Pretty Basic

American Football: term used by non-Americans to distinguish the popular U.S. sport of football from soccer which they also call football. Assist: the pass or passes which immediately precede a goal; a maximum of two assists can be credited for one goal. Attacking Midfielder: the most forward-playing midfielder, playing right behind the forwards; she... [Read more]

When I received an invite for a private session with trainer Gunnar Peterson at his Beverly Hills gym, I couldn’t believe it.  Gunnar is the personal trainer to the hottest Hollywood stars including Kim Kardashian, Penelope Cruz, and Minka Kelly. He whips professional athletes like Reggie Bush and Tom Brady into shape and gets singers such as... [Read more]

Thinking about buying a snowboard this winter? There are about 50-100 different snowboard companies out there competing for your hard earned cash (or your mom’s hard-earned cash) so here are some things you should know. Riding Ability If your only snowboarding experience is playing SSX on your PS2, then consider yourself a beginner. If you board... [Read more]

As women’s wrestling gains momentum (it became an Olympic event in the 2004 Games) more and more female high school and college student-athletes are taking up the sport. Below are a few facts about girls’ wrestling and some online resources to learn more about this growing phenomenon: About 6000 girls wrestled at the high school level in... [Read more]

There are always a few players who stand out, players who have a real passion for the game and love to play and win. How do athletes and/or parents know when it’s time to move up and play in a more competitive sports league? The player has a high interest level in a particular sport and practices on her own or with friends The player is the... [Read more]

It used to be you could determine your ski length by reaching the tip of the ski to the top of your head. You’d add five to 10 centimeters according to skill and weight. Using the top of your head is still a good guide, but with shaped skis, the trend is to shorter skis. Shaped skis are wider and have more surface area touching the snow. They’re... [Read more]

“She got Maytaged in those rapids,” “At mile 15 she bonked and didn’t even finish,” “She scored a hat trick in the first half.” Any idea what we’re talking about? The sporting world has it’s own specialized vocabulary. If you want to walk the walk, you’ve got to talk the talk. ACE: serve that... [Read more]

1. Fencing is one of only four sports to be included in every modern Olympic Games, since the first in 1896. Fencing was also a sport in the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece. 2. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, was a fencer. 3. The tip of the fencing weapon is the second fastest moving object in sport; the first... [Read more]

Flag football is the latest rage for girls wanting fun and action without the intense pressure of many team sports. The game, which is a summer camp staple and often played at family picnics and in gym class, follows basic rules similar to those of mainstream football (often called “tackle football” for contrast).  Instead of tackling players... [Read more]

Combining the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of football, a game of Ultimate is played by two seven-player squads with a high-tech plastic disc on a field similar to football. 10 Simple Rules THE FIELD – A rectangular shape with endzones at each end. A regulation field is 70 yards by 40 yards,... [Read more]

What: A form of wave riding using a foam bodyboard. Bodyboarders predominantly ride prone on their stomachs though they can also be ride in a half-standing stance with one knee touching the board known as ‘dropknee’. Many bodyboarders wear swimfins on both feet to aid in controlling trajectory, adjusting speed while riding, paddling out,... [Read more]

ACE serve that is neither touched nor returned by the receiving player. ADVANTAGE (“In” or “Out”) – the first point won by a side, following deuce. When the serving side wins this point it is called advantage-in. If the non-serving side wins the point, it becomes “break point” and the advantage is out. ALLEY The... [Read more]

Girl Surfing Summer is in full swing so what better time to head to the beach and try surfing? If you’ve never tried it, surfing can be a bit intimidating. But fear not, we have all the tips you need to get  started. The Basics Learning to surf is not as scary or hard core as you may think.  It does, however, require patience so don’t... [Read more]

Softball is a direct descendant of baseball (sometimes referred to as hardball to differentiate the two), but differs from it in several ways, of which the chief four are: The ball is always pitched (thrown to the opposing team’s batter) underarm – in other words, it is released when the hand is below the hip and no further away from... [Read more]

When choosing a sports camp, there are many, many questions to ask. The size of the program, number of session days, distance from home, and philosophy should all influence your decision. The cost, length, and type of a particular program are not necessarily connected with “results.” Research all potential programs and if possible, meet... [Read more]