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Ten Tips for writing a blog post

2008-03-06T11:25:00.001+08:00

The following post on tips for writing a blog was submitted by Lyndon from Flockblog who in his email to problogger with it described it as a simple ‘back to basics’ kind of post. Thanks Lyndon.

Here are ten tips that help me with my blog writing.

1. Make your opinion known
2. Link like crazy
3. Write less
4. 250 Words is enough
5. Make Headlines snappy
6. Write with passion
7. Include Bullet point lists
8. Edit your post
9. Make your posts easy to scan
10. Be consistent with your style
11. Litter the post with keywords

1. Make your opinion known
People like blogs, they like blogs because they are written by people and not corporations. People want to know what people think, crazy as it sounds they want to know what you think. Tell them exactly what you think using the least amount of words possible.

2. Link like crazy.
Support your post with links to other web pages that are contextual to your post.

3. Write Less
Give the maximum amount of information with the least amount of words. Time is finite and people are infinitely busy. Blast your knowledge into the reader at the speed of sound.

4. 250 is enough
A long post is easier to forget and harder to get into. A short post is the opposite.

5. Make Headlines snappy
Contain your whole argument in your headline. Check out National newspapers to see how they do it.

6. Include bullet point lists
We all love lists, it structures the info in an easily digestible format.

7. Make your posts easy to scan
Every few paragraphs insert a sub heading. Make sentences and headlines short and to the point.

8. Be consistent with your style
People like to know what to expect, once you have settled on a style for your audience stick to it.

9. Litter the post with Keywords.
Think about what keywords people would use to search for your post and include them in the body text and headers. make sure the keyword placement is natural and does not seem out of place.

10. Edit your post
Good writing is in the editing. Before you hit the submit button, re-read your post and cut out the stuff that you don’t need.

from www.problogger.net

Copywriting Businesses - How Can I Get Started?

2008-03-06T11:17:00.001+08:00

Do you have the training and skills needed for copywriting?

Are you looking for a way to get your foot in the door?

Will you have what it takes to succeed with your copywriting businesses?

For many, these three questions drive them day in and day out to become the person that people demand time with. Still for others, the business aspects of copywriting have just been easy to get. Others still have no idea even how to start effective copywriting businesses. Where are you?

First of all, as with any type of business, you need to have the training and knowledge needed. Donâ€™t fool yourself into thinking you can just wing it. This is not a high school term paper that needs proofed or a college essay you write the day before itâ€™s due. Copywriting is a business, where people stand to make money from the words you place on the pages, on the ads you help develop, on the e-books you write. Having an effective knowledge basis is crucial to success.

From this point, it is a matter of establishing yourself. You will need to get your foot in the door somehow. It could be as simple as calling friends that you know have websites, browsing websites that offer opportunities, or even placing ads throughout the web showcasing your talents. All it takes is one person to get you moving in the right direction. But, when you do get your first client, whether you are freelancing or not, you will need to make it count. Give them the best you can, ask them for a reference or to pass your name along.

You can also avoid the freelance world and find a copy writing company to work for. These companies can be found throughout the internet and often are large enough to hire on many people who can show that they are worth it.

No matter how you plan to work with copywriting businesses, you can be sure that if your work is of value, you will find a position, freelance or not, waiting for you. Website owners, advertisers, and other people are always looking for a new, fresh face with fresh ideas and an open mind to work with.

By: Niall Cinneide

Discover Your Creativity

2008-03-06T11:06:00.000+08:00

You have a choice. Do you want to be constructive and positive in a unique way? Or do you want to be destructive and negative in a unique way? History has proven the futility of the latter goal. So let's focus on your unique capacity to better yourself and those around you.

In western music there are 12 notes per each octave on the keyboard. Only 12 notes. From these simple 12 notes come the various musical works of Mozart, Brahms, Rossini, Beethoven, Donizetti, Bach, Strauss, Wagner, Puccini, Verde, Gershwin, Gilbert & Sullivan, Rogers & Hammerstein. The Beetles, Merle Haggard, Marti Robbins, Louis Armstrong, Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Pointer Sisters and countless other unique performers, composers, and musical forms. What a variety from 12 basic notes!

As a growing copywriter and Cyberspace Marketeer, I often seek new ideas and ways of doing stuff.. But before this process can happen, I have to pay my dues. I do this through research over the Internet. I get out and socialize, during work time and play time. Only afterwards am I able to discover and lay out creative, unique solutions.

When I am given a set of parameters, I must intensely focus upon these, and then forget about them. Within a week a unique idea entered into my consciousness. Several weeks ago, I was consulting with a new client. He had Hummingbirds as part of his logo. He needed a slogan. He is in the restaurant trade. How can I tie the concept of hummingbirds in with food service? Over time we discovered, Every Bite - Hummingbird Light. Now he has a powerful slogan. We created a good headline featuring his current offering. We listed bulleted benefits (yes, a tiny hummingbird was used as each bullet). And a great slogan. His publicity pulls very well. He is unique in a positive way.

Logo. This is usually a unique graphic. Sometimes it can be a simple choice of font face, relative sizes, and placement. But a killer graphic logo is best. The logo reflects your whole, unique business philosophy and image. It has to be so crystal clear the public recognizes it instantly. The Colonel's bucket. The golden Arches. CocaCola Bottle. No words are needed. Never Copy. You may Modify. Create New is best. Focus on this task. Then let it go. You might â€œdreamâ€ the solution. Perfect your own unique logo.

Headline. Vital to keeping interest of your target market. Going further with the above Hummingbirds copy we told basically what it was, Sunday Evening Roast. Then, right below that line, we painted a picture.

Imagine yourself dining with your special someone on a secluded terrace. Your cozy wooden table and chair - your temporary sanctuary from a hard plastic world. Your candle gently flickers with each passing breeze. You are enjoying the intimate lightness of Hummingbirds™ unparalleled Sunday Roast.
Needs a little fine tuning - but it works.

Bulleted Benefits. Continuing down
Sumptuous Starter-dishes
Mouth-Watering Main Course-dishes
Seductive Desert-Your choice
Free Glass of Red, RosÃ©, White
(Enjoy wines a step beyond - We taste and recommend)

Slogan (modified) follows.
Your Traditional British Roast -
Every Bite - Hummingbird Light

After that comes phone number, location, directions etc.

However, at the last minute we decided to add in this area.
Twiggy 2-Course (price)
Henry VIII 3-Course (price)

Our target market was the British couple or foursome looking for a great Sunday Evening Roast.

Over the years I have collected aids and studied various areas of marketing. Long ago I got copy of active verbs. Recently I got list of Hypnotic Words and successful headlines used over the years. Also a list how different colors effect emotions. These are all great references when I am stumped or want to make my copy even better. Some of the â€œgreatsâ€ which come to mind are Claude Hopkins, Jay Abraham, Ted Nicholas. Actually, some of the best ideas can be found on current Internet sales letters. Occasionally I find the rare good headline in SPAM sent me. Yes, I even study some SPAM.

I have discovered my target market. They need my copywriting skills...the under capitalized, open-minded, serious entrepreneur. Nobody in my immediate vicinity practices principles of good copywriting. I am unique. I am creative. My clients are unique. They seek creative solutions. They are fun to work with. Our creative ideas keep amplifying each others.

No matter what profession(s) you are into at this time, develop your uniqueness, discover your creativity, dream your solutions. The more you practice, the easier it becomes. By the way, I had no idea what I would write about this month. I kept thinking and thinking. Then - here it is. Now to polish it up 24 hours from now. 828 words now and finally edited down to 794. Robert Leggett serves individuals and business owners globally. He helps them grow their business and enrich their lifestyles. Article Archives: (http://www.CyberspaceMarketeer.com) Products & Services: (http://www.EarnYourLiving.com)

By: Robert Leggett

Business Writing Checklist

2008-03-06T10:48:00.000+08:00

You're ready to do it. You've accepted an assignment from your
boss, agreed to put together a sales presentation, or were asked
to write a report about last week's meeting results. Where do
you begin? Before you venture off into the land of writing for
your job, be prepared with the items on this checklist.

1. Adjust your attitude. Writing doesn't have to be like drawing
blood. In fact, many times in business writing, much of the work
is already done for you. Your job may be as simple as rewording
or organizing information that you already have.

2. Quiet. No matter how much you like your music or AM radio
talk show it is best to work in a quiet spot. Even if you work
in a noisy place like a newsroom or a cube farm, reduce the
amount of noise around you so you can concentrate better. Wear
earplugs if it helps you!

3. Your thinking cap! Colored markers, pencils, or a large easel
pad may help you with brainstorming. Or, you may find it easier
to work with a team first to generate ideas and then have one
person write the first draft. Whatever works for you, make sure
your brain is in creative mode, not editing/criticism mode.
Creativity comes first; editing and refining later.

4. Eliminate distractions.

Turn off the phone, close your office door, and don't check your
email every 10 seconds. Have your assistant tell everyone you're
in a meeting and you can't see him or her unless they're dying.
For at least 1 hour, work with no interruptions.

5. Computer, pen, scratchpad, or other tools you like.

You may prefer writing longhand; it can help you connect with
your thoughts and emotions. Or, you may be quicker at typing
directly on the computer. Either way, don't expect a perfect
draft the first time. You will be scribbling a lot (or cutting
and pasting) at first.

6. Contact names and phone numbers, etc.

Be sure you have handy a list of people you might need to talk
with to verify information. For example, if you are writing an
article for your company newsletter, you may need quotes from
the CEO.

7. Dictionary and Thesaurus. The ones that come with the word
processor are not sufficient. Get yourself some good old
fashioned books, or a dictionary hesaurus on CD.

8. Company style guide. Some companies are very strict about
their internal or external communications. They may have rules
about style (different accepted spellings, for example) so that
everybody who reads your company's literature or correspondence
receives a consistent message about your company. You may lose
credibility with your readers if everything sounds like it came
from XYZ Corporation, except the letter you are writing.

9. The right atmosphere. If your office doesn't cut it, find a
better place. The library may work. A conference room might
provide more space for you to pace as you're dictating your
masterpiece. If you're writing about your company's
manufacturing plant, it might help you to actually be there
while you're writing.

10. Writing is rewriting. Remember that nobody, even
Shakespeare, gets it on the first try. Your first draft is
exactly that - a rough copy, a sketch. Think of it as the
equivalent of a doodle when artists paint. They don't start with
the canvas - and neither should you. Unlike many other jobs, in
writing, it's okay to make mistakes as you go along. Your final
draft will be vastly different from the few sentence fragments
you begin with.

Using the checklist items will set you up for a successful
writing session. Have on hand as many of these items as you can
each and every time you sit down to write something -- whether
it's a letter to your customers or an annual report. By keeping
all the tools you need in one place, your writing session will
go smoother and will be easier on your stress level than without
them.

About the Author

Linda Elizabeth Alexander is a business writer and marketing
consultant based in Longmont, Colorado, USA. Improve your
writing skills at work! Subscribe to her FREE ezine. Write to
the Point at lalexander@write2thepointcom.com or visit
http://www.write2thepointcom.com/articles.html.

Continuing research

2008-03-06T03:18:00.001+08:00

Meteorology is a relatively young science and the study of tornadoes even more so. Although studied for about 140 years and intensively for around 60 years, there are still aspects of tornadoes which remain a mystery.[75] Scientists do have a fairly good idea of the development of thunderstorms and mesocyclones, and the meteorological conditions conducive to their formation; however, the step from supercell (or other respective formative processes) to tornadogenesis and predicting tornadic vs. non-tornadic mesocyclones is not yet well understood and is the focus of much research.

Also under study are the low-level mesocyclone and the stretching of low-level vorticity which tightens into a tornado, namely, what are the processes and what is the relationship of the environment and the convective storm. Intense tornadoes have been observed forming simultaneously with a mesocyclone aloft (rather than succeeding mesocyclogenesis) and some intense tornadoes have occurred without a mid-level mesocyclone. In particular, the role of downdrafts, particularly the rear-flank downdraft, and the role of baroclinic boundaries, are intense areas of study.

Reliably predicting tornado intensity and longevity remains a problem, as do details affecting characteristics of a tornado during its life cycle and tornadolysis. Other rich areas of research are tornadoes associated with mesovortices within linear thunderstorm structures and within tropical cyclones.[76]

Scientists still do not know the exact mechanisms by which most tornadoes form, and occasional tornadoes still strike without a tornado warning being issued, especially in under-developed countries. Analysis of observations including both stationary and mobile (surface and aerial) in-situ and remote sensing (passive and active) instruments generates new ideas and refines existing notions. Numerical modeling also provides new insights as observations and new discoveries are integrated into our physical understanding and then tested in computer simulations which validate new notions as well as produce entirely new theoretical findings, many of which are otherwise unattainable. Importantly, development of new observation technologies and installation of finer spatial and temporal resolution observation networks have aided increased understanding and better predictions.

Research programs, including field projects such as VORTEX, deployment of TOTO (the TOtable Tornado Observatory), Doppler On Wheels (DOW), and dozens of other programs, hope to solve many questions that still plague meteorologists.[36] Universities, government agencies such as the National Severe Storms Laboratory, private-sector meteorologists, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research are some of the organizations very active in research; with various sources of funding, both private and public, a chief entity being the National Science Foundation.

Extracted from Wikipedia

Tonardo Detection

2008-03-06T03:16:00.001+08:00

A Doppler radar image indicating the likely presence of a tornado over DeLand, Florida. Green colors indicate areas where the precipitation is moving towards the radar dish, while red areas are moving away. In this case the radar is in the bottom right corner of the image. Strong mesocyclones show up as adjacent areas of bright green and bright red, and usually indicate an imminent or occurring tornado. When these bright colors are one against the other on a radar display when in association with rotation, it is called a Tornado vortex signature.
A Doppler radar image indicating the likely presence of a tornado over DeLand, Florida. Green colors indicate areas where the precipitation is moving towards the radar dish, while red areas are moving away. In this case the radar is in the bottom right corner of the image. Strong mesocyclones show up as adjacent areas of bright green and bright red, and usually indicate an imminent or occurring tornado. When these bright colors are one against the other on a radar display when in association with rotation, it is called a Tornado vortex signature.

Rigorous attempts to warn of tornadoes began in the United States in the mid-20th century. Before the 1950s, the only method of detecting a tornado was by someone seeing it on the ground. Often, news of a tornado would reach a local weather office after the storm.

However, with the advent of weather radar, areas near a local office could get advance warning of severe weather. The first public tornado warnings were issued in 1950 and the first tornado watches and convective outlooks in 1952. In 1953 it was confirmed that hook echoes are associated with tornadoes. By recognizing these radar signatures, meteorologists could detect thunderstorms likely producing tornadoes from dozens of miles away.[59]

Storm spotting

In the mid 1970s, the US National Weather Service (NWS) increased its efforts to train storm spotters to spot key features of storms which indicate severe hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes, as well as damage itself and flash flooding. The program was called Skywarn, and the spotters were local sheriff's deputies, state troopers, firefighters, ambulance drivers, amateur radio operators, civil defense (now emergency management) spotters, storm chasers, and ordinary citizens. When severe weather is anticipated, local weather service offices request that these spotters look out for severe weather, and report any tornadoes immediately, so that the office can issue a timely warning.

Usually spotters are trained by the NWS on behalf of their respective organizations, and report to them. The organizations activate public warning systems such as sirens and the Emergency Alert System, and forward the report to the NWS.[60] There are more than 230,000 trained Skywarn weather spotters across the United States.[61]

In Canada, a similar network of volunteer weather watchers, called Canwarn, helps spot severe weather, with more than 1,000 volunteers.[62] In Europe, several nations are organizing spotter networks under the auspices of Skywarn Europe[63] and the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) has maintained a network of spotters in the United Kingdom since the 1970s.

Storm spotters are needed because radar systems such as NEXRAD do not detect a tornado; only indications of one. Radar may give a warning before there is any visual evidence of a tornado or imminent tornado, but ground truth from an observer can either verify the threat or determine that a tornado is not imminent. The spotter's ability to see what radar cannot is especially important as distance from the radar site increases, because the radar beam becomes progressively higher in altitude further away from the radar, chiefly due to curvature of Earth, and the beam also spreads out. Therefore, when far from a radar, only high in the storm is observed and the important areas are not sampled, and data resolution also suffers. Also, some meteorological situations leading to tornadogenesis are not readily detectable by radar and on occasion tornado development may occur more quickly than radar can complete a scan and send the batch of data.

Visual evidence
A rotating wall cloud with rear flank downdraft clear slot evident to its left rear.
A rotating wall cloud with rear flank downdraft clear slot evident to its left rear.

Storm spotters are trained to discern whether a storm seen from a distance is a supercell. They typically look to its rear, the main region of updraft and inflow. Under the updraft is a rain-free base, and the next step of tornadogenesis is the formation of a rotating wall cloud. The vast majority of intense tornadoes occur with a wall cloud on the backside of a supercell.[43]

Evidence of a supercell comes from the storm's shape and structure, and cloud tower features such as a hard and vigorous updraft tower, a persistent, large overshooting top, a hard anvil (especially when backsheared against strong upper level winds), and a corkscrew look or striations. Under the storm and closer to where most tornadoes are found, evidence of a supercell and likelihood of a tornado includes inflow bands (particularly when curved) such as a "beaver tail", and other clues such as strength of inflow, warmth and moistness of inflow air, how outflow- or inflow-dominant a storm appears, and how far is the front flank precipitation core from the wall cloud. Tornadogenesis is most likely at the interface of the updraft and front flank downdraft, and requires a balance between the outflow and inflow.[15]

Only wall clouds that rotate spawn tornadoes, and usually precede the tornado by five to thirty minutes. Rotating wall clouds are the visual manifestation of a mesocyclone. Barring a low-level boundary, tornadogenesis is highly unlikely unless a rear flank downdraft occurs, which is usually visibly evidenced by evaporation of cloud adjacent to a corner of a wall cloud. A tornado often occurs as this happens or shortly after; first, a funnel cloud dips and in nearly all cases by the time it reaches halfway down, a surface swirl has already developed, signifying a tornado is on the ground before condensation connects the surface circulation to the storm. Tornadoes may also occur without wall clouds, under flanking lines, and on the leading edge. Spotters watch all areas of a storm, and the cloud base and surface.[64]

Radar

Today, most developed countries have a network of weather radars, which remains the main method of detecting signatures likely associated with tornadoes. In the United States and a few other countries, Doppler radar stations are used. These devices measure the velocity and radial direction (towards or away from the radar) of the winds in a storm, and so can spot evidence of rotation in storms from more than a hundred miles (160 km) away.

Also, most populated areas on Earth are now visible from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), which aid in the nowcasting of tornadic storms.[62]
Extracted from Wikipedia

Tornado climatology and prediction

2008-03-06T03:14:00.003+08:00

The United States has the most tornadoes of any country, about four times more than estimated in all of Europe, not including waterspouts.[45] This is mostly due to the unique geography of the continent. North America is a relatively large continent that extends from the tropical south into arctic areas, and has no major east-west mountain range to block air flow between these two areas. In the middle latitudes, where most tornadoes of the world occur, the Rocky Mountains block moisture and atmospheric flow, allowing drier air at mid-levels of the troposphere, and causing cyclogenesis downstream to the east of the mountains. The desert Southwest also feeds drier air and the dry line, while the Gulf of Mexico fuels abundant low-level moisture. This unique topography allows for many collisions of warm and cold air, the conditions that breed strong, long-lived storms many times a year. A large portion of these tornadoes form in an area of the central United States known as Tornado Alley.[4] This area extends into Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairie Provinces. Strong tornadoes also occasionally occur in northern Mexico.

The United States averages about 1,200 tornadoes per year. The Netherlands has the highest average number of recorded tornadoes per area of any country (more than 20, or 0.0013 per sq mi (0.00048 per km²), annually), followed by the UK (around 33, or 0.00035 per sq mi (0.00013 per km²), per year), but most are small and cause minor damage. In absolute number of events, ignoring area, the UK experiences more tornadoes than any other European country, excluding waterspouts.[45]

Bangladesh and surrounding areas of eastern India suffer from tornadoes of equal severity to those in the US, and occurring more frequently than anywhere else in the world, but such events are under-reported due to the scarcity of media coverage in third-world countries. Tornados kill about 179 people per year in Bangladesh, many more than in the US. This is due to high population density, poor quality of construction, lack of tornado safety knowledge, and other factors.[46] Other areas of the world that have frequent tornadoes include South Africa, parts of Argentina, Paraguay, and southern Brazil, as well as portions of Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and far eastern Asia.[5]

Tornadoes are most common in spring and least common in winter.[8] Since autumn and spring are transitional periods (warm to cool and vice versa) there are more chances of cooler air meeting with warmer air, resulting in thunderstorms. Tornadoes can also be caused by landfalling tropical cyclones, which tend to occur in the late summer and autumn. But favorable conditions can occur at any time of the year.

Tornado occurrence is highly dependent on the time of day, because of solar heating.[47] Worldwide, most tornadoes occur in the late afternoon, between 3 and 7 pm local time, with a peak near 5 pm.[48][49][50][51][52] However, destructive tornadoes can occur at any time of day. The Gainesville Tornado of 1936, one of the deadliest tornadoes in history, occurred at 8:30 am local time.[8]

Associations to climate and climate change

Associations to various climate and environmental trends exist. For example, an increase in the sea surface temperature of source region (e.g. Gulf of Mexico and Mediterranean Sea) increases moisture content, potentially fueling an increase in severe weather and tornado activity, particularly in the cool season.[53]

Although insufficient support exists to make conclusions, evidence does suggest that the Southern Oscillation is weakly correlated with some changes in tornado activity; which vary by season and region as well as whether the ENSO phase is that of El Niño or La Niña.[54]

Climatic shifts affect tornadoes via teleconnections in shifting the jet stream and the larger weather patterns. The climate-tornado link is confounded by the forces affecting larger patterns and by the local, nuanced nature of tornadoes. Although it is reasonable that the climate change phenomenon of global warming may affect tornado activity, any such effect is not yet identifiable due to the complexity, local nature of the storms, and database quality issues. Any effect would vary by region.[55]

Prediction
Probabilistic maps issued by the Storm Prediction Center during the heart of the April 6-8, 2006 Tornado Outbreak. The top map indicates the risk of general severe weather (including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes), while the bottom map specifically shows the percent risk of a tornado forming within 25 miles (40 km) of any point within the enclosed area. The hashed area on the bottom map indicates a 10% or greater risk of an F2 or stronger tornado forming within 25 miles (40 km) of a point.
Probabilistic maps issued by the Storm Prediction Center during the heart of the April 6-8, 2006 Tornado Outbreak. The top map indicates the risk of general severe weather (including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes), while the bottom map specifically shows the percent risk of a tornado forming within 25 miles (40 km) of any point within the enclosed area. The hashed area on the bottom map indicates a 10% or greater risk of an F2 or stronger tornado forming within 25 miles (40 km) of a point.

Weather forecasting is handled regionally by many national and international agencies. For the most part, they are also in charge of the prediction of conditions conducive to tornado development.

Australia

Severe thunderstorm warnings are provided to Australia by the Bureau of Meteorology. The country is in the middle of an upgrade to Doppler radar systems, with their first benchmark of installing six new radars reached in July 2006.[56]

Europe

The European Union founded a project in 2002 called the European Severe Storms virtual Laboratory, or ESSL, which is meant to fully document tornado occurrence across the continent. The ESTOFEX (European Storm Forecast Experiment) arm of the project also issues one day forecasts for severe weather likelihood.[57] In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, an organization known as TorDACH collects information regarding tornadoes, waterspouts, and downbursts from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. A secondary goal is collect all severe weather information. This project is meant to fully document severe weather activity in these three countries.[58]

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) makes experimental predictions. The Met Office provides official forecasts for the UK.

United States

In the United States, generalized severe weather predictions are issued by the Storm Prediction Center, based in Norman, Oklahoma. For the next one, two, and three days, respectively, they will issue categorical and probabilistic forecasts of severe weather, including tornadoes. There is also a more general forecast issued for the four to eight day period. Just prior to the expected onset of an organized severe weather threat, SPC issues severe thunderstorm and tornado watches, in collaboration with local National Weather Service offices. Warnings are issued by local National Weather Service offices when a severe thunderstorm or tornado is occurring or imminent.

Other areas

In Japan, predictions and study of tornadoes in Japan are handled by the Japan Meteorological Agency. In Canada, weather forecasts and warnings, including tornadoes, are produced by the Meteorological Service of Canada, a division of Environment Canada.

Extracted from Wikipedia

Tornado intensity and damage

2008-03-06T03:11:00.000+08:00

Tornadoes vary in intensity regardless of shape, size, and location. While strong tornadoes are typically larger than weak tornadoes, there are several instances of F5 tornadoes with damage paths less than 500 feet (150 m) wide. [1]

[edit] History of tornado intensity measurements

For many years, before the advent of home movies and doppler radar, scientists had nothing more than educated guesses as to the speed of the winds in a tornado. The only evidence indicating the wind speeds found in the tornado was the damage left behind by tornadoes which struck populated areas. Some thought they might exceed 500 mph, and perhaps even be supersonic.
A diagram of the Fujita scale as it relates to the Beaufort scale and the Mach number scale.
A diagram of the Fujita scale as it relates to the Beaufort scale and the Mach number scale.

In 1971, Dr. Tetsuya Theodore Fujita introduced the idea for a scale of tornado winds. With the help of colleague Allen Pearson, he created and introduced what came to be called the Fujita scale in 1973. This is what the F stands for in F1, F2, etc. The scale was based on a relationship between the Beaufort scale and the Mach number scale; the low end of F1 on his scale corresponds to the low end of B12 on the Beaufort scale, and the low end of F12 corresponds to the speed of sound at sea level, or Mach 1. In practice, tornadoes are only assigned categories F0 through F5.

The TORRO scale, created by the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO), was developed in 1974, and published a year later. The TORRO scale has 12 levels, which cover a broader range with tighter graduations. It ranges from a T0 for extremely weak tornadoes to T11 for the most powerful known tornadoes. T0-T1 roughly correspond to F0, T2-T3 to F1, and so on. While T10+ would be approximately an F5, the highest tornado rated to date on the TORRO scale was a T8.[2][3] There is some debate as to the usefulness of the TORRO scale over the Fujita scale—while it may be helpful for statistical purposes to have more levels of tornado strength, often the damage caused could be created by a large range of winds, rendering it hard to narrow the tornado down to a single TORRO scale category.

Research conducted in the late 1980s and 1990s suggested that, even with the implication of the Fujita scale, tornado winds were notoriously overestimated, especially in significant and violent tornadoes. Because of this, in 2006, the American Meteorological Society introduced the Enhanced Fujita Scale, to help assign realistic wind speeds to tornado damage. The scientists specifically designed the scale so that a tornado assessed on the Fujita scale and the Enhanced Fujita scale would receive the same ranking. The EF-scale is more specific in detailing the degrees of damage on different types of structures for a given wind speed. While the F-scale goes from F0 to F12 in theory, the EF-scale is capped at EF5, which is defined as "winds ≥ 200 mph (≥ 320 km/h)".[4] In the United States, the Enhanced Fujita scale went into effect on February 2, 2007 for tornado damage assessments and the Fujita scale is no longer used.
An example of F0 damage. The only significant damage to structures in this picture was caused by falling tree branches. Even though well-built structures are typically unscathed by F0 tornadoes, falling trees and tree branches can injure and kill people, even inside a sturdy structure.
An example of F0 damage. The only significant damage to structures in this picture was caused by falling tree branches. Even though well-built structures are typically unscathed by F0 tornadoes, falling trees and tree branches can injure and kill people, even inside a sturdy structure.
An example of F1 damage. F1 tornadoes cause major damage to mobile homes and automobiles, and can cause minor structural damage to well-constructed homes. This particular mobile home appears to be a double-wide, and it was still moved off its foundations, with its roof badly damaged. A mobile home or car is a very poor shelter, even during severe thunderstorms which do not contain a tornado.
An example of F1 damage. F1 tornadoes cause major damage to mobile homes and automobiles, and can cause minor structural damage to well-constructed homes. This particular mobile home appears to be a double-wide, and it was still moved off its foundations, with its roof badly damaged. A mobile home or car is a very poor shelter, even during severe thunderstorms which do not contain a tornado.
An example of F2 damage. At this intensity, tornadoes have a more significant impact on well-built structures, damaging roofs, collapsing walls, and generating large amounts of flying debris. This wood-frame home was unroofed, with many outer walls collapsed or destroyed.
An example of F2 damage. At this intensity, tornadoes have a more significant impact on well-built structures, damaging roofs, collapsing walls, and generating large amounts of flying debris. This wood-frame home was unroofed, with many outer walls collapsed or destroyed.
An example of F3 damage. Here, the roof and some inner walls of this brick building have been demolished. While taking shelter in a basement, cellar, or inner room improves your odds of surviving a tornado drastically, occasionally even this is not enough. F3 and stronger tornadoes only account for about 6% of all tornadoes in the United States, and yet since 1980 they have accounted for more than 75% of tornado-related deaths.
An example of F3 damage. Here, the roof and some inner walls of this brick building have been demolished. While taking shelter in a basement, cellar, or inner room improves your odds of surviving a tornado drastically, occasionally even this is not enough. F3 and stronger tornadoes only account for about 6% of all tornadoes in the United States, and yet since 1980 they have accounted for more than 75% of tornado-related deaths.
An example of F4 damage. Above-ground structures are almost completely vulnerable to F4 tornadoes, which level well-built structures, toss heavy vehicles through the air, and uproot trees, turning them into flying missiles.
An example of F4 damage. Above-ground structures are almost completely vulnerable to F4 tornadoes, which level well-built structures, toss heavy vehicles through the air, and uproot trees, turning them into flying missiles.
An example of F5 damage. These tornadoes cause incredible destruction, obliterating and sweeping away almost anything in their paths. Fortunately, they are extremely rare, and often only a small portion of the tornado's path contains F5 damage. While these tornadoes often destroy everything in their path, it is possible to survive. Some survived a direct hit by the Jarrell Tornado by lying down in a bathtub as the tornado swept the rest of the house away.
An example of F5 damage. These tornadoes cause incredible destruction, obliterating and sweeping away almost anything in their paths. Fortunately, they are extremely rare, and often only a small portion of the tornado's path contains F5 damage.[5] While these tornadoes often destroy everything in their path, it is possible to survive. Some survived a direct hit by the Jarrell Tornado by lying down in a bathtub as the tornado swept the rest of the house away.[6]

The first observation which confirmed that F5 winds could occur happened on April 26, 1991. A tornado near Red Rock, Oklahoma was monitored by scientists using a portable Doppler radar, an experimental radar device that measures wind speed. Near the tornado's peak intensity, they recorded a wind speed of 115-120 m/s (257-268 mph or 414-432 km/h). Though the portable radar had uncertainty of ± 5-10 m/s (± 11-22 mph or ± 18-36 km/h), this reading was probably within the F5 range, confirming that tornadoes were capable of violent winds found nowhere else on earth.

