REVIEW: NIKE ZOOM KOBE VI BASKETBALL SHOES

The Nike Zoom Kobe VI mens basketball shoes are super strong and feature ultra lightweight support using the least amount of material. The design is inspired by a venomous snake, the black mamba and is extremely comfortable for hard playing throughout the game.

The flywire is used for lightweight support and comfort. The sockliner also conforms to your foot providing you a custom fit and feel. Also, this style provides you with enhanced flexibility through the ankle which will allow you to make quicker cuts on the court.

The Kobe VI has a tighter heel compared to other basketball shoes from the Kobe range. This makes for a better fit at the back of the shoe. A thin layer of cushioning wraps around the collar and a nook specialised to comfort your Achilles will help to minimise distractions during play.

As mentioned before, also included is a Flywire body, this is effectively a web of super light and super strong fibers that support your feet by encasing them in a secure hug. The tough outer shell of the shoes protect the Flywire and give you a durable upper.

Kobe’s signature is also featured on the sheath logo of the tongue and the flex grooves will give you a more natural movement and better flexibility.

The Nike Zoom Kobe VI mens basketball shoes are available at Sportsmart. You can view our range of basketball shoes online or come in store today to try them on for yourself.

 

WHY YOU NEED A FITNESS BALL

A fitness ball is somewhat of a large bouncy ball. They are widely used by physical therapists and Pilates teachers to enable people to rehabilitate their back, knee and hip injuries without causing further pain. What some people do not realise is that fitness balls can do a lot more and make exercise fun. They are a great tool for mastering strength, stability and balance.

If you are at a job where you sit at your desk all day, sitting on a fitness ball instead is a great way to keep your spine healthy. Try to sit on a fitness ball for some of your day at work. It is helpful because when you have nothing to lean back on you are forced to sit up and have good posture. Also, as the ball moves around it will keep you on your toes and your body moving. This will prevent stiffness and back pain.

You will find that fitness balls are available in different sizes. When choosing a fitness ball, try to remember that when you sit on the ball you should be able to easily balance with your feet on the ground. Also, your hips and knees should be at right angles.

Fitness balls challenge you by putting your body in an unstable environment. When you lie on the ball, your legs and abs immediately contract to stop you from falling off. If you add an exercise to that (crunches or chest press) and the intensity of your movement is increased. Exercise balls can be used for pretty much anything including weight training, abdominal training, flexibility, yoga, Pilates etc.

Sportsmart stocks a variety of fitness balls to suit your requirements. Come in to one of our stores to try them out and our fitness staff will help you to select the best fitness ball to suit your needs.

WHAT’S ON AT SPORTSMART – AUSTRALIA V SERBIA

With 28,149 fans at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, a big crowd was on hand to cheer both the Socceroos and Serbia on. Serbia were looking to avenge their loss to Australia in the last World Cup in South Africa and the friendly between the two proved to be both entertaining and competitive. Even though the end result of 0-0 was not what either team had hoped for, it’s safe to say that the Socceroos are serious about their bid for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Australia began by attacking in the first five minutes with a few chances. The Socceroos made up of largely A League players were able to prove themselves and had to work a lot harder as big name players such as Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer were absent.  Around the ten minute mark, the Serbian team started to settle and take possession of the game by creating several scoring chances. By the 25th minute, both teams were on equal footing and evenly divided.

Australia were coming off an easy win against New Zealand last week, but quickly found that Serbia are a much more difficult opponent with technically superior ball skills. Towards the end of the half, it was end to end football with both teams creating plenty of scoring chances. The half time score finished at nil-all.

Serbia started the second half with some close scoring chances quickly and impressively saved by keeper Adam Federici. At the 57th minute a bold decision was made by Coach Holger Osieck to sub off Australia’s three most experienced players on the field Neil, Emerton and Wilkshire. At the 65th minute Kruse came on for Archie Thompson.

After some late chances in the game from both sides, the game finished a nil-all draw. The Socceroos were able to show and prove to fans that they are serious about the upcoming 2014 World Cup.

WHY LOCAL SPORTING CLUBS NEED A WEBSITE

Most local sporting clubs have a website or some kind of online presence. It is very important that sports clubs create a website for themselves as a way of further promoting their club and reaching a wider audience. Try not to restrict your club to simply having the free and generic systems that are offered by your league. They are usually dull and your club is likely to be lost amongst all of the information provided.

Your website should be functional, that is allow users to click on a variety of things and be able to gather information in a simple way. Making your website too complicated will discourage users from coming back. It also has to be professional and appealing to potential sponsors. If you contact a potential sponsor, the first thing they will do is look at the club’s website. This will be their first impression of your club and could potentially be the reason why you gain a new sponsor or lose them.

