mainline Protestant churches, [haven’t] stressed a formal
Eucharist rite. Protestant denominations traditionally require about
four communion services a year. Yet that number increased dramatically
in the 1980s and continues to rise today. [It’s] especially popular
among younger people as a ceremony that adds color and evokes mystery.
Advocates say it restores a sense of the sacred in churches that are
criticized for emphasizing a [social justice agenda] or that are “too
secular.”
A Presbyterian study shows 40 percent of its churches have monthly
communion. “When I was growing [up,] there was a sense that the more
frequently you celebrated communion, the less it meant,” says the Rev.
Gregg Mast of First Church, Albany, N.Y., a Dutch Reformed church.
“That’s changed. Now you see a number of churches moving to a weekly
ceremony.” For some critics, the Eucharist - as an answer to [the] lack
of spirituality in church - is a chimera. “T.S. Eliot used to say that
when the church stops hearing serious biblical [preaching,] it
compensates by elevating the mystical,” says one leading East Coast
theologian. “I think that’s what we are seeing.”
The taproot of today’s debate dates to a historic 16th-century
showdown between Martin Luther and Swiss reformer Huldrich Zwingli.
Luther, who earlier revolted against the Catholic idea of
“transubstantiation” in which Jesus Christ becomes bread and wine when
the right words are said, still felt that Christ was present in the Lord
’s Supper. To Zwingli, the spiritual nature of Christ was absolute and
above the possibility of entering material elements. Zwingli felt
communion was a symbolic act made meaningful by the subjective prayers
of the worshiper. The two reformers fought unstintingly at a meeting
called the Marburg Colloquy in 1529 - creating a gulf between
Protestants that helped spawn a war that itself took Zwingli’s life in
1531. (A typical exchange. Zwingli: “This is the [Bible] passage that
will break your neck.” Luther: “I don’t know what it is like in
Switzerland, but in [Germany] necks don’t break so easily.”)
In many ways, the Protestant world has since remained divided along
the Luther-Zwingli lines. Lutherans hold [to] the idea that the infinite
Christ can enter into the finite elements of the Eucharist. Many in the
reform wing feel that Jesus’ famous act of sharing the cup [isn’t] to
be taken literally. “Jesus didn’t mean the cup he was holding was itself
the new covenant,” says Dr. Gruden, “he meant it as a symbol.”
View from the pews
Studies show that in the pews, most believers, even many Catholics,
lean toward [the] notion that the bread and wine isn’t the real body of
Jesus Christ.[Yet, for some Protestants,] the views of Zwingli seem too
transcendent for the building of bridges with liturgical [advocates]
like Lutherans. “Pastors and theologians have a higher view of the
Lord’s Supper and are less Zwinglian now,” says Theodore [Gill,] a
spokesman for the Presbyterian Church. “[They’re] looking for ecumenical
answers that could link Presbyterians with Lutherans and even with the
Roman Catholic church eventually.”For that task, the upper Protestant
echelon is rediscovering John Calvin, who split the difference between
Luther and Zwingli on the question of the presence of Christ.
Whether Lutherans will later this month join a pact agreed to by the
three reform churches is unclear. “Is the finite capable of holding the
infinite? We say it is,” says John [Reumann] at the Lutheran Theological
Seminary in Philadelphia, speaking of the view that Christ is
objectively present in the bread and wine. “The other side disagrees.
And we say finally that theology matters.”2
Endnotes
1Jeff Vehige. “The Doctrine of Transubstantiation,” 2008, 10 April 2009
˂http://catholic-teaching.org/>.
2Robert Marquand. “Protestant Fray over Meaning of Bread, Wine,” THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR 11 January 2023
.
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New Covenant Ministries - Ministerios NuevoPacto - Harbor Church, Block Island
Muay Thai is a striking art that emphasizes
elbows, knees, clinches, and sweeps. Although regular training sessions
with a coach are necessary to hone your fighting ability, individual
conditioning and technical drills at home can be the difference between
winning and losing a fight. In this blog, we review five drills that can
be done at home with minimal or no equipment.
Shadowboxing
Shadowboxing is an incredibly
effective drill that can be utilized in some form for nearly every
martial art. When utilizing this drill for Muay Thai, be sure to throw
elbow and knee strikes along with practicing avoiding clinches as well
as sweeps. Shadowboxing can also allow you to work on your head
movement, parries, and other defensive movements. Completing three to
five rounds with each round lasting three to five minutes provides you
with ample time to work your endurance and technique.