Eight years later, during the Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak of May 3, 1999, another scientific team was monitoring an exceptionally violent tornado (one which would eventually kill 36 people in the area near Moore, Oklahoma). At about 7 pm, they recorded one measurement of 301±20 mph (484±32 km/h) [7], 50 mph faster than the previous record. Though this reading is just short of the theoretical F6 rating, the measurement was taken more than 100 feet in the air, where winds are typically stronger than at the surface. In rating tornadoes, only surface wind speeds, or the wind speeds indicated by the damage resulting from the tornado, are taken into account. Also, in practice, the F6 rating is not used.

While scientists have long theorized that extremely low pressures might occur in the center of tornadoes, there were no measurements to confirm it. A few home barometers had survived close passes by tornadoes, recording values as low as 24 in Hg (810 mbar), but these measurements were highly uncertain.[8] However, on June 24, 2003, a group of researchers successfully dropped devices called "turtles" into an F4 tornado near Manchester, South Dakota, one of which measured a pressure drop of more than 100 mbar as the tornado passed directly overhead.[9] Still, tornadoes are widely varied, so meteorologists are still conducting research to determine if these values are typical or not.

[edit] Typical intensity

Further information: Fujita scale

In the United States, F0 and F1 (T0 through T3) tornadoes account for 80% of all tornadoes. The rate of occurrence drops off quickly with increasing strength—violent tornadoes (stronger than F4, T8), account for less than 1% of all tornado reports.[10] Worldwide, strong tornadoes account for an even smaller percentage of total tornadoes. Violent tornadoes are extremely rare outside of the United States, Canada and Bangladesh.

F5 tornadoes are exceptionally rare, occurring on average once every few years. The last confirmed F5 tornado anywhere in the world was the Elie, Manitoba Tornado in Canada, on June 22, 2007. Before that, the last confirmed F5 was the Moore, Oklahoma tornado, which killed 36 people on May 3, 1999.[1] The first, and last, known United States recording of an EF5 tornado occurred in Greensburg, Kansas on May 4, 2007.

[edit] Typical damage

Further information: Fujita scale

As stated in the lede section, a typical tornado has winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) or less, is approximately 250 feet (75 meters) across, and travels a mile (1.6 km) or so before dissipating. However, in reality, there is no such thing as a typical tornado.

Two tornadoes that look almost exactly the same can produce drastically different effects. Also, two tornadoes which look very different can produce similar damage. This is due to the fact that tornadoes form by several different mechanisms, and also that they follow a life cycle which causes the same tornado to change in appearance over time. People in the path of a tornado should never attempt to determine its strength as it approaches. Between 1997 and 2005 in the United States, 38 people were killed by F1 tornadoes, and 3 were killed by F0 tornadoes.[11] Even the weakest tornado can kill.

* Weak tornadoes

As stated in the previous section, an overwhelming majority of tornadoes are designated F1 or F0, also known as "weak" tornadoes. However, weak is a relative term for tornadoes, as even these can cause significant damage. F0 and F1 tornadoes are typically short-lived—since 1980 almost 75% of tornadoes rated weak stayed on the ground for one mile or less.[1] However, in this time, they can cause both damage and fatalities.

F0 (T0-T1) damage is characterized by superficial damage to structures and vegetation. Well-built structures are typically unscathed, sometimes sustaining broken windows, with minor damage to roofs and chimneys. Billboards and large signs can be knocked down. Trees may have large branches broken off, and can be uprooted if they have shallow roots.

F1 (T2-T3) damage has caused significantly more fatalities than that caused by F0 tornadoes. At this level, damage to mobile homes and other temporary structures becomes significant, and cars and other vehicles can be pushed off the road. Permanent structures can suffer major damage to their roofs.

* Significant tornadoes

F2 (T4-T5) tornadoes are the lower end of "significant", and yet are stronger than most tropical cyclones (though tropical cyclones affect a much larger area). Well-built structures can suffer serious damage, including roof loss and collapse of outer walls. Mobile homes, however, are almost totally destroyed. Vehicles can be lifted off the ground, and lighter objects can become small missiles, causing damage outside of the tornado's main path. Wooded areas will have a large percentage of their trees snapped or uprooted.

F3 (T6-T7) damage is a serious risk to life and limb. Few parts of affected buildings are left standing; well-built structures lose outer and inner walls. Cars are lifted off the ground, and can be tossed through the air for some distance. Wooded areas will suffer almost total loss of vegetation.

* Violent tornadoes

F4 (T8-T9) damage typically results in a total loss of the affected structure. Well-built homes are reduced to a short pile of debris. Even heavy vehicles, including airplanes, trains, and large trucks, can become airborne, with other large projectiles being flung some distance.

F5 (T10+) damage is almost always total. F5 tornadoes demolish well-built houses and sweep the foundation clean. The official description of this damage states that "incredible phenomena will occur". The damage they cause is an extreme hazard to life and limb—since 1950 in the United States, only 50 tornadoes (0.1% of all reports) have been designated F5, and yet these have been responsible for more than 1000 deaths and 11,000 injuries (21.5% and 13.6%, respectively).[1] In recorded history, F5 tornadoes have performed awesome displays of power, including twisting skyscrapers, levelling entire communities, and stripping asphalt from the ground.

Extracted from wikipedia.

Definitions

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A tornado near Seymour, Texas.

Tornado
A tornado is defined by the Glossary of Meteorology as "a violently rotating column of air, in contact with the ground, either pendant from a cumuliform cloud or underneath a cumuliform cloud, and often (but not always) visible as a funnel cloud..."[6] In practice, for a vortex to be classified as a tornado, it must be in contact with both the ground and the cloud base. Scientists have not yet created a complete definition of the word; for example, there is disagreement as to whether separate touchdowns of the same funnel constitute separate tornadoes.[3]

Condensation funnel
A tornado is not necessarily visible; however, the intense low pressure caused by the high wind speeds (see Bernoulli's principle) and rapid rotation (due to cyclostrophic balance) usually causes water vapor in the air to condense into a visible condensation funnel.[4] The tornado is the vortex of wind, not the condensation cloud.
A funnel cloud is a visible condensation funnel with no associated strong winds at the surface. Not all funnel clouds evolve into a tornado. However, many tornadoes are preceded by a funnel cloud. Most tornadoes produce strong winds at the surface while the visible funnel is still above the ground, so it is difficult to discern the difference between a funnel cloud and a tornado from a distance.[3]

Tornado family
Occasionally, a single storm will produce more than one tornado, either simultaneously or in succession. Multiple tornadoes produced by the same storm are referred to as a tornado family. [7]

Tornado outbreak
Occasionally, several tornadoes are spawned from the same large-scale storm system. If there is no break in activity, this is considered a tornado outbreak, although there are various definitions. A period of several successive days with tornado outbreaks in the same general area (spawned by multiple weather systems) is a tornado outbreak sequence, occasionally called an extended tornado outbreak.[6][8][9]

Extracted from Wikipedia

Types of Tornadoes

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A multiple-vortex tornado outside of Dallas, Texas on April 2, 1957.

True tornadoes

Multiple vortex tornado
A multiple vortex tornado is a type of tornado in which two or more columns of spinning air rotate around a common center. Multivortex structure can occur in almost any circulation, but is very often observed in intense tornadoes.

Satellite tornado
A satellite tornado is a term for a weaker tornado which forms very near a large, strong tornado contained within the same mesocyclone. The satellite tornado may appear to "orbit" the larger tornado (hence the name), giving the appearance of one, large multi-vortex tornado. However, a satellite tornado is a distinct funnel, and is much smaller than the main funnel.[3]

A waterspout near the Florida Keys.
A waterspout near the Florida Keys.

Waterspout
A waterspout is officially defined by the US National Weather Service simply as a tornado over water. However, researchers typically distinguish "fair weather" waterspouts from tornadic waterspouts.

* Fair weather waterspouts are less severe but far more common, and are similar in dynamics to dust devils and landspouts.[13] They form at the bases of cumulus congestus cloud towers in tropical and semitropical waters.[13] They have relatively weak winds, smooth laminar walls, and typically travel very slowly, if at all.[13] They occur most commonly in the Florida Keys.[14]
* Tornadic waterspouts are more literally "tornadoes over water". They can form over water like mesocyclonic tornadoes, or be a land tornado which crosses onto water. Since they form from severe thunderstorms and can be far more intense, faster, and longer-lived than fair weather waterspouts, they are considered far more dangerous.

A landspout near North Platte, Nebraska on May 22, 2004.
A landspout near North Platte, Nebraska on May 22, 2004.

Landspout
Landspout is an unofficial term for a tornado not associated with a mesocyclone. The name stems from their characterization as essentially a "fair weather waterspout on land". Waterspouts and landspouts share many defining characteristics, including relative weakness, short lifespan, and a small, smooth condensation funnel which often does not reach the ground. Landspouts also create a distinctively laminar cloud of dust when they make contact with the ground, due to their differing mechanics from true mesoform tornadoes. Though usually weaker than classic tornadoes, they still produce strong winds and may cause serious damage.[3][15]

Tornado-like circulations

Gustnado
A gustnado (gust front tornado) is a small, vertical swirl associated with a gust front or downburst. Because they are technically not associated with the cloud base, there is some debate as to whether or not gustnadoes are actually tornadoes. They are formed when fast moving cold, dry outflow air from a thunderstorm is blown through a mass of stationary, warm, moist air near the outflow boundary, resulting in a "rolling" effect (often exemplified through a roll cloud). If low level wind shear is strong enough, the rotation can be turned horizontally (or diagonally) and make contact with the ground. The result is a gustnado.[3][16] They usually cause small areas of heavier rotational wind damage among areas of straight-line wind damage. It is also worth noting that since they are absent of any Coriolis influence from a mesocyclone, they seem to be alternately cyclonic and anticyclonic without preference.

Dust devil in Johnsonville, South Carolina.
Dust devil in Johnsonville, South Carolina.

Dust devil
A dust devil resembles a tornado in that it is a vertical swirling column of air. However, they form under clear skies and are rarely as strong as even the weakest tornadoes. They form when a strong convective updraft is formed near the ground on a hot day. If there is enough low level wind shear, the column of hot, rising air can develop a small cyclonic motion that can be seen near the ground. They are not considered tornadoes because they form during fair weather and are not associated with any actual cloud. However, they can, on occasion, result in major damage, especially in arid areas.[17][18]

Winter Waterspout
A winter waterspout, also known as a snow devil, an icespout, an ice devil or a snowspout, is an extremely rare meteorological phenomenon in which a vortex resembling that of a waterspout forms under the base of a snow squall.

Fire whirl
Tornado-like circulations occasionally occur near large, intense wildfires and are called fire whirls. They are not considered tornadoes except in the rare case where they connect to a pyrocumulus or other cumuliform cloud above. Fire whirls usually are not as strong as tornadoes associated with thunderstorms. However, they can produce significant damage.[8]

Cold air vortex
A cold air vortex or shear funnel is a tiny, harmless funnel cloud which occasionally forms underneath or on the sides of normal cumuliform clouds, rarely causing any winds at ground-level.[19] Their genesis and mechanics are poorly understood, as they are quite rare, short lived, and hard to spot (due to their non-rotational nature and small size).
Extracted from Wikipedia

Characteristics of Tornadoes

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A wedge tornado, nearly a mile wide.
A rope tornado in its dissipating stage.

Shape

Most tornadoes take on the appearance of a narrow funnel, a few hundred yards (a few hundred meters) across, with a small cloud of debris near the ground. However, tornadoes can appear in many shapes and sizes.

Small, relatively weak landspouts may only be visible as a small swirl of dust on the ground. While the condensation funnel may not extend all the way to the ground, if associated surface winds are greater than 40 mph (64 km/h), the circulation is considered a tornado.[15] Large single-vortex tornadoes can look like large wedges stuck into the ground, and so are known as wedge tornadoes or wedges. A wedge can be so wide that it appears to be a block of dark clouds, wider than the distance from the cloud base to the ground. Even experienced storm observers may not be able to tell the difference between a low-hanging cloud and a wedge tornado from a distance.[20]

Tornadoes in the dissipating stage can resemble narrow tubes or ropes, and often curl or twist into complex shapes. These tornadoes are said to be roping out, or becoming a rope tornado. Multiple-vortex tornadoes can appear as a family of swirls circling a common center, or may be completely obscured by condensation, dust, and debris, appearing to be a single funnel.[21]

In addition to these appearances, tornadoes may be obscured completely by rain or dust. These tornadoes are especially dangerous, as even experienced meteorologists might not spot them.[17]

Size

In the United States, on average tornadoes are around 500 feet (150 m) across, and stay on the ground for 5 miles (8 km).[17] Yet, there is an extremely wide range of tornado sizes, even for typical tornadoes. Weak tornadoes, or strong but dissipating tornadoes, can be exceedingly narrow, sometimes only a few feet across. A tornado was once reported to have a damage path only 7 feet (2 m) long.[17] On the other end of the spectrum, wedge tornadoes can have a damage path a mile (1.6 km) wide or more. A tornado that affected Hallam, Nebraska on May 22, 2004 was at one point 2.5 miles (4 km) wide at the ground.[2]

In terms of path length, the Tri-State Tornado, which affected parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana on March 18, 1925, was officially on the ground continuously for 219 miles (352 km). Many tornadoes which appear to have path lengths of 100 miles (160 km) or longer are actually a family of tornadoes which have formed in quick succession; however, there is no substantial evidence that this occurred in the case of the Tri-State Tornado.[8] In fact, modern reanalysis of the path suggests that the tornado began 15 miles (24 km) further west than previously thought.[22]

Appearance

Tornadoes can have a wide range of colors, depending on the environment in which they form. Those which form in a dry environment can be nearly invisible, marked only by swirling debris at the base of the funnel. Condensation funnels which pick up little or no debris can be gray to white. While travelling over a body of water as a waterspout, they can turn very white or even blue. Funnels which move slowly, ingesting a lot of debris and dirt, are usually darker, taking on the color of debris. Tornadoes in the Great Plains can turn red because of the reddish tint of the soil, and tornadoes in mountainous areas can travel over snow-covered ground, turning brilliantly white.[17]
Photographs of the Waurika, Oklahoma tornado of May 30, 1976, taken at nearly the same time by two photographers. In the top picture, the tornado is front-lit, with the sun behind the east-facing camera, so the funnel appears nearly white. In the lower image, where the camera is facing the opposite direction, the tornado is back-lit, with the sun behind the clouds.
Photographs of the Waurika, Oklahoma tornado of May 30, 1976, taken at nearly the same time by two photographers. In the top picture, the tornado is front-lit, with the sun behind the east-facing camera, so the funnel appears nearly white. In the lower image, where the camera is facing the opposite direction, the tornado is back-lit, with the sun behind the clouds.[23]

Lighting conditions are a major factor in the appearance of a tornado. A tornado which is "back-lit" (viewed with the sun behind it) appears very dark. The same tornado, viewed with the sun at the observer's back, may appear gray or brilliant white. Tornadoes which occur near the time of sunset can be many different colors, appearing in hues of yellow, orange, and pink.[24][12]

Dust kicked up by the winds of the parent thunderstorm, heavy rain and hail, and the darkness of night are all factors which can reduce the visibility of tornadoes. Tornadoes occurring in these conditions are especially dangerous, since only weather radar observations, or possibly the sound of an approaching tornado, serve as any warning to those in the storm's path. Fortunately most significant tornadoes form under the storm's rain-free base, or the area under the thunderstorm's updraft, where there is little or no rain. In addition, most tornadoes occur in the late afternoon, when the bright sun can penetrate even the thickest clouds.[8] Also, night-time tornadoes are often illuminated by frequent lightning.

There is mounting evidence, including Doppler On Wheels mobile radar images and eyewitness accounts, that most tornadoes have a clear, calm center with extremely low pressure, akin to the eye of tropical cyclones. This area would be clear (possibly full of dust), have relatively light winds, and be very dark, since the light would be blocked by swirling debris on the outside of the tornado. Lightning is said to be the source of illumination for those who claim to have seen the interior of a tornado.[25][26][27]

Rotation

Tornadoes normally rotate cyclonically in direction (counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere, clockwise in the southern). While large-scale storms always rotate cyclonically due to the Coriolis effect, thunderstorms and tornadoes are so small that the direct influence of Coriolis effect is inconsequential, as indicated by their large Rossby numbers. Supercells and tornadoes rotate cyclonically in numerical simulations even when the Coriolis effect is neglected.[28][29] Low-level mesocyclones and tornadoes owe their rotation to complex processes within the supercell and ambient environment.[30]

Approximately 1% of tornadoes rotate in an anticyclonic direction. Typically, only landspouts and gustnados rotate anticyclonically, and usually only those which form on the anticyclonic shear side of the descending rear flank downdraft in a cyclonic supercell.[31] However, on rare occasions, anticyclonic tornadoes form in association with the mesoanticyclone of an anticyclonic supercell, in the same manner as the typical cyclonic tornado, or as a companion tornado—either as a satellite tornado or associated with anticyclonic eddies within a supercell.[32]

Sound and seismology

Tornadoes emit widely on the acoustics spectrum and the sounds are cased by multiple mechanisms. Various sounds of tornadoes have been reported throughout time, mostly related to familiar sounds for the witness and generally some variation of a whooshing roar. Popularly reported sounds include a freight train, rushing rapids or waterfall, a jet engine from close proximity, or combinations of these. Many tornadoes are not audible from much distance; the nature and propagation distance of the audible sound depends on atmospheric conditions and topography.

The winds of the tornado vortex and of constituent turbulent eddies, as well as airflow interaction with the surface and debris, contribute to the sounds. Funnel clouds also produce sounds. Funnel clouds and small tornadoes are reported as whistling, whining, humming, or the buzzing of innumerable bees or electricity, or more or less harmonic, whereas many tornadoes are reported as a continuous, deep rumbling, or an irregular sound of “noise”.[33]

Since many tornadoes are audible only in very close proximity, sound is not reliable warning of a tornado. And, any strong, damaging wind, even a severe hail volley or continuous thunder in a thunderstorm may produce a roaring sound.[34]
An illustration of generation of infrasound in tornadoes by the Earth System Research Laboratory's Infrasound Program.
An illustration of generation of infrasound in tornadoes by the Earth System Research Laboratory's Infrasound Program.

Tornadoes also produce identifiable inaudible infrasonic signatures.[35] Unlike audible signatures, tornadic signatures have been isolated; due to the long distance propagation of low-frequency sound, efforts are ongoing to develop tornado prediction and detection devices with additional value in understanding tornado morphology, dynamics, and creation.[36] Tornadoes also produce a detectable seismic signature, and research continues on isolating it and understanding the process.[37]

Electromagnetic, lightning, and other effects

Tornadoes emit on the electromagnetic spectrum, for example, with sferics and E-field effects detected.[36][38] The effects vary, mostly with little observed consistency.

Correlations with patterns of lightning activity have also been observed, but little in way of consistent correlations have been advanced. Tornadic storms do not contain more lightning than other storms, and some tornadic cells never contain lightning. More often that not, overall cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning activity decreases as a tornado reaches the surface and returns to the baseline level when the tornado lifts. In many cases, very intense tornadoes and thunderstorms exhibit an increased and anomalous dominance in positive polarity CG discharges.[39] Electromagnetics and lightning have little to nothing to do directly with what drives tornadoes (tornadoes are basically a thermodynamic phenomenon), though there are likely connections with the storm and environment affecting both phenomena.

Luminosity has been reported in the past, and is probably due to misidentification of external light sources such as lightning, city lights, and power flashes from broken lines, as internal sources are now uncommonly reported and are not known to ever been recorded.

In addition to winds, tornadoes also exhibit changes in atmospheric variables such as temperature, moisture, and pressure. For example, on June 24, 2003 near Manchester, South Dakota, a probe measured a 100 mbar (hPa) (2.95 inHg) pressure deficit. The pressure dropped gradually as the vortex approached then dropped extremely rapidly to 850 mbar (hPa) (25.10 inHg) in the core of the violent tornado before rising rapidly as the vortex moved away, resulting in a V-shape pressure trace. Temperature tends to decrease and moisture content to increase in the immediate vicinity of a tornado.[40]
Extracted from Wikipedia.

Life cycle

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A sequence of images showing the birth of a tornado. First, the rotating cloud base lowers. This lowering becomes a funnel, which continues descending while winds build near the surface, kicking up dust and other debris. Finally, the visible funnel extends to the ground, and the tornado begins causing major damage. This tornado, near Dimmitt, Texas, was one of the best-observed violent tornadoes in history.
A sequence of images showing the birth of a tornado. First, the rotating cloud base lowers. This lowering becomes a funnel, which continues descending while winds build near the surface, kicking up dust and other debris. Finally, the visible funnel extends to the ground, and the tornado begins causing major damage. This tornado, near Dimmitt, Texas, was one of the best-observed violent tornadoes in history.

Further information: Tornadogenesis

Supercell relationship

See also: Supercell

Tornadoes often develop from a class of thunderstorms known as supercells. Supercells contain mesocyclones, an area of organized rotation a few miles up in the atmosphere, usually 1–6 miles (2–10 km) across. Most intense tornadoes (EF3 to EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale) develop from supercells. In addition to tornadoes, very heavy rain, frequent lightning, strong wind gusts, and hail are common in such storms.

Most tornadoes from supercells follow a recognizable life cycle.[15] That begins when increasing rainfall drags with it an area of quickly descending air known as the rear flank downdraft (RFD). This downdraft accelerates as it approaches the ground, and drags the supercell's rotating mesocyclone towards the ground with it.

Formation

As the mesocyclone approaches the ground, a visible condensation funnel appears to descend from the base of the storm, often from a rotating wall cloud. As the funnel descends, the RFD also reaches the ground, creating a gust front that can cause damage a good distance from the tornado. Usually, the funnel cloud becomes a tornado within minutes of the RFD reaching the ground.

Maturity

Initially, the tornado has a good source of warm, moist inflow to power it, so it grows until it reaches the mature stage. This can last anywhere from a few minutes to more than an hour, and during that time a tornado often causes the most damage, and in rare cases can be more than one mile (1.6 km) across. Meanwhile, the RFD, now an area of cool surface winds, begins to wrap around the tornado, cutting off the inflow of warm air which feeds the tornado.

Demise

As the RFD completely wraps around and chokes off the tornado's air supply, the vortex begins to weaken, and become thin and rope-like. This is the dissipating stage; often lasting no more than a few minutes, after which the tornado fizzles. During this stage the shape of the tornado becomes highly influenced by the winds of the parent storm, and can be blown into fantastic patterns.[23][24][8]

As the tornado enters the dissipating stage, its associated mesocyclone often weakens as well, as the rear flank downdraft cuts off the inflow powering it. In particularly intense supercells tornadoes can develop cyclically. As the first mesocyclone and associated tornado dissipate, the storm's inflow may be concentrated into a new area closer to the center of the storm. If a new mesocyclone develops, the cycle may start again, producing one or more new tornadoes. Occasionally, the old (occluded) mesocyclone and the new mesocyclone produce a tornado at the same time.

Though this is a widely-accepted theory for how most tornadoes form, live, and die, it does not explain the formation of smaller tornadoes, such as landspouts, long-lived tornadoes, or tornadoes with multiple vortices. These each have different mechanisms which influence their development—however, most tornadoes follow a pattern similar to this one.[41]

Extracted from Wikipedia.

Remembering The Tornado Outbreak of May 3rd, 1999

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In the fair State of Oklahoma, there are two dates on the calendar that will stir raw emotion in the hearts and minds of the people you meet here. One of those dates is April 19th and the other is May 3rd.

As you may recall, April 19th, 1995 was the date that Oklahoma City was struck by terrorists with the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City at 9:02 a.m. Then on May 3rd, 1999, Oklahoma was struck again, this time by the raw fury and awesome power of Mother Nature.

On this single day, over 70 tornadoes touched down in North Texas, Central Oklahoma and Southern Kansas. 59 of those tornadoes alone wrecked their havoc in the State of Oklahoma, making the May 3rd outbreak the largest outbreak in Oklahoma history. The largest tornado of the day, "The Big One" rumbled through Central Oklahoma leaving a trail of devastation nearly 40 miles long.

Before finally dying out, this dangerous storm drove its' attack down the western edge of Tinker Air Force Base, finally dying just north of Tinker AFB and 6 miles due east of the former location of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

Though the storm has consistently been referred to as an "F5 tornado", it spent less than 10% of its' life span in the F5 range of the Fujita Scale. A F5 tornado is a tornado that produces wind speeds estimated between 261 and 318 mph. This particular storm actually touched every point from F1 to F5 on the Fujita Scale, but it spent just over 50% of its' life span as a "F4" tornado, which by definition is a tornado that produces estimated wind speeds of between 207 and 260 mph.

There was some discussion as to whether the tornado entered into the realm of the so far unrealized territory of a "F6" tornado, but the F6 status has since been written off. For the analysis of the "F5 or F6 Controversy", go to: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/19990503/may3faqs.html

Nearly 80% of all storm related damage in Oklahoma on May 3rd was a direct result of "The Big One", during its track through Cleveland and Oklahoma counties in Central Oklahoma. The damage from the May 3rd outbreak is staggering, $1.2 billion dollars worth of staggering to be exact.

In Cleveland and Oklahoma counties alone, "The Big One" went down in the history books as the most costly tornado in history in terms of the overall dollars and cents of recorded damage. The following figures on damages resulting from the May 3rd outbreak are taken from The Daily Oklahoman on May 14, 1999. http://www.oklahoman.com/

Cleveland and Oklahoma Counties:

Homes destroyed: 1,780. Homes damaged: 6,550.
Apartments destroyed: 473. Apartments damaged: 568.
Businesses destroyed: 85. Businesses damaged: 42.
Churches destroyed: 3. Schools destroyed: 2.

The following figures represent the damage recorded in other counties around the State of Oklahoma on May 3rd, 1999:

Homes destroyed: 534. Homes damaged: 878.
* Businesses destroyed: 79.
(Includes 53 stores at the Tanger Outlet Center in Stroud.)
Businesses damaged: 54. Churches destroyed: 2.
Public buildings destroyed: 4. Public buildings damaged: 7.

With this level of property damage occurring in Oklahoma on May 3rd, 1999, one has to tip their hats to the Storm Prediction Center and the Oklahoma Media Outlets, for preparing Oklahomans for the worst and working to keep the death toll down. Amidst this astonishing level of destruction, only 44 people lost their lives. The names, ages and locations of the 44 people who died on May 3rd can be seen also at The Daily Oklahoman website at: http://www.oklahoman.com/cgi-bin/shart?ID=313997&TP=getarticle

Compared to the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the death toll from the May 3rd tornado outbreak was really light. 168 people died in the bombing. For the names and stories of those who died in the Alfred P. Murrah bombing, point your browsers to: http://www.oklahoman.com/bombing/bvic/ and to learn more about the bombing, turn to: http://www.oklahoman.com/bombing/index.html

For pictures of the storms and pictures of the aftermath, as well as more information regarding the May 3rd outbreak and information on tornadoes in general, please visit: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/storms/19990503/

I could spend hours learning more about tornadoes by visiting this one site alone, in fact, I already know how I am going to spend my next free weekend.

On May 3rd, please take a moment to pay your respects to those souls who lost their lives in Oklahoma on that dreadful day. And please, for your own sake, visit the website listed above, or visit the main site for the National Weather Service Forcast Office in Norman, Oklahoma at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/oun/ to learn about what to do and what not to do in the event of a tornado in your area. Through proper education, the life that you save may be your own.

RESOURCE BOX:
Bill Platt owns The Phantom Writers, a company committed to helping people to establish an Internet presence & promote their businesses through the use of Free-Reprint Articles, just like the one you have just finished reading. His article distribution service can help you deliver your reprint articles to a much larger audience: http://www.thePhantomWriters.com

How to Prepare Your Home for a Tornado

2008-03-06T02:23:00.000+08:00

The Federal Emergency Management Agency reports that 1,000 tornadoes strike the United States each year, with winds reaching up to 300 miles per hour.
Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Things You’ll Need:

* Candle Pantry
* Waterproof Matches
* Battery Radios
* Waterproof Boxes For Valuables
* Canned Foods
* First Aid Kits
* Can Openers
* Cellular Phone Batteries
* Cellular Phone Covers/carrying Cases
* Cellular Phone Minutes
* Cellular Phone Services
* Cellular Phones

Step 1:
Understand the danger involved and take it seriously. The worst tornado ever to hit the nation killed 606 people in Illinois in 1925.

Step 2:
The safest place to be when a tornado hits is inside.

Step 3:
Identify a safe spot in your house where you can take cover if you need to. Basements are a good choice because they are below ground. Other options include closets, bathrooms or hallways on the first floor, as long as they are away from windows.

Step 4:
Make you sure you have insurance for your home.

Step 5:
During a tornado watch, store your car in a garage or underneath a carport to protect it from hail or flying debris.

Step 6:
Bring outdoor furniture and yard equipment into the garage or house so it does not get blown around in the heavy winds and injure someone.

Step 7:
Find out what kind of tornado warning signals are used in your community and what they mean.

Step 8:
Practice a tornado drill with your family so you can see how you will respond if a tornado warning is issued.

Step 9:
Educate an existing neighborhood group about safety procedures and set up a plan to alert senior citizens in case of a warning. Or start a new group with your neighbors.

Step 10:
Prepare supplies in a waterproof container for an emergency, including candles, matches and a battery-operated radio.

Step 11:
Order a free copy of a booklet called "Taking Shelter from the Storm" from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or view it online at www.fema.gov/mit/tsfs01.htm.

Step 12:
Many injuries or deaths resulting from tornadoes occur when buildings collapse. If you are building a new house or remodeling, include a "safe room" - a room built below ground out of reinforced concrete or wood and steel walls that are anchored by a concrete slab foundation or floor.

Tips & Warnings

* After a tornado occurs, do an inventory of the damage for your insurance company.
* Repair any serious problems right away to prevent further ruin from rain, wind or vandalism.
* Double-check your utility lines and appliances to be sure they were not harmed.
* If you smell gas, do not light any matches and take care of the problem right away.
* Be sure to teach your children what to do if they're home alone when a storm comes. If there is a storm coming and you must leave them alone, remind them to keep a cell phone or a cordless phone, a flashlight, and a TV or portable radio handy. Be sure they know to go go directly to the basement or safe room if there's an emergency broadcast or if the civil defense sirens go off.

By eHow Health Editor

Understanding a Twister

2008-03-06T02:19:00.000+08:00

Perhaps on of the most feared weather anomalies is the tornado. The Unpredictability of a tornado produces terror in many families. Some people are so afraid it is a phobia called Lilapsophobia. Part of the anxiety is due to the development of a tornado from a seemingly normal thunderstorm producing their characteristic haphazard and crazy paths.

Tornadoes are one of natures most devastating storms, but they do not last long. The average length of a tornado is only five to thirty minutes, but the places they travel are often devastated.

Tornadoes Cause Damage in Three Ways.
Strong Winds

The strong winds of a tornado can rip just about anything off of the ground including trees, vehicles, and even houses. The winds inside of tornadoes travel at over 310 miles per hour. Even weak tornadoes can pull shingles and siding off houses.

