Best Outdoor Yard Games to Motivate Outdoor Play for Your Kids

We're all familiar with the common refrain exhorted by parents everywhere, "Go outside and play!' As a parent, you'll get a lot farther ahead with that request/demand/ fervent desire if you have the right equipment stocked for your kids. Stocking right will insure success when you send them outdoors to play yard games--you might want to join them!

You need appealing, age-appropriate outdoor yard games, toys and equipment. Properly stocked, you will be helping your kids master skills they'll use forever. Mastery of skills leads to confidence building and self-esteem. Getting the right playground balls will really set you on a roll here.

Younger kids need to work on both small and large motor skills. It's a good ideal to have different types of balls, in a variety of sizes and textures. Variety impels exploration.

The right sized balls for your children will help them master the art of throwing and catching with precision. Balls that are worthy of your serious consideration include: textured rubber balls, inflatable beach ball, tennis ball, kick balls, volleyballs. This list could go on forever but these are the key ones you should consider stocking in order to create enthusiasm about outdoor yard games in your own yard.

Grade schoolers are beginning to check out 'real' sports. Foursquare only begins its popularity at this point. In some cases, adults are still playing this outdoor yard game classic--with a new ferocity never seen as children.

Badminton, volleyball and even bocce ball are good considerations to make your outdoor yard games more enticing for this age group.

It's also a good time to think about adding a basketball hoop and playing some pick-up games each evening. It's a great way to check in with your child about their day, become alerted to any impending issues or dramas before they escalate and simple de-stress from a busy day--works for both the adult and the child.

Middle schoolers will likely be getting more seriously into organized recreational or classic sports like soccer or softball but you can help here as well. Games like croquet, badminton and that new European sensation, Speedminton, are very popular with this age group.

One of the best middle school parties our kids attended last year included a night time game of Speedminton, with glow in the dark 'speeders' (shuttlecocks) and glow in the dark 'war paint' worn by the opposing teams. The kids had a blast and since it was in a neighbor's back yard--many of the locals came by to cheer and get in the act. Now some of the adults are playing too. This kind of outdoor game play can be infectious good fun.

When you let your imagination start roaming and stock up on the right toys, "Go outside and play!" can take on new dimensions as outdoor yard games move into the 21st Century. These yard games may be classic but they're keeping up with the times without question.

Go outside and play! Get the outdoor yard games that will make your back yard the neighborhood favorite!

Middle schoolers are getting so into Speedminton! Click on the link to find out what you may be missing!

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Best Kites for Your Outdoor Adventure

On a bright sunny day, doesn't matter what season, there is nothing, and I mean nothing, like a beautiful kite soaring against a bright blue sky. It's just the best feeling in the world. The wind can be kicking it or just gusting gently and the effect is amazing, either way.

The beauty is more special because getting your kite at that elevation meant a special running start and good cardio workout; it is an accomplishment.

To help you have the best kite day as an outdoor adventure, I thought it would be helpful to give you some background about all the different kites that are 'out there' so you can pick the best kites for your skill level and artistic flair not to mention your fitness level.

My list of the top contenders for 'best kites' for your outdoor adventure:

1. Single liners: Diamond and delta are two single line kites that are fairly well known and popular because of their ease of use. They are known as "dowel sode" in the Far East because their shape emulates a Japanese sail shape that bears that title.

2. Sled kites: Sled kites usually have inflatable spars and are taking center stage on the beach and especially at kite festivals worldwide. You'll see many varieties-extra spars, vents, cutouts and more. The most attractive feature of these kites is their easy transportability and simple set up.

3. Diamond kites: In some folks' minds, diamond is synonymous with 'kite.' Diamond kites are considered by many to be 'idiot proof.' They have a good wind range but aren't capable of flying at very steep line angles.

4. Barn Door Kite: This is a 3-spar kite that's quite popular in Australia. Larger ones fly very well without a tail in light to moderate winds, the likely reason for their increasing appeal.

5. Rokkaku Kite: Sometime nicknamed, the "Rok", it has to be the Japanese kite that is most copied by Westerners. They are dramatic looking but most people that love this kite prefer getting up to altitudes of 400 feet in heaveir air,not using them in kite-fighting per popular stories of late. These kites are so stable that the tail is purely decorative, except perhaps in powerful winds.

6. Delta Kite: One of our particular favorites-this is the best kite for beginners. It's easy to launch, flies well even in a light breeze and will almost always sit at a good steep line angle. Deltas can be a bit less dependable in high gusts but in light winds or smoother breezes, they rank high!

There are so many awesome kites out there, it's hard to choose. Having some of this background might make it easier. Be sure to pick the best kite for your skill level and most likely wind intensity and you are to sure to have an outdoor adventure that soars! Go fly your kite and you know what? Your kite will be the best one ever!