You can also use Google Analytics to see how your website is going. Google Analytics enables you to track your website statistics, such as where people are coming from, what pages people are viewing, plus much more valuable information. From this, you can see where you need to improve your website or where your website is generating lots of interest. This program can be a great tool for support and building your website.You can also use this tool as a way of attracting sponsors. You can provide your sponsors with valuable information about how popular their logo’s or pages are on your website, how many clicks they generate etc.

Having a club website is essential, it is a way to communicate information to members, supporters, sponsors and any other individuals who have an interest in your club. You do not need to be a graphics designer to put together a functioning website and there are many websites out there that can provide you with information on how to get started.

MASTERING YOUR PASSING IN SOCCER

Passing is one of the most important things you need to master as a soccer player. If you are unable to pass properly to your team mates, you will find that you will not be able to play or even enjoy the game properly. Passing may look simple, but it can be difficult. It takes many, many hours of training to be able to precisely pass the ball.

You should always try to pass the ball in a simple way and avoid using unnecessary tricks. You should also try to pass the ball to a nearby standing team mate rather than try to pass to the other side of the field. You may get credit if you make the pass but missing your target could cost your team a goal. Of course, if the player closest to you is tagged by the opposition then it is best to look for another open player.

Try to be calm and find the easy solution. This is easier said then done if you are under a lot of pressure. In order to become good at passing, it is essential that you know the different types of passes. There are many types of passing techniques. Here are some of them:

– Push pass: This is one of the most frequently used passes in soccer. It is one of the most accurate and easiest to perform. To do a push pass you use the inside of your foot (along the arch) the push the ball forward. Your hip and leg/knee must rotate outwards to be able to make contact with the middle of the ball.

– Wall pass: The wall pass is also known as the one-two pass. It is a useful tactic for working the ball through a tight defence. It is also great for creating space in the midfield. In this pass, you pass the ball to your team mate who will then immediately pass the ball back to you. It is important that both you and your teammate keep moving.

– Chip pass: The chip pass is performed by a jabbing motion down and under the ball to get it up in the air. This will create a backspin which will allow you to slow the ball down when it lands on the ground.

– Backward pass: This type of pass is performed by kicking the ball with the heel or sole of your kicking foot.

– Passing into space: This is used most often when the game is played at high speed. The player who does not have the ball must provide the player with the ball a passing option by running into space. If you are the player with the ball you must keep your eyes open and be aware of your team mates movements.

These are just a few of the passing techniques you can learn and master in soccer. Remember practice makes perfect!

USING THE SMART CARD WEBSITE

The Sportsmart Smart Card website has many different features that are suited to your sporting needs. You have the ability to fill out your very own Sports Snapshot which consists of selecting your favourite sports. This way, you can receive information on special offers related to the sports you are interested in and you will not get information about sports you do not like as much.

If you find that your interests have changed, or you want to add more sports to your Sports Snapshot you have the ability to go back into the member’s area and update your profile whenever you like. If you have children, you can add them to your Smart Card account and sign them up as Sports Star Kid.

The Sports Star Kids program is a membership program designed specifically for kids who love sport and are under 16 years old. The child’s Sports Star card is linked to their parent/guardian’s Smart Card account. Sports Star Kids gain benefits monthly including promotions, giveaways, coaching clinics and invitations to player appearances at our stores.

In the latest offers section of the Smart Card website, you are able to view special discounts on sporting products based on the types of sports you have selected on your Sports Snapshot. You also have the option of viewing all of the members only offers available.

Being a Smart Card member gives you many rewards and benefits. If you haven’t already signed up, sign up today to start receiving your benefits

TENNIS RACQUET CARE AND RESTRINGING

Taking care of your tennis racquet is extremely important. It is also a lot easier now with innovations in the materials used to make tennis racquets. For example, the construction of tennis frames is no longer made from wood which has been replaced by graphite, ceramics and metals.

Taking care of your racquet is not difficult, it is mostly common sense which allows you get good use out of your tennis racquet. Make sure you do not expose your tennis racquet to extreme hot or cold for example, leaving it in your car on a hot day as it can soften the graphite frame and pull the strings out of place.

You should never throw your tennis racquet around and avoid scraping it against the ground. You should also replace the grip on your tennis racquet when it gets too slippery so as to avoid it flying out of your hand and damaging the construction. Not to mention, you could injure someone.

When it comes to restringing your racquet, the rule of thumb is to generally restring per year as often as you play per week. Avoid restringing less than two times a year. You do not need to restring every chance you get as your strings may lose their responsiveness.