Debris

The second damaging effect of tornados is actually from the debris that the storm picks up. People have been buried alive by houses or mud picked up and then dropped by a tornado. Smaller objects become damaging projectiles when thrown by tornadoes. One tornado took a child’s bicycle and wrapped it around a tree!

Hail and Lightning

It is not only the wind that causes damage in a tornado, but also the hail and lightning that the storm produces. Large hailstones can damage cars and injure people, and lighting can cause fires and electrical problems.

The Environment Suffers From Tornadoes As Well

Tornadoes produce devastating effects on the environment. They can uproot trees, cause mass migrations of animals, and destroy the habitats of local wildlife.

Family Safety During a Tornado

If there is a tornado approaching, what safety measures should you take? First, it is important to realize that there is no specific way to know if a storm is going to produce a tornado. Meteorologists have developed warning systems that tell them if a storm is capable of producing a tornado.

During severe weather, have a weather radio on. If you do not currently have a weather radio, you can compare prices of weather radios here. They are relatively in expensive and could save your life. If you hear the announcer say there is a tornado watch, that means the conditions are correct for forming a tornado. A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted. If you hear a tornado warning, you may be in danger!

If You Hear a Tornado Warning...
First, find shelter in the lowest possible place, such as a basement. If your home does not have a basement, go to the innermost room. Stay clear of windows or anything heavy like furniture or appliances. A bathroom is a good location.

Take your battery-powered weather radio to your shelter and turn it on. Kneel on the floor and cover your head with your hands. This is the best position to be in to avoid damage during a tornado.

Should you be caught out in the open with a tornado approaching, do not try to outrun the storm. Find a low lying spot such as a ravine and crouch down with your arms over your head. Because tornadoes are so unpredictable, you are in much more danger if you try to outrun them.

While tornadoes cause much damage in the areas where they hit, one good thing about tornadoes is that the area they damage is relatively small. If you take a few safety precautions, you have the best chance of making it through a dangerous tornado.
Written by Associate Writer Nicole Harms

Tornado Myths

2008-03-06T02:09:00.000+08:00

As a powerful force of nature, tornadoes have become a source of some persistent urban legends and common misconceptions. These urban legends are typically in the form of folk wisdom on how to find safe shelter from a tornado, or how to minimize property damage.

Using highway overpasses as shelter

Myth: Highway overpasses are adequate shelter if a tornado approaches while you are on a road.

Sensational footage taken by a television crew hiding from a tornado under an overpass during the 1991 Andover, Kansas Tornado Outbreak helped to convince some that bridges are good shelters when a tornado is nearby. The members of the television crew (and several other travelers) survived by huddling high underneath the bridge and bracing themselves against support columns while a weak tornado appeared to pass directly over the bridge.

In reality, when directly hit by tornadoes, the confined spaces beneath overpasses increase the speed of the winds due to the Venturi effect, and thus make them potentially less safe (somewhat like being in a windtunnel). In the case of the Andover tornado footage, it was discovered that the tornado did not pass directly over the bridge, but instead over the ground slightly south of the bridge and camera crew, exposing them to much weaker winds. The overpass was also of a specific design which included a hollow crawlspace at the top of the embankment under the bridge surface. As shown in the video, it was large enough to allow the people to crawl inside and use the exposed girders for grip, reducing the chances they would be blown away and largely shielding them from airborne debris. This is a relatively uncommon design in bridge overpasses, and many are completely exposed underneath, with nothing to hold on to and no shelter from the wind.

The danger was highlighted during the Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak, when 3 deaths and several severe injuries were caused when an F4 tornado crossed two overpasses being used as shelters. One individual actually left her well-built home and drove several miles to shelter under an overpass, in the mistaken belief that it was safer than her house. All of the individuals received massive injuries from windborne debris and several were swept out to their deaths.

[edit] Tornado behavior

Myth: Tornadoes sometimes "skip houses".

It is true that a house that is in between two destroyed homes can be "untouched", but this is not the result of a tornado "skipping" as was previously thought. After the Super Outbreak, Dr. Fujita[citation needed] studied many films of tornadoes from that day. Included in his review was damage and tornado film footage of F4 and F5 tornadoes. Fujita concluded that the multiple vortices of an F-4 or F-5, which are highly volatile but small vortices that dance around the main funnel, are responsible for making tornadoes appear to "skip houses".

The way it works is that the main funnel, moving along in a general straight path, will miss several houses that are just to the left or just to the right of it. However, the "multiple vortices", which are dancing in circles around the main funnel, do hit these houses, since they swing out and around, in a circle around the funnel. But because they are constantly spinning in circles around the main funnel as it moves forward, then a multi-vortex may hit one house as the main funnel passes by, but that same multi-vortex may already have moved to other side of the main funnel by the time the main funnel passes the next house, making it appear that the main funnel "skipped over" a house.

Myth: I don't have to worry about skinny tornadoes, only the fat ones are strong

A lethal myth. Firstly: all tornadoes are dangerous, and should never be dismissed as "not powerful". Secondly, although large tornadoes are generally more powerful, this is not always the case. There have been many instances where "classic" funnels (normal size) or even skinny funnels were deadly F-4 or F-5 tornadoes, where-as a large 1/2 mile wide "wedge" tornado (which make up a lot of F-4 or F-5's) might be an F-3. So the width of a tornado is not a good indicator of how powerful it is, and all tornadoes should be taken very seriously.

[edit] Opening windows or doors

Myth: Most tornado damage is due to the low pressure in the tornado causing the house to explode. Opening your windows or doors while a tornado approaches will equalize atmospheric pressure and help prevent property damage.

Since windows are typically the most fragile external feature of a house, they are in more danger from flying debris. Opening them during an active tornado wastes time and effort that could be spent on other, more useful protective measures. A common tornado witticism states "Don't bother opening your windows; the tornado will do that for you." Homes do not "explode" when hit by a tornado, though it often appears so. Commonly, a tornado will break the windows first, allowing strong winds to enter the home. These winds may then push on the underside of the roof upwards, blowing it off. Without the roof, the walls lose structural support and will often fall outwards. Observing the wreckage after the collapse may give the impression the house was pushed apart from the inside.

As a note, this also applies to homes or structures that are hit by a hurricane. Studies from the National Hurricane Center suggest that closed containers do not explode during high wind scenarios. But rather, an opening, such as a broken window, will allow the hurricane force winds to enter a room and subsequently destroy an entire building.

[edit] Mobile home and trailer parks

Myth: Twisters are attracted to mobile homes and/or trailer parks.

Trailer parks consist of low-cost mobile homes with less structural integrity than traditional houses. A weak storm that leaves little damage to well-built structures might devastate a trailer park. Mobile homes do not attract tornadoes; they are just more susceptible to damage from them. While the popular assumption is that trailer parks are "tornado magnets", they are no more likely to be hit than a selected field, farm house, or town than anything else in a tornado-prone area.

Myth: In a trailer or mobile home, the best place to be is in a closet or bathroom

There is no safe place inside a mobile home or trailer when a tornado strikes. Unlike a house, a mobile home is easily ripped apart by even the weakest tornadoes. The majority of all tornado fatalities are attributed to mobile-home dwellers who were in their homes when struck. The NWS advises all mobile home residents to have access to either a sturdy house or underground shelter to shelter in whenever a tornado warning is issued. Most standard tornado warning messages include a directive that mobile home dwellers should immediately evacuate to one of these pre-planned shelters.

[edit] Safest location in a house

Myth: During a tornado, the southwest corner of a building is the safest.

An unfortunately fatal belief, and for a long time it was considered sound advice but without any proof of safety compared to any other parts of a building. After the increase in tornado research during the turn of the millennium, the U.S. National Weather Service has now adopted the advice that the central-most-room on the lowest level of a structure is the safest, with centrally-located rooms in an underground level being far safer than any above-ground location. In reality, a tornado can hit any part of a building thereby making any part of the exterior subject to damage from rapidly changing winds.

Some of the worst places during a tornado are in a room with many windows, any room with an exterior wall, or a large theater-like room such as a church or indoor basketball court. The best places are small rooms like closets or bathrooms. Bathrooms are considered particularly safe as the plumbing fixtures strengthen the walls and anchor them to the ground, while a bathtub can provide some degree of protection from flying debris. The void space underneath a stairwell is also a recommended shelter, as the stairway itself braces and strengthens the walls.

Bank vaults are probably the safest above-ground shelters from tornadoes; in a number of cases, small towns have been entirely swept away by violent tornadoes, but the vault at the local bank was left undamaged. Other potential shelters in commercial buildings include restaurant walk-in freezers and interior stairwells.

[edit] Escaping a Tornado

Myth: When a tornado approaches your home, the best thing to do is to get in a car and drive away

The official directive from the NWS, past and present, has been for house-dwellers in the path of a tornado to shelter in place rather than risk an escape by vehicle. This is a result of several factors and statistics. An interior room inside of a well-built frame house (especially one with a basement) provides a reasonable degree of protection from tornadoes rated F0-F2, approximately 85% of all tornadoes. This means that in an average scenario, even a direct hit (while highly damaging to the walls and roof) is unlikely to destroy the house enough to severely injure or kill a well-sheltered occupant.

By comparison, a vehicle encountering all but the weakest tornadoes would immediately have the windows shattered (subjecting the occupant to lethal flying debris), and be quickly flipped by the ground-level winds. With stronger tornadoes, the vehicle could also taken airborne and thrown a considerable distance. Since most individuals are untrained at visually identifying subtle severe weather phenomena, they stand an excellent chance of accidentally driving into additional severe weather (including tornadoes) while blindly trying to escape. Flash flooding, torrential rain, severe thunderstorms, hail, and debris on the roadway could easily cause nearly impassable driving conditions, which, aggravated by driver panic, might well result in a dangerous and preventable accident. The disorganized peril of such a situation would be magnified greatly if all the residents of a warned area felt the need to flee by car.

If a person spots a nearby tornado while driving, the official NWS directive has always been to abandon the car and shelter in a ditch or culvert. No data has been produced on the efficacy of this method, but unscientific analysis of storm chaser video shows that no driver has ever actually been filmed abandoning their car for a ditch. The colloquial opinion at the NSSL currently states that a tornado encountered while driving can be successfully fled from at right angles (90-degree) from its direction of apparent movement. If an encounter is too sudden to flee from, the advice is still to shelter in the ditch rather than the car.

Note that the NWS has consistently advised mobile home residents to immediately evacuate their residences for the nearest sturdy house or storm shelter whenever a tornado warning is issued for their area.

[edit] Tornadoes in rough terrain and crossing rivers

Myth: Tornadoes cannot form near rivers or cross them.

Myth: Tornadoes cannot follow terrain into steep valleys.

Myth: Tornadoes cannot travel over steep hills or mountains.

During the Super Outbreak, a tornado formed near Sayler Park section of Cincinnati, Ohio (near the Ohio River). It was among the six F5s of the outbreak. The city of Cairo, Illinois, which lies at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, was also hit by a tornado that day.

The Tri-State Tornado of 1925 crossed the Mississippi river and the Wabash river, and possibly several other small bodies of water.

The F5 tornado of May 3, 1999 crossed the Canadian River in Oklahoma before it hit Moore, Oklahoma.

The Windsor - Tecumseh, Ontario Tornado of 1946 crossed the Detroit River from River Rouge, Michigan into downtown Windsor, Ontario, where the river is roughly 3/4 of a mile wide. The F3 tornado that struck on July 2, 1997 also crossed the river into Windsor.

During the Super Outbreak, after destroying three schools, the Monticello tornado crossed over a 60-foot bluff and the Tippecanoe River and damaged several homes.

During the Super Outbreak, the Huntsville tornado crossed Monte Sano mountain (1,650 feet) and gained in intensity as it descended the mountain.

During the same outbreak, an F4 tornado caused damage in Murphy, NC after crossing a 3,000-foot ridge, and F2 tornadoes were confirmed in Roanoke, VA and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, NC. Tornadoes formed elsewhere in West Virginia, western Virginia, southwestern North Carolina, and north Georgia - regions of four states that are in the ranges of the Appalachian mountains.

Appalachia has been struck by other destructive tornado outbreaks: during the "Enigma" outbreak (Feb. 19, 1884), at least one major tornado family struck the mountains of SW North Carolina. On May 1, 1929, a destructive tornado outbreak swept from SW to NE up the Appalachians from Alabama to Maryland, spawning destructive tornadoes at Rye Cove, VA, Morgantown, WV, and in a series moving from Rappahannock County, VA to Frederick, MD. In 1944, a devastating tornado outbreak swept from NW to SE through parts of Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, with the worst damage seen in mountainous areas between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. And in May 1985, several large tornadoes associated with a wide outbreak crossed the Alleghenies in central Pennsylvania.

High altitudes are not necessarily an impediment to tornado formation - the 1999 Salt Lake City Tornado in Utah formed at elevations of over 4000 feet and produced F2 damage in the downtown area. Farther north, a 1989 tornado shredded timber and left a mile-wide path of F4 damage over extremely rugged terrain in the Teton Wilderness in Wyoming, crossing the continental divide at an elevation of over 11,000 feet. In 2004, a tornado was photographed near Rockwell Pass in the Sierra Nevada of California at nearly 12,000 feet. However, it should be noted (for other climatological reasons) that it is a rare occurrence for tornadoes to form west of the Rocky Mountains.

[edit] Tornadoes in urban areas

Myth: You're safe from a tornado in a big city.

Closely related to the "terrain" story (See Salt Lake City tornado just above), it is commonly believed that a tornado will dissipate in an urban area because of the tall skyscrapers. The May 3, 1999 tornado outbreak which struck urban Oklahoma City, and the tornado that ripped through the heart of downtown Fort Worth, Texas in March of 2000 are just two of many examples that negate this belief. While urban areas seem to be less susceptible to tornado strikes than rural areas, it is simply a matter of percentage of land area covered by these types of regions. Urban areas take up a relatively tiny surface area compared with the sprawling suburbs and the thousands of rural communities. Downtown Dallas is no less likely to have a tornado cross through it than an empty field in southern Oklahoma. While it is true that the typical urban building is a much more rugged structure than many comparable rural structures, it is not to be assumed that there is an increased measure of safety. See also: List of tornadoes striking downtown areas.

[edit] Tornadoes in far-northern latitudes or in winter

Tornadoes can, and do, form in extreme northern or southern latitudes. Tornadoes that form in winter are rare, but have also been documented, when warm air meets a strong storm front, causing a tornado that becomes a brilliant white (instead of a dirt-brown) from picking up snow on the ground.

* The Edmonton Tornado of 1987, a powerful F4, struck the Metropolitan Edmonton, Alberta area, which is located 53.57 degrees north. See article for more in-depth information.
* A funnel cloud was sighted on Upper Garry Lake, Northwest Territories, the most northerly funnel cloud on record in Canada. August 10, 1973.
* Yellowknife Tornado of 1978. A tornado touches down near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories toppling a tower and destroying a transmission tower at Rae-Edzo. It is the third tornado in 16 years there.
* White Point Beach, Nova Scotia Tornado of January 30, 1954. A great deal of hail and lightning along the coast, touched down near Liverpool, Nova Scotia during mid-winter at a latitude of almost 44 degrees north.
* November 1989 Tornado Outbreak. A late-season tornado touches down on November 16, in Mont-Saint-Hilaire. It was rated F2.
* Sudbury, Ontario Tornado (August 20, 1970). A strong F3 tornado strikes the Northern Ontario mining city of Sudbury, Ontario and its suburbs, with Lively, Ontario being the hardest hit in the early morning hours. This is the first recorded major tornado in Northern Ontario. The terrain is not too hilly (actually fairly flat for Northern Ontario standards), but its strength is unusual for its location. Tornadoes are thought to be more common in Northern Ontario than prevalence maps indicate, this is mostly because many go unreported as they travel through very remote forest, far away from any roads or human settlements. Damage is usually assessed from the air, after the fact and the number of reported tornadoes each year in the north are increasing in recent years, as a result of better technology to confirm them. However, larger, severe tornadoes are more common in the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies.

[edit] Canada and other northern areas can't get F5s

This is another myth, that is incorrect, and is related to the above myth. Recently, Environment Canada (Canada's national weather service) had re-classified a "strong F4" as the first confirmed F5 tornado in Canada's history (Elie, Manitoba Tornado). The country has also seen other very strong tornadoes that have approached or even became F5's in strength, such as the Edmonton Tornado of 1987 (which is disputed, but may have briefly achieved F5 strength), the 1920 Frobisher - Alameda, Saskatchewan Tornado, and the 1935 Benson, Saskatchewan Tornado, which were both strong F4's, but may have also achieved brief F5 strength.

[edit]

Extracted from Wikipedia

3 Important Soccer Moves

2008-03-06T02:00:00.000+08:00

There are several soccer moves that a coach need to train his team about. Some of the soccer moves are explained below.

1. Dribbling

An expert coach knows that dribbling is one of the most important skills in soccer. Dribbling is the ability of the player to move the ball up and down the field. In order to dribble, the player has to move the ball back and forth from one foot to the other. The coach can train the players to do this by shoving, pushing, tapping, or nudging the ball with the inside, outside, or sole of the foot.

2. Push Passing

Passing is equally important for the soccer players to have impressive command in. Passing is the ability of a team to move the ball down the field, from one player to another. The coaches need to teach his players regarding the several different types of passes.

The push pass is the most common type of passing. In fact, every soccer player uses this passing and the major reason for this is that it is the most accurate of all passes.

In order to execute a push pass, the coach should train the players to use the inside of the foot and strike the ball in the middle, planting the non-kicking foot alongside of the ball and following through with the kicking foot in the direction that the player wants the ball to go. The most important thing in passing is that the players must learn to keep their eyes on the ball as they make the pass.

3. Long Passing

Long passing is another important type of passing in soccer. When you want to pass the ball to a teammate who is far away, you need to execute a long pass. In order to teach the team how to execute a successful long pass, the coaches should instruct the players to approach the ball at a slight angle, keeping the non-kicking foot to the side and slightly behind the ball, and striking the ball low, with the instep, and following through with a full swing.

One important thing in these soccer moves is that the foot should follow through in the direction in which the pass is made.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer moves. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Teaching New Soccer Practice Games

2008-03-06T01:59:00.000+08:00

There are several soccer practice games that the coaches can have the players practice. One such a game is lofted passes game.

*

About The Lofted Passes Game

The lofted passes game is an effective way to practice lofted passes with backspin. Lofted passes with backspin is in fact a fundamental skill that each coach must teach his team and one that each soccer player must learn. The best thing with this game is that the setup for the game is very simple and easy. There are many touches and the coach can teach many things with this game.

*

What It Teaches

With this game, the coach can teach every player about how to loft the ball for shots, for long over-the-top passes and as a way to clear the ball. Lofted ball is the term that is used to any type of pass or shot that goes into the air, including a chip. However, the coaches need to address the team regarding the difference between various types of lofted passes and shots.

The difference depends on how low the ball is struck. It also depends upon the angle of the kicker's body upon contact, such as whether he is leaning forward or backward. The difference has also to do with the angle at which the ball is approached, and whether the follow thru is long or short. One good example is that a "chip" is approached straight on, while a lofted "drive" is usually approached at more of an angle.

*

What Is A Chip

A chip is nothing but a type of lofted ball with backspin. However, you cannot refer it as a drive because it does not go very far.

*
Difference In The Height Of The Ball

The difference in the height of the ball depends on certain things. For example, it depends on how close to the ground the ball is struck. It will go higher than if it is struck close to the middle if it is struck close to the ground.

Whether children continue to play soccer will have a lot to do with whether it is fun at early ages. This is where these soccer practice games can work wonders.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer practice games. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

How To Teach Trapping Soccer Skill Drills

2008-03-06T01:57:00.000+08:00

Trapping is one of the most important elements when it comes to caching about soccer skill drills. Let me give you a brief insight into the same.

*
The Foot

It is very important for the coach to teach players how to use the foot to ‘capture’ balls descending, near or on the ground. For this, the players should get in front of the ball. They should learn to extend the leg and foot forward of the body, anticipating the arrival of the ball.

When the ball meets the foot, the coach needs to teach the players how to pull the leg back to slow the ball, or ‘cushion’ the ball. The ball will carom off the foot and out of control of the player if they do not pull back their foot. If you are coaching a team of younger players, it is better to start with the inside of the foot.

An expert coach knows that this is the largest and most forgiving area of the foot and it will make the younger players learn the things more comfortably. However, if you are coaching a team of more advance players, you can practice trapping with the instep or top of the foot and both inside and outside of the foot. You should teach the players how to eventually advance to using the shin and ankle for higher or wildly bouncing balls.

*
The Thigh

The thigh has a larger size and contains higher fatty tissue. Therefore, an expert coach knows that thighs could be a very effective method for trapping both slow and fast airborne passes below the chest. Have the player get in front of and square to the incoming ball.

Teach them to stand on one foot and raise the other knee and thigh to meet the ball. Once contacted, the players should quickly drop the knee, allowing the ball to shortly ‘stick’ to the thigh. This practice should be continued until the ball rolls from the thigh to the feet.

When it comes to teaching trapping while coaching soccer skill drills, the theory for the chest theory is the same as the thigh, but execution is slightly different.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer skill drills. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

2 Soccer Strategy Game Objectives

2008-03-06T01:56:00.000+08:00

The soccer world is a soccer strategy game that the coaches need to know in order to teach their team to play in an efficient and impressive manner.

*

Attack

An expert coach knows that the players need to be faster, stronger, and aggressive in order get a winning edge over their opponent. Direct play is supposed to be the best attacking strategy in soccer. Direct play simply means five passes or less.

*
First Objective

When attacking the opponent team to get control over the game, the coach needs to train the players how to gain entry into the attacking third of the field. He needs to teach his team certain techniques regarding that.

For example, you can teach them to use long forward passes to the back of the defense. Forward runs without the ball is another great technique in this regard.

The coaches should also teach the players about Forward passes to feet, supported by a player at an angle to receive the ball and pass it forwards. Again, it is also very important for the players to learn about receiving and turning with the ball.

*
Second Objective

When it comes to attacking, the second thing that the coaches need to teach the players is how to increase, or at least maintain, the momentum of the attack once the ball is in the attacking third of the field. Here again, certain things are very important to keep in mind. For example, the players must learn to shoot at every opportunity.

Whenever possible, they should attack opponents by dribbling. Again, whenever possible, the player must be able to pass the ball to the back of the defense. Crossing the ball early from the flanks (wing) to the back of the defense is another important thing for the players to learn in order to make their attacking position much better.

Most importantly, the coach must also teach the players about how to retain a compact team shape.

There is a third objective also. If the team is capable to achieve the second objective, it will be much easier for them to achieve the final objective of the soccer strategy game, which is to do better than the opponents in four important elements of the game.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer strategy game. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

2 Important Soccer Techniques for Defense

2008-03-06T01:55:00.000+08:00

You cannot win a soccer game without using impressive soccer techniques for defense. Let me give you a brief insight into the defensive strategy. The defensive strategy is all about winning the ball as near to the opponents' goal as possible .

1. Compact Formation Of The Team

The defensive strategy works only if the coach is able to train the team the right way and help the team retain a compact shape. If the team retains compact formation, it will make a few important things possible for a defending team.

For example, a team with a compact shape means the player on the ball can be challenged quickly. This will eventually prevent him from playing the ball forward. If it does not prevent, it will at least delay him from playing the ball forward.

Another benefit of having a team with compact formation is that the challenging player will immediately get defensive support. Here, the role of the coach becomes important. The coach must teach the team how to cover a teammate challenging the player with the ball.

The coach should also teach the players to mark an opponent in the area of the ball and occupy important space goal-side of the ball. There are many other benefits of the team with a compact formation, such as the players will be available to track opponents making forward runs.

2. Reduce The Chances Of Conceding A Goal

The coach should also teach the players about how to reduce the chances of conceding a goal further. For this, the coach must instruct the players defending in and around their own penalty area to achieve certain objectives. For example, they should try to be the first to the ball.

They should move towards the ball clearing with height, distance and width. They must also know how to defend the area of the far post. Last, but not the least, they should learn how not to get caught in possession in the defending third of the field.

When it comes to teaching soccer techniques for defense, t he coach must teach the defenders to stay within a triangle formed by the position of the ball, the position of their immediate opponent and the center of the goal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer techniques. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Training: How To Teach Shooting Drills

2008-03-06T01:54:00.000+08:00

To become an efficient soccer coach, you need to learn numerous strategies during soccer training. In this section, we will talk about teaching shooting drills.

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Quick Shooting Drills

There are various ways to train the team regarding the quick shooting drills. The players can start with having the players line up along the side of the goal. Now, you should form another line and this time, it should be at the top of the box.

Instruct the players along the side of the goal to play the ball with pace to the players at the top of the box. This way, before the charging player closes them down, they will have three touches to get a shot off. Another method is to play combinations at the top of the box.

These combinations may include overlaps, give and goes, and crosses that all lead to shots. Train the players about how to hit a moving ball and make the drills game-like. You can have the team proactive by setting up a few short combinations that lead to shots.

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Other Important Things

There are many other important things as well that the coaches need to teach his team regarding the shooting drills. When the players are shooting with power, teach the players how to land on their shooting foot. This is something we call follow through.

The players must also learn to keep their knee and head over the ball. Striking the center of the ball and striking through the ball is another important thing to learn regarding the shooting drills. The players should be taught to keep their toes pointed and their ankle locked.

When got a chance, the players should strike with power or place the ball into the corners. Another important thing for the players is to keep their hips square to their target.

However, the most important thing in shooting drills is that the players should never stop shooting. They may miss the first four or five shots they take but they will certainly have the sixth or seventh shot hit the back of the net. This is something called an expert soccer training.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer training. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Training Drills: How To Make The Ball Do What Players Want

2008-03-06T01:53:00.000+08:00

When it comes to soccer training drills, it is very important for the coach to teach the players about how to make the ball do what the players want. Yes, that is possible, but through extensive training and only an expert coach can help the team achieve this impressive skill.

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Go In A Cycle

The coaches should teach the players to go in a cycle. This means left and then right foot, then right thigh and then left thigh, and then hitting the ball up to their head and back down to their right foot and then left and so on. You can teach them how to make various cycles.

They can do so by choosing where the ball goes, and not just keeping the ball up in the air, but manipulating the ball on their terms. The expert coach makes his team learn that it does not really matter much that how many times the players can juggle.

What really matters is whether the players are capable enough to make the ball go where you want it.

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Manipulating The Ball Even More

Once the players are well versed with the above step, the coaches can teach them the advance steps, such as manipulating the ball even more. In this step, the players are supposed to aim for kicking the ball away from them to the right.

After that, they should kick the ball away from them to the left. They should be able to do so at a slight angle in the air, almost as they are faking going to the right and then the left but all in the air. Here, the training of the coaches will be on test because the players need to lean their body to the side in which they are kicking the ball.

Once, you see significant improvement in the team regarding the above two steps, you can go ahead and teach the players how to try walking and juggling with the ball. Soccer training drills is not an easy cake, but when you keep certain things as discussed above in mind during the training session, you can make things easier.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer training drills. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Training Tips: How To Make Drills Variations

2008-03-06T01:52:00.000+08:00

There are certain soccer training tips that the coaches usually overlook. One of such important aspect is to drill to help the players on their way.

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Make Variations

When it comes to teaching about the drills to help the players on their way, it is very important for the coaches to make variations of the drill and put rules on themselves to make it more difficult. One of the greatest drills is simply weaving in and out of a set of cones.

In this method, you need to first set up a cone. For this, to start with, you can place about 10 cones in a line about three yards apart. Now, have the players dribble in and out of each cone without touching or knocking over the cones.

Make sure that the players are not trying to touch the ball too far away from the line of cones either. When the players are going back through the line, instruct them to make sharp turns.

Keep your watchful eyes open. It is only after you find that the players have mastered this, you should have them vary the way that they dribble through the cones. Tell them to just use the right foot and try dribbling. After they have practiced it, tell them to just use the left foot and try dribbling.

Then, tell them to use alternate feet, where they should try to touch or pass the ball to the left and then to the right as they weave through the cones.

It is also very important for the coaches to teach their players how to combine a shooting or trapping drill with a dribbling drill. The coaches must keep in mind that the key to such training is to keep it flowing and not have a lot of stops and starts and too many people standing in line.

The most obvious reason is that no coach would like the players to get warmed up and then get cold and bored waiting in line.

Make sure that you run the training blended with these soccer training tips because this is one of the best ways to prepare a winning team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer training tips. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Training Video – Fun Way to Learn Soccer

2008-03-06T01:49:00.000+08:00

Soccer training video is an interactive and fun way to learn the impressive soccer skills and field vision. Whether it is passing, shooting, dribbling, or another thing associated with the coaching soccer, a training video can be a great help both for the coaches as well as for the players.

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Spreading The Field Offensively While Also Staying Compressed

It is an interesting activity, especially to watch this on a training video. There is a common rule in soccer that every expert coach teaches its students that they should spread offensively and compact defensively. The following activity will demonstrate this.

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The Activity

The first thing that the coach needs to do is to break the field into three sections. The numbers of players available will determine about the size of the field. However, the coaches must make sure that the bigger the size of the field, the better it is.

Now, instruct the team that there is an offensive team and a defensive team. There must be at least one player in all three sections of the field at all times in the offensive team. The basic rule should be that the defensive team must stay compact when the offensive team spreads out and vice versa.

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The Rule For The Defense

The coach must clarify the players about the rule for the defense in the very beginning. The rule is that all defenders must be in the middle zone when the ball is in the middle zone. Likewise, if the ball is in a wide zone, defenders can be in the middle zone as well as in that wide zone.

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Shifting

The coach must allow a short period of time for players to shift properly. You should give the players a view that you want them to play rather than do a drill.

Overall, when it comes to teaching spacing and balance both offensively and defensively, the above activity proves very effective and impressive. If you want to learn about this excellent way in an excellent manner, you must experience watching the same in the soccer training video.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer training video. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Teaching Soccer – What Coaches Need to Know

2008-03-06T01:47:00.000+08:00

There are several factors that a coach must take into careful consideration while teaching soccer tactics, especially while training young players.

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Simple Soccer Tactics

The expert coach always starts with teaching the players about the simple soccer tactics. You should teach the tactics that the players can use with the skills they possess. Once you start seeing the improvement in their game, it is only then you should offer them more advanced tactics.

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Appropriate To The Players' Age

This is again one of the most important things that the coaches must keep in mind. This is something that many soccer coaches overlook and they start teaching the same tactics to everybody irrespective of their ages. This is something that can bring adverse effect to your team’s performance. Therefore, make sure that you teach them the basic soccer tactics that are appropriate to the players' age and match.

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Simple Language

The language and the way in which you give instructions to the players must be simple, direct, and unambiguous.

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Brief Instructions

True that you need to make your descriptions easy to understand, but it does not mean that you should tell them everything in such detail that it should eat up most of your training time. It is equally important for you to keep in mind the time factor and be as brief as possible.

However, you should not compromise on clarity just because you need to brief in your instructions. It is not at all a good idea to use long lectures in the training session. Furthermore, many coaches use sarcasm in their instructions.

Always remember that is not good for the health of the game and for your team’s performance. Therefore, make sure that you are not using any sarcasm that could be misinterpreted. It is better to avoid jargon as well. You should try your best to speak carefully and be specific and brief.

Always remember that seeing is better than hearing and doing is better than seeing. Therefore, when it comes to teaching soccer, an expert coach should introduce his topic, show it, and get the kids doing it quickly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of teaching soccer. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

Soccer Goalkeeper Drills – How To Make Quick Moves

2008-03-06T01:27:00.001+08:00

Coaching soccer goalkeeper drills is an important element of soccer coaching. There are several things that a coach needs to consider in order to teach the goalie impressive skills and filed vision. Some of the points that seek a careful consideration by all the coaches are following.

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Six Seconds To Kick Or Throw

This is probably the first thing that the coach needs to teach the goalie about. The goalkeeper must keep in mind that he is only allowed six seconds to kick or throw the ball to a teammate. Therefore, the outlet pass should be quick. However, it should not be that quick as well. In fact, let me put it other way around.

The outlet must be quick and accurate. Putting accuracy takes the time. So, the goalkeeper needs to be quick but he must not overlook the accuracy aspect as well. This is important because this way the receiving player will be in a better position to handle the ball with control.

Another important thing that the goalkeeper must learn is that before distributing the ball, they should walk to the front edge of the penalty area. However, if you are coaching the team of young players, you must keep in mind that you are not supposed to enforce the method in general for younger players.

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The Size Of The Field

An expert coach knows that the size of the field matters. One common rule in Soccer goalkeeper drills is that the larger the field, and the further the ball is from the goal, the farther the goalkeeper has to play from the goal to minimize the angle the opponent has on the goal.

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Moving In A Semi-Circle From The Center Of The Goal

Another important thing that the coaches must teach the goalkeeper of their team is that he should move in a semi-circle from the center of the goal. The goalkeeper should be instructed to do so as if he had a string attached to their back from the center of the goal. This will keep them prepared and ready for centering passes.

You never know how fast the ball is coming back. Therefore, when it comes to coaching soccer goalkeeper drills, you must train the goalkeeper to keep eyes on the ball.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer goalkeeper drills. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

3 Soccer Goalie Tips

2008-03-06T01:25:00.006+08:00

A skillful soccer goalie in your team can make a huge difference in winning or losing games. The position of the goalie is the dichotomy of the team. It can be both fun and exciting. Unlike the rest of the players, the ultimate goal of the goalie is to stop scores.

Therefore, an expert coach knows that it becomes sometime necessary to offer some consolation and praise to the goalie to retain his self-esteem. Here go some valuable tips.

1. Pulling The Ball Tightly Into The Body

Train the goalie in a way that he should pull the ball tightly into the body when catching the ball. If you are coaching the team of younger players, it is always a great idea to teach them to cuddle the ball on the ground and keep their body in front of the ball.

This way, the shins, knees and feet will also help stop the ball. This method carries bucketful of advantages. For example, the number of injured hands and fingers by over ambitious opponents will be significantly reduced.

2. Handling The Ball Effectively

When it comes to handling the ball effectively, you should teach the young goalie to use two hand positions, the W and the Heart. Keep your watchful eyes open and observe the activities the goalie.

If they are trying to trap the ball between their hands like catching a fly, rather than having the ball meet their hands, stop them from doing so and tell them the right way.

3. W Is Best Used For The Youngest Goalies

If the goalie is very young, the W is the best for him. This does not allow their hands to become as big as possible but at the same time, it also keeps them from doing the flytrap. Teach them to form the W by placing the tip of their thumbs together, with their palms toward the ball and fingers pointing upwards.

What is more, one of the required skills for each and every soccer goalie is their ability to move quickly side-to-side and general quickness.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer goalie. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Lessons You Need to Know

2008-03-06T01:25:00.005+08:00

You are probably reading this because you are interested in coaching soccer lessons. Well, you have reached the right place. Here, I am going to present some important factors when you are considering individual soccer lessons.

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Concentrated Format

Every coach must keep in mind this important thing, while teaching individual soccer lessons. He should keep the session in a concentrated format. By concentrated format, I mean you must be brief but clear in your instructions.

One to one soccer coaching proves very helpful, especially for Soccer players between the ages of 8-14. If you teach them technical ball skills in a nurturing 1 on 1 environment, they are very much likely to benefit more.

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The One Hour Session

The session must be in a concentrated format, but make sure that you are dedicating the session’s attention to your student for approximately one hour.

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Specific Lesson

Each session must include a specific lesson. Furthermore, it is important for the coaches to make these sessions tailor-made for the individual.

To start with, the coaches may focus on the skill sets, such as Ball control, passing and receiving, dribbling, shooting, defending, balance and coordination. After a few such sessions, once you find that the players have developed a strong grasp of these skill sets, continue to the more advanced focus.

The more advanced focus may include specific skill sets, such as Juggling, dribbling moves, finishing, plyometric strength training, and heading.

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Written Player Evaluation

A written player evaluation is very important to keep a watch on the individual player’s progress. An expert coach always completes a written player evaluation.

What is more, it is not enough to complete this progress report, but it is equally important for the coaches to mail this written player evaluation to the students so that they could get an idea with the statistics that how impressive are their skills.

Last, but not the least, it is also a great idea if the coaches give the student a "take-home" skill assignment. The coaches must design these assignments for the soccer lessons with the player's improvement in mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer lessons. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Footwork Drills

2008-03-06T01:23:00.002+08:00

As a soccer coach or parent, you need to consider teaching the players about soccer footwork drills seriously. Let me give you a brief insight into some of those valuable things that can make a winning difference for your team.

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Understanding the Soccer speed

The first and most important thing that a coach must let his players know is about the soccer speed. This is a specific speed for the game of soccer.

In fact, this is the term we use in soccer world for the ability of the player to start quickly from all different positions, accelerate to top speed in the shortest time possible, change direction, and stop rapidly under control to make the play. When a player understands this soccer speed, he will get to know how important the footwork is.

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The reasons to Train Footwork

There are various reasons why the coaches should train footwork during their soccer drill coaching session. Well, the players must keep in mind the fact that the feet are in contact with the ground in movement and whenever they initiate a movement, it is initiated off the ground.

Therefore, the players must make sure that their feet absorb shock on ground contact so that they could use those forces to propel the body in the desired direction.

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Position of the feet and the distribution of weight

Quick feet are nothing but quick and supple hips. Let the players know that the major objective of proper footwork is to Control and position the center of gravity. The players need not necessarily be on the toes because the foot must come back down to the ground to initiate movement.

Again, when it comes to weight distribution, it should be distributed approximately 75% to the forefoot and 25% to the rear foot. This will eventually allow the players multi-directional movement.

There are many other things as well, such as arms and hands of the players must be positioned to help them in the first movement. Coaching soccer footwork drills is not an easy cake, but you can make it easy if you use the above tips.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer footwork drills. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Fitness: How To Prevent Eating Disorders

2008-03-06T01:22:00.002+08:00

Coaches need to seriously look into eating disorder in soccer fitness. Here are some of the tips that can prove valuable in preventing eating disorders in your champion players.

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Recognize The Signs And Symptoms Of Eating Disorders

An expert coach knows that when the players are facing eating disorders, they often try to hide their symptoms to avoid calling attention to them. Therefore, you must be capable enough to instruct coaches and trainers to recognize the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and understand their role in helping to prevent them.

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Providing Accurate Information

Providing accurate information to the players regarding weight, weight loss, body composition, nutrition and sports performance is very important and every coach should learn to do that with perfection. This will not only reduce misinformation but doing so will also challenge practices that are unhealthy and even counterproductive. Again, it is also important for the coaches to be aware of local professionals who will help educate the players.

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Emphasize The Health Risks

Another important thing in this regard is that the coaches must learn to emphasize the health risks associated with low weight, especially for female players with menstrual irregularities or Amenorrhea . If you find any such case, you should refer the player for medical assessment.

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Revering To A Sports Psychologist

If a player is chronically dieting or he exhibits mildly abnormal eating, it is always prudent for the coaches to refer to a sports psychologist or other therapist skilled at treating eating disorders. The likelihood of successful treatment increases if the problem is detected at an early stage. On the other hand, if the problem is left untreated, it may eventually progress to an eating disorder.

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Focus On Other Areas

Most coaches do the mistake that emphasize weight by weighing athletes and by maximizing comments about weight. This is not good. Instead, the coaches should focus on other areas in which players have more control in order to improve performance, such as focus on strength and physical conditioning.

Preventing Eating Disorders is an important element in soccer fitness and no coach should overlook this issue.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer fitness. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

3 Effective Soccer Drills For Youth

2008-03-06T01:21:00.003+08:00

Aggression plays an important role in soccer drills for youth. Here are some of the techniques that can help the coaches in training their team regarding aggressive drills.

1. Protect Drill

The protect drill method requires the player to protect the ball. This effective method can improve the drilling skills of the players largely. This method requires the players to work one on one. The coach should have one player stand next to a ball, having his feet shoulder width apart.

Now, have another player stand on the outside shoulder of the first player. Now, the main task of the second player is to get his foot on the ball, by any means necessary. The job of the first player is to keep balance, protect the ball, and respond to open aggressiveness by a defender.

2. Getting Closer

The coaches can try this method with the same setup, as they require in the above method for protecting the ball. In this method, again, there are two players. The only difference is that the main task of the player furthest from the ball to try to wedge his body between the inside player and the ball any way he can.

3. Push and Drag Drill

This method also ranks good for the coaches when it comes to teaching soccer drills for youth. In this method, the coach needs to have two players stand facing each other . Now, instruct them to grab the other player's jersey up by the shoulders.

This will put them face to face in a strong position. Here, let me add that you as a coach should stand 10 yards away from the players with a ball at your feet.

Now, as soon as you say “GO!” blow the whistle, the task of the players to try to get the ball away from the coach. When it comes to coaching soccer drills for youth, the players need to work hard on this and should show some aggression. The first to reach the ball wins.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer drills for youth. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

How To Teach Soccer Drills Properly

2008-03-06T01:20:00.003+08:00

If you are looking for good practice tips that can be used with most soccer drills , here you go.

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Using A Parent Or Field Player In Goal

It is always a great idea to use a parent or field player in goal. Now, interestingly, instruct them to intentionally muff, drop or parry any shots. In this method, it is not prudent to use your regular goalkeepers. If you do so, the regular goalkeeper will only catch the bad habit of parrying or muffing shots.

When you use a parent or field player in goal, even the attacker who is ready to shoot knows that the “bad” keeper will drop the shot somewhere in front of the net. Now, this is the catch. The main objective of the attacker here will be to put that muff into the goal.

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Ingraining The Habit Of Going To The Goal Every Time The Players Shoot

This is important. In fact, this method can be used in any games or practice drills involving a goal. Some attackers are skillful but lazy and they have the tendency to watch their shots when they “know” that the shot is going in.

This most of the times results in missing the opportunity to score when the ball hits the posts or bar or is batted down by the keeper. That is the reason why it important for the coach to ingrain the habit in the players to of go to the goal every time the players shoot.

Whenever an attacker takes a shoot, that attacker should have three seconds after shooting to enter the goal and touch the net. If he does not do so, the goal should be disallowed. Once the players make it a habit, the defenders will learn to count out-loud at every shot.

This does not improve perfection in hitting the goals in the players, but it also teaches the defenders to follow up and clear missed shots.
When it comes to soccer drills, an expert coach knows that no matter how pretty the shots are, great shots only count once the ball enters the goal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer drills. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Crossing: How To Increase Your Chances To Win

2008-03-06T01:15:00.003+08:00

Soccer crossing can bring greater chances to win at higher levels. An expert coach should train his / her team to build their whole attack around servings balls into the penalty box and battling for the ball in the air. The team trained that way will be noted for the ground attack.

Such a team can score a higher percentage of their goals from crosses served into the box. In this article, I will give you a brief insight into some of the details that go into creating scoring chances from wide postures.

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Find A Way To Build An Attack

Before successfully crossing the ball, the player in a wide position in the attacking third of the field needs to do several things. For example, the first and the most important thing he needs to do is to look up to see where to pass the ball.

The players must keep in mind that if they kick the ball anywhere, it may work occasionally, but that is not the right approach. Before successfully crossing the ball, the players must make sure that they have the best chance possible.

The coach must train the players that a cross is nothing. It is just a long distance pass. Therefore, the player must look up to find out where your teammates are. Only then, he should pass the ball.

Again, it is not just that you have to kick the ball the way you like. You need to listen to your coach. Your body is already facing the direction you want to kick and your coach would want your next-to-last touch to angle the ball towards the goal so that as you cross it.

That is something we call perfect kick in soccer. If you do not follow the coach’s words here, you are very much likely to end up in the ball floating high over the end line. When it comes to soccer crossing, there are plenty of things to train the players in order to make a winning team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer crossing. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Conditioning: 3 Warm Up Tips

2008-03-06T01:14:00.001+08:00

Regarding soccer conditioning, there is a saying in famous in the world of coaching soccer that “players should Warm-up to play, they should not play to warm-up.” The coach needs to train the team to build the movements gradually to game speed.

This is the perfect way to raise the core temperature and engage the nervous system. The following is some of the factors that the coach must keep in mind while they are running the warm up session.

Warm Up Tips #1

In this group, the coaches can try the following during the warm up session.

* Have the players Jog for 5 minutes.
* Have them their Leg swings-forward, cross body, 10 each.
* Give emphasis on active stretching over 20 yards.

Warm Up Tips #2

When it comes to active stretching over 20 yards, it must be done along with the following warm-up methods.

* Have the players skip forward, backwards.
* Side skip with arm swing is also effective.
* You can also train the players for cross step.
* Have the players skip across foot-big hip movement with quick steps.
* Train them regarding the High knee carioca. They must do these warm ups as if going to sprint.
* Backward run is also a tried and tested method. Make sure that in this activity, the heels must kick up to butt. That is the perfect way for backward running warm ups.

Warm Up Tips #3

These warp-up methods should also be used along with the above techniques in order to gain results that are more favorable.

* You can start this round of warm up session by having the players s kip with loops or swings.
* Now, have them Cross over skip.
* Quick hip swings is another great method to use at this stage.
* You can also have the players doing long shuffles with turn in the middle.
* Train them about forward and backward leg swings. This is a great way of warm up for the soccer players.
* High leg forward and backwards are equally effective.

When it comes to soccer conditioning, the above warm up methods can work wonders.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer conditioning. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

4 Soccer Coaching Drills Secrets

2008-03-06T01:13:00.001+08:00

Throw-ins play an important role in soccer coaching drills. It is the duty of an expert coach to train his team for perfect throw ins. Following are some of the ideas to consider about taking throw-ins.

1. Possession Should Not Be Immediately Lost

Teach the players to keep possession of the ball. This is the first and the most important thing that the players need to learn while considering throw ins. The first priority of the players must be to keep possession of the ball. It is very important to understand that it is simply useless if the players throw the ball down the line if possession will immediately be lost.

2. Choosing The Right Player

What makes the huge difference is whether the right player is being used or not. It is important for the players to keep in mind that in the defending third, if the opponents press, they are very much likely to lose the possession. Therefore, the wise player should leave the defenders free to mark and cover space.

3. Using Simple Plays

The coach must train their players to use simple approaches. When it comes to taking a throw-in, there are three simple approaches that coaches need to have their teams rehearse regularly. The first approach is throw the ball back, away from pressure, and switch it to the other side of the field.

As per the second approach, the players should make runs to create space and beat marking. What is more, they should throw the ball to an open player. The third approach is to throw the ball to a back-to-goal player who drops the ball for the thrower.

4. Throwing To Feet

Another important thing regarding the throw ins is that the players must be trained to throw the ball to feet with perfection. An expert coach knows that the players at all levels of ability are capable to do better when they receive a throw-in to feet.
The interesting thing is that when it comes to soccer coaching drills, if the players are in pressure, they can perform much better when they receive a throw-in to feet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer coaching drills. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Coaching Soccer - How To Motivate Soccer Players Or Kids

2008-03-06T01:09:00.002+08:00

On coaching soccer, the key to motivating soccer players is to help them to motivate themselves.

First, you need to set the example. This means that you need to use the Golden Rule and speak to them the way that you wish them to speak to you and the way you hope they speak to themselves.

Using positive reinforcement will go a long way to helping players feel good enough about themselves and their soccer game to want to strive for more. How? It is really very simple. Focus on the positive things and do not focus on the negative things.

We live in a rat race society and we tend to compare ourselves to others much of the time. Children go through school constantly being compared to others and then move to their post-secondary education looking to be the best so they can receive scholarships and awards.

They want to please their parents and they want to do well. They often focus on what they did wrong or what they did not do. In the end they can feel very frustrated, angry, and can even feel like a failure and this attitude can be carried onto the soccer field.

Using positive reinforcement means focusing on the positive or what went right. There is no need to look at what a player did not do properly. You may ask, how do you help a player correct poor technique or improve their soccer game without looking at what they did improperly.

On soccer coaching, the key is to look at what they did right and say that you want to see them do it again. Instead of saying, "That was a good kick, but when you kick the ball, place your foot here," try, "Hey, on that last penalty kick you had great follow through and made the shot. Let's see that again and this time try placing your foot here."

This is much more effective. Instead of feeling frustrated that they are not getting it right they will feel good about themselves for getting at least part of it right and they will be eager to do it again.

Of course there are times when they will get part of a technique right and not do something else in the proper way. Begin with pointing out the areas in which they performed well and then tell them you want to see it again with another part added in.

This way they will try again from the positive outlook that they can do it and they just need to adjust something. For example, instead of saying, "that was a good try, but when you kick the ball you need to kick through the ball. You are stopping short," try saying, "Great kick! You foot positioning was bang on.

Now let me see it again and this time kick your foot all the way through the ball and see how much farther it will go." Whether you are working with kids of adults, they will respond to this sort of encouragement.

It is also important to teach the players to positively reinforce their soccer team-mates and to encourage each other. In this way, players will feel even better about what they have accomplished, especially when they are nearing adolescence and their peers begin to have a greater influence on them than the adults in their lives do.

Motivating soccer players is about helping them feel good enough about themselves and what they are doing that they desire to strive for more. They will want to improve themselves and their game from the positive frame of mind that they are good players who are improving all the time, instead of feeling that they are inadequate and need to improve their game to become good enough.

Follow these tips on coaching soccer and I'm sure you'll motivate your players or kids to love the game.

About the author:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer coaching. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, and a youth soccer coaching drills blog.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Learn useful soccer tricks

2008-03-06T01:06:00.001+08:00

Soccer is a sport that has fans throughout the world and one which hasn’t lost its appeal. People of all ages enjoy watching an exciting soccer match and there are many of them who try at home what they see at TV. It turns out that this is not such a bad idea since soccer tricks can be learned by means of soccer videos and by practicing soccer players’ tricks.

Soccer tricks are divided into two types in the world of soccer: stall tricks and air tricks. Air Soccer tricks involve hitting the ball with one part of the body and sending it into the air, while stall tricks involve keeping the ball moving on the body and not in the air. The thing they have in common is the fact that it takes a lot of hard work in order to be able to master them.

Men are always eager to learn about new Soccer tricks and to acquire soccer tricks regardless the fact that they want to impress or simply to improve their game. Learning these tricks is not an easy task and it requires time, patience and practice. A good way to start acquiring these tricks is to classify them, taking into consideration their difficulty level. We suggest you to start with the simple Soccer tricks and to move forward to the more difficult ones only when you are sure that you master the easy tricks.

Another good way to learn some Soccer tricks is to watch Soccer videos. These videos can help you understand the tricks better and improve your soccer game. These tricks are a necessary tool if you want to be able to dribble your opponents and they will certainly differentiate you from the other players. Nowadays there are a lot of Soccer videos who present several tricks and you can easily choose the ones you find most interesting.

Soccer videos show us different techniques and intelligent players, enabling us to learn juggling and dribbling tricks. Soccer videos are really helpful if you want to improve your soccer game and master new techniques. It is said that juggling and dribbling techniques make it easier for you to control the ball and not to lose it when confronted with an opponent. In order to develop dribbling skills you need to learn a few things such as: use all the parts of your foot, touch the ball with each step you take, improve your weak foot and use your body to protect the ball. If you can do all this, you can say without any hesitation that you are a professional dribbler.

If you are interested in Soccer videos, all you have to do is to download them from websites that have these types of videos. Once you have done this, go ahead and watch them with attention and then try to practice the tricks that you saw in these videos. Soccer videos will teach you how to take powerful shots and how to use your feet when you are kicking the ball. These videos contain all you need to know about Soccer tricks.

If you want to be a professional soccer player, you should know from the very beginning that these videos are not enough. Besides them, you also need a coach that can train you properly and a lot of practice. Soccer tricks can be practiced both by children and adults, depending on the difficulty degree of the tricks.

About the author:
We at offer you interesting Soccer tricks. Soccer videos are captivating and worth being watched. Visit our website and discover how you too can be a great soccer player! soccer-showoff.com

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Premiership Football

2008-03-06T01:05:00.000+08:00

If you’re from the UK you won’t have been able to escape all the hype and news surrounding the start of the new football season. It’s a time when football fans stop going out with the other half shopping on a Saturday and start staying in to listen to the football scores come in then later either staying in for Match of the Day or recording it whilst they are out.

Every year it seems that the hype surrounding the new season increases and this year was no different as more millions were invested in to and spent by Premier League football teams. For ninety minutes each weekend young men who are played multi millions each year are worshipped liked gods by thousands in the stands and millions watching at home. It’s no surprise then when you ask many young boys what they want to be when they grow up they will same a footballer.

The sport has got even more lucrative this year with more foreign owners with big pockets buying in to clubs in all leagues and now with another broadcaster Setanta Sports trying to break the stranglehold that Sky Sports has on Premiership coverage it means the revenues for clubs is even higher. So now I hear you ask: Why am I talking about this in my weekly Talented Young People Blog? Well here’s why.

This extra revenue and income may be good for the clubs and players finances but it increases the levels of stress and pressure put on teams who in the main consist of a high number of young talented players to achieve. The more money an owner puts in to a club the better results they want and the more they pay you as a player the better performances they want.

With the season merely three games old every game is already being held under close scrutiny by the fans, the press and the clubs with any defeat seen as a reason to sell or let go a player or a manager. This is a tough enough situation for the older experienced players to handle but for a fresh faced sixteen year old making their debut this year it’s a different story. No longer does being good count the only thing that counts is the result and based on that no matter how good your performance is it could spell trouble.

It’s not just on the TV stage that talented young footballers are affected. The lure of the money and celebrity lifestyle has put stars in the eyes of many parents and young children who all dream of that life. This has meant that the competition an the pressure to achieve and be the best has filtered it’s way down through the youth game with some big clubs running academies for players as young as eight.

Now I’m not saying young people shouldn’t have dreams as I believe young people if they have the right motivation and support can achieve anything but I’m saying that I don’t like where this high pressure situation is going. There needs to be more support out there for the ones that don’t make it as lives have been torn apart through the dream factory which is football in this country and more support for those that have made it to deal with the pressure they find themselves under because I do fear that sooner or later the pressure is going to become too much for some people.

To have your say on this week’s blog and young Premiership Footballers join in our topic of the week by going to:

http://www.talentedyoungpeople.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=149

Adam Sibley
Founder of the Talented Young People organisation
www.talentedyoungpeople.com
"Envisage it, Believe it, Achieve it!"

Improve Soccer Skills In 3 Steps

2008-03-06T00:53:00.004+08:00

It is not enough for the players to be fast and strong, in order to have a winning edge over the opponent team. The players must possess impressive soccer skills, good instincts and the perfect field vision.

An expert coach can use a variety of techniques and methods to teach his team the necessary skills and field vision. Some of the tried and tested techniques can be listed below.

Step 1 - Shoot Between Cones

In this method, the coach should set up a line of cones row 3 to 5 yards apart. Put players into pairs. Now, have one player on each side of the line facing the cones each other. Now, tell the players to strike the ball between the cones by starting close to the row of cones at first.

During the practice, each pair of players needs to receive ball and pass it back through the cones. Keep your watchful eyes open. Observe the improvements of the players. If you find that the technique and accuracy of the players is improving, you can move players further apart accordingly.

Step 2 - Dribble Cones and Shoot

In this method, the coach needs to s et up twocone lines for a dribble weave. The size must be about 30 yards with a 2-yard goal at the end. This time, you do not need to divide your players in pairs. Instead, divide them into twolines or teams. Now, have the players dribble through the cones. Before the next player in line starts, the players should try to score at the goal at the end.

Step 3 - Pass and Shoot

This is also a very effective technique to teach the soccer players impressive game skills. As per this method, the coach should set up twocones as a goal at one end of the grid. This time, again, the team should be divided in half. Have one player to begin as goalie.

Give one ball to each player and line the players in a group up behind the goal. Make another group and have them take position at fifteen feet in front of the goal. The soccer skills learned this way is capable to make a winning team.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer skills. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Soccer Articles: Mistakes Coaches Make

2008-03-06T00:53:00.002+08:00

If you are looking for impressive soccer articles that could help your team learn the impressive soccer skills and field vision, you have reached the perfect place.

This article intends to offer you some valuable and rare to find Soccer Coaching Tips. These tips are capable to give your team a winning edge.

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The Worst Mistakes Coaches Make

Yes, there is a long list of mistakes that many soccer coaches not only make, but also they even overlook the same. These mistakes can do disaster and make your team a loser. That is the reason why I rated these mistakes as WORST. I am not going to give you a complete list now, but here goes the topmost disasters.

* Most of the coaches do not get all their tools and set up ready before the team arrives for the training. This really puts a very bad impact on the players’ psychology. The coaches fail to prepare everything needed, such as facility and equipments and set up, ahead of time.

When the players arrive, they start making the arrangements and they even do not hesitate to have the players assist them in doing in that. Always remember that the players do not come there to arrange, but they come to improve their soccer skills through the training session.

This does not only delay the training session, but sometimes, the sessions even run overtime. What could be worse than that for a player’s psychology?

* What is worse, sometimes the coaches even forget breaks. This is a torture for the players, mind you. This will result in useless exhaustion, and instead of earning strength and skills; you will end up having a team without any motivation.

* Another major mistake that a coach do is that they give unclear directions. They assume the players smart enough to understand even the unclear directions. Well, remember, the players are not here to crack the Vinci code. They are there to learn soccer skills so that they could improve their game. Therefore, make sure that your directions are brief but clear.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of soccer articles. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

How to Soccer: The 3 Basic Positions

2008-03-06T00:52:00.003+08:00

It is of paramount importance for the coaches to teach their team about basic attacking principles and positioning, when it comes to how to soccer .

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The Three Basic Positions

There are three basic positions in the attack. The First Tracker is the one who holds the ball. The main duty of this player is to retain possession while getting the ball as close to goal as possible through dribbling, passing or shooting. Then, there are Second Attackers.

They are the players within an easy ground pass of the First Attacker. The main duty of the Second Attackers is to prevent loss of possession, while still allowing the ball to be advanced forward if possible. This should be the case until the ball is advanced to within scoring range of the goal.

The coach must have a single Second Attacker position himself before getting into scoring range in order to allow the short relay passes between himself and the First Attacker. In order to move the ball around the defenders, the attackers must try to get the ball past all of the defenders and into unobstructed space within scoring range of the goal.

The single Second Attacker must also be ready. As soon as the ball moves within scoring range, the single Second Attacker should switch from a "safety-first" orientation of keeping possession. It means he should try to move the ball away from goal in order to keep it.

The purpose of keeping possession is to be prepared to the more active role of setting up a shot on goal by the single Second Attacker himself or by the First Attacker.

This is the time when the second attacker should move into a position in order to allow the First Attacker to pass the ball into "scoring space" behind or to the side of the defenders. This is the space the player can take an immediate shot.

Now, there is a third attacker as well. His main duty is to unbalance the defense by making deep runs, usually to the far side of the goal. When it comes to learn and teach how to soccer, these are basic principles to consider.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of how to soccer. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

How To Play Soccer Aggressively

2008-03-06T00:51:00.003+08:00

When you learn how to play soccer, the winning streak lies in playing aggressive.The simple formula that works in soccer is which team is stronger and faster.

Therefore, it is good that you learn all the skills, instincts and field vision, but at the same time, you must also learn how to bring aggression into your game.

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Aggressive Play Is Very Important On Both Offense And Defense

Hustling and playing aggressively is very important. If you do not play that way, you are very much likely to lose to a team that is significantly more aggressive.

By aggressive play, I mean hustling. It means the players must not be afraid of making contact and "winning" the "50/50 balls.” "50/50 balls” are the loose balls that either team has an equal chance of winning.

If you are afraid of contact, it will be difficult for you to win these. The expert coach knows that the teams that wins most of the 50/50 balls and will usually win the game.

The coach should ensure that the defenders are tough and are not afraid of contact. If you have a player in the team who is afraid of contact, it is big disadvantage for you. If you play him or her at Fullback or Sweeper, get ready to give up many goals.

It is very critical for the coach to teach his players to not only be brave and unafraid of contact, but also to hustle and be aggressive about going to the ball and to win loose balls. However, it is also true that it is not an easy cake to teach the same.

Some players are naturally timid and many of them even consider rough or aggressive play a bad thing. They think that if they play aggressive, someone might get hurt.

Therefore, the coach needs to be well prepared with all his tools and methodologies when he is going to teach his players how to play soccer in an aggressive way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of how to play soccer. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

How To Kick A Soccer Ball Properly

2008-03-06T00:49:00.002+08:00

When it comes to know how to kick a soccer ball, there are two things that an expert coach must teach his players – accuracy and power.

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Accuracy

It is a wrong assumption that good placement depends solely on striking a precise part of the ball. The truth is other way around. In fact, the more important thing for the players is to drive their kicking foot in the direction of their target.

The coach must also examine the knee of the players’ kicking foot in order to ensure that their ankle is moving straight through the ball without lateral or vertical deviation. Have the players concentrate on its height relative to the floor. The ball must move directly towards the target.

Now, let me give you a specific example. Let me tell you how to produce a low, hard shot. Have the players follow through by moving their entire body forward.

Their ankle should not be rising or deviating while driving it through the ball. Do not let them try hard because then the players may end up hopping forward and landing on the kicking foot.

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Power

When kicking a soccer ball, power is another important element that can make a huge difference. Do not have the players try to swing harder in order to generate more power. If they do so, they are very much likely to lose control or risk injury.

An expert coach understands that the Power comes from quickness of the execution. Have the players use the elastic quality of the leg muscles. If the players think that way, they will be able to jump much higher. They need to squat and leap rather than leaping up starting from a squatting position.

When they are kicking the ball, they should take the elastic quality of their leg muscles. They should minimize the period of time when their kicking leg is changing direction from retrieval to propulsion.

However, accuracy and power do not come easily. You need to practice that through repetition or without a ball through polymeric exercises. After all, practice makes a man perfect, and if you want to learn How to kick a soccer ball, you must practice the right way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of how to kick a soccer ball. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

How To Improve Footwork Soccer Skills By Using Sticks

2008-03-06T00:48:00.001+08:00

When it comes to improving footwork soccer skills, one very simple yet effective tool is sticks. You can create a great training course with them – no matter whether you purchase some, use kindling, or use fallen twigs. However, if you are going to use the fallen twigs, make sure they are straight.

Size

Sticks that are 4- 5 feet long and 1x1 inch are good enough for the purpose. Lay them down as if they are the rungs of a ladder. Now, being an expert coach, you can have the players do various exercises, such as running, hopping, and ball work.

Various Exercises

You can start with running drills. In this method, have the players step once or twice between each stick. While doing so, the players must change direction at each turn, shuffling sideways between the sticks. You can also have the players run between the sticks lengthwise.

Another thing that you can have the players do is hopping. Have the players hop on one foot or two feet. The players must hop with variations, such as forward, backward, sideways, etc. what is more, they should also alternate feet while doing so.

Ball Practice can also improve footwork effectively. In this method, have the players dribble around the sticks. Ball practice may also include passing the ball through and sprinting after it or passing exercise through the channels between the sticks.

You can also have the players shuffle between the sticks and pushing the ball from the end of one stick to the next stick. However, for this specific exercise, make sure that they position balls at both ends of each stick.

Sticks can also be used to improve the footwork of the goalkeepers. You can have the goalkeeper’s practice catching and saving balls while shuffling through channels or sprinting through them.

Of course, you can explore the various other possibilities, using your imagination. An expert coach will certainly come up with an infinite supply of drills and activities.

In fact, when it comes to using the sticks to practice different exercises to improve footwork soccer skills, there are virtually endless possibilities.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of footwork soccer. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Drills Soccer: How To Make Complex Things Easier

2008-03-06T00:47:00.001+08:00

Coaching drills soccer is probably the most complex coaching assignment in sports. It involves an understanding of specific skills and specific fitness training.

It is the vision, strategic and tactical thinking skills of the coach that make a winning team. What is more, the coach needs to use variation in his / her methods depending upon age groups and gender being coached.

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Coaching Drills Soccer

The expert coach is always fully prepared before the practice session starts. When it comes to coaching soccer, discipline matters much. Therefore, make sure that you are ready with all the equipments you need.

Moreover, since a coach also needs psychological skills to deal with all aspects of individual and team mental preparations, it is very important to have the practice grids ready before the team arrives.

The coach must stand in a position where all the players can hear him. Again, he must be brief in explaining the objective of the drill and key coaching points. For a 15-20 minute drill, the coach must not take more than 3 minutes with explanations and demonstrations.

Always remember that it is not the quantity that matters, but the quality. However, you must make sure that all the players have understood the things he explained. Ask them if everything is clear to them. If not, clarify the same.

Once, you have explained the objective of the drill and key coaching points; you should stand outside of the drill area, not in the middle. Keep a close watch on the activities of the players, observe them and see if they can solve any issues by themselves.

If there is something you need to correct, you should stop the drill and demonstrate the step to correct the mistake. Psychology plays an important role in coaching soccer.

Therefore, do not forget to praise players for correcting it. Now, once you find perfection in the players, increase the complexity to keep players challenged.

When it comes to coaching drills soccer, it is not the coach who should be sweating and be tired, but the players.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of drills soccer. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

3 Essential Elements Of Coaching High School Soccer

2008-03-06T00:46:00.000+08:00

Coaching high school soccer is something that can make a huge difference for winning or losing soccer games.

The strategies regarding the soccer formations, styles of play, soccer defence, the speed of play and free kicks are some of the most important elements that can give the high school soccer players a winning edge over the other team.

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Playing With Much Slower Or Weaker Team

It is very important for the coach and players to keep in mind that playing with a much slower and weaker team can slow down the team’s play. An expert coach understands that this is a potential problem for coaching soccer at high school level.

Actually, when you play against a much weaker or slower team, your team will dribble more or play more slowly. This can work as a disaster because when you get to play a good team, it is obvious that your team will take ten to twenty minutes to adjust back to the faster game speed.

This will give enough time to your opponent team to take control of the game. Always remember that even a single goal deficit against a tough opponent will not be an easy cake to overcome.

Therefore, a good approach is to consider playing your substitutes or second team against a weaker or slower team.

* Weight And Speed Training

Weight and speed training is another factor that most of the soccer teams overlook at the high school level. A good coach knows that in order to make a winning team, it is not just the impressive skills, good instincts and field vision that the player needs to work on, but his strength and speed. High school soccer players must spend a significant amount of time on weight and speed training.

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Using A Sweeper Is Often Better Than A Flat Back 3 Or 4

In high school soccer game, when the Flat Backs know that they have a Sweeper backing them up, it allows them to play more aggressively and to mark closer and take chances to win 50/50 balls.

Overall, when it comes to coaching high school soccer, you must understand that at higher levels, skills of the players are more or less similar, but what makes the big difference is which team is faster and stronger.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of coaching high school soccer. His web site, Coaching Youth Soccer Training Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

Liverpool Football Club

2008-03-06T00:32:00.000+08:00

Liverpool Football Club is an English football club based in Anfield Park, Liverpool. The club, also known by the nickname “The Reds”, is one of the most successful clubs in England. Liverpool’s colors are red and white; their home colors are red and away colors are all white. The club’s badge presents a liver bird inside the shield, as a traditional symbol of Liverpool. Liverpool’s anthem is “You’ll never walk alone”; this phrase is also written on the stadium gates.

Liverpool club was founded in 1892 by the holder of Anfield stadium. The club has won their first Football League championship in 1901 and a second championship in 1906. Liverpool has won eighteen English League titles, five European Cups, FA Cups and League Cups.

Liverpool's longest traditional rivalry is with Everton, Merseyside team, after a dispute with Everton officials. Liverpool has a rivalry with Manchester United because of the success, which both club share. Liverpool fans were involved in several disasters; the most known of them is the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, when overcrowding caused the deaths of 96 fans.

Liverpool has a large fan base and the fourth-highest average attendance. Liverpool fans call themselves “Kopites”, meaning “on the Kop at Anfield”. They sing the anthem “You’ll never walk alone”, read Liverpool news in special fan magazines, which present latest Liverpool rumors and Liverpool gossip. The club also gains the attention of media and the press; Liverpool matches are covered on TV and are watched by millions of fans.

By Natalie Halimi

About the author:
Submitted by Content Editor in Internet Marketing Company – Inter-Dev
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Liverpool fans -http://www.caughtoffside.com/tags/premier-league/liverpool

Manchester United Football Club

2008-03-06T00:23:00.000+08:00

Manchester United Football Club is a professional football club, which is considered one of the most successful football clubs in England. Based at the Old Trafford Stadium in Great Manchester, the club has over 300 million supporters all over the world. According to Manchester United news, they have won the Premier League 16 times, and has won more FA Cups titles than other English clubs. Manchester United has also won two European Cups.

Manchester United, also known today by the nicknames “The Red Devils”, “United” and “Man U”, was formed in 1878 by teams of Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway depot. The club has won its first league in 1908; many other trophies followed, starting from FA Cup in 1909. Today, Manchester United is considered one of the richest clubs in the English football. AIG is the shirt sponsor of the club; other sponsorship deals include companies like Nike, Audi, Budweiser, Betfred and Xfm Manchester. The club’s home colors are red and white, and away colors are black. The devil on the badge is refers to the club’s nickname “The Red Devils”.

Manchester United fans see Liverpool as their rival; other rival include famous football clubs, such as Everton and Arsenal. The rivalry derives partly from the success of other clubs, since Liverpool and Manchester competed one against another for many seasons. Manchester United enjoys support from its fans, which read articles about the club, discuss Manchester United news, latest rumors and Manchester united gossip. The club enjoys public attention, being one of the most prestigious clubs in English football.

By Natalie Halimi

About the author:
Submitted by Content Editor in Internet Marketing Company – Inter-Dev
http://www.inter-dev.co.il/en/.

Manchester United news - http://www.caughtoffside.com/tags/premier-league/man-utd

Football popularity

2008-03-06T00:21:00.000+08:00

Football is the most popular sport in the world; in South America, Brasilia, France, U.K people play football, visit football matches, watch football games on TV and discuss them with friends and read updated football news. The games of elite football groups attract thousands of people. For instance, the capacity of Salt Lake Stadium in India is 120,000 people, and of Beaver Stadium in U.S.A – 107,282 people. In World Championship the stadiums are often full, and many people don’t manage to get tickets in time.

FIFA includes 208 different national federations. Many countries consider football a part of their national heritage, and refer to football games as to representative of the country’s national ideas. Football fans create special magazine, which presents latest football news and events, such as transfers of the players, and of season, changing of managers and coaches et cetera. Publishers and editors of fanzines often receive no financial compensation; fanzines are often distributed free of charge or for nominal cost only.

Football popularity often leads to rivalry, which sometimes develops into hooliganism. Fights between supporters of different teams usually occur after football matches. Sometimes football rivalry brings to tragedy on stadiums. At the mass brawl in May 2007, hundred Liverpool fans fought each other in Athens, hoping to get a ticket for the game. Another tragic event took place at the Hillsborough stadium on April 15, 1989, causing the death of 96 people. The unprecedented influx of fans through a narrow tunnel leading to the stadium has caused a major crush.

Football has always maintained a foothold in the fans’ enthusiasm. Most of the largest stadiums in the world are used for football, because of its enormous popularity. One of the main interest in this sport is the football transfer rumours part. Raising awareness of the violence among football fans might help to reduce the danger of tragedies and save the rightfully owned popularity of the game.

By Natalie Halimi

About the author:
Submitted by Content Editor in Internet Marketing Company – Inter-Dev
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football news -http://www.caughtoffside.com/tags/general-football-and-soccer

2008-03-06T00:16:00.000+08:00

Arsenal is an English professional football club located in Emirates Stadium, in Holloway, North London. The club is also known as Arsenal and The Gunners; it has been one of the top football clubs. The club’s kit is red shirt and white shirts. Arsenal is one of the richest football clubs in English history. Having a large fan base, Arsenal has often served as a representative of football clubs in British culture. Home colors of the group have inspired at least three other clubs in England. Arsenal’s crest features a canon pointing eastwards, as a reminder of Borough of Woolwich. The club’s motto is Victoria Concordia Crescit, meaning “victory comes from harmony”.

Arsenal was founded in 1886 by Royal Arsenal workers and since then has gathered many Arsenal fans. The club was first named Dial Square, but changed their name to Royal Arsenal and then to Woolwich Arsenal. The club turned professional in 1891 and was promoted to the First Division in 1904. The club has won thirteen First Division and Premier League titles and ten F.A. Cups, being one of the most successful clubs in English football. Arsenal has been the first London club to reach UEFA Champions League final.

Arsenal is in constant rivalry with their neighbor football club, Tottenham Hotspur; matches between the clubs are known as North London derby. Arsenal is also in rivalry with several other football clubs, such as Chelsea, West Ham United and Manchester United. Arsenal fans read Arsenal news and Arsenal articles, which depict the latest rumors and gossip about the successful football club.

By Natalie Halimi

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Submitted by Content Editor in Internet Marketing Company – Inter-Dev
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Arsenal fans - http://www.caughtoffside.com/tags/premier-league/arsenal

Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United Red Devil

2008-03-06T00:13:00.000+08:00

The young Portuguese football player phenomenon Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro has become the centre fold of attention in Europe now that he plays with the Manchester United as well as around the world.

Ronaldo was born in Funchal, Madeira Portugal in 1985 and has been known for his natural born talent since he was an infant. By eight years of age he was already playing with Andorinha and just a couple of years later two top teams were interested in having Ronaldo as part of their groups; Ronaldo then signed with CD Nacional and subsequently became part of Sporting.

His early career steps were very difficult as he struggled with his team mates and the fact he was living in a different city - Lisbon. But his outstanding performance set the differences between him and the rest of the players. His first international debut was at the UEFA Under 17 Championship.

In 2003 he was then quickly spotted by Sir Alex Ferguson of the Manchester United at the friendly match at the Alvalade XXI stadium between Sporting and Manchester. Ronaldo’s abilities as a two-footer player allow him to play on both wings and be an volatile and tricky winger besides his utmost technical skills and air game became the facts which engaged Ferguson’s quest to acquire the footballer.

Ronaldo is the first Portuguese player to ever play with the club; his contract was for £12.24 millions. During his time with the Manchester club Ronaldo obtained the FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year Award in 2005, he also ranked among the FIFA’s top players and he was awarded the Barclays Player of month (2006). More recently, there were rumours the young Red Devil would leave the British and would play for the Real Madrid that was willing to play over 80 million Euros for the transfer; but those shadows were hastily dissolved as he was offered a five-year contract extension and £120,000 weekly to remain with the club.

For this year’s campaign; Ronaldo has shown that he is the man who gets the job done as the club is leading the table of rankings of the English Premier League while he keeps scoring goals; a total of 27 in all games just this season. The Portuguese’s potential seems to increase as he continues to play therefore it is very likely Ronaldo will stay in England for a good amount of time.

About the author:
Claudia Beckford provides outstanding and current content to sports enthusiast in the sports betting industry.

Ghana Defeats Ivory Coast in the Africa Nations Cup

2008-03-06T00:08:00.000+08:00

This is the nation’s sixteenth appearance in the event and their fourth as hosts. So far; Ghana has managed to take home four titles but this time they ended up settling for a consolation third spot; their best performance since the 1992 Nations Cup where the team finished as runners up. It has been over 25 years since they last won the cup back in 1982.

This was an exciting six goal match and just ten minutes into the game Sulley Muntari struck a 25 yard free kick that gave Ghana the lead. Their other three goals were all scored during the second half; Owusu-Abeyie scored at minute 73, Agogo at the 80th minute and finally Dramani sealed the match with Ghana’s last goal in minute 85.

Many thought there was very little interest in the competition with the exception of the local crowd in Kumasi where a large number got together to support their favorite club. Although Ghana was not in the final match, the spectators were pleased to see Ghana put on the show they did and were proud to have backed them up.

Some of the games highlights include; Sanogo’s goal that made history as it was the 94th goal of the tournament making this year’s event the highest scoring tournament in the history of the Africa Nations Cup. For many viewers the fact alone of seeing six goals scored in a football match is thrilling enough.

Current champions Egypt is once again in the final match as the most dominant team within the confederation and will compete for the cup this Sunday against Cameroon. A large number of fans believe Egypt will win the tournament for the second consecutive year.

The Africa Nations Cup is held every two years and in 2010 the event is programmed to take place in Angola for the first time in the history of the event. As an important fact Angola is a team that has never won the tournament either.

About the author:

Cindy Ferguson is a high-ranking sports writer in the Sports Betting industry. To view more of her exceptional work; visit the sports betting archives.

Chelsea Football Club

2008-03-06T00:07:00.000+08:00

Chelsea Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stamford Bridge in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The club is also known by the nickname “The Blues” or “The Pensioners”. Its traditional kit is royal blue shirts and shorts. The club’s crest features a ceremonial blue lion, which holds a staff in his paws.

Chelsea football club was founded in 1905 and was elected to the Football League. Since its foundation the club has played in Stamford Bridge which has a capacity of 42,055 people. Today, Chelsea is considered one of the most successful clubs in the history of English football. In the 60-s and the 90-s they have had two significant periods of success, having won major trophies. The club has won three league titles, four League Cups, two UEFA Winners’ Cups and four FA Cups.

Chelsea is a very popular football club, with many of Chelsea fans, constantly searching for Chelsea news and Chelsea gossip. Its matches have the fifth highest average in English football, attracting over 40,000 people. In 2003 the club was bought by Roman Abramovich, Russian oil tycoon. Chelsea is traditionally associated with working class, although lately it was criticized for becoming a more elitist club due to the raise of ticket prizes. Unlike many other football clubs, Chelsea doesn’t have a long-standing traditional rivalry with any other clubs. Chelsea rumors and gossip are depicted in many articles in the Net and in newspapers. Chelsea fans publish fan magazines, which describe the latest Chelsea news and articles depicting victories of their favorite club.

By Natalie Halimi

About the author:
Submitted by Content Editor in Internet Marketing Company – Inter-Dev
http://www.inter-dev.co.il/en/.

Sports and World Peace

2008-03-05T23:47:00.000+08:00

Like baseball, basketball is one of America’s favorite pastimes. The evening the Houston Rockets won the NBA Championship in 1995, the streets of Houston were packed with throngs of people and seemed to be a common thread amongst everyone no matter their race, color or creed…. that commonality was sports. It didn’t matter if they weren’t really basketball fans; they were fans of being winners and that night, we were all winners.

There is something going on in Iraq right now that reminds me of that nostalgic moment: Operation Soccer Ball. Apparently the Iraqi people, particularly the Iraqi children, are passionate about soccer. Actually, it’s football to them, but we call it soccer. You could equate their passion for the game of soccer to our love of football or baseball. Any street, field, farm, or dusty ground off the side of the road is a veritable soccer field in Iraq. From reports of soldiers overseas, Iraqis are all passionately chasing some form or fashion of a soccer ball. If they don’t have a soccer ball, they’ll use anything as a substitute – even a rock – and play with it like they were playing for the World Championship.

Iraqis need soccer balls, and whoever started Operation Soccer Ball, in my opinion, is brilliant. It was started as a way to convey the goodwill of America and American soldiers by giving Iraqi children soccer balls that they so desperately desire.

The love of sports, in this case being soccer, is starting to become an instrument of peace and is forming a common bond between the US and the Middle East. It’s transcending cultural differences and language barriers and it’s also mitigating the aggravated feelings of some Iraqis that would rather not see US presence in their land.

I found out about Operation Soccer Ball from a local radio station in Tampa Bay — WQYK. They contacted my company, PostcardMania, to print posters promoting Operation Soccer Ball in an effort to raise money for the cause and enable soccer balls be sent to soldiers in three different locations in Iraq. The purpose of the mission was to solidify relationships with the future leaders of Iraq by giving soccer balls out to the Iraqi children.

The program actually started in Tampa by a woman named Gina McDowell whose son, PFC McDowell, is serving in the Army Reserves presently stationed in Al Hillah, Iraq. He is part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team attached to the United States State Department. Gina came up with the idea of collecting soccer balls when her son told her the impact they had on Iraqi children. She then contacted WQYK to help spread the word and aid in the collection.

Operation Soccer Ball was run through the local VFW. (There may be other programs like this around the country.) And PostcardMania printed the posters — pro-bono. We do lots of pro-bono work for charities and recently started doing more for the military. We were contacted this past summer to help USO Georgia by printing 18,000 postcards for a large deployment of American troops so they’d have postcards to write home to their families on one last time before boarding their plane on their journey to the Iraq and Afghanistan.

Well, I got a letter the other day that Operation Soccer Ball was a big success — over $8000 was raised for the project and all the monies went directly to the cause which enabled WQYK to collect over 3500 soccer balls and enough money to ship them (it costs close to $2 to ship each ball!). One interesting note that really stood out was that after being befriended with a soccer ball, some Iraqi children have risked their own safety by disclosing the whereabouts of numerous IEDs (explosive devices) and insurgents to our soldiers. Wow. It’s amazing to me that a small gesture of a soccer ball can impact so many lives.

It’s the pleasure in life, or even the contemplation of pleasure, that enriches our lives. For some it could be a trip to the Bahamas. For others, it could be a stroll down memory lane with an old friend…or the love of a good game of basketball. But for the Iraqis, it’s the game of soccer. And a lot of good people are creating a safer haven in the worn-torn Middle East with just a few balls – who’d have thought?

Michael, a soldier in Iraq who has a blog on the net, cited some Kiowa pilots from the 1st Cavalry Division that had been dropping soccer balls from their helicopters after completing their missions. One story in particular really struck a chord.

“I remember this one time when we came down, ready to drop a few balls and we see this kid standing off in the distance. He had his arm cocked back to his ear, just ready to hurl a rock at us. I pulled one of the balls out and tossed it to him. The kid just stood there for a second, like he really wasn’t sure what to do, but then he dropped that rock, grabbed the ball and gave us the thumbs up. That was cool.” --Chief Warrant Officer Sonny Hinchman, Kiowa pilot.

The Tampa Bay program has ended but hopefully this story will inspire others across the nation to develop similar initiatives in their cities. More corporations can get involved by donating soccer balls — monetary donations or donations of the soccer balls themselves with possibly a company logo on each ball. What a great way to get exposure and positive publicity after donating a few thousand balls. Even big conglomerates like Nike, Microsoft or even city governments like NY, Atlanta, Houston or Tampa Bay can get on the bandwagon. Heck – let’s rain soccer balls instead of bullets. Who knows, we might just have the next World Champion Soccer Team on our Hands: Team Iraq.

By Joy Gendusa

Sports Nutrition: Why Your Diet Matters

2008-03-05T23:44:00.000+08:00

When it comes to sports, your body is your tool and you have to keep it in top shape to be able to perform like you need to. No matter if you are involved in a high energy sport like soccer or a milder sport like golf, your body takes its toll when you exert in for any type of sport out there. So, your diet is very important. Sports nutrition is one of the most important things an athlete can focus on. Not only should they train and practice, but if they don't eat properly many things can happen. Take a look at these three important reasons eating a good sports nutrition diet is vital for the success of an athlete. If you are beginning to train, you will need to know why your diet is so important.

Strength

When athletes perform, they have to be as strong as they can be in order to succeed. Not every type of athlete needs to have bulging muscles and a six pack. But, they do need to be strong and be able to perform well. To make yourself strong starts with what you eat. You need to feed your body things that will promote muscle growth and bone development. Eating protein and vegetables is the best way to make sure you are feeding your muscles and bones what they need to be strong.

Mood

Much of the success of an athlete depends on their mood. Their attitude has a lot to do with how they perform. If an athlete is the type of person that can eat anything they want and still look great, they might be tempted to pig out on pizza and chocolate every night. But, their mood will be different if they do eat junk food all of the time. They might be sluggish in their mind and their body will be affected too.

Stamina

Another reason that sports nutrition is so important is for stamina. An athlete without stamina won't get too far when competing. They need to be able to run as far as they have to and push as hard as they can. When you eat a great diet of healthy foods that provide your body with the fuel it needs to be at its best, you will see that your stamina will improve greatly.

As you can see, these are only three of the many reasons sports nutrition is so important for today's best athletes. When you take care of your body and feed it nutritious foods, it will be able to perform at its best for you and you in turn will be a champion. So, take a good look at a proper sports nutrition diet and start changing your eating habits today.

About the Author
Dustin Cannon is owner of http://www.JustArticles.com and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about Sports Nutrition Dustin recommends you visit: http://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk

How To Protect Your Knees From Tendonitis

2008-03-05T23:43:00.001+08:00

Tendons are fibrous chords that connect the muscles to the bone. When these chords are inflamed, a condition known as Tendonitis is probably taking place, and it is usually characterized by tenderness and pain around the affected body part.

Tendonitis usually affects the joint areas, and is most commonly known to attack the knees, the elbows, and the shoulders, although the wrists, the hips, and the heels can also sometimes be prone to developing Tendonitis. Regardless of what particular body joint it attacks, Tendonitis has been given various names to pinpoint the particular area where the pain is being felt. For instance, the Tendonitis that is restricted to the shoulder area is commonly known as rotator cuff Tendonitis, while the pain experienced in and around the kneecap is referred to as the patellar Tendonitis.

Often associated with other inflammatory ailments like rheumatoid arthritis, Tendonitis usually occurs in old age, mainly because the sheet of the body tissue that covers the tendons has been naturally overused. However, in recent years, the condition has begun to affect younger people, especially those who are regularly exposed to extreme physical activities like sports where the arms and the legs are constantly put under pressure. For example, soccer, basketball, and football players are known to be particularly susceptible to developing the patellar Tendonitis because the games that they play obviously expose their legs to constant stress.

Still, one need not be involved in sports to become a candidate for developing Tendonitis. Other factors like old age and abnormal physiological structure are also known to significantly contribute to the occurrence of Tendonitis.

Once Tendonitis sets in, it does not necessarily mean that medical treatment is imperative. If the pain that usually comes with the condition is still tolerable and occurs only once in a while, a simple rest is usually all that is needed. It is only when the pain begins to interfere with one's regular daily activities or when there is soreness that refuses to die down that a medical advice should be sought.

Of course, prevention is still the best solution for Tendonitis, and this can come only when one learns how to properly protect the joints, which are usually the first line of defense against the possibility of any injury. For the knees, for example, wearing knee-pads when doing certain activities like gardening or waxing the floor should be a good starting practice.

Sitting down for extended periods is not healthy for the legs. Ideally, one should stand up every now and then, walking around for at least 20 minutes. If there are tons of work that needs to be done and standing up is not possible, turning and twisting the body once in a while will suffice, with special focus on bending the legs.

Getting involved in thigh-strengthening fitness programs is also an excellent option. This should particularly include straight-leg lifting, which helps the thighs develop stronger muscles. Stronger thigh muscles, commonly called quadriceps, are known to provide adequate support to the knees. Of course, it is equally important that before one engages in these exercises, adequate warm-up activities should first be undertaken.

Caution, however, should also be practiced when doing exercises, especially those that put undue stress on the tendons. For instance, distance running and uphill climbing may be good forms of exercises, but if they cause pain on the knees, it is always best to stop and try other forms of fitness activities where the knees will not necessarily be pressured to work beyond their limits.

In cases when knee pain or knee swelling is already being felt, rest should always be the first option. Refrain temporarily from doing the activity that caused the pain so as to give the swollen area enough time for healing. Additionally, if the pain refuses to go away, applying ice on the aching portion at least three times daily for about 20 minutes may be resorted to, with the option to do some ice massage where plastic foam cups can be filled with water and rubbed directly on the swollen area.

Caution should again be observed when trying to rest a swollen knee. Prolonged inactivity of the knee can possibly lead to joint stiffening, so it is generally recommended that even while it is at rest, the injured leg should be raised just a little above the heart level. This action has been known to help reduce swelling in many instances and is particularly effective when done during the night.

About the Author
For more information on tendonitis and knee tendonitis head over to the Tendonitis Help Center or read the Knee Tendonitis fact sheet.

Top 10 Dumbest Things Pro Athletes Do

2008-03-05T23:41:00.002+08:00

There seems to be an endless stream of idiotic things professional athletes do. I guess if you put a bunch of young men together, give them a boat-load of money and lots of free time, what can you expect? When beautiful women, the media and the luxuries of life are thrown at them, their cockiness and stupidity are only amplified. Here are my top ten, but of course there are lots more. However, we must always remember, they are only human too.

1. Me Make Good Play!
Ever see NFL players beat their chest like a gorilla after they just made a good play? I guess it's a Tarzan thing or something, but they look kinda ridiculous. Maybe if I was out there on the field and I was a 170-pound kicker watching a defensive lineman beating his chest after a sack, I may be a little intimidated, but overall, they look really silly doing it. (I attended a professional all-women's football game this year and saw a 350-pound woman do this, which was particularly scary.)

2. The God Factor, Part I
I hate it when players point up to Heaven and thank God after a good play too. Bear in mind however, that I am not criticizing religion or anyone for having faith in God. But this just looks lame. It happens a lot in MLB for some reason. A strikeout will cause Pedro Martinez to do the chest-touch and double-index-finger-point to God as if he and God were chatting earlier about possible pitching strategies in the locker room, and the strategy they chose together worked, so he had to personally thank God using his direct line.

3. The God Factor, Part II
Locker rooms, sidelines, dugouts, bullpens, and court sides are often full of praying men. One question: "If you are praying to win, and your opponent is praying to win, who does God choose?

4. Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do When They Come For You?
Why do pro jocks get arrested for drug and/or gun possession so much? Of course, lots of people do this one unfortunately, we just happen to hear about the famous athletes who do. C'mon guys, keep the drugs at home, stop driving while high, and for crying out loud, stop packin'! You don't need a gun. Who's going to harm you? You're six six and weigh 275 pounds!

5. It Wasn't Me!
Telling Congress you don't do steroids, then getting caught doing steroids is pretty dumb. I loved watching the clips where Rafael Palmero sat pointing a finger at the Congressional hearing stating with disgust and confidence, "I do not take steroids." And then the next clip showing him apologizing profusely for taking steroids.

6. I Love You To Death
Murdering ex-lovers doesn't happen very often fortunately, but my list wouldn't be complete without at least mentioning O.J.

7. Rabbits
It seems that there are a lot of NBA players out there who use the phrase, "My baby's mom" a little too often. And there's too many pro athletes' offspring introducing their buddies as "My brother from another mother." Ever hear of a condom?

8. How Much Bling Bling Do You Need!?
It's fascinating to watch professional athletes blow through all their millions in their first year or two and then have nothing left at retirement, which is usually only a few years later. How many fifty-year-olds are still playing pro sports? Not many (minus golfers of course, who will drag their canes and oxygen tanks with them on the fairway). So why don't pro athletes save a couple of bucks?

9. Love My Hog
It's not too smart to get injured off the job when you're a pro athlete. Cleveland Browns Kellen Winslow Jr. crashed his motorcycle recently and will now miss the 2005 NFL season. Jay Williams, a number one draft pick of the Chicago Bulls, also got into a motorcycle accident and has not played since. What's with motorcycles anyhow? Talk about killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

10. "When You Come To a Fork in the Road, Take It" - Yogi Berra
Saying really dumb things in the media seems to be a particularly easy thing to do if you're a professional athlete. I looked in a lot of places online to come up with a good list here. My problem was that there were so many good ones, I wasn't sure which ones to pick. But here are a few gems:
a. Paul Hamm, Gymnast: "I owe a lot to my parents, especially my mother and father."
b. Baseball player Tito Fuentes, after getting hit by a pitch: "They shouldn't throw at me. I'm the father of five or six kids."
c. Football coach Ray Malavasi: "I don't care what the tape says. I didn't say it."
d. Baseball player Dizzy Dean, after a 1-0 game: "The game was closer than the score indicated."
e. Boxing Analyst: "Sure there have been injuries, and even some deaths in boxing, but none of them really that serious."
f. Soccer commentator: "Julian Dicks is everywhere. It's like they've got eleven Dicks on the field."
g. Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers coach: "We're not attempting to circumcise rules."
h. Jim Wohford: "Ninety percent of the game is half mental."
i. Joe Theismann: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."
j. Charles Shackleford of the NCSU basketball team: "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious."
k. Shaquille O'Neal, on his lack of championships: "I've won at every level, except college and pro."

As I already asked before, what can we expect from professional athletes? They often reflect society as a whole. Too much time, money and fame at a really young age can augment stupidity, simple as that. We all say and do dumb things, but thankfully, we don't have microphones and video cameras pointed at us all the time. As Norman Einstein used to say, "Really smart athletes stay away from problems because they can predict the future with their ESPN."

About the Author
Jason OConnor owns and operates Oak Web Works, LLC and also runs www.BestShowTicketsLasVegas.com. http://www.oakwebworks.com http://www.bestshowticketslasvegas.com mailto: jason@oakwebworks.com

Easy And Natural Fitness Tips For A Healthier, More Physically Active You

2008-03-05T23:41:00.001+08:00

If there was ever a fountain of youth for health and vitality, exercise would be it. There are so many health benefits to exercise, it would be impossible to list them all.
However, research has shown that exercise performed on a regular basis decreases the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, breast cancer and high cholesterol.

Furthermore, exercise helps to keep our bones strong well into our senior years and helps to strengthen our hearts and lungs. Additionally, regular exercise eases stress and depression and facilitates sleep and relaxation.

For these reasons, no matter how old you are you should include some form of exercise in your daily life. Physical activity doesn't have to come in the form of a subscription to a fitness club or buying expensive exercise equipment. Instead, you should try to incorporate some sort of physical activities that are a natural part of your daily routine.

The following are some suggestions of ways that you can naturally incorporate physical activates into your daily life:

1) Do some sort of exercise while you watch television. Yoga, strength training or aerobics are all good. Also using small hand weights or walking on a treadmill is something you can do while watching television.

2) Implement a walk with your family after dinner.

3) Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.

4) Take up gardening or another type of outdoor hobby.

5) Play with children! If you don't have any of your own, find a niece or a nephew - you can set aside a regular day for taking them out for some fun activities.

6) Park your car away from where you need to go and then walk to your destination.

7) Get off the bus or a taxi early and walk the rest of the way to your destination.

6) Keep a pair of athletic shoes in your office and your car. This way you'll always be ready for some activity.

7) If you need to take care of errands such as going to the bank or post office, walk instead of driving or taking the bus or taxi.

8) Find a sport that you like and play it with friends, family or neighbors.

9) Play with your pets. Playing with your pets such as dogs or cats is great fun for them and a fun way for you to get some physical activity.

10) Wash your own car. Instead of taking your car to the car wash or paying someone to do it for you, get up early one day out of the weekend and wash it yourself. It will definitely give you a workout!

11) Mow your own lawn. And if you don't have a yard, volunteer to do it for someone in your neighborhood, such as mowing the lawn of an elderly or disabled person.

12) Take up a team sport such as basketball, soccer or football. Research shows that team sports have additional health benefits that playing a sport by yourself does not have.

13) If you work on the computer a lot, instead of sitting on a chair, sit on a stability ball.
Over time, it can help to strengthen your body core and improve your balance and posture - all of which tend to decline as we age.

14) Learn a new activity such as swimming or riding a bicycle.

While it is important to include natural forms of physical activities in your daily routine such as the ones mentioned here, be sure to also schedule in planned exercise workouts as well. Planned workouts may include visits to your local gym or community center twice or three times per week, or it may be exercises that you can do at home or outside such as strength training, jogging or aerobic exercise.

About the Author
If you are serious about getting a fitter, trimmer you, visit Patricia's site at http://www.The-Weightloss-Guide.com where you will find the latest weight loss & fitness information and products.

How a Soccer Transfer Deal Takes Place

2008-03-05T23:40:00.001+08:00

In England, the football transfer window is closing. This usually means a traditional mad scramble on the last day of the season by clubs wishing to bolster their squad for the final half of the season. Often it is clubs struggling at the wrong end of the table that desperately want to sign quality players in order to avoid the dreaded relegation which can cost a club up to 20 million pounds in lost revenue.

So how does a football transfer work? And what is the actual process of a football transfer?

Firstly, a written offer must be made by any club wishing to buy a player that is in contract. What then follows is a cat and mouse turn of events where the two clubs involved haggle over a fee and this can last for a few days, weeks or even months. If a club is also desperate to offload some players then an agent might be brought in to work on their behalf by sounding out clubs who might be interested in the player they want to sell. Often this happens if a player is unhappy or has fallen out with the management of the club.

If a fee is agreed between the two clubs then it is down to the players agent to negotiate personal and financial terms for the player he is representing. The main role of a football agent is to secure the best deal he can for his client so again, this could take hours, days or weeks. Many considerations have to be thought through properly such as whether the player is guaranteed a starting place in the team, the weekly wage and the length of the contract that is on offer.

After the basic contract is agreed upon then the finer details have to be ironed out like players bonuses for appearances, loyalty, signing on fee, image rights, goal scoring or clean sheet bonus. It is only then that the contract is finally agreed upon and the player then decides if he wishes to move. The main criteria for a football player is how many minutes he going to see on the pitch and contrary to popular belief it is not financial.

Young players have a slightly different way of renewing their contract. Most players graduate to first team status by playing through the academy ranks. If a youth player makes more than five first team appearances then his contract is often re negotiated.

Clauses are also an important feature of a football contract. Players these days often insist on having a relegation clause in their contract to secure them playing at the highest level.

Of course the agent does not work for free. He can only be renumerated by one party. And the buying club is usually the fee payer to the agent and this paid by either a lump sum or by annual installments.

Finally, when a football transfer is concluded then documents must be sent to the relevant authorities who include the football association, premier league and if a transfer is concluded outside the premier league then the football league must also be notified. These documents are the players registration, finance agreement between the two clubs and any forms regarding the agent must be submitted.

About the Author
Martin writes exclusive articles for sports websites such as http://www.watchlivefootball.me.uk and http://www.watchlivefootball.me.uk/watchlivecricket.

Watch Live Soccer Online

2008-03-05T22:22:00.001+08:00

Are you tired of not being able to watch live soccer and miss your favourite football team because your cable or satellite subscription does not carry it? Are you a die-hard fan of one of Europe's best football players or, if you are that way inclined, just into the beautiful game because of those even more beautiful players? Whatever drove you to watch live soccer, surely you will be pleased to read this article.

With the advancement in online technology and quite often a minimum amount to pay, you will be able to watch live soccer on your computer providing you have a valid internet connection. You will not have to pay a high-priced cable subscription or shell out for expensive satellite equipment and installation charges.

The internet has progressed beyond recognition over the past few years and many aspects in everyday life rely on internet technology. From medical well being to academic issues, crime management and now sports telecasts, the internet has revolutionised the way we live our day-to-day lives.

With just minimal searching on the internet, it is possible to find websites which enable you watch live soccer online. For a low fee, sometimes one-off, sometimes annual, depending on the service you sign up to, you can watch a plethora of live football on your PC. Football is not the only subject matter you can watch, these websites can also grant you access to sports, comedy, films and music.

It is unlikely these websites actually stream any information themselves. They are more likely to act as a gateway and give you access to links to other services which provide the actual streaming service.

If you are concerned you may not get value for money, have a look on the internet and check the schedules offered by these websites for live streaming football. You will find you can watch most European matches usually restricted to satellite or cable restrictions and membership to one of these sites can grant you access to in excess of 10, 20 or even more matches every single week.

When you have signed up and are presented with a number of links to choose from, watching your preferred match is easy. Most matches are available through Windows Media Player or Real Player but some require specific peer-to-peer applications, but these are all freely available to download.

Once you have all this in place you will be able to access hundreds of local, regional and international broadcasts which can be accessed from wherever you are in the world as long as you are connected to the world wide web. Hours upon hours of entertainment is just a mouse click away!

About the Author
David Walker runs the following websites: http://www.betbonus.co.uk http://www.watchlivefootball.com http://www.footballbettingsystem.co.uk

Soccer Training - Speed Training For Football Game

2008-03-05T22:20:00.001+08:00

So you want more speed in your soccer (football) game to out run your opponents and are at odds at how to go about it. Well, to develop speed to play soccer well is very much different from developing speed say, for a track and field race. Why is this so? That is because you have to develop various types of speed instead of just sprinting speed.

The types of speed you need to develop are:-

?Thinking speed - You must think fast on your feet (pun not intended) and adapt to the furious pace of the game. You are running and thinking at the same time. How to feign a movement, how to create space, which position to run into, who to pass the ball to, to shoot or to dribble or executing strategies from your coach.....etc. The flow of thoughts are endless and are coming fast and furious until the final whistle is blown.

Thinking speed can be developed with a good football coach and by playing competitive soccer game often.

?Acceleration speed - Acceleration speed is crucial. You need to suddenly pick up speed very quickly when your opponents are closing in on you. This sudden burst of speed will catch your opponents unaware or caught them flat footed if your acceleration includes a sudden change of direction.

You can develop acceleration speed by developing strength in your entire lower body. All your leg muscles including your glutes (butt muscles) are recruited when you accelerate. Weight training with squats, lunges, stiff legged dead lift and calf raises are crucial to develop power in your lower body. When your lower body muscles are strong, you can also jump higher when you are going for a heading.

High Interval Intensity training also helps you to develop acceleration speed as well as building up your endurance and power.

? Turning Speed - When you dribble, turn and feign fast, you need to have great body stability and strength. You can only turn fast and powerfully if you have strong and stable core muscles.

To develop powerful core muscles, do crunches, reverse crunches, bridge, plank, side crunches etc. These exercises are to be done slow and deliberate compacting the core every time you breathe out.

When you have physically developed these muscles well, coupled with good skill training and stamina, you will be one hell of a speed demon on the football field.

About the Author
Chris Chew is a fitness personal trainer of actors, pageant winners, models and other celebrities. Get his free "Build Muscles Fast" ebook and health tips at http://www.sgfitness.com and http://www.sgfitnessonline.com

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

The Sport of Soccer is Celebrated as a Worldwide Sensation

2008-03-05T22:19:00.001+08:00

The popularity of soccer should not be discounted. This fast-paced and fun game is loved the world over and its fans are loyal and many. Although not necessarily an all out American favorite, World Cup activity shows just how strong the following is for this sport. There is perhaps no other sport that captures the attention of people around the globe more readily than soccer.

Those who love soccer will find when the World Cup rolls around, celebration on an international scale is in the air. Literally dozens of countries from all over the world send their best teams forward to compete in the cup. With contenders coming from all over Europe, Central and South America and even America itself, this sport is truly an international pastime. Playing in the cup and performing well is a source of pride for many countries. In fact, in some parts of the world, the big games are reason for national celebration.

The frenzy that surrounds the World Cup can be evidenced in the number of commemorative items created for the big event. From T-shirts to video games, when the World Cup logo is included, the item's a sure seller. Every country and every team has its own commemorative items as do the big international games themselves.

But why is soccer so loved on the international scene? It's simple: It's an old game that requires lots of skill, but it's fast-paced enough to be a blast not only to play, but also to watch. A mix of hockey and football with a twist or two of its own, this sport requires agility, endurance and skill to play and master. Its fans appreciate that and they seem to appreciate their teams even more. Soccer commands a passion that few sporting events can boast. Inasmuch, collectibles are a very big deal.

Collectibles that have grown up around the sport include:

* Stamps. Many nations that participate in the World Cup create their own commemorative stamps to celebrate the event. These stamps are generally postage, but such things as kids' stickers and stamps are also available.

* Coasters. World Cup watching and frosty beverages seem to go hand in hand. Inasmuch, World Cup coasters are ideal for soccer watching parties.

* T-shirts, jackets and other articles of clothing. Whether they just tout the World Cup logo or advertise a favorite team, these are hot items for celebrating the games.

* Video games. There are officially sanctioned video games that enable players to take on the control of their favorite teams. Gamers can lead their country's team to victory on the playing field. Their popularity is wildly high.

* Collector's pins. These are a mainstay with almost every major sporting event and the World Cup is no different.

A worldwide sensation that draws very likely more passion from fans than even the Olympics, soccer is a big deal to many countries. Its fans are so avid about watching their teams perform on the field that streaming video is even available on the Internet along with live action viewing of every game in the series. Soccer is just one of those sports that brings out international pride.

About the Author
Find out more about enjoying soccer. http://www.soccerandme.com Shop the best selection of unique sports memorabilia. http://www.sportsmemorabiliashowcase.com

The Evolution and Enjoyment of Soccer

2008-03-05T22:17:00.000+08:00

Not much is known about the first soccer team. However, the Greeks and Romans played football and ball kicking games. The London Football Association developed the first sets of rules in 1863.

British sailors and settlers brought the game to India, South America and Europe. During the late 19th century, soccer was brought to the United States. However, it did not prove popular until after World War I. In 1908, soccer was made an Olympic event. Since 1952, Hungary has won the most gold medals with three.

Even today, although it is an international game, it has been slow to gain popularity as an intercollegiate sport in the USA. It is however, gaining popularity and is being included in physical education programs in many schools. Also, many local communities have started youth soccer leagues for children of all ages.

The game of soccer, or association football as it is properly called, is the Europe's most popular sport. Just about every country in the world plays soccer in some form or another. It is both physically and mentally demanding, requiring athletic skill and quick thinking.

There are many tales about how soccer began. Many civilizations claim that they discovered the sport. There are records of soccer like games having been played in China, Greece, Japan, and Mexico more than 2,000 years ago. Also the The Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) was formed in 1904 as an international governing body.

Today, FIFA, which is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, has more than one hundred-forty member nations and overseas about thirty-nine million players worldwide. France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, and Sweden were the founding fathers of FIFA. In 1905 Germany, Austria, and England joined the organization. At this time there was discussion of the first World Cup.

In soccer there are many rules that have changed. Back in the 1700's the playing field was shaped like a square. There were only four major markings on the field. They were the touchlines, goal lines, halfway line, and the eighteen-yard lines. When the Football Association (FA) was created in 1863, the first uniform rules were made.

FIFA now requires that soccer be played on a rectangular field between one hundred and one hundred-thirty yards long and between fifty and one hundred yards wide. For international matches the field should be between one hundred- ten and one hundred-twenty yards long and between seventy and eighty yards wide.

There are two goals, one placed at each end of the field. They are eight feet tall, eight yards across, and six feet deep. The lines that mark the sides of the field are called touchlines; those that mark the two ends of the field are called goal lines. Also there are five other distinctive lines. They are the halfway lines, the goal areas, the penalty areas, the corner marks, and the center circle.

Soccer players must learn to think for themselves during games. Since there are no time-outs, they hear from their coaches only at half time - and then only for a few minutes. If adjustments in team strategy are needed during play, the members of the team must know enough to make them by themselves. Each player must be adaptable enough to play both offense and defense, to take the responsibilities of a teammate in certain situations. Every player must be prepared to do everything. Soccer provides a fine balance between individual skills and teamwork. Playing winning soccer requires the cooperative effort of eleven men and the individual skills of each, and that's what makes a good soccer team.

About the Author
Pursue your passion for soccer http://www.soccerteamtour.com Expand your sports memorabilia collection http://www.sportsmemorabiliazone.com

Playing Better Soccer

2008-03-05T22:15:00.001+08:00

Meticulous practice, an improved sense of controlling the ball and effective use of the multitude soccer skills during a match differentiates players who can play 'better' soccer from average players who can merely "kick a ball". If you want to become the next Diego Maradona , Ronaldinho or even Tony Philliskirk you need to adopt lightning quick attacking skills, fearless defensive capabilities, powerful shooting, long or short passing and at the top ultimate control over the ball.

Before you can master the game of soccer you need to determine what position you want to play in. There is no doubt that hard practice and complete dedication is necessary to play better soccer. However, soccer practices vary based on the position of a player. If you want to be a goalkeeper and have balls pelted at you at 100 miles per hour all game then your practice will be different than a defender, midfielder or striker. Before considering further soccer coaching you need to have it clear in your mind where on the field you want to play.

Playing soccer like a professional player is quite different and requires practice under the supervision of a fully qualified and licensed soccer coach. To get one of the precious few places at a professional soccer club you have to adopt all types of soccer skills to set you apart from the thousands of other players who think they can "make it".

At the same time, it is important to apply these skills and knowledge during a match. A soccer coach not only trains you but also teaches you to understand soccer sense and understanding of how the game is and should be played. The soccer coach determines the game strategy and subsequently the player's formation. Traditional formations you may be familiar with are a standard 4-4-2, defensive 4-5-1 or more attacking 4-3-3. There are more complicated formations such as the defensive 3-2-2-3 and almost all-out-attack 1-3-3-3 option.

If you can understand a formation and know your role within it, take on board the overall game plan and then use and apply your skills when on the pitch you have the attributes of being a good soccer player. Based on your ability, strength and speed you can judge the best position for yourself on the pitch but it is the coach who can bring the best out of you and guide you in the right direction. Repeated and incessant practice and application of soccer skills are necessary to play better soccer.

Adopting the many different skills necessary to play soccer is the only way you have any chance of becoming a professional. Think back to the best players who you played in school with. Even if they seemed "amazing", statistically they will be extremely lucky if they could play in the lower reaches of the professional game, apart from exceptional circumstances.

If you want to play as midfielder, defender or striker then you must learn both attacking and defensive skills and try to apply them during a soccer match. Attacking skills includes dribbling, kicking, lofting, turning, weighted pass and penetrating opponent's defence through running with the ball. These are common attacking skills which you will find among midfielders and strikers. Defensive skills include making defensive wall during a free kick, redirecting the ball with defensive head and both long and short passes. For goalkeepers, diving and saving or defending a shot by using hand or head are basic techniques. However, in order to be the best goalkeeper, judging which way to dive for a penalty kick and successfully saving a free kick are what sets apart the best from the rest.

There are some general techniques, which are required irrespective of the position. Taking long shot, running without the ball to make space for other teammates, tackling an opponent,, controlling the ball with your chest, thigh, shin and ankle and taking long or short throws are some common techniques of playing soccer.

Apart from practice, you have to maintain a strict and balanced diet. Proper nutrition is essential for keeping your body fit and flexible and all professional clubs have some sort of dietician or nutritionist on the payroll. Like an athlete, you have to run with the ball throughout the 90 minutes, barely having a few seconds to take a break apart from the half-time interval. Only eat the foods recommended by your diet chart and concentrate on your practice - by this, you will develop stamina and the playing techniques necessary to becoming a better, or even professional, soccer player.

About the Author
David Walker runs the following football websites: http://www.betbonus.co.uk http://www.footballbettingsystem.co.uk http://www.watchlivefootball.com

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

The Ultimate Soccer Experience for Greeks

2008-03-05T22:11:00.000+08:00

During the 2004 summer, my home country, Greece had the privilege to be the protagonist in two extremely important and prestigious events in the nation's sports history; the EURO 2004 Soccer Championship and the 2004 Olympic Games. In the EURO 2004 Soccer Championship, the National Soccer Team of Greece gained the title as the new European Soccer Championship and by hosting successfully the 2004 Olympic Games, has proven to the world that it can surpass even the wildest expectations of its critics.

When Theodoros Zagorakis, the Greek national soccer team captain, lifted the Cup of the EURO 2004 Championship, every Greek, all over the world, felt proud to belong to this nation. It is difficult to describe the overwhelming feeling everyone felt that night when the Greek soccer team managed to defeat the national Portuguese soccer team in their homeland, at the national stadium in Lisbon, with a single goal. That hot summer evening, every Greek, man or woman, child or elder, was viewing the most anticipated game in the Greek sports history. The strong heartbeat everyone felt that night was one of the most important moments in every Greek's life.

Soccer is still the beloved sport of Greece and with this unexpected result soccer has managed to overcome social obstacles of age, politics and gender, shaping a new game identity. Nothing similar has ever happened to Greeks. Nothing as powerful, as that single scream of joy, has ever in the contemporary Greek sports history, united so dynamically this nation. For days after this accomplishment, Greeks were still unable to believe the outcome of their national soccer team's efforts and everyone felt the need to celebrate again and again their enormous success. For many critics, extremely important, if not more than the players' efforts, was the presence of Mr. Otto Rehhagel, the German coach of the Greek national soccer team, who managed to become the most familiar and friendly face in the Greek public surpassing the fame and status of all of his Greek soccer colleagues. His management style, his personality and his persistence, became a new national anthem for Greeks, who have made his profile the modern icon for an ancient Greek god.

In this particular meaningful sport event, every Greek felt like their support was projected in the field and their presence felt by the players, influencing every result in the series of the games played, reaching its peak during the final. From the known myths of sports, the 12th man was the classic illusion that promoted the spectators' wishing, screaming and cheering. The eleven contemporary heroes of the Greek national soccer team extended Greece's political culture to its undiscovered limits and cultivated the publics' belief in the 'hidden star-quality' that could illuminate once again everyone's life, as long as opportunity evolves and timing is right. These eleven stars, won a distinct place in the hearts of every Greek, transforming themselves to role models, resembling to the fame and prestige of ancient warriors. From the battlefields of this European Soccer Championship, this team's perseverance, effort and consistency, played the most crucial role in the turnout. Thus, the Greeks will value every minute of those athletes' accomplishment, in many years to come.

About the Author
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles for http://sportsoftheworld.net/ - In addition, Jonathon also writes articles for http://ifitnesscentral.com/ and http://igamerscorner.com/

Want To Be A Great Soccer Player? Practice Makes Perfect

2008-03-05T22:04:00.003+08:00

As an athlete and sports buff most of my life I get sick of hearing people point out an outstanding athlete and say, "He has genetics? or "He was born being able to play like that?. Really, so O.J. Simpson who was suffered from being bowlegged due to vitamin deficiencies was born to be one of the best running backs in American football?

The truth of the matter is that the single thing that makes every great athlete a great athlete is practice. Soccer is no different; the greats Pele, Ronaldo, and Beckham all have this in common. They practiced constantly to the point of exhaustion and beyond. It is practice that gives you both the skill and the confidence to be able to make the passes and the shots that make all the difference in a game. If you want to be a great soccer player then you must commit yourself to daily practice from now on.

The aspect of being in excellent physical condition is another crucial part of soccer with aerobic conditioning being the forefront. If you become tired and cannot run at your peak for an entire game then you need better conditioning. Soccer practice focuses on developing your skill and technique. Your skill is identified as your ability to execute particular techniques which are taught such as a trap, throw, or kick. It is through consistent and regimented practicing that a player is able to develop the skill and confidence to play at a superior level.

Always have a plan for the objectives that you want to meet before you begin your practice sessions. Having an exact format and plan for your time will keep you from wasting time and not knowing what to do next. Have goals that have to be attained, once you attain them set them higher. It is best to have a friend or someone who shares your zeal for the sport to practice with you, especially when you are trying to improve your kicking technique. If you are unable to get someone to practice with you focus kicking a specific area of the ball to make it go where you want. You can also kick the ball into a particular spot on a wall if you don?t have a buddy to kick to.

Another important aspect of soccer is ball control. One good way to practice ball control is to set up cones and zigzag your way through them dribbling the ball and try not to stop or even slow down. This drill will help you when it comes to having to dribble down a soccer field in an actual game where you have to dodge other players.

As with any sport you can also learn quite a lot by watching other players closely. If you have a favorite position, watch a game and focus on that player and learn how he executes his technique. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to becoming a great soccer player.

About the Author
Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find sports collectibles and sports memorabilia at http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Is It Soccer Or Football And Where Did It Begin?

2008-03-05T22:04:00.001+08:00

Of course, diehard fans of Manchester United will tell you that the modern version of football or soccer as it is called by many came into being in England, but others all over the world claim that the invention of the sports belongs to their country.

According to the Chinese, they had a version of the game being played as far back as 7,000 years ago! Theie game was called Tsu Chu and the players would hit a fur stuffed leather ball into a hole. Similar to soccer today hands were not allowed to be used and being on the team was thought an honor.

The Japanese called their idea of soccer Kemari and it is said that it originated about three thousand years ago. Their sport was very much like Tsu Chu of the Chinese and according to history it is said that they actually played a game between the two countries in 611A.D.

The records from the Byzantine Empire show that a version of soccer being played there before the rise of the Roman Empire may be the truest version from ancient times. The Romans and the Greeks had many games that were close to soccer and the game called Harpastum is the game thought to be one soccer could have evolved from.

Believe it or not the ancient Mayans in Pre-Columbia America also had a game similar to soccer. It was actually like a combination of soccer and basketball with small stone hoops placed about ten to twelve feet up and the players had to bounce a ball made of a hard rubber like substance through the hoop without using their hands. This version called Pok t? Pok was also quite violent and the use of weapons was allowed at times. The losing team was beheaded, no worries of a losing streak.

Finally from Britain we get the story of soccer beginning with the beheading of a Danish Prince. It is said that his head was used as a ball and that as he was hated so much that villagers passed around drawings depicting the event with a ball instead of his head and that is how it became a sport kicking the ball into a specified goal or net.

The early sport was extremely violent but very popular all over the country. King Edward III thought it to be so violent that he wanted to ban common people from playing it but that never came to fruition.

About the Author
Gregg Hall is an author and internet marketing consultant living in Navarre Florida. Find sports collectibles and sports memorabilia at http://www.merchandiseforsportsfans.com

How to Kick a Soccer Ball

2008-03-05T22:03:00.001+08:00

How many times have you heard it shouted from the soccer coach's and soccer parents? "Don't kick with your toe, use your laces." Sounds like a simple request, but most people working with youth soccer players find this to be a major stumbling point.

Don't feel bad if you have a soccer player or soccer team that is struggling with the basics of kicking a soccer ball or passing. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the greatest youth coaches that hold a C - A certification and they struggle with the same issue. One of the biggest problems with teaching the correct soccer kick form is that people see this as one simple issue. In our research we found that there are several issues that need to be dealt with.

If you start as we did on the Blast The Ball video, you start with the "evolution of the soccer kick". You MUST learn WHY youth soccer players kick with their toe before you can correct it. Simply telling them to switch to a "lace kick" will not only confuse them and frustrate them, but may also cause serious physical injury.

Pointing the toe DOWN will cause the toe to impact the ground and cause a horrible strain to the top of the foot. This injury will last for several days, but more importantly the psychological impact will last for months. They will fear performing this kick because they know, "it hurts".

Learning how to "shorten the leg" through a V swing and starting with an angle kick is the first step. This allows the soccer player to freely move their foot through the ball without fear of "hitting the ground". Yes this takes time and must be done at a slow pace, but after they learn this method it will be automatic and become a muscle memory.

The next step is to make sure that players get the feeling of LOADING their leg prior to starting the kick. One of the simplest movements yet least understood movements in soccer today is the Soccer Hop. When we show it to professional soccer players, they are simply amazed. They find themselves "soccer hopping" around their living room.

Sadly we often hear many in the youth soccer community say, "kids learn soccer by playing the game". I think this is one of the most detrimental phrases in youth soccer today. How many golfers (hackers) are 60+ years old and still hitting a bad slice? They have over 8000 hours of "playing time" yet haven't learned a thing. On the reverse side, why is it that the top golfers in the world spend hours upon hours at the driving range refining their skills when they are already at the top of their sport?

They understand like we in youth soccer need to understand this important point.
You learn the GAME of soccer by playing the game. It creates overall awareness, creativity and teamwork.
You learn the needed SKILLS to play the game by programming muscle memory and correct swing (kicking) thoughts until they become instinctive.

One of the biggest mistakes I see in youth soccer coaching today is the lack of a "step-by-step system" or understanding to teach players basic kicking skills. When we created www.BlastTheBall.com we were dedicated to making it as thorough as possible. We wanted every soccer player, soccer coach and soccer parent to understand every part of kicking form and ball flight.

Remember that all great athletes work on refining individual movements. They then take those movements to their sport so they can be at the top of their game.

About the Author
Coach V is a specialty soccer trainer working with college and pro soccer teams. He is the founding designer of Blast The Ball soccer training video.

If you are really serious, you might be interested in this package to improve yourself, Youth Soccer Power Unleashed!

Just Play Beach Soccer

2008-03-05T22:02:00.000+08:00

One friend of mine asked me recently why all men are crazy about playing football or what is known in United States as soccer. I am sick of explaining things that you can only understand based on personal experience. But although I managed to provide her with a luminous answer, she came back stating yet another question. "Is it different to play soccer on the grass than to play it on the beach?" That was a good one. "Of course it is different," I replied. Beach soccer, as you can tell by its name, is a sport played on the beaches; preferably during spring or summer time. Although it has been played informally for decades, it was given its official name and rules only recently and specifically in 1992. Since then it managed to become a rather popular sport and I believe that if you really want to learn something about soccer you should better start playing it on the beach.

Playing soccer on the beach is considered by many fans as the paradise of the apprentice. The soft-sand playing surface can correct some usual mistakes for a beginner, as the ball often stacks on it. Actually, the element of sand does only facilitate the efforts of new players, but it is considered a heavy obstacle even for those experienced ones that wish to show off their abilities. Plus the compact pitch -measuring 28 x 37 meters if there is an official beach soccer facility- is by far smaller than the grass field and makes scoring easier, even for players who decide to try it for the first time.

A great advantage of beach soccer is the fact that one needs no special equipment to play it. An adequate size ball and the sand of the beach are more than enough for one to begin exploring this game's unique character. Even when no organized facility on the beach exists, those interested to play beach soccer need only two canes to symbolize the area of a goalpost. Canes or just a pile of clothes are preferable in comparison to heavy stones or even huge blocks of rocks, which can be very dangerous for feet injuries, as shoes are not allowed in this game. Thus, if you are on a sandy beach, it is a sunny day, and you have nine friends willing to join you, you can start playing beach soccer. When you do experience it, let me know if you liked it. Most importantly, let your girlfriend know!

When I finished my lecture about beach soccer my friend seemed excited. "I will play it every single weekend," she said. But before you ask yourselves how much time should you invest in practicing this sport, before you can consider yourselves good soccer players, try playing it for awhile. Since you cannot play beach soccer all year around, unless you move to California or Florida every time you have a beach soccer need, you have to exercise your soccer playing abilities on the actual lawn ground. Believe me when I tell you that it is not that easy there too!

About the Author
Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://outdoorstalk.net/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://recreationandmore.com/ and http://fitnessandourworld.com/

American Football vs European Football

2008-03-05T22:01:00.000+08:00

American football is usually confused with European football. The difference between the two is greatly, but the same use of title can confuse others. The difference between American and European football is simple by definition. Football is used mostly with the hands to control the ball, and the European football is what most people call Soccer. In soccer, you kick the ball and they not allowed using their hands at all. By definition, football is when 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long. Teams try to steal/keep possession of the ball and move across the field to the other teams goal line by running a series of plays. European football or soccer is a game played with a round ball (not diamond shaped like American football).

Again, two teams of eleven players user their body to control the ball to pass the opponents goal line. Soccer is played dominantly with the feet, but can be controlled by other parts of the body like knees, chest, and head. They can use any part of their body by their arms and hands. If they do use the hands, a foul is called the other team gets control of the situation. They only people who are allowed to use their hands are the goalkeepers.

Many soccer games are played on football fields. They are set up the same way except instead of having a huge goal post, they use two goal nets (much like hockey). The games are in quarters that are times. There are four quarters per game and a half time. Usually there are only a minute or two pauses between quarters and the half time is much longer. Soccer games usually do not take as much time as soccer, because there are fewer rules to soccer.

Football is a complicated sport that has flags and penalties for, what seems everything. In soccer, penalties are called but mostly for being offsides or out of bounds. Sportsmanship is a problem in both sports. The two sports are very competitive and can be frustrating to the players. Even though you are not allowed to tackle a player purposely in soccer, some players do tend to collide and when they do, they hit hard.

Soccer and football are much alike in some aspects, but are completely different in others. Either way you look at it, the two sports are just as aggressive and competitive and can be very enjoyable to watch and play.

About the Author
George Wood is a successful webmaster of many popular sites including http://www.cyclingexpert.com and http://www.ellipticaltrainerszone.com. If you want to read more about football, click over to George site at http://www.footballcompass.com.

How Brazil Kids Learn To Play Soccer?

2008-03-05T22:00:00.000+08:00

I will not write here as a specialized soccer guru. My younger son has just 8 yeas old and I have seen him and his friends to ply soccer and thought: how did he and all of those kids learn to play soccer?

Well, frankly, that is a mystery. And that mystery took me as an important question: how Brazil kids learn to play soccer?

I think there is not a simple reply to that question. In fact, if we knew that answer the Brazilian soccer should ever gain the soccer world cup. But, as the entire world knows, it is not right.

However, there are some things that make us intrigued, not because at Brazil we have Pele, widely regarded as one the greatest footballer of all time, either because the Brazil national football team, five times world-wide champion soccer.

This curiosity appear when we see kids playing soccer without shoes, in the streets, improvised fields, of land, sand, gram, wherever, with a sort of unstoppable dribbling and goals.

Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaucho, both so-called the best world futboll player, they played football with special skills since childhood. They are identified as a rising star.

What do they have of fellow creature with millions of Brazilian children? I do think this soccer learning begin around 3 or 4 yeas old. I ask some kids how do they learned to play soccer and they answered me it was with their fathers. Maybe at this age they became conscious about football skills. Anyway, I think the father and a ball as present it takes the boy to awake for the soccer.

Nowadays, we can also say that the girls, in a lesser ratio, are awaked for soccer. But the ratio of boys without a doubt still is bigger.

On the other hand, soccer is a form of socialization of the child. It is a strong element in such a way to make new friendships, even to solidify oldest one. And those friendships can be consider too an element of initiation at the art of to play soccer.

When we observe small football play and we find natural players, making its dribbling, showing its affinities and abilities with the ball, we have to imagine that beyond the soccer schools, the domestic learning environment has been basic in the learning of these children.

In a way, to play soccer with my son is very good and it takes me a sentimental player. My abilities are not the same ones of when I also was a child already, at my first moment of learning of the soccer art. I remember the football play through the street of my house. The memories came to me facing me at my past. But these memories are collated with my present day, when I see my son to give me one dribbling underneath of my legs, to mark a goal and to saying that he is a champion. Well, I do think he is.

About the Author
Wolney H Filho is a warrior home based internet businesses. More information on how to get a complete money making site setup free http://www.tikidum.com/pips . Ideas and opportunities to make money online visit http://www.tikidum.com.

Basic Rules Of Soccer

2008-03-05T21:59:00.000+08:00

Soccer is a very popular and competitive sports game. In this game you have two opposed teams trying to score a goal for their squad by striking the ball into the other side's soccer goal. While this can be a playful and exciting game both to watch and play there are a few basic rules of soccer that need to be followed. These are mainly ways to keep the game from turning roughneck, violent and very dangerous.
In the first part of game you will have two teams who are unforced to play against each other. I know this is common sense, however this is the basic rules of soccer. The very first basic rules of soccer should come into play as soon as both of these teams are on the field. There should be Eleven people on the field at one given time. The rest of the squad should be sitting or waiting on the sidelines waiting to go in and play. They must stay there unless they are required to go on the field.

In the most basic rules of soccer besides having fun you should make sure that you manipulate the ball with the rest of your body. Although this appears to be a simple task, try it, you will soon find out it is challenging. You want to be sure that your hands and arms come absolutely no where near the association football or the other team will get a free turn at performing and your squad will have to begin the defensive attitude soccer ball game.
When you are playing this game you will need to make sure that you don't take on the goal keeper. He almost is considered to be in sacred ground back there at the goal. Another words, goal keepers are well protected by the rules. Doing a move like this will only gain your team a foul. This is a punishment which will let your opponents have a free turn at trying to score a goal. Of all the basic rules of soccer, that of winning the game by having the most goals scored is the end all be all. You must try to reach this by playing fairly, otherwise your team will suffer useful points.
So, what else can be included in the basic rules of soccer? what can you anticipate? You should try and ward off any dive tackles as this can cause hurt to the person that you are tackling. Now, once you become more experienced there are ways to accomplish the same end result as a diving tackle would. Except without the injuries and penalties. Also, you will want to invest in the right soccer equipment that your soccer team approves of. Now there is only one main rule that you will need to remember. From all of the basic rules of soccer this one counts the most - Have Fun!
Well now that you know a few of the basic rules of soccer you can try this game out for yourself. There are many city and state leagues that one can join to start in there soccer endeavors. There are very few rules for you to truly remember but if you want to know some of the other rules that are around for more of the big boys (big matches) soccer games you can see what the FIFA World Wide Web site has about these soccer rules.

About the Author
Bowe is the webmaster and content provide for many informational websites. Please visit his Soccer site at: http://soccer.infoforuonline.com

Soccer Kicks Back

2008-03-05T21:58:00.000+08:00

Soccer has to be one of the original sports games every played by people. I can just imagine cave dwellers kicking around the old soccer ball. Or maybe it was a soccer rock? A soccer coconut perhaps? It's got to be one of the simplest form of sports play imaginable. I mean, really, I kick the ball this way and you try to kick the ball that way. Whether the ball (coconut?) goes more this way or more that way determines the winner. While it may be easy for me to imagine soccer being kicked around by a bunch of caveman sports enthusiasts, the earliest official record of soccer by played was in China about 3000 years ago. Wow, that's like 750 World Cups, if anyone was keeping track.

Ultimate Soccer Header

Soccer is also kind of bizarre, in that it's one of the few sports I can think of where you use your head for more than just strategizing. You actually can use your head to make contact with the ball. Imagine trying that in football (American) or hockey for that matter. Nothing link deflecting a slap shot with the forehead for a game winning goal. Stitches don't hurt that much. Those soccer guys are kinda funny that way. But the ultimate head shot in soccer was a little more bizarre. Gruesome actually. Apparently in more medieval times, the head of a defeated Dannish prince was used as the ball by early day soccer hooligans in the east of England. Yuck. Think I'd be shopping for some new soccer shoes after that match. It's a wonder soccer ever caught on with the Danes after a defeat like that one.

Soccer Wars

As with many games these days, soccer had it's origins on the battlefield. Rival towns would play soccer against each other, with little or no rules, and massive sized teams. Violent, bloody games, with hundreds of people kicking, punching, tripping in an attempt to win the soccer match. Sounds kind of like today, except today, that sounds like a more apt description of the fans instead of the players. You think it's tough being a soccer referee today, imagine a few hundred years ago. At least today, they keep the fans and referees separated. As time went on, and the local authorities realized that banning soccer wasn't going to work, more civilized soccer fans brought rules and order to the game of soccer. Not everyone agreed, and there were some splinter groups that went off and formed derivatives of the game. Rugby was one.

Soccer As Civilized Play

So today we have the modern game of soccer that we even allow our children to play. A far reach from the early beginnings of the sport. Perhaps an analogy can be drawn between soccer and many new forms of expression. In the beginning, things can be a bloody mess, but a few thousand years of civility and anything can be reduced to child's play.

About the Author
For more on soccer visit http://soccerplaylive.com or read other soccer articles at http://foolishmumbles.com/category/golf/

The Passion Of Brazil Soccer

2008-03-05T21:57:00.000+08:00

There are many different types of sports games being played in all parts of the world. Some of these games are more popular than others. The more popular games like basketball, baseball, football and soccer have made their way into the games of other countries. Soccer is one such game that is very significant in Brazil. Brazil soccer is more than just a game it is a national past time.

In Brazil the sport would be considered by some, to be a part of their heritage. Many of the young boys start learning the fundamentals of the game at a very young age. Not to mention that most see it everyday inside their family and on the streets of Brazil.

You will see that for many people in Brazil soccer is a game that does not need a lot of expensive equipment to play. All that is needed is a place to play the game, people who like to play soccer and a soccer ball. As compared to some of the other sports like football or baseball, which requires some expensive equipment. This is a game that can be played on the many Brazilian beaches, the streets and even on playing fields where there are no more soccer games being played.

Brazil soccer is also a way of life for many young Brazilian boys. They play this game in the hopes that they will someday become great soccer players like Pele', Zico, Ronaldo and many others. As these boys mature so does their skills, passion and drive for the game. The determination and discipline these world famous Brazil soccer players have shown is one of the reasons why soccer is very popular in the Brazilian society. This drive and determination has show to every boy growing up that it can be done.

Of course many of the young players also dream of becoming world class soccer players because of the money that can be earned from this game. Now when you watch a Brazil soccer game that is played by the children in the streets you can see many of the traits that propelled famous soccer players like Pele' into the international arena. These boys play for fun with energy, passion and a dream of one day being the best.

There is another reason why Brazil soccer flourishes in the streets of Brazil. The international Brazilian soccer players have decided each in their own way to present the youth of Brazil to soccer. They plant the seed that it is possible for them as well. This is seen by the integration that soccer has in the lives of the youth. Every child who learns to play Brazil soccer has the chance to lead a better life than many can imagine.

So the next time that you watch a game of Brazil soccer look at the faces of these young players. You will see a different kind of face, one that takes passion and love for the game to a whole new level. Somewhere in the game you might be seeing another international soccer participant like Zico or Ronaldo. It is from these humble beginnings that Brazil soccer shows just how good they are in the field of soccer.

Who would have ever though that Brazil soccer which can be played with any type of soccer ball, even one made with socks or soda lids can triumph in the world of soccer. It just goes to show that life can be passionate if you choose for it to be. It just takes a little bit of determination and a whole lot of hard work.

About the Author
Bowe provides free information on a variety of hot topics. Visit his Soccer site and: http://soccer.infoforuonline.com. Get some great free soccer information to get started on your soccer endeavors.

The All Time Greatest Soccer Player

2008-03-05T21:56:00.001+08:00

The sport of soccer, known as football to most of the world, has produced some great soccer players over the past years. Perhaps the most famous of all is Pel?, who amazed the world with his incredible ability to maneuver the ball in a way it hadn't been done before. Pel? retired more than twenty five years ago but he is still a household name on the lips of soccer players and fans around the world. His story of rising from poverty in Brazil to soccer superstar is a source of inspiration for young soccer players everywhere.

Another soccer great is Pavel Nedved. Pavel is well known both in his homeland of the Czech Republic and around the world as one of the youngest soccer players of all time to make a lasting impression. Pavel played for Sparta in the 1990's and scored many goals for the team from 1992 to 1995.

The world has seen many players who have been the focus of extreme soccer skills, but none so well known as Zinedine Zidane. Zidane was born in Algeria in 1972 and after struggling in school for several years he decided that soccer was his main interest. He was spotted at the age of sixteen by a soccer scout and very quickly found himself in Cannes. Shortly after that Zidane was playing for the French Division, scoring goal after goal and becoming the star of the team.

Today one of the most popular soccer players is David Beckham, who is the star of Great Britain when it comes to the game. At sixteen Beckham was playing for Manchester United team and was already attracting the attention of soccer scouts around the world. Beckham's incredible talent found him on England's World Cup Team in 1997. His handsome looks and boyish attitude make him one of Britain's favorite celebrities.

The world of soccer continues to give us up and coming stars, but none can ever rival the status that the above players have earned.

About the Author
James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Find out more at www.best-in-soccer.com.com.

How To Learn Soccer Tricks

2008-03-05T21:27:00.001+08:00

Let's face it, even if you're not much of a soccer player, knowing how to handle a few soccer tricks can mean a world of difference in your friends circle. Improving on your soccer tricks and skills isn't just for impressing your friends and the ladies though. They can also get your match performance to a higher level, because they're surprising and effective.

I can give you a lot of examples on that part: remember when Ronaldinho first started to perform his famous Elastico move? (flicking the ball with his outside of the foot to the left, then quickly cutting it with his inside) Nowadays, a defender that's facing Ronaldinho in a one versus one duel will surely be careful against this move, but when the Brazilian had just invented it, it was extremely surprising and he managed to create havoc whenever his Elastico would work.

I'm not saying you'll be able to perform as well as Ronaldinho after you learn soccer tricks like that, but it can definitely give you a surprising edge in a match situation.

Another great example of soccer tricks and skills that can make a difference is Zidane's 360 spin. Although it's a very effective and simple move, it wasn't until Zizou popularized it that players all over the World actually used it in matches.

So, if you learn soccer tricks, you'll be able to gain an edge on your opponent, but that probably wasn't that hard to figure out anyway. The real question is HOW to do soccer tricks and how to learn them correctly. Here's what I would suggest.

Try to have a step-by-step approach when you learn soccer tricks, categorizing them on difficulty levels. Start with the basic ones, move on to advanced moves and once you get both these categories well under your boot, try out those special few that are extremely hard to master.

Obviously, if you're practicing these moves by yourself, or with the help of a friend, you'll be able to perform them with no or little resistance, which is rarely the case in a real match (and if there's no resistance, why would you perform them in a match anyway?). So besides practicing the actual move, you'll also have to work on the timing of your soccer tricks and skills.

A couple of basic moves could include: the Zidane 360 spin, the stop and go, the Puskas V-move or the fake shot dribble.

Under the advanced category, you could try the Cruyff move, the stepover and double stepover or the Scotch.

Moves that are quite difficult to master and are better off left for last, include: Ronaldinho's Elastico move, the "Brazilian" rainbow move or the Van Persie sweep.

Start off with the basic ones and practice them thoroughly, until you feel you've mastered these soccer tricks. Of course, when you move on to the advanced moves, these will take a lot longer to get a solid grip over, but you will have had already built some basic ball control skills from the basic dribble.

More difficult dribbles like the Elastico, or the rainbow kick will take a while to get a grip on, but don't get discouraged if you keep failing on executing them! With enough practice, there's no trick that you won't be able to handle। The only thing that kills learning a specific trick is saying "I can't do this" and cutting it off your list.

Author: Niv Orlian

Soccer Coaching Where Do I Start?

2008-03-05T21:25:00.001+08:00

Soccer has been the sports lifeline of many countries including the United States. The love of the game is so intrinsic that parents provide soccer equipment and soccer gear to their kids at a very tender age. Guided by such soccer parents, some children are given a soccer ball as soon as they learn to walk, some even earlier. In some cases, this is the first exposure kids have to the game of soccer.

However, for the right grooming to play professional soccer, it is imperative that soccer coaching be provided at a young age. A youngster with the right soccer training can be groomed to be a quality player and more importantly a better student of the game. It is all about learning the tactics of the game where you learn not only the skills of how to make a great pass, score an incredible goal, dribble by someone with ease; but also to develop strategies to win which is the ultimate aim.

Soccer enthusiasts however, stress on that aspect of soccer coaching, that the ultimate goal of the players in the learning period is not to focus on match results but to work towards creating a level of confidence and comfort with the ball. It is imperative that a youth soccer player loves the game and works on improving skills with regular soccer drills.

Soccer drills are excellent training modules which playing width, defending and tackling, attacking and shooting, goalkeeping, heading, aggression (physical contact), transition and small-sided games. Soccer coaching can be influential in molding youth soccer to the pinnacle of glory.

Experts of the game agree that it is essential to be able to finish off an attacking movement. Many soccer coaches are found to overlook this important aspect of the game and as a result finishing technique suffers. As a result, many players even after having completed the soccer training sessions are found to have never learned to finish off attacking movements, leading to failed opportunities and disappointment.
An insightful soccer coach teaches the finer nuances or the accuracy in the finishing technique. This accuracy is adjudged to be more responsible in deciding the outcome of a match than the power to hit hard. Good soccer coaching always incorporates the art of finishing in the soccer drills.

At the same time it is also essential that soccer parents impart ethical values in their kids without being intrusive enough as not to over-shadow the influences and training offered during soccer drills. To summarize, soccer coaching is all about grooming the future soccer superstars.

The problem for most people is that they do not know where to start. If you are a new parent or a new soccer coach it is difficult to find everything you need to know in the one place.

You need to find someone that has been there done that both as a soccer parent and as a soccer coach।

Author: Murray Peck

Jewelry In Ancient Rome

2008-03-05T21:15:00.000+08:00

Jewelry (joias) is a fascinating fashion accessory that has been popular from ancient times. It has played a variety of roles including political, religious and ornamental, and jewelry artefacts have helped modern historians shape pictures of the daily lives of ancient civilisations.

Jewelry in ancient Rome is no exception. There are literary accounts and pictorial depiction such as in the Regina tombstone, plus an abundance of other artefacts available that help us to understand the role jewelry played during this fascinating time.

Jewelry (joias) was worn by men and women though it was subject to conventions of the time; particularly with regards to the appearance of men. Male jewelry was typically practical in nature. Men usually wore a single ring. The ring would serve a functional purpose. Typically a signet ring, the male jewelry item was used to seal official documentation. The male signet ring was initially iron but was later produced in gold as it displayed status and wealth more clearly.

Other practical uses of the signet ring included the inlay being a type of key for a strong box. Literary evidence suggests that propriety regarding male jewelry (joias) was ignored by a minority of fashion fanatics, as with any other social group. Trends and attitudes also changed from the time of Emperor Augustus. The emperors were established with official state clothing during his reign which included jewelry as a display of status and power.

Jewelry also had a protective function in ancient Rome. Boys wore an item of jewelry known as a bullah. This was worn from being a baby. It was worn around the neck and was a form of chain with a pouch which contained an amulet. This was a jewelry item worn by most classes, but the rich upper class had bullahs made of gold. The amulet was often phallic in design, as boys were considered to be the stronger species and so needed protection. Another jewelry (joias) item worn by boys was a small gold ring which was again carved with a phallus for good luck

With regards to women, jewelry (joias) was first and foremost a display of wealth and status. Women had no obvious status distinction through their dress like Roman men. Therefore, hairstyles and jewelry were the only distinction possible. The importance of jewelry to the status of women is apparent through certain historical events. When the Oppian law was passed in 195BC curbing the use of jewelry and suggesting it be handed over for war materials, women demonstrated against this in the streets. During the campaigns of Marcus Curellius, women chose to donate their jewelry (joias) to get enough gold to send a huge gold vase as an offering to Delphi. Their behaviour was rewarded with speeches at funerals which had previously been only for men.

The type and amount of jewelry worn by women varied, but the richest women were the most flamboyant in terms of amount and style. Amber jewelry (joias) was only worn by lower class women and was thought vulgar by the wealthy who favoured gold jewelry. Other items used to make jewelry include pearls, coloured glass beads and polished stones. These would be inset in gold and would vary in size and style, depending upon status. It was possible to tell a lot about a woman in ancient rome by the jewelry she wore.

The types of jewelry worn include necklaces with adornments such as pendants, amulets. Fibula which are similar to safety pins were used as fasteners and so were often adorned to make them a piece of jewelry that was both function and beautiful. Earrings were popular and came in both hoop and drop styles. Rings were usually inset with stones or carvings.

Particularly popular jewelry (joias) items were engraved gems which were referred to as intaglio. These were gems such as carnelian, jasper and chalcedony that had a sunken or engraved image, created with the use of wheels and drills.

Tomb jewelry findings suggest that bracelets were usually worn in pairs with one on each arm. Some tombs have revealed up to 7 items of jewelry on each arm which shows how the conventions for men and women differed. Even gold thread hairnets have been discovered.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author's name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

About the Author
This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/joias.php Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

How Jewelry Can Help With Charity

2008-03-05T21:14:00.000+08:00

Jewelry (joias) is a common fashion item, worn by men, women and children alike regardless of social status. It is used for adornment and as a show of wealth or position around the globe. It is produced in thousands of tonnes every year, ranging from simple beaded jewelry to expensive and intricate gold pieces. It makes a statement about the wearer, and was as much a part of society in ancient times as it is in modern living.

However, recent trends towards the environment and economical situations worldwide have enabled jewelry (joias) to be used in a much more important way than mere investment or adornment. It is now being used to assist good causes and aid charities with funding.

The concept of charity is long established in the fashion industry, and now there is an influx of similar events around jewelry design, manufacture and production. Charity jewelry (joias) is a fantastic choice for many reasons. The obvious reason is that it raises money for a good cause. However, on another note it is often designed by famous designers at a fraction of the cost. It is often limited edition or unique in design, with each piece being hand made. It is a beautiful gift but has the added value of aiding a good cause. In time, the piece will become collectable.

One way in which jewelry (joias) is helping good causes is through charity events such as fashion shows. These fundraiser shows support specific causes with a donation of sales going to the named charity. Other features include famous designers providing designs for free to attract interest, or other famous names donating pieces to jewelry auctions with the funds donated.

Awareness jewelry is also a popular approach, with all major charities such as cancer research selling pin badges, ribbons and charity bands for small donations.

Another way in which jewelry (joias) is helping charities is through non profit charity organisations. These organisations encourage communities in need of financial assistance to create jewelry based on attainable natural resources including seeds, wood and semi precious stones such as jade. This enables communities in need to raise money which can be invested in areas that require urgent funding.

One such example is uniteforsight.org based in Africa. This charity supports rural villages and refugee camps by selling their handmade jewelry (joias) over the internet with the money that is raised funding their own eye care expenses. Other examples include organisations which work globally to rebuild lives of children and women at risk. The products are made by the people that receive the funds, creating employment and money raising opportunities.

Fair trade is a recognised organisation which is backed by the world leaders of the richest countries. They ensure that the jewelry (joias) they sell contains materials that respect conservation areas, that products replanted where possible and that any hazardous waste materials are disposed of correctly. This aids regeneration whilst ascertaining fair prices and employment for third world producers of jewelry and materials. There are 40,000 traders in America alone producing fair trade products, which include linens, food and jewelry. Products can be bought on the high street and are available also online for better marketing and availability.

Jewelry makers are also looking at the resources used. Precious metals are limited and so the amount released for the purpose of jewelry making is monitored yearly. It is environmentally safe as it is recycled as heirlooms and collectables. This means that jewelry (joias) is not destroying the earth supplies. Mining is safer for workers and the environment in modern day also. Another popular trend is to use natural and sustainable ingredients such as seeds, wood and semi precious stones, with recycled packaging.

About the Author
This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/joias.php Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

Selling Artisan Jewelry Online

2008-03-05T21:13:00.002+08:00

In the olden days of the Internet (early 1990's), that books, movies and music would sell well online, but crafts, jewelry and clothing, would not. In recent reports, retail jewelry sales have jumped as much as 250% in the first quarter of 2007. This jump is not necessarily in the area of one-of-a-kind or limited edition artisan jewelry, but it does indicate a movement toward a buying attitude by the public.

Your potential online artisan jewelry customer is a savvy individual who can easily access a wide range of jewelry artisans' work and compare them. She will understand that artisan jewelry is designed and made by an artisan and will be unique. This customer expects the best in craftsmanship, quality materials and service for her money.

Jewelry can be a very personal and emotional purchase. It can be particularly difficult to sell online as it can be difficult for your customer to get an idea of the actual color, craftsmanship, weight and size of a piece without seeing it. Since the character of artisan jewelry is that it is unique and frequently one-of-a-kind, it may be hard for your potential customer to relate it to a known item like production jewelry and get an idea of what the piece is really like.
Here are some other difficulties for those of us who sell our artisan jewelry online.

1. Of course, getting traffic to your site is the first hurdle for the online jewelry artisan.
2. The site should offer something of value to the visitor beyond just an advertisement.
3. It is difficult to present an accurate impression of color, size and detail when buying a piece of jewelry online.
4. The site visitor needs to trust your credibility to buy from you.
5. Payment security is a big issue for online buyers.
6. The buyer will want to see your guarantee, returns and privacy policies.

Your website and your online interactions with the customer can alleviate any uncertainty the customer holds and guide her in a decision as to which piece can best fit in her jewelry collection or match a particular outfit.

Building and maintaining your site will take about half of your time and marketing the site will take the other half. You are looking for potential buyers, not just other jewelry artisans who are looking for inspiration, so you need to know your customers and how to access them online. Online marketing is a huge subject that ranges from search engine optimization of the site itself to networking online and even to writing for other websites to gain those all-important incoming links. It is an area that is changing rapidly and we will explore some of these avenues in subsequent articles.

Content is the currency that visitors expect and will help keep them as repeat visitors to your site. Your site needs load quickly, be easy to navigate and present your jewelry accurately. Along with the jewelry, provide articles on jewelry, gemstone or fashion-related subjects. This will build your credibility as well as helping you establish your expertise in your subject.

Show the piece from various angles and tell the story of each piece - the inspiration, materials, techniques and measurements. Explain the differences between artisan made and production jewelry and how this benefits the customer. Colors are not necessarily the same on each monitor, and this should be noted. Offer a mailto so your site visitor can ask any questions. If you do get a question about a piece, answer the email immediately and consider adding the answer to the description of the piece.

Check your site for grammar and spelling errors, as this greatly affects your credibility. If a person sees a shoddy site, she may expect to see shoddy jewelry. Be sure your links work properly and that the site is up-to-date. If you have a show calendar, keep it current. Orphaned or neglected websites destroy your image as a credible merchant and artisan.

Your returns, guarantee and privacy policies must be readily accessible on your site. Payment should flow flawlessly. If there is a glitch in the payment process or it is not secure, your carefully cultivated buyer will just drop the purchase and leave.

Contact your customer soon after the date you expected the piece to arrive to see that it arrived safely. This always seems to surprise buyers, but leaves them knowing that you are standing behind your piece and want to continue the relationship.

About the Author
Louise Coulson has combined her experience (webmaster to 25 domains at once) with changes in Internet marketing. Her focus is now Internet marketing for artisans. Her eBook, Website ShowCase is an artisan's guide to website development and marketing. She is webmaster for www.jewelryspectrum.com and www.wireweavers.com.

Wedding Jewelry - An Important Part Of Your Wedding Dress

2008-03-05T21:13:00.001+08:00

If your wedding day is approaching, there is no doubt that most of your time has been occupied with preparing for the special day. Deciding who is coming, what type of dress you should get designed, your style of shoes, the bridesmaid dresses, and arrangement of flowers are just the beginning!

And of course, let's not forget the wedding jewelry!

Wedding jewelry forms one of the most important parts of the wedding. Let's face it; out of everything that happens that day, it's the wedding rings that continue on as a reminder of the event. Since weddings are seeped in tradition, particular use of jewelry on this day has also been an age old tradition, such as wedding rings and bridesmaid gifts. So it's important that you plan your jewelry and spend sufficient time in purchasing exactly what you want.

The first wedding jewelry always on the mind are the wedding rings. No wedding is complete without the wedding rings because the ceremony includes the exchanging of rings between the bride and groom. Wedding rings are the symbol of your love towards the person you are going to spend your life with. The age old tradition says that wearing wedding rings on the left hand prevents your love from escaping.

Though gold rings have in the past been the most preferred metal for weddings, these days there are variations that include a mixture of metals such as silver and platinum, or yellow gold and white gold. You can even choose to have gold rings studded with gems just for something unique.

The wedding rings for the bride and the groom need to be selected according to taste. Some brides and grooms decide to have matching ring sets while others go for completely different styles; one may be plain and the other a more intricate design.

Once you've purchased your perfect wedding rings, the other jewelry you may decide to buy are necklaces, bracelets, or earrings for the bridesmaids; cuff links for the best men; and possibly a new type of wedding jewelry - the groom's watch. If you're interested in the tradition behind the wedding jewelry, go online to find out the historical history behind the gift giving.

If you do decide to go for the traditional yellow gold you need to decide whether you want 9K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. The K stands for 'karat' or 'carat' and that refers to the gold content of the metal used. The carat measures the proportion of pure gold and other metal alloys mixed with it.

The higher the proportion of gold used the more expensive and valuable the wedding jewelry will be. Most men's wedding rings will be in 9K, 14K, or 18K for hard wearing. Antique wedding rings often come in the softer 24K gold.

When choosing the wedding jewelry for the groom, keep in mind his interests and taste. Ask him which metal he would like to have in his wedding jewelry. Confirm if he would like to have plain metal jewelry or jewelry studded with stones and diamonds.

Sometimes, there are sets of engagement rings and wedding rings. These look very smart together and are often designed to fit into each other like jig-saw pieces.

When choosing the wedding jewelry accessories, remember the type of dress you're wearing, your hair style, and also the neck cut of your outfit. All these are important when choosing your jewelry pieces as your jewelry must compliment what you are wearing.

Do not mix up your wedding jewellery. It doesn't look good if you have a necklace made of platinum while your ring is made of gold. Be it gold, silver or platinum try to have all the jewelry of the same metals and design style.

By choosing the proper wedding jewelry, you can make your day even more memorable for your bridal party. As a special event in your life, wedding jewelry is a reminder of this memorable day.

Summary:

Wedding jewelry forms one of the most important parts of the wedding. Since weddings are seeped in tradition, particular use of jewelry on this day has also been an age old tradition, such as wedding rings and bridesmaid gifts. So it's important that you plan your jewelry and spend sufficient time in purchasing exactly what you want.

About the Author
Brooke Hayles Check Out More Helpful Information About Wedding Jewelry For FREE! Visit http://www.weddingjewelryvault.com/ Now!

Choosing Wedding Rings

2008-03-05T21:10:00.000+08:00

The first piece jewelry that springs to mind with wedding jewelry is a wedding ring. Which wedding ring do you choose? Which pattern? Which metal? Well we have searched the web to give you all of the options to choose from on this one site.

For many people, their wedding ring may be the most expensive or even the only piece of jewelry that they will wear or own. Therefore it is important that the right ring is chosen out of the thousands that are available. The choices are almost endless but I will try and give you a few.

Wedding rings are traditionally worn on the left ring finger because it was believed that the vein in that finger went straight to the heart. Nowadays, the tradition still exists even though modern medical technology has proven the belief wrong. In some parts of the world the wedding band is worn on the right hand ring finger, places such as Norway, Germany, Poland, India or Russia.

The metal the ring is made from is the first and most obvious choice. This can be out of a variety of metals including yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, titanium and platinum.

White gold is an alloy of yellow gold and is also measured in carats.

Rose gold is a gold and copper alloy with a reddish color so mainly used for specialist jewelry. Rose gold is also sometimes known as red gold or pink gold.

Titanium is a light, strong, corrosion-resistant metal white a white silvery metallic color. Titanium is as strong as steel but has only 60% of it's density so it is much lighter.

Platinum is a heavy gray white metal resistant to corrosion. Platinum is more precious to gold and it price varies along with it's availability, normally just under twice the price of gold.

These metals are used on their own, but often white and yellow gold, or two other metals or colors are used together in the same ring to give it an extra special effect, this would be called a two tone ring, sometimes three colours are used in a tri-colored ring.

It is a good idea to have your engagement and wedding ring made out of the same metal if they are going to be worn next to each other. This is because over a period of time a harder metal such as 9ct gold would wear down a softer metal such as 18ct gold.

Many different patterns are available in wedding rings, such as a plain band or a twisted pattern or engraving. Rings can be made of several bands intertwined together so that they move around each other even though they are as one ring. Some of the names of different styles of wedding rings are braided, hammered, Celtic and diamond.

Celtic jewelry is available in many different forms and designs such as Celtic knotwork. The most popular form of Celtic jewelry is the Celtic ring which many people choose for their wedding rings or bands, engagement rings, promise rings and also friendship rings.

Some couples have their names and the date of the wedding engraved into their wedding rings to strengthen the symbolism and sentimentality of the rings as they become family heirlooms.

Wedding rings can cost anything from only a few dollars to thousands upon thousands of dollars. It depends totally on what you are buying, what your budget is and what sort of quality you are looking for.

Wedding rings can be tailor made to suit you, you could choose precious stones to be set into your ring, such as diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies and many more. Birth stones are a personal touch to a ring also as a special idea.

I hope these ideas have helped you along your way to choosing the perfect wedding rings for you and your partner.

About the Author
Shelley Green is the owner of http://www.weddingjeweleryonline.com, a site that specializes in wedding jewelry including wedding rings, engagement rings, wedding resources, cufflinks, bridesmaids gift ideas and much much more.

The Purchase Of Diamonds Online

2008-03-05T21:09:00.002+08:00

Considering all of the opportunities for scams as regards diamonds, buying diamonds online seems beyond belief! Regardless, you really can buy diamonds online, free of any concerns as long as you are prudent.

Initially, consider your reasons for deciding to acquire the diamond online, as opposite to buying a diamond from a nearby jewelry outlet. The topmost common reason is value. Due to low running expenses , online jewelers and wholesalers are free to sell at greatly reduced prices. Regardless, you certainly have to be cautious because if a price is too low it could be a definite sign of a swindle.

One of the ideal bonus's regarding purchasing online is the almost inexhaustible choice . If you are shopping ' in the real world ', you are restricted to the offerings, in the stores, in their sales room. Online, there are no restrictions. But again, you should use a considerable amount of time and care prior to handing your hard earned money to some person you cannot see and , in all probability, have never even met!

Prior to shopping, study as much as you can regarding diamonds, in particular the type and quality of the cut, the depth of color, the overall clarity and carat weights. Now you are informed on the general aspects of diamonds, it definitely will be harder for a con man to rip you off. When you learn even more about diamonds, you will be prepared to begin shopping.

Dont be hasty. Ensure you take your time. Don't buy the very first diamond you see , even though it greatly interests you. Instead, shop for comparable diamonds for sale. Do compare prices while shopping to discover the best prices.

Now you discovered the best price, begin your analysis. You have learned a lot about diamonds, you've discovered a diamond which you adore, and you've discovered the best price but you are a long a ways off from really purchasing the diamond! Ask the seller about his, or her, credentials, such as any recognised jewelry associations they are a member of. Look at ,and run off on a printer, the dealer's product returns, refunds, and possible upgrade, policies.

Also ask about other beneficial services, such as stone settings and types of mountings, sizing, and no cost shipping and handling charges. Do a research for buyer reviews, on the business, on the Internet. It's a good idea to check the Better Business Bureau Online to see if there are, or have been, any complaints.

Ask for a diamond grading statement from an autonomous laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You most certainly should see the report prior to buying a Diamond. Lastly, use a respected escrow service for top-dollar diamonds preferably one which will value the diamond while it is in their keeping. The dealer sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you make available the fee, to pay for the diamond, to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the fee to the dealer.

Quite simply this is the surest way to defend yourself! Ensure you use a respectable escrow service! They will provide accurate details of 'your stone' and its value. This will provide confirmation of your own researches.

Its a double pleasure. You learned all there is to know about the Diamond, you purchased that Diamond and had confirmation that the work you put in led to you purchasing the very best Stone, at the very best price. A job well done.

About the Author
David Hill is known for his forthright views and deep knowledge of all subjects he writes about. Many of his Articles can be found here; http://www.articlepro.co.uk/international/

Why Feathers Are The Hottest Accessory For This Season's Weddings!

2008-03-05T21:09:00.001+08:00

Believe it or not, feathers are making a serious comeback when it comes to wedding style and if you are a bride who wishes to make a statement, then base your wedding theme on feathers and you won't go wrong.

The best way to get maximum impact is to go for a pure white wedding theme filled with bundles of pure white feathers. These can be used in bouquets, on the wedding cake, in hairstyles, attached to napkins and wedding favour boxes and even scattered on tables!

And don't think you can go overboard with feathers, especially if you are sticking to one colour, or maybe 2 colours depending on their shades.

So, if you wanted to introduce some baby blue or baby pink feathers to the white, that would look fine. But, if your colour theme is green and you want to start adding orange feathers, this could end up looking gowdy. If your colour theme is more exotic in nature, best to stick to just one colour of feather and make this your only accessory - no scattered petals or foil confetti on tables, keep floral arrangements simple and ensure shoes and jewellery are plain and unfussy.

Feathers are making such a come back because a feather themed wedding really brings purity, love and romance back into a wedding day. By nature, feathers are gentle, soft and warm, just like the perfect marriage. They represent peace and purity which forms the great basis of a wedding theme.

Even as early as the wedding invitation stage, why not send guests arty invitations finished with a simple feather? This will give them a taste of things to come. Then, when it comes to the big day itself, it's up to you how far you want to carry the theme.

Personally, I feel that feathers entwined with floral bouquets, soft marabou feathers in hairstyles and plenty of loose feathers for use around the reception rooms is adequate. When it comes to feathers, less is most definitely more!

When it comes to the wedding cake, if you are going for a pure and simple theme, ask for your cake decorator to ice the cake simply. Why not go for a pure white iced wedding cake scattered with feathers to match your theme?

So, if your theme is baby pink and white, locate a scattering of soft marabou feathers in pink and white across the cake. Keep some spare for scattering around the cake table. Ensure the theme is continued on the guest tables and scatter more of the feathers around crisp white table linen.

If you are having central floral arrangements, speak with your florist and see if feather sprays can be inserted into the arrangements. It might be a good idea to show her what you mean first, so that it's in keeping with your other design ideas.

To complete the look, fill delicious favour boxes with yummy favour fillings to complement your theme. Top them off with a simple feather decoration and simple favour tag. Name the tags and these will make stunning place settings for your guests!

About the Author
This article is brought to you by World of Wedding Favours - Offering brides high quality wedding favours and bomboniere at low-cost prices - please visit: http://www.World-of-Wedding-Favours.com

Wear Your Gold Pendant And Flaunt It

2008-03-05T21:08:00.000+08:00

A gold pendant is an ornament or charm (worn for protective or magical power) made of gold that hangs from a cord or chain worn around the neck. Even Necklaces have pendants.

Practical tips to purchase Gold Pendants

? Most gold jewelry manufactured in the U.S. is marked ''14K'' which means that the actual gold content in it is 58.3 percent. As pure gold is designated as 24-karat; hence, a 14-karat item consists of 14 parts gold and 10 parts of another metal known as an alloy which works out to 58.3 percent pure, unalloyed gold. The added alloy serves two purposes - They make the jewellery durable and reduce the prices greatly thereby making it affordable too.

? Sometimes gold pendants also come with the marking ''14KP''. Here ''P'' stands for plumb, meaning the pendant is exactly 14 parts pure gold.

? On the other hand if a gold pendant is engraved ''999'' it means it is a pure gold pendant which equivalent to 24-karat gold. ''999'' is the European designation for pure gold. Also sometimes more plentifully available in the market are European-manufactured pendants marked ''750'' which is equivalent to 18-karat or 75 percent pure gold. Actually, it is the 14K gold that is much popular in the US.

? The heft or weightiness of a gold item is measured in terms of Pennyweight. One troy ounce equals 20 pennyweights which equals 31.1 grams. Ounces and grams are the most common weights used in the U.S. and when you see prices quoted on pendants, such as $20 per gram it should be kept in mind that finished items, such as jewelry, have an artistic value that may be actually greater than the actual value of gold in it.

? Interestingly there are a few who would like to buy Gold in colors other than its natural yellow color which also has become quite a fashion. The most popular is the green gold. When gold is alloyed with metal combos like silver, zinc and copper, these metals contribute a subtle greenish tint. Only Copper is used to make pink gold and nickel is often used in white gold.

? Gold-plated items contain very thin topcoats of gold of about seven-millionths of an inch in thickness. Some better quality gold-plated items may also have more than the minimal 0.000007inch coating.

? Rules prescribe that the gold filling of an item should be at least 1/20 or 5 percent of the total weight of the item. Gold content must be stamped on items -- for example: 1/20 14K GF means the gold content is 14-karat and makes up one-twentieth of the total weight of the item.

About the Author
NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his websites http://www.gold-bracelet.info/sitemap.php, http://www.gold-bracelet.info/wholesale-gold-bracelet.php and http://www.onemoretopic.info

How To Pick the Ideal Engagement and Wedding Jewelry

2008-03-05T21:06:00.000+08:00

Jewelry holds a special place in the celebration of a marriage. Jewelry is used to symbolize a couples love for each other, representing a lasting bond between the two people. Wedding and engagement jewelry is also there to make sure you look great on your wedding day! When planning for your big day, there are three main kinds of wedding or engagement jewelry options that you should be considering.

Engagement Rings

This is the thing that will start the whole process off . The engagement ring, representing the promise of marriage. While alternative gemstones are becoming more popular, you can never go wrong with a traditional diamond engagement ring. If you are a potential groom who wants to present a traditional diamond engagement ring to your significant other, there are three main types to choose from. The simplest, and perhaps most elegant, is a diamond solitaire ring, which is a single diamond set on a gold band. This basic design can be spiced up a bit by adding accents, which are smaller gem stones placed around the main diamond. Finally, a diamond three-stone ring, representing the couples past, present, and future is also very popular and attractive.

Wedding Bands

Wedding bands (or wedding rings) are exchanged at the wedding ceremony to represent the couples life long commitment to each other and the marriage. For this reason, your wedding bands may be some of the most important things you ever buy, since all of your relationships love and respect will be bottled up in them. Wedding bands are usually plain for men and women, although some women will now inset diamonds or other gemstones into their wedding band. The main decision you have when choosing a wedding band is whether you want gold or platinum. Whatever you decide, it is best to keep in mind what the band will look like matched with the engagement ring.

Your Wedding Day Jewelry

To add an extra bit of style and pizzaz on your wedding day, consider getting some wedding day jewelry. This can involve anything from a tiara or necklace for the bride, to new cufflinks for the groom. If you are concerned about costs, given the nature of wedding day jewelry you can likely get away with high quality costume jewelry. After all, you could spend a lot of money on a new tiara and never really find the right opportunity to wear it again.

Picking the Perfect Engagement or Wedding Day Jewelry

There are a few common steps you should take no matter what type of wedding or engagement jewelry you are thinking of purchasing. The most important thing is to take your time, do not just rush into a store and pick the first thing that catches your eye. You are going to be wearing this jewelry for the rest of your life, so you want to make sure it is something you will be happy with. You also want to ensure yourself that you are only buying jewelry of the highest quality, no matter how much you like your piece, if it is of lower quality, it will not last.

About the Author
Steve Dolan has worked with some of the most exclusive jewelers to select engagement and wedding jewelry. Find out more at http://www.hotjewelryweb.com/weddingengagement. For more on pearls visit our sister site http://www.pearlswebsite.com

Looking For An Engagement Ring? Antique, Vintage or Coloured? The Choice Is Yours

2008-03-05T21:05:00.000+08:00

Today, most people opt for a diamond engagement ring. However, your options are endless when it comes to designing a custom ring that is appropriate to you and your future spouse. Your choices of metals, precious and semi-precious stones and millions of combinations are limited only by your desires and imagination. If you are a celebrity or you are rich then things can go up a size or two.

For example, Priscilla was engaged to Elvis Presley with a 3.5 carat diamond ring that was circled by another 21 smaller diamonds and diamond chips. Sharon Stone was given a three diamond, 3 1/2 carat emerald-cut diamond ring by Phil Bronstein.If you want an engagement ring that is unique and classy at the same time, you might consider giving your lady love an antique or vintage engagement ring.

Nowadays, brides-to-be are showing their unique style and individuality by selecting antique and vintage engagement rings. A popular ring is one that is somewhere between 100 and 200 years old. Many couples look at the future brightly by purchasing something from the past.You may choose that extraordinary engagement ring from many fine collections of beautiful yet unusual and untraditional antique engagement jewellery.

Also popular are antique engagement rings with gemstones, rubies and sapphires. Does your future bride like untraditional colours? Then go for an aquamarine antique ring. It is the perfect combination of modern and antique styles.No matter if you choose a cheap engagement ring with a real diamond or a fake diamond, the true spirit of the occasion should be remembered.

Choose a cheap engagement ring that will reflect the beauty of your true love and your love for her.Cheap engagement rings are not hard to find either, there are a multitude of online and offline jewellers that offer very affordable engagement rings. It is important that you look for a reputable jeweller who stands behind all of their engagement rings and offer a money back guarantee.

As long as weddings and engagements have been around, people have associated engagement rings with large sums of money. Often times, it is hard to find cheap engagement rings and this fact puts a damper on what should be a happy and exciting occasion. Something that you may not know is that there is a solution, cheap fake diamond engagement rings.

These cheap engagement rings can be just as spectacular and lovely as an expensive engagement ring. If you look in the right place, you can easily find a cheap engagement ring without compromising quality or beauty.

About the Author
Allen Jesson is the owner of several sites including http://www.vintage-engagement-rings.com, a site that specializes in vintage engagement rings and http://www.homebasednetmarketingbusiness.com a site that specializes in home based net marketing businesses.

The Four C's You Need To Know When Purchasing Your Diamond

2008-03-05T21:04:00.000+08:00

If you are thinking of purchasing a diamond, you must check out the four criteria that diamonds are graded by, namely the color, cut, clarity and carat of the diamond.

A diamond with no color allows maximum light to pass through it, therefore this type of diamond is usually preferred for its sparkle. On the color grading scale, diamonds graded D, E, and F mean they have no color. G, H, and I diamonds have very little color. J, K, and L mean that the diamond is a slight yellow color. P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, and X diamonds have a darker shade of yellow. Diamonds graded Z has a color other than yellow or white and are the rarest and most expensive diamonds in the world. Generally, D-graded diamonds are the most valuable, and X the least.

The cut of the diamond refers to the shape it is cut into and also its reflective quality.

Diamonds are generally cut with 58 facets. The sparkle and brilliance of the diamond generally depends on its cut, its angles, its finish and its ability to reflect light. The most popular diamond cuts are heart, oval, marquise, princess, pear, trillion, round, and emerald. Common cutting problems include a diamond cut too thin that causes it to lose some of its sparkle, or a missing or off center culet.

The clarity refers to the diamond's internal and surface imperfections and blemishes. Diamonds that are clear are more brilliant; they are also quite rare and thus highly priced. These flawless diamonds have no internal or external imperfections or blemishes

The perfect diamond carries a grade of FL or IF, that is, Flawless or Internally Flawless. A diamond with a grade of I-1, I-2 or I-3 means that it is imperfect, with I-3 being the worst grade. VVS1 and VVS2 means that the diamond is very very slightly imperfect; VS1 and VS2 diamond is very slightly imperfect; and SI-1 and SI-2 means that the diamond is slightly imperfect.

The unit by which the weight of the diamond is measured by is called the carat. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams. A carat is divided into 100 segments called points, with 150 points equal to one and a half carats.

When you purchase a diamond, you must purchase a diamond certificate also known as the Diamond Grading Report. This report is issued by the Gemological Institute of America otherwise known as GIA. With this diamond certificate, you can verify the diamond's color, cut, clarity and carat. You can buy a diamond with confidence from the diamond dealer as long as the certificate is GIA-issued and not from the dealer. Do not accept certificates from any other institute other than GIA, as GIA has been established as the most trustworthy and respectable.

About the Author
For more tips on purchasing Diamonds, visit Susan's site at http://www.lovely-diamonds.info and http://www.exquisite-diamonds.info. Susan also enjoys writing on a wide range of topics at http://www.home-and-family-hub.info.

Gemstones : An Introduction For You To Make An Informed Choice

2008-03-05T20:55:00.000+08:00

Gemstones are mineral crystals or organic materials that have been cut and polished into beautiful items by skilled craftsmen. The minerals are naturally formed, solid, inorganic chemical compounds found in rocks. Each mineral has a fixed chemical composition and regular atomic structure, which gives it the specific hardness and color it possesses. Many natural crystals are attractive enough to be displayed. However, most of these crystals are faceted and polished to enhance their appearance.

Few gems, which are called organics, come from plants and animals. These gems include ivory, amber and pearl. There is a category of gemstones known as synthetics. They do not have any natural origin and are produce in laboratories. These artificial gems are cut to resemble the real ones. They have the same physical properties and chemical composition with natural gemstones. Gemstones are, typically, measured by their weight in carats.

To be considered a gemstone, it has to be rare, beautiful and durable. Gemstones, in its natural crystalline form, are rare, which means that they could only be found in certain parts of the world. Their scarcity makes them valuable in the market. The color of the minerals must be attractive, so that the gemstones will appear beautiful. Gemstones must be durable, which means that they should be hard enough to withstand scratches and damage.

The most valuable characteristic of gemstones is the color. Colorful gemstones such as emeralds, rubies and sapphires are highly priced. Diamonds, though colorless, are made beautiful and brilliant by skillful forms of cutting. White light is made up of a combination of the spectrum of colors. When white light falls on a gemstone, some of the colors are absorbed while the rest are reflected back. Those colors that are reflected are what we see as color of the gemstone. As each mineral interacts with light differently, a wide variety of colors of gemstones is produced.

The physical properties of gemstones are their hardness, their specific gravity, and the way they break. These properties depend largely on the atomic structure and the chemical bonding of the stone. The hardness of a gemstone is measured by how well it resists scratching. The specific gravity or density of a gemstone is derived by assessing its weight base on the weight of an equal volume of water. Gemstones can break in two ways, either by cleaving or fracture. The way they break depends on the atomic structure of the stone. Gemstones that cleave will break along the planes of weak atomic bonding. Those that fracture will break along a surface which has no relation to its atomic structure.

Gem cutting is a form of art which is done to produce finely cut faceted gems. This art contributes to the beauty of the gemstone and its value. There has been much progress made in gem cutting and polishing methods. These improved methods, coupled with an increased knowledge of the way gemstones responds to light, have resulted in marked improvements made on the appearance of gemstones.

Gemologists are fascinated by gemstones. They study each gemstone in-depth, both in its natural state and after it has been cut and polished. Gemologists are able identify every individual gemstone, as well as distinguish between a natural stone and a fake one.

Since early times, gemstones are considered precious and are well sought after. In the past, gemstones are known to represent wealth and power. They are used not only as jewels to decorate crowns and robes but also as amulets, talisman and charms. Nowadays, gemstones are not only for the wealthy, but rather they are appreciated by anyone who finds them beautiful and charming.

Gemstones are commonly used to make creative jewelry pieces which are widely worn as accessories for personal adornment. Gemstones are highly treasured by people from all walks of life because of their unfading beauty with time. Being captivated by the timeless beauty of gemstones, most people desire to possess them. Hence, some people buy gemstones for collection purposes, while others buy gemstone jewelry for personal adornment or as gifts for friends. Gems that represent birthstones are commonly used as birthday presents. Due to the wide variety of gemstone jewelry items available in the market, there are plenty of gift ideas to choose from.

About the Author
Freelance Writer on various topics Please visit the URL for more information on Gemstones and fine Jewelry http://www.internetbizcenter.com/gemstone/index.htm

What is Moissanite ?

2008-03-05T20:54:00.000+08:00

There is a lot of moissanite info available on the Internet. Just simply scanning this moissanite info will show that moissanite is one of the most precious jewels on the planet. Moissanite contains many properties that other jewels do not possess. And this is one of the reasons why it took 104 years to learn how to reproduce this jewel in a laboratory. Moissanite info as described is easily available and all this info will show that moissanite is superior to many jewels in many different ways. Not only is moissanite more beautiful then diamonds but it is also known as being a superior diamond simulant. But it is a minor simulant because of the high cost and also the fact that there is a limited production of moissanite.

As production of moissanite picks up you can be sure that this will become a major diamond simulant. However most moissanite info will just tell you how limited moissanite is and also there will be a lot of comparisons to diamonds. Tests have been done on moissanite to see if this jewel is better then diamonds. The tests show that moissanite is superior then diamonds but people will always come to their own conclusions. If they want moissanite jewellery then they will buy that rather then diamonds. But diamonds are more well-known and therefore this will still be the best seller out of the two for many more years.

Many people including jewellers can mistake moissanite for diamonds it is only jewellers with a lot of knowledge of moissanite that will be able to tell the difference between moissanite and diamonds. They have gained a lot of valuable moissanite info and they know what the difference is between the two but it is not easy to tell the difference.

Nearly all moissanite info will contain the well-known facts that moissanite takes 104 years to reproduce in a laboratory. Also the fact that moissanite actually originated from a meteoroid crater in Arizona. Simple moissanite info is easy to find and if you look around you will find info on how to tell the difference between moissanite and diamonds. This could prove to be very helpful because some jewellers that cannot tell the difference will put moissanite on sale for the price of diamonds and this can equal a big saving for you.

Moissanite is going to be around for a long time and so it might be helpful for you to get some information on the jewel that could very well take the world by storm.

About the Author
http://www.artificialdiamonds.net/

Secrets To Buying Diamond Jewellery Online

2008-03-05T20:53:00.000+08:00

With all of the potential for scams concerning diamond jewelery, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamond jewelery online, without any problems, as long as you are careful.

First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful, sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.

One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!

Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamond jewelery, especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.

Take your time. Don't purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about diamonds, you've found a diamond that you love, and you've found the lowest price, but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!

Ask about the sellers credentials, such as professional diamond jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller's return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.

Ask for a diamond jewelery grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds, preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised,sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself,again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!

Is Diamond Jewelery Really Rare?

When you walk into a diamond jewelry store and see all the diamonds in all of the various settings that are for sale, it is difficult to realize that diamonds and diamond jewelery are indeed rare. Most people don't even stop to consider how that diamond came to be sitting in that jewelers case! There is quite a bit of work that is done before a diamond is ready to sell to the general public!

For every one million diamonds that are mined, only one will be found that is a quality one caret diamond. In order to find a two caret diamond, about five million diamonds must be mined. More than two hundred tons of ore must be mined to find one small diamond, and even then, more than 80% of the diamonds that are mined are only good for industrial use, such as diamond drill bits.

So, the next time you visit your local diamond jewelry store, ask to see the one carat diamonds. You should look at this diamond with new appreciation, knowing that it truly is one in a million!

Diamond Jewelery Brands and What They Mean

Diamonds are one of the few products that simply cannot be 'branded.' Even though there are different cuts, different grades, and different values placed on each and every diamond in existence, no diamond jewelery is any specific brand, just as gold is not a specific brand.

Branding is actually based on who owns the diamond. For instance, if DeBeers owns the diamond, it is a DeBeers Diamond, but it is still just a diamond. If the diamond was cut by a specific well known cutter, then it might be branded in that way as well, but it usually isn't. It is still branded based on who owns it at the time. So basically, when it comes down to it, diamond brands mean absolutely nothing at all.

Do not allow a diamond jeweler to try to talk you into paying an exorbitant price on diamond jewellery because it is a specific brand. This is a bit of trickery used by unscrupulous diamond jewellers when they know that they are dealing with people who don't know much about diamonds. Remember that diamonds are not actually branded, unless mother nature has her own brand!

About the Author
Looking for diamond rings, diamond jewelry and loose diamonds? Visit "http://www.diamonds.infosite1.co.uk" for reviews, news, offers and more and save money on those diamond gifts.

Is That A Fake Diamond On Your Hand Madam?

2008-03-05T20:52:00.000+08:00

With the technological advances of today it is just about impossible to tell a fake diamond just from looking at it. Especially if you do not happen to know much about diamonds, diamond rings and vintage engagement rings. However, having said that there are various steps you should take to make sure that you do not become victim to an unscrupulous jeweller or diamond dealer.

That is the first and obvious tip, make sure that who you are dealing with are reputable. How long have they been in business? Are they part of any trusted associations? Can others vouch for them? People selling fake diamonds would not survive in the jewellery business for very long so in this instance, a good reputation is even more important. When you do find a jeweller you can trust, stick with them. Do not keep shopping around for diamonds and other diamond jewellery, including diamond vintage engagement rings without first having a great deal of trust in the person you intend to buy from.

Always ask for a authenticity certificate too (and make sure the certificate is authenticate too). Phone the issuing body if you need to.

Another good way to check for fake diamonds is by looking at the setting, if the setting is of poor quality or a cheaper metal then it probably means that the stone is not a real diamond and is probably one of the cheaper imitations, such as a Cubic Zirconia. Also, have a really close look at the stone itself, there should be no scratches or blemishes as real diamonds in real diamond engagement rings are one of the most durable things on Earth. Scratches or nicks are a very bad sign indeed.

Real diamonds also always sparkle and they have a lustre about them that is hard to match. Use your intuition too, do not underestimate your ability to sniff a fake diamond when you see one.

There are also many different cuts of diamonds to choose from. The cut essentially refers to the shape that the diamond is cut into, unless you are in the diamond or jewellery business, but this shape has a great impact on how much the diamond sparkles.

The most popular cuts are heart, marquise, princess, round, trillion, oval, pear and emerald cuts. The shape has an impact on how much the diamond sparkles, but the actual cutting itself, when the diamond cutter actually cuts the diamond into a particular shape, also matters a great deal. If the diamond is poorly cut, it will lose its sparkle.

When shopping for a diamond, you should choose the shape that you like the best, but then look at several different diamonds of that shape to find the one with the best cut, the one that sparkles the most, in all types of lighting.

Fancy colored diamonds are also all the rage these days. Gemmologists have developed new ways to create versions that are affordable for the average person, by treating less desirable diamonds. These cheaper diamonds are treated with irradiation followed by intense heat. This turns brown and yellowish diamonds into beautifully coloured diamonds that you most people can afford. This produces stunning greens, blues, yellows, reds, purples and other colours. These colours are considered permanent, but there is a possibility they could change during repairs if a high heat is used.

Most naturally coloured diamonds are rare and also extremely expensive. When shopping for coloured diamonds you need to assume that any affordable fancy colour diamond has been treated. Ask about the stones origin and request to view a lab certificate to verify authenticity.

A fancy diamond is a natural diamond that has colour. These colours vary from red, green, purple, violet, orange, blue and pink and most shades between. Fancy colour shades vary from faint to intense.

The most famous diamonds in the world are coloured diamonds. The Tiffany Diamond, which is yellow and the Hope Diamond which is blue are coloured diamonds.

Finally, if everything looks okay and you have gone ahead and made the purchase, very quickly go and get your ring appraised at other jewellers. You will very quickly know whether you are onto a winner or indeed you have been had. If that is the case, one of the options is just to keep quiet, after all, at this stage, only you and two jewellers know you have a fake diamond on your hand.

About the Author
Allen Jesson owns and writes for several sites including http://www.vintage-engagement-rings.com, http://www.agiftofpoetry.com and http://www.giftofpoetry.com

Buying A Vintage Engagement Ring

2008-03-05T20:51:00.000+08:00

If you are looking for an expensive vintage engagement ring to give to your beloved and you can afford to stretch your budget, then aim for the heavens and go for an antique vintage engagement ring. A vintage engagement ring is a huge investment - but one that your future bride will surely cherish forever.

So many choices: Solitaire diamond, pearl and sapphire, emerald , aquamarine, gemstone, filigree, diamond have all been used in vintage engagement rings and even eternity rings. You may also choose from an array of vintage engagement rings with unusual settings adorned with diamond and other gems.

Solitaire diamond rings come in all sizes and shapes. From the regular round rock to the solid square, and rectangles, solitaire diamond rings can look as unique as your loved one. It is sometimes better to purchase your diamond separately from the band and setting. This small step will ensure your purchasing good quality solitaire for your vintage engagement ring.

Generally, vintage diamond rings are available and affordable in Western countries. Jewellers will willingly assemble your own design, if the ring you want is not available or too highly priced. You can decide the rings design, working with goldsmiths and designers. With some intelligent choices you can have an exact replica of the ring worn by Madonna (an antique Edwardian three-stone diamond ring) or some other person you admire.

In modern tradition, a vintage engagement ring is worn on the ring finger of the left hand of the woman to be married, indicating her engagement. It represents an official acceptance of the marriage proposal and a commitment to a future together. It is also not uncommon for a woman to buy the man a vintage engagement ring.

To acquire gems and create distinctive rings in which to set them, the purchase of your engagement and wedding rings is one of the most significant purchases you will ever make, both financially and emotionally. No other single piece of jewellery will ever be as important.

No matter how successful you become, no matter how magnificent other jewellery purchases might be, nothing carries with it the same excitement and magic.Once jewellers see you are an informed diamond ring buyer, they cannot scam you into buying overpriced diamonds which are worth far less than the salesperson claims.

When buying vintage engagement ring diamonds and wedding rings, you should go into battle educated and prepared. You should use your research of diamond pricing and sample printouts of similar competing diamonds in your size range from online sites. You should also have a good diamond buying book with lots of colour photos to help you spot fakes, and worthless diamonds.

About the Author
Allen Jesson is the owner of several sites including http://www.vintage-engagement-rings.com, a site that specializes in vintage engagement rings and http://www.homebasednetmarketingbusiness.com a site that specializes in home based net marketing businesses.

The Properties Of Platinum Wedding Rings

2008-03-05T20:50:00.000+08:00

Platinum wedding rings are fast becoming the ring of choice these days.
For over a century platinum wedding rings have been increasing in popularity for many reasons.

Mainly because platinum is a very tensile and malleable to work with making it far easier for a jeweller to stud the ring and vary the design style.

Platinum wedding rings are also highly expensive and sought after with many of the rich and famous now wearing them. The exquisite and intricate designs incorporated into the rings make for an irresistible piece of jewellery.

One of the qualities of platinum rings are they are much more durable than some other metals and more importantly platinum wedding rings will not irritate and harm your skin like some other metals including gold.

Platinum is graded by the amount of platinum contained in the ring the highest being PT999 then PT950, PT900 and finally PT850 being the lowest. Platinum is also the heaviest of all the precious metals weighing nearly twice as much as gold. This also adds to the feel of quality when worn on the finger.

Although some platinum rings will be alloyed with other metals normally iridium and rallerium because these two substances are from the same metal group as platinum it is very rare that even alloyed platinum will cause any detrimental effects to the skin.

This cannot be said for even good quality gold rings which are not one hundred percent pure gold as the metals alloyed with gold can, if not always to begin with, cause irritations to the skin years later.

However that said, platinum is more expensive than gold and the risk factor should be considered and factored into your budget.

Over time and although durable and hardwearing platinum wedding rings will lose their colour and sheen. This is not uncommon with any metal and will be accelerated if the ring is worn regularly due to perspiration and levels of natural chloride found in the air. As opposed to if the ring is kept in a jewellery box or only worn on rare and special occasions.

The problem can be easily rectified by a qualified jeweller who will be able to professionally polish the ring back to its former glory. Furthermore if your platinum ring does become scratched there will not be any actual material loss as there would be with gold.

Platinum band also make exceptional engagement rings when studded with either diamonds or sapphires. Diamond and sapphire rings made from platinum have a very modern look and feel. The blue sapphire and white diamond perfectly compliment the silver white sheen of the platinum ring.
It is fair to say that platinum has over taken other precious metals due to its many assets together with its unique style and quality.

About the Author
Vicki Churchill writes for several sites including http://www.finest-diamond-and-sapphire-rings.com a site that specializes in Wedding Rings and also http://www.finest-diamond-snake-rings.com and http://www.finets-diamond-rings.com including how, where & what to buy.