Let's go fly a kite! Can you get yours off the ground and soaring, along with your spirits?

Find the best kites for your outdoor adventure right here! <==Just Click and soar to new heights!

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History of Playground Design

With playgrounds we recognize both intelligent design and evolution as supportive of each other in the development of new ideas. We often find ways to marry form and function. Initially, playgrounds were developed by landscape architects looking to create public spaces that would bring communities together. Artists moved in to exert their influence and in the process more creative forms for playgrounds began to be explored.

So how did we get here? Today's traditional "post and platform" design wasn't always the norm.

By 1900 playgrounds appeared in major American cities and consisted of a sandbox and a cubist metal climbing apparatus known as a "gymnasium". By 1912 New York City decided these gymnasiums were unsafe and were removed from all parks. By the 1930's landscape architects took a serious interest in playground design and sculptor Isamu Noguchi introduced abstract concepts that helped give the modern playground a push forward.

After WW II the Baby Boom demanded more playgrounds. Most postwar urban playgrounds were designed for combined use between schools and parks. But throughout the fifties playground designers were split into two camps: recreational movement (fitness) and art. Play was a structured affair. The idea of unstructured play had not yet hit home. Safety surfacing development was slow, at best. The playground was limited to a sandbox, see-saw, slide and swings. During the 1950's attention was given to the "handicapped", ironically the result of wounded warriors from WWII and Korea arriving at the playgrounds with their children. Noguchi's famous 1952 design for the United Nations was rejected by Robert Moses and touched off a heated debate. The design was revolutionary but not understood and it never got built.

By the 1960's play components started to link together. Composite structures were being explored along with massive climbing structures made of wood and stone. The idea was to make playgrounds interesting and draw kids to them or else they would be back out on the streets - presumably up to no good. Not all playgrounds were post and platform. Adventure Playground in Central Park is a wonderful look back to this transitional period where art and play came together. Water moves down lengthy channels and collects in a basin where it drains - no standing water. There is sand, water, and climbing structures. Every Landscape Architect should make a pilgrimage to this historic park!

By the 1970's we entered the Age of Litigation. Suddenly the City of New York and Chicago found themselves in multimillion dollar injury settlements and parks began to close. Property values plummeted if they had playground equipment on them. Some NYC coops closed down. New York City eliminated see-saws and they remain on the blacklist. Insurance company premiums were so high that some cities decided to self-insure. By the 1980's this debacle started to calm down when the CPSC formed guidelines and NPSI (National Playground Safety Institute) set up a certification program for playground designers. Safety-engineered playgrounds followed the new recommendations or guidelines and now some states are mandating CPSC code.

Playgrounds came back stronger with creative climbers that encouraged children to use different muscles. Slides had enclosures at the top and higher sidewalls. It got safer in a hurry - it had to. By and large playgrounds became better and better and by 2004 what we had was a playground so safe it was hard to say "no way." At then end of the day we still get broken bones but they usually are with children who fall 2-3 feet or trip when running. Their bones are weaker and let's face it, there was always one or two kids in the class who were prone to wearing a cast. You can't blame the playground

Isamu Noguchi may be the father of the Natureground. His concepts are in use today: molded forms of earth create hills, slopes, curves from which playground equipment can be positioned around. Research shows when playground equipment is placed in a natural setting around trees, plantings, berms, boulders children use them more often and for longer periods. A playground dropped into a box or rectangle looks more institutional and is less appealing. Even children seem to possess an aesthetic sense and we designers notice these things.

We design consultants have to keep up with all these developments because it's our job to know these things. Sometimes we are the ones who bring things up to the manufacturers and they do listen to us. We might not get any credit but we have a hand in shaping some of the things you see out there.

John Graziano, CPSI, is a playground design consultant in the New York area. You can see more of his work at http://www.newyorkplaygrounds.com/

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Image Stabilized Binoculars Explained

I used to think that a pair of binoculars was just a pair of binoculars. I thought that the more expensive models would give higher magnification and clearer images. I never really found that binoculars were very comfortable to use neither for observing wildlife nor for trying to spot the planets. This was before I discovered image stabilization technology. When I came to use a pair of image stabilized binoculars there was a bulky section in the centre which did not correspond with the old style binoculars I knew. This turned out to be the heart of the IS or Image Stabilization system. The result was obvious when I used the binoculars, clear focussed steady images, the binoculars were not at all tiring to use and were an absolute delight for the birdwatching I enjoy.

Of all the brands of optical instruments on the market one of the most prestigious is Canon. When I first read Canon IS Binoculars, I thought it was an advertising slogan like "Toys R Us".Canon is at the forefront of optical technology and never more so than with image stabilisation technology. The Canon IS Binocular range incorporates image stabilisation and this feature makes an enormous difference in use. This brand is my all time favorite for really good binoculars.