Heavy Bag Work
Although requiring a heavy
bag, heavy bag work is a great way to improve power as well as
endurance. To work on power, repeatedly throw combinations as hard as
possible such as a jab-cross-hook-kick. For speed, attempt to throw
combinations as fast as possible while keeping your technique. The heavy
bag also allows you to work on accuracy. When throwing strikes such as a
teep kick or a high kick, attempt to throw your strikes at the
correlating point on someone's body. Lastly, the heavy bag is a great
tool that can be used to work on endurance. Similar to shadowboxing,
three to five rounds of three to five minutes of repeatedly striking the
heavy bag without stopping can greatly increase one's endurance when
fighting.
Footwork Drills
Footwork drills help to
increase one's offensive and defensive capabilities. Understanding how
to fight moving backward, forwards, or when angling off. Some at-home
drills to work on footwork include the cone and tape drill, lateral
movement drills, and the circle drills. The cone and tape drill includes
setting up a T-shape on the ground with tape and placing cones at the
ends of the T to mark the border of the drill. You should get in your
stance standing in the T and throw various strikes using the tape to
correct your footwork. Lateral movement drills are simple drills that
see the athlete moving side to side in their stance while angling off.
This drill is often utilized in tandem with shadowboxing. The circle
drill includes moving circularly around an object. Doing so while
throwing strikes allows you to learn how to effectively strike when
moving circularly. Each of these drills, although simple and somewhat
similar, improves footwork and your ability to fight while moving in
various directions.
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involved from @HealthGov: https://bit.ly/2lQ85f6
Teep and Knee drills
Knee and Teep drills
help to improve not just the techniques, but also your balance and
control. To perform this drill, continue to throw teep kicks or knees
toward a wall without falling backward. Doing so also allows you to
improve your understanding of range. When throwing, be sure to focus on
keeping proper posture and hip extension. When completing this drill,
throw fifty teep kicks and fifty knees with each leg to refine your
technique and improve your endurance.
Strength and Conditioning Drills
Simple
strength and conditioning drills can work wonders for your endurance.
Simple bodyweight exercises including jump squats, push-ups, sit-ups
with an elbow twist, and planks to explosive jumps can give you the
strength and stamina necessary for competitions. Further exercises
include burpees or interval sprints. Long runs also greatly increase
one's cardio.
Each of these drills are able to improve some
aspect of your muay thai skillset. All of these drills can be done with
minimal or no equipment. For more drills and techniques, check out the
course below.
Volleyball, a dynamic sport celebrated worldwide, owes much
of its essence to the humble yet essential component: the volleyball
net. Serving as the symbolic division between two competing teams, the
volleyball net has undergone significant evolution since the sport's
inception, becoming an integral part of its identity.
Historical Roots and Evolution
The origins of the volleyball net can be traced back to the late 19th
century when William G. Morgan invented volleyball as an indoor
alternative to basketball. Early iterations of the net were simplistic,
consisting of basic materials such as rope or woven fabric. The need for
standardised equipment, including the net, became apparent as the sport
gained popularity and formalized rules emerged.
Over the decades, advancements in materials and technology have
transformed volleyball nets into sophisticated apparatuses. Modern nets
are typically constructed from high-strength materials like nylon, which
offer durability and resistance to wear and tear. The introduction of
adjustable net systems has also enhanced versatility, allowing for quick
setup and precise adjustments to meet regulatory height standards.
Technical Specifications and Design
The dimensions and specifications of volleyball nets are meticulously
defined to ensure uniformity and fairness across competitions.
According to official regulations, the net must measure 32 feet (9.75
meters) in length and 39 inches (1 meter) in width, with a mesh size not
exceeding 3.94 inches (10 cm). Additionally, the net's height is 7 feet
11 5/8 inches (2.43 meters) for men's competitions and 7 feet 4 1/8
inches (2.24 meters) for women's competitions.
Beyond these standard measurements, volleyball nets feature design
elements to optimise performance and safety. Reinforced top and bottom
bands provide structural integrity and prevent sagging. At the same
time, side tapes enhance visibility and define the boundaries of the
court. Some nets incorporate tensioning devices and centre markings to
facilitate proper installation and alignment during setup.
Crucial Role in Gameplay
The volleyball net plays a multifaceted role in the game's dynamics,
influencing strategy, tactics, and player interactions. As the primary
obstacle between opposing teams, the net acts as a barrier players must
navigate to execute offensive and defensive maneuvers effectively.
From a defensive standpoint, players strive to block and deflect
incoming attacks at the net, disrupting the opponent's rhythm and
thwarting scoring opportunities. Conversely, on offence, skilled setters
utilise the net as a reference point to position the ball for powerful
spikes and precise placements, exploiting gaps in the opposing team's
defence.