Finding a string that you like can require a little experimenting. You may require something that is more durable or something that is more resilient. You might decide that you prefer a tighter strong for more control or a softer string for increased comfort.

At Sportsmart, our tennis staff include qualified Tennis Australia coaches as well as Tennis Victoria State Grade and Winter Pennant players. Our staff are experts in customising your tennis racquet to suit your needs, we also offer a large range of strings to choose from brands such as Uxilon Big Banger, Wilson, Head, Babolat, Prince, Yonex, Volkl, Ashaway and Pacific.

We also offer a tennis racquet restringing service, where our staff can guide you the right choice of strings and tension for your racquet and restring it for you within 48 hours.

PRODUCT REVIEW: BROOKS GLYCERIN 9 RUNNING SHOES AT SPORTSMART

The Brooks Glycerin 9 running shoes have raised the bar in comfort. The new full length DNA midsole provides maximum comfort for your feet. They have also introduced Omega flex grooves into the shoes which enhance flexibility and improve gait efficiency. This means your run will be smooth and comfortable.

The upper is now softer and smoother; providing you with so much comfort that you will never want to take your shoes off!  They also feature moisture managing Element Mesh to give you excellent breathability.

Brooks Glycerin 9 running shoes are also environmentally friendly. The BioS-257 material contains a non-toxic natural additive which enables the midsole to break down faster. This makes these shoes a more sustainable choice.

If you’re a serious runner then these running shoes are for you, especially if you find yourself running on a lot of paved roads. The extra comfort will definitely help.

Sportsmart currently stocks Brooks Glycerin 9 running shoes in both mens and womens models. View these shoes online or come in store to try a pair on for yourself.

EATING AND RESTING PROPERLY BEFORE PLAYING SPORT

Having the right foods, drinks and proper rest before playing sport will help you to become a better athlete. Exercising and getting enough rest as well as eating a balanced diet will help to keep your muscles healthy.

You should avoid eating and drinking right before you begin exercising. Food consumed before exercise is only useful if it has been digested and absorbed. You need to time your food intake so that you will have fuel for exercising. The time needed for digestion varies depending on the type of food you eat. Generally, foods which have a higher fat content, are high in protein and fibre tend to take longer to digest. Try to have a meal about 3-4 hours before exercise or a light snack 1-2 hours before. You will probably need to experiment to find a time that will suit you.

If you plan on eating before exercising, you should eat carbohydrates. The food should also be low in fat and moderate in fibre to make digestion easier and avoid discomfort. Sometimes it may not be practical to eat 3-4 hours before exercise, especially if you plan on exercising early in the morning. If you plan on exercising in the morning you should try and have a light snack about an hour beforehand. You could have some fruit or cereal with some fluids such as a glass of milk or juice.

It is important to rest and recover after exercising or playing sport. Rest is important, it allows your muscles to repair and strengthen themselves. Sleep is one of the most important forms of rest as it provides your body with time to adapt to the physical and mental demands of exercise. Ensure that your sleep is of a good quality i.e. dark and quiet room.

HOW TO USE A ROWING MACHINE

Using rowers are great for working out your entire body. They are useful for strength building exercises. You do not need to be a personal trainer to use a rower, anyone can use it. Rowing machines consist of a flywheel, fan and a cable with a handle attached at one end. You pull the handle towards you as you slide the seat backwards. The fan then creates air resistance which makes you feel like you are skimming across water.

Some rowers are electric, this means that they have a power pack which you plug in. This will give you a different type of resistance. You will also find that some rowers will allow you to adjust the foot pedals to fit the size of your feet. Another feature to keep in mind is the programs that come with different rowers. Some have preset programs as well as manual programs where you can change the workout and resistance for yourself.

Rowing correctly will ensure that you do not harm your back. Your movement must be initiated from your legs and butt, this will eliminate the excess stress on the muscles on your back. It takes a lot of coordination to perfect your rowing exercise. Remember not to fully straighten your knees. Even if you are completely extended, your knees should still be a little soft.

Focus on not hunching over as you can give yourself terrible back pain. The proper position is to when your upper body is leaning backward at 45 degrees. Make sure you pull the handle in a smooth and continuous stroke.

Learning how to use a rowing machine takes time and practice. Starting too quickly and rowing too long can cause muscle aches and pains and even more serious muscle strains. In order to learn how to properly use a rowing machine, it is helpful to work with a trainer the first time you use it.

At Sportsmart, we stock many rowers; you can view them online or come in store to see them for yourself. Our fitness staff are experts in how to use our fitness equipment. They can show you which rower will suit your fitness needs and show you how to use them properly.