Image shake

When an optical device is hand-held it is impossible to avoid a certain amount of image shake. This problem is accentuated when the instrument is used in a moving vehicle, a boat or a plane. The normal solution is to mount the instrument on a tripod; this is fine for astronomical telescopes and in some circumstances for cameras. If the telescope or camera is not firmly fixed then the images seen or recorded will be out of focus.

Portability

One of the most important features of binoculars is that you can take them anywhere, they are great for observing sports events, wildlife as well as distant natural objects such as mountains, planets and stars. It is possible to tripod mount a pair of binoculars but it means that the ease of transport is reduced and the ease of rapid use as well. Anyone out hiking who wants to quickly observe some natural wildlife with as clearly focused a view as possible does not want to have to mount the binoculars on a tripod before getting a clear view.

In a moving vehicle or a boat the tripod is not a solution, the movement and vibration will be transmitted to the binoculars and you will get a blurred image. The more powerful the magnification the more noticeable will be the problem of shake. High powered binoculars are great for observing the Moon, and the stereoscopic effect of the binoculars will give a more realistic view than a telescope, however if the image is not sharp the observations will be less than satisfactory and tiring for the eyes.

The image stabilizer system

The image stabilizer system developed by Canon gets rid of these problems in quite an awesome way. It works marvellously whether you are observing the Moon or a humming-bird from a short distance.

Binoculars are small and portable because they contain a series of reflective prisms as well as the lenses which magnify the images. The Canon stabilisation system uses advanced electronic motion sensors which vary the angle of the prisms to compensate for any movement, a high-speed micro computer incorporated into the binoculars monitors the process continually and the result is a very reliable and stable image with fantastic definition. The system takes into account movement in any direction and means that whatever you are doing be it observing an elephant from a moving jeep, following the gold medal winner at the athletics track, following a soaring eagle in flight, or observing Saturn from the top of a mountain, the image is always absolutely sharp and in focus

Pietre O Donnell is a writer with an engineering background who is a keen hiker, birdwatcher and amateur astronomer. You can check out his latest website by clicking here He explains in clear language the features to look out for when buying binoculars, what the technical specifications mean and what is the background to his favorite brand Canon Binoculars their history and technological innovations and much more.

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Photographer Sol Neelman Loves Weird Sports and Sharing Them With Us

If you thought you'd seen everything, you probably have not seen the photos from photographer Sol Neelman who travels the globe in search of the world's strangest competitions. There are many weird sports out there that you may never have dreamed existed and now, thanks to Neelman, you can learn more about them through photos.

Here are 10 of the most unusual and exciting weird sports Neelman has to share:

The Kaiju Big Battel is a mix between Japanese anime and professional wrestling that shows off the participants skills in a very humorous way.
Have you ever heard of Underwater Hockey? It's sometimes called "octopush" and instead of pushing the puck around an ice-rink, players are pushing it around on the floor of a pool.
When you combine gymnastics, capoeira and soccer to the sport of volleyball, you get Bossaball equipped with trampolines on both ends of the playing court.
Snow Polo is an amazing game similar to the traditional Polo but players are on top of horses in a snow-covered arena. The horses wear special shoes to help with traction.
The Pillow Fight League really puts on a show when these women gather together, go wild and fight each other with pillows. What an interesting way to cut loose and let out some anger.
Surfing is not just for humans anymore. Both small and large dogs are getting in on some of the action when they go Dog Surfing. In this sport, the dogs surf alone or with their owners and it's one heck of a sport.
One of the "Arctic Winter Games" includes an event called Pole Push in which two teams grab hold of the opposite end of a pole and each team tries to push the other team to the outside of the ring.
Vancouver holds an unusual competition called the Ultimate Firefighter Competition in which the participants compete in a variety of events to see who is the best and fastest.
Soccer is an amazing game that's fun to play or watch but here's something I bet you never thought you'd see. Blind Soccer is one exciting and powerful game that is played by four blind athletes and a goalkeeper who is visually impaired or sighted competing in a game of soccer in a field that has a wall around it.
Racing in a kayak is exciting but when the kayak is make from a giant pumpkin that can weigh as much as 800 pounds, a whole new sport is born called the Giant Pumpkin Kayaking and it's one exciting race.

These are just a few of the amazing pictures that photographer Sol Neelman has to share when it comes to weird or unusual sports. His photography is amazing and the sports themselves are intriguing. I can't wait to see more.

Sports Zone Media is your #1 source for all things sports. Here you will find news, articles, updates and more on your favorite sports topics, professional teams, youth coaching, high school sports and health/nutrition.

Lisa Mason has been writing professionally since 1998 with a specialty in Internet content. A youth coach with a passion for a variety of sports, she founded Sports Zone Media to combine her love of sports and writing.

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Shuffleboard - History Is Repeating Itself With This Great Game!