Moreover, the net fosters a sense of anticipation and excitement,
heightening the intensity of rallies as players strive to outmaneuver
their opponents. The dramatic spectacle of players diving and leaping
over the net in pursuit of the ball exemplifies the athleticism and
competitiveness inherent in volleyball.
Conclusion
In essence, the volleyball net embodies the spirit of competition and
camaraderie that defines the sport of volleyball. From its humble
origins to its modern incarnation, the net has remained a steadfast
symbol of unity and division on the court. As volleyball continues to
captivate audiences worldwide, the significance of the net as a
fundamental element of the game remains unwavering, transcending
generations and cultures alike.
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Finding ways to simulate a competitive environment during a softball practice can be a tricky matter.
All
coaches know that hitters (and any other athlete) perform better under
pressure if they’re used to doing so. And giving players this experience
is a great way to boost their confidence when game day arrives and they
find themselves squaring off against the opposing team’s top pitcher.
But
with daily practices being such a low-stakes, low-intensity endeavor,
coaches often need to get creative if they’re to get their hitters to
engage and prepare to compete once their at-bats begin to matter.
While
this can be a daunting task for coaches, considering how hectic their
schedules and practice routines surely already are, letting a softball
coaching legend like Brittany Scarafiotti lay out the blueprint for
making practice drills competitive is the perfect solution.
Coach
Scarafiotti (who used to go by Coach Lee) has been a head softball
coach at various high schools in Texas since 2018. In 2023, Coach
Scarafiotti’s Keller ISD high school softball team was 6A Regional
Quarterfinalists and produced the first Playoff wins in school history.
Prior to the beginning of her successful coaching career, Coach
Scarafiotti was a former DI collegiate softball student-athlete for
Stephen F. Austin State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree
in 2014.
Coach Scarafiotti knows that running competitive
hitting drills helps build her players’ confidence at the plate, and has
been a major catalyst for their success. And this has not only helped
her high school teams win games, but getting her players used to
competing at practice has given those who’ve ascended to the collegiate
level a leg up on their peers, as well. Her ‘Competitive Drills and Pressure Practice’
course will provide you with all the info you need to turn your
practices into a space for cultivating competitive excellence.
Target Practice
One unconventional method that Coach Scarafiotti utilizes with her high school softball hitters is hitting Fungos often.
“Any
time an athlete can hit Fungo, I’m a big component of it,” Coach
Scarafiotti said. “It’s teaching them to see where they toss the ball,
good barrel control, still working good hitting mechanics. It’s just on a
smaller scale.”
One fungo-based drill that Coach Scarafiotti utilizes is what she calls the target practice drill. It
starts with a player who’s holding a Fungo and three softballs standing
along the first base line a few feet away from home plate while the
fielder is standing near third base.
The player
with the Fungo will then hit a ground ball to the fielder, who will
attempt to field it cleanly and throw it back to a net that the hitter
is standing in front of. That process will then repeat with the rest of
the softballs before the two players switch places.
This target drill can become competitive if there are multiple different teams (i.e., partners) taking part in the drill. In
this case, the entire thing can be timed, and the team that gets the
quickest time while fielding every ball and hitting every fungo cleanly
is the winner.
Another important part of making practice drills competitive and engaging is having a reward for the team that wins. Often
it can be the team that wins gets to skip conditioning or doesn’t have
to shag balls at the end of practice, but coaches can get creative with
whatever reward best suits them.
Beat the Runner
Another one of Coach Scarafiotti’s favorite drills with her team is what she calls the “Beat the Runner” drill.
For this drill, you will need to have players at every single
position in the field and another team ready to hit. From there, you’ll
have one hitter on a tee at home plate hit the ball. Regardless of where
they hit it or whether it’s fielded, that player is going to run around
all the bases.
The fielders will field the ball; and if
it’s hit in the infield they’ll throw it to first base, home, third
base, second base, first base, and home in hopes of doing so before the
runner reaches home. And if the ball is hit in the outfield then the
initial throw will go to home, then third base, second base, first base,
then back to home.
In other words, the goal is to throw the ball around the horn before the hitter gets back to home plate.
Ideally, you’ll have enough players to field two full teams and bat around the lineup,
then tally which team has the most points (the fielding team gets a
point if they get it around the horn in time, hitting team gets a point
if they make it to home).
But if you don’t have enough players then come up with some other creative way to tally and determine a winner and loser.
Your Count or Way Ahead
A third drill that Coach Scarafiotti uses to simulate high-pressure situations is the ‘Your Count or Way Ahead’ drill.
