YOUR CHILD COULD BE THE NEXT JUNIOR CLUB MASCOT FOR MELBOURNE FC!

This month Sportsmart is hosting a special New Balance competition. When you buy a pair of New Balance kids shoes before 24th March, you can put your child in the draw to become the next Junior Club Mascot for Melbourne Football Club.

The winner will get the opportunity to run onto the field and through the banner with the team at the beginning of Melbourne’s first match for the season.

Nominated individual must be 6-12 years old. Winner announced 24/03/11. Winner must be available 27/03/11.

Remember, if you’re not already a Smart Card member, join now to take advantage of our special offers.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

Suppose you are playing in the final of a local tennis tournament. You call your opponents forehand ‘out’. However, as you look a little bit closer, you notice that the ball is in by a few millimetres. You take a glance to the other side of the court and notice that your opponent has accepted the ‘out’ call and is walking to the other side of the court. Would you correct your original call, and concede the point

Many in this situation, knowing they can get away with it- would not correct themselves, despite knowing this is not the sportsmanlike thing to do. In tennis, good sportsmanship means to play fair and to respect your opponent- win or lose.

Nobody likes to lose and when you have trained hard your whole life, it can be hard to admit a loss as a result of your own doing. It is important to not blame the balls, court, your racquet or the weather conditions for losing a match. Remember, sometimes your opponent can just be too good on the day. Only a mature and positive attitude to losing can help your game. You cannot learn from your mistakes if you refuse to admit them.

Similarly, being gracious in victory is an important element of good sportsmanship. While it is always a good feeling to win a match, keep in mind how your opponent would be feeling for losing the match. A compliment never goes astray, and it all makes for a friendlier environment.

What are the benefits of demonstrating sportsmanship? Well not only can you enjoy a win knowing you won fairly on your own merit, but it will help your game dramatically. When you stay cool and calm on the court, not only does it help you stay composed, but it sends a powerful message to your opponent that you aren’t letting down. We all know the confidence you receive when you see your opponent rattled, so don’t let your opponent receive that same confidence.

The large majority of players do exhibit good sportsmanship, and while they may not necessarily be the best players, it is those people who really enjoy playing tennis the most.

STRENGTH BAGS: FOR MORE THAN JUST STRENGTH…

Jeremy ‘Dave’ Davies is the Store Manager at Sportsmart Kilsyth, but he has also been an infantry soldier, boxing instructor, personal trainer and Australian Kettlebell Instructor. Apart from basketball, he competes in Girevoy Sport Weightlifting – the traditional Eastern European/Russian sport of kettlebell lifting. He has taken the time to provide some information and training tips on strength bags.

If you’re looking around for something a bit different to really get your heart pounding and muscles working, the Bodyfirst Strength Bag is worth a look.

What you get is a well-secured rolled up tube of sand with handles in a range of weights, from 5kg up to 35kg.

It’s simple, but effective. New-school technology and adaptation, with additional handles and strong PVC casing meets old-school hard yakka.

The weight is unstable; forcing your core to adapt to it while in motion, but the bag is soft so you can’t knock yourself out.

With kettle bell-style lifts, like the snatch and the high-pull and the swing, you can really work on power (maximum strength over minimum time) while smashing calories.

With more static lifts, such as a press or squat, you can build lean strength and tone, just like with dumbbells or barbells.

Adding the resistance of the bag to abdominal lifts will increase the burn on your core, as with medicine ball Russian Twists.

You can throw it on a shoulder and run, fall down on it and push up: all that kind of crazy, old-school sandbag-style training.

It’s great for outdoor circuit work, in a backyard or your favourite park. Depending on your starting strength, if you pick up a ten or a twenty kilo bag from Sportsmart, you can try this on for size:

At 30s on and 15s rest.

  • Snatches
  • Front Squats
  • Fence Hops
  • Overhead presses
  • Weighted sit-ups
  • High-pulls
  • Pushups
  • Leg Raises

Ben and Jody, two super