While the full history of Shuffleboard is hazy, here's what we do know: it was played throughout Europe over 500 years ago. It was a gambling game for King Henry VIII who forbid commoners to get in the game at all. British records reveal that Henry paid off shuffleboard debts as 'royal expenses' in 1532 so he may have been elitist but at least he paid up when losing.

In the old days, Shuffleboard was also known as Shovelboard, Sioelen and Shove Ha'penny. Very British sounding indeed.

Due to its past associations with cruise ships and retirement homes and because it doesn't promote great physical fitness, the game has come to be associated as a 'geezer' game but that is rapidly changing in Century 21.

Sometimes people like to get together and play just for fun. Sometimes they don't want a full physical workout but a relaxing game to enjoy with friends and family in person. Away from their iPads and computers. Shuffleboard fits this bill beautifully.

In traditional deck shuffleboard, a player uses a stick, known as a tang, to push weighted disks, known as cues or biscuits along a wooden or plastic surface. The idea is to place the cue within the triangular scoring zone at the distant end of the court. In the old days, this was actually called "sending the biscuit" but propriety forbids me to reveal some of the terms now used for this maneuver. We have both "clean" and not so clean versions, depending on whether we are playing en famille or adults only.

The pinnacle of the triangle score zone points towards the shooter and is divided horizontally into 4 smaller zones, each zone representing a certain point value. If the cue lands within the triangular 'tip,' without touching any borders of the triangles, the player receives 10 points. If the cue lands in the second tier of the triangle, it is worth 8 points and the lower tier is worth seven points.

A shooter can actually lose points if the cue land in the trapezoidal '10 off' section. A game is played in frames of 10 with individual players or teams taking turns. A great feature of shuffleboard is that the game can accommodate a number of players.

The basic winning concept is to get the opponent team's cues out of the positive score zone and increase one's own score in the process. It can get surprisingly vicious, but in a good way.

The game is catching on--sort of a retro-game revisited. It's definitely not limited to the old folks anymore. There are also now table top versions making it into so-called 'man caves' all over the place.

There's a reason for these renewed incarnations--shuffleboard is awesome fun! Everyone loves to play and it is inclusive--just about everyone can do it. Are you in?

In the mood to push the biscuit? Whatever you call it, get ready to have fun when you play Shuffleboard!

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Top Hand Position Can Make All The Difference for the Lacrosse Goalie

Eye. Thumb. Ball. He told me.

The young goalie had read a book on the internet about top hand position for the lacrosse goalie. "Eye. Thumb. Ball. Eye. Thumb. Ball." he repeated.

The stick was in front of his face and about a third of the goalie stick was covering his face. Not good when we're trying to cover as much surface area as we can.

While I appreciate the eye, thumb, ball rule, I'd like to add to it just a little bit. The purpose of this eye, thumb, ball idea was to help young goalies get their hands up. However, what I have seen over the years is that this hand position is a bit high for most goalies and it brings the stick too much in front of the face of the goalie.

I would like to modify the eye, thumb, ball rule to shoulder, hand, ball. This cue reminds the goalie to keep the hand as high as the shoulder first, which is what most goalies need. Without coaching most lacrosse goalies hold their hands way too low and in towards their chest. This is not optimal as the head of the stick is covering the body. We want to maximize the coverage of the surface area of the goal by moving the hand out towards the stick side which...

... we do by moving the hand in front of the shoulder. I find that this is a very simple cue that all goalies understand. Keep the hand as high as the shoulder and then keep the hand in front of the shoulder. "High and in front." is the short way to say it.

By keeping the shoulder high and in front of the shoulder I find that the goalie has the correct height of the hand position and the proper distance to the outside so that the stick isn't covering the face or shoulder.

The one exception I find is with very tall goalies. For tall goalies they can lower their top hand position if, by having the hand shoulder high, the top of the stick extends above the cross bar. This is wasted coverage, and although the stick is covering the body a bit by moving the hand down, they are now able to shorten the distance to low shots and are able to make more saves.

For short goalies, they should not try and raise their hands higher than their shoulder to try and cover the upper portion of the net because they are compromising their stance too much. Young goalies, especially ones who are growing, should not compromise stance to cover the upper portion of the cage. Be patient, you will grow young Jedi. And when you grow you will finally have the height to go along with the great movement to the ball that you have honed over the last many years.

So remember, "Shoulder high and in front of the shoulder" will give you a great base to move to the ball effectively.

Jonathan Edwards is "The Goalie Guru" to thousands of lacrosse goalies, parents and coaches. His website http://www.lacrossegoalietips.com/ is read in over twenty-two countries and you can subscribe to his free lacrosse goalie newsletter there. So for the latest tips and tricks to be the best lacrosse goalie you can be go to http://www.lacrossegoalietips.com/

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