This is a practice with live at-bats between pitchers and hitters. When
it’s a ‘Your Count’ day, that means every at-bat begins as if the count
is 2-0. Therefore, pitchers need to throw a strike and batters are
looking for something to hit.
And if it’s a
‘Way Ahead’ day, that means every at-bat begins as if the count is 0-2.
That means the hitters must stay alive while the pitchers are trying to
get a strikeout.
The point of both versions of
this drill is that either the pitcher or hitter will be confronted with
what’s likely a losing situation. This will get them more comfortable when facing these situations in the actual game.
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Putting in golf can be incredibly frustrating.
The delicate nature of judging the green, coupled with the pressure to
execute a flawless stroke, often leads to intense frustration when putts
don't go as planned. Even the smallest mishaps in alignment or speed
can result in a missed putt, making it a source of frustration for
golfers at all levels.
Putting is difficult for several
reasons. Firstly, reading the greens accurately to determine the break
and speed of the putt is a highly challenging task. Additionally,
maintaining a smooth and consistent putting stroke, especially under
pressure, is crucial for success. The smallest error in alignment or
pace can result in the ball missing the hole, making it a mentally and
physically demanding aspect of the game. And because putting can seem so
hopeless for even the most seasoned golfers, the failure to perform on
the putting green can ruin an otherwise great day at the course.
There are plenty of putting lessons online where you can glean some solid tips on how to improve various aspects of your game. But there is only one Geoff Mangum.
Coach Geoff Mangum has spent over 25 years researching and
studying everything there is to know about putting. He is recognized as
the world's top expert in how the brain and vision work when targeting
and making movements in putting. His unique approach combines
traditional knowledge with modern science.
Mangum is one
of the top putting coaches in the world and has a very successful
website called puttingzone.com, where Mangum has been investigating the
science of how the brain and body operate to perform the “skills” of
putting for the first (and still the only time) in golf history,
revolutionizing the game that has long only taught ad hoc tips and
drills mostly for stroke alone, but without teaching how perceptions
form and guide movements and how “brains do ‘physics’ predicting and
executing reading, aiming, stroke, and touch”.
Coach Mangum’s ‘Reading Greens and Making Putts’
course discloses many tips that only someone who has dedicated their
life to putting can glean. Regardless of where on your golf journey you
are right now, the following bits of advice from Coach Mangum are
guaranteed to improve your game on the green.
Lag Putting
Knowing how to execute a proper lag putt on the
green can make a major difference on a scorecard. For anyone who doesn’t
know, A lag putt in golf is a long putt that a golfer attempts to get
close to the cup but doesn't expect to make. The goal is to get the ball
within a 3-foot circle around the cup when making the putt.
Coach Mangum has a rule of thumb to improve a golfer’s lag putts. He
recommends that the distance should always be to the fall line on the
high side of the hole, which should make for a relatively accurate
target to aim for when making the lag putt.
For
the rule of thumb, Coach Mangum first wants golfers to imagine the
general average slope grade of the section of the green you’re putting
on, which will get you some general percentage (for a rather steep
green, it would be about 4%).
Then you will want to count the number of military paces there is between where you ball in and the hole.
Finally, you will want to multiply that number by the percentage you
took earlier and will use that answer to find out how many inches you
want to aim up the fall line from the center of the hole.
While
this is going to involve a lot of guesswork if you’re able to estimate
nearly enough of all of these figures and execute the putt to that new
target, Coach Mangum is convinced you’ll produce a putt you’re proud
of.
Difficult Putts
When it comes to having to make a difficult put on a steep surface, the first read you will want to make as it pertains to making the putt is the surface flatness
of where the actual hole is located. Once you have a good idea of that,
that will provide a solid baseline of where to angle a putt.
After doing so, you will want to figure out where the green’s
contour lines are. Contour lines show the green's topography and slope,
which can help golfers determine their putting line because of how they
indicate the slope’s severity.
Essentially, you’ll be looking for a line where the steepness of the green changes.
Once you do so, you’ll figure out that the fall line (an imaginary line
that runs through the center of the cup and indicates the direction of a
straight downhill putt) is going to be exactly perpendicular to that contour line. This will help you line up where you should be aiming your difficult putt.
Closing Comments
While there are numerous calculations and reads that Coach Mangum referenced that can be beneficial to improving your putting, his bottom line is that putting well is always going to come down to touch.
What he means by this is that
having a consistent delivery speed (the firmness with which you’re
connecting your putter to the ball) when putting is what truly
differentiates between good and great golfers.
While
some of this is natural, any golfer can hone their touch by consciously
thinking about it while playing and spending a put of time on the
putting greens. In other words, the best way to become a better putter is to actually go out and practice your putting.
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