Sports Science

Outdoor Sports Surfaces: High in performance, low in maintenance

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:36:41 +0000

Artificial outdoor sports surfaces are becoming quite a trend at sports facilities – be it at club school or professional level. With international sports associations like FIFA and UEFA approving artificial sports pitches, the sports facilities – both big and small around the world are opting for artificial or synthetic surfaces for playing a wide range of sports.

Outdoor sports surfaces could include football, rugby or hockey pitches, athletics tracks, tennis, basketball or netball courts etc. In some cases, the same surface could be used for a variety of sports. Such a sports pitch is known as a Multi-use Games Area (MUGA). These are quite common in clubs and schools.

Artificial turf, is being increasingly used as outdoor sports surface for a variety of sports, including football or soccer, basketball, netball, hockey, and many more. Also known as synthetic turf, these are man-made surfaces that are made to give the same look and feel as that of natural grass. Artificial turf is made of synthetic fibres with varying pile height. There are usually three varieties- unfilled, sand-dressed and sand-filled, available. And any one of these can be chosen depending on the requirements of the games to be played on them and of course, the cost involved. For instance, unfilled pitches are ideal for hockey, as they are not filled with sand or rubber, and hence protect players from injury by minimising the abrasive effect caused by sand. These artificial outdoor sports surfaces are also known as water-based pitches, as they require wetting at regular intervals.

Many sports facilities install artificial turf that is sand-dressed. These surfaces are not only cost-effective, but also give the same look as that of an unfilled pitch. In this case, the turf pile is filled with fine sand, but only up to 5-8mm from the tips of the fibres. Sand-filled outdoor sports surfaces are rough and harder compared to the other two types. The pile, in this case, is completely filled with sand.

The length of the fibres and the degree of sand-fill can be altered to meet the specifications and requirements of different sports. For instance, hockey pitches are made up of shorter fibres when compared to football pitches. Shorter pitches with lesser sand-fill offer more speed to the movement of the ball.

Whatever be the type of the artificial turf chosen, it offers the best playing conditions for the players. Besides offering firm grip, it may feature a “shock pad” that protects the players from serious injuries when they fall. Low in maintenance, these artificial outdoor sports surfaces can be used in all weather conditions. So, no more worries in long dry summers, frozen winters, or heavy rainfall. The pitch will be ready for the play as well as practice sessions all year round.

How Old Is The Ice Hockey Arena Rental Business?

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:09:26 +0000

Ice hockey has been around since 1800, when it was called “Hurley on ice” up in Nova Scotia. However, the game was played on frozen over ponds. There was no such thing as an ice hockey rink. It was something that didn’t occur until 1875, which was when the first organized indoor game of hockey was played. This happened in Montreal at the Victoria Skating Rink. And then it was 1893 when the first Stanley Cup was won, so hockey definitely has quite the amazing history.

But there is a business that has taken off throughout the years and that is ice hockey arena rentals.

The ice hockey arena rental business consists of the ice hockey arena renting out their space for individuals and groups to enjoy some skating time.

When did ice hockey arena rentals begin?

The truth is that it is hard to say when the ice hockey arena rental business began. Back in the late 1800s when there were more than 100 ice hockey teams in Montreal alone, most of them were skating on frozen ponds and lakes. Nevertheless, some of these teams began actually playing rather large tournaments, hence the first Stanley cup in 1893. Since there was a shortage of ice hockey rinks, it is fair to say that the indoor rinks that were established were renting out their spaces. It is also possible that rentals began before that in the pond and lake days because many of these ponds and lakes resided on private property. The owners were not going to let these individuals use their property for nothing, so they most likely let them use it at a cost. This is when everyone on the teams would pull in their money to pay the owner so that they could use their property for the day.

It is really hard to say exactly when ice hockey arena rentals began because there are no official records to go by. Many of the owners would rent based on their own discretion and would just let it go from there. However, it is fair to say that this is something that has been occurring for quite some time.

Modern day ice hockey arena rentals

Now you can rent virtually any ice hockey arena for a price. They are not cheap, but you can rent them to practice if you are into figure skating, if you just want to have fun with your friends, or if you want to have an ice skating event.

For instance, many companies may have ice hockey teams and they will play the ice hockey teams of other companies. When they do this, they need the entire arena staff to help them conduct their game because there will be people watching. This also means operating the concession stands in many cases. This is a great way for the arena to make even more money and it is a great way to make a company look great to all of those who hear of and attend the event.

So although it is hard to tell how long ice hockey arena rentals have been going on, they are definitely a great thing. This means that you don’t just have to be on a professional hockey team to experience the rink. You can be anyone with the cash to rent the arena and give a lot of people a good time. So check with the ice hockey arena in your area and see if you can arrange something for your business, your church, or for personal use. The individuals at the ice hockey rink will quote you prices and you can take it from there.

Independent Professional Baseball Teams: What They Are

admin — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:15:35 +0000

You may have recently heard about an independent baseball team near where you live, or near where you were traveling. If so, you may have wondered what makes a team "independent" and if it is worth your money to go watch that team.

An independent professional baseball team is a team which plays in a professional baseball league that is not affiliated with any Major League organization or the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, which is now named (officially) Minor League Baseball. These teams have complete control over the players they sign, the personnel they hire, and their players can be signed by any "affiliated" team in Minor League Baseball.

Occasionally, an independent baseball player may make it to a Major League Baseball roster after having started his career in the independent baseball leagues. Many players who make it to a Major League roster after having spent time with an independent baseball team usually had previous Major League, or high-level Minor League experience prior to joining a Major League Baseball roster.

For the 2009 season, nearly 60 independent teams fielded a team in 8 independent leagues. The teams play in the U.S. and Canada. There are independent baseball teams in the Northeast, Quebec, Calgary, California, the Mid-Atlantic, Texas, Arizona, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and the Dakotas, just to name a few regions. The players can range from just out of college, former "affiliated" minor league players who were released, players who could be in the minors but opted to play closer to home for family reasons, former Major League players, and occasionally international players. Many teams have managers and coaches whom have previous Major League Baseball experience.

The question you may still have, however, is if an independent baseball team is worth your time and money. In most markets this is a "yes."

Here are just some of the reasons why:

Prices are usually equal to or less than comparable entertainment, such as the movies Concession prices are usually less than at higher-level professional sports Kids and fans get participate in on-field and off-field promotions Many teams offer incentives for you to bring groups Many of the general managers and team executives have years of professional sports experience, so they understand what it takes to give you good entertainment for your money Many of the players are accessible for autographs The quality of play is considerably high, especially compared to other alternatives you may have in your area

Hopefully this article gives you a better understanding of independent baseball and helps you make a better decision for your entertainment dollar.