Sports Then and Now

We all grew up as kids running around playing imaginary games. We didn’t see running as a chore but, rather, something entertaining to do. As you age, running can start to become more of a sport and workout activity than just a fun imaginary game. Here is a quick look at how running has developed as a sport over the history of mankind.

Introduced As a Sport in 776 BCE

If you thought your grandparents were old, think again. Running was first introduced as a sport back in 776 B.C.E. This is the time of ancient Greece where Olympia was a sports town. In 724 B.C.E. the town of Olympia decided to host its first Olympics, which is the first of the modern world games that we know today. The foot race was held in a stadium in Olympia and was the sole competition of the first games.

Reintroduced in the 1896 Olympics

After the Olympic games were restarted in 1503 there were many different sports added to the world competition. In 1896, the sport of running was added to the Olympic games at the urging of a few different people. There were the Greeks who wanted to introduce running into the events as a way to pay tribute to their heritage. Michel Breal, who was a French philologist, urged for the sport to be in the form of what is known as a marathon. At the first reintroduction of the sport, it was a male-only event.

Are you a pro, amateur or weekend champion participating in competitive sports? Do you often struggle with self-confidence problems each time you are near a big game? Your confidence level plays a significant role in whether you or your team succeeds or fails. Nonetheless, self-confidence is often like a rollercoaster. One day it’s through the roof, and another time it might be too low. Here are easy ways to raise your self-confidence level.

• Always have positive thoughts at all times 

Training always takes a lot of effort. However, if you find yourself losing a game after intense exercise, the level of confidence might begin to wither. Don’t start to tense. You ought to develop high levels of positivity by assessing the sports sessions as well as their training.

Having a positive mindset will always lead to a better body, mind as well as soul balance. It enables the neural pathways in the brain to operate with serene and clarity. You can use positive self-talk before any sport competition to boost your morale. It will also enable you to come to terms with any outcome of the game.

Are you an indoor or outdoor person? Some of us do not feel very comfortable in an enclosed environment, and lifting weight in a gym might not be the best option. On the other hand, if you do not have a budget to apply for the gym, you might be looking for an alternative. In both cases, outdoor workouts are a great way to start building strength and muscle mass.

But what’s the best way to start?

In this article, we will give you 4 basic outdoor workouts you can use for strength and muscle-building. Based on these principles, you can start adding more exercises and build your own way into an engaging world known as calisthenics.

Pull-ups for your back muscles and biceps

It is the best workout for your upper back, even if you can do only one repetition. Keep at it, and you will master pull-ups, getting a massive back and nice biceps in the process. All you need is a high bar, which can be found in most parks. If your own weight is too much, you can also perform an inverted row using a low bar.

Dips for your triceps

In some parks, you will also find parallel bars, and you can use them to exercise your triceps. 3 to 5 sets of parallel bar dips are enough to bulk up your arms after a while. If you can’t handle parallel bars, you can also perform dips on a bench or a chair. 

Modified push-ups for your pecs

We all know the classic push-up, an excellent bodyweight exercise for your chest muscles. However, there are plenty of modified push-ups according to your level. You can use knee push-ups or an incline push-up on a bar if you can’t handle regular push-ups. But if you’re a bit more experienced, you can raise your legs and perform decline push-ups to make it a bit harder.

There is no better feeling for a soccer player than scoring an absolute cracker from range be it in training or the real match. Having the ability to produce powerful shots can give you an unexpected advantage against your opponent when your team is under pressure. Look how important goals scored by Steven Gerald or Frank Lampard were to their respective teams.

When a team has a player or players with powerful shots, they benefit in several ways. Half chances can be converted to goal scoring chances. You can kick shots that are extremely hard for a goalkeeper to save and also demand attention from opponents, allowing your teammates to roam freely.

Being able to hit a powerful shot is one thing, but the work behind that is the real deal. In this article, we have compiled the best exercises that will help you add speed and power to your shots.

Front squats

Squats are one of the most essential workouts for anybody into physical fitness. When incorporated with some variations, squats can produce results that most workouts cannot deliver. For soccer shooting power, front squats work better on your core and quadriceps than back squats.

When you’re in the water, you have no choice but to be in the moment. Aquatic safety depends on how you note your surroundings and react in time when something unexpected happens. That means that water sports can help increase not only your stamina and flexibility, but also your concentration. These four water sports aren’t just fun ways to pass time. They can also help you to improve your focus.

Swimming

Swimming puts you in water and requires you to make your way through safely. You can’t bring in your smartphone or a book while you’re in the pool or ocean. Research suggests competitive swimmers can have a major advantage in their cognitive function abilities. To be an effective swimmer, one has to work their mental and physical faculties in equal measure. This concentration can apply to all kinds of activities, like driving and cooking.

Rowing

Rowing is one of the most demanding water sports. If you’re rowing with others as part of a team, you need to depend on each other to navigate the boat and reach the end. Your motions need to be full and deliberate. It can also show the importance of consistency. One full rotation of oars might not do anything, but repeated over time, you can find great results.

We are all aware that exercise is essential in daily life. However, not all of us are aware of the seriousness of this exercise to a student. Our bodies as humans are designed to move and stay active at all times. When we do not do so, we develop health and mental problems because the biological functions and chemical reactions that should take place in the body stagnate.  Actually, for students, especially college students with stressful majors, sports and exercise, serve as one of the significant college hacks for better grades.  It keeps the body and mental health of a student on point enabling them to perform better in their studies

Why is good health important to a student?

Good health enables a student to perform the strenuous mental and physical activities that come with the school curriculum with ease. A healthy student can sleep better, meaning that he or she gets ample rest improving his or her overall wellness, making them feel more relaxed and readier to process all the knowledge being dissipated in the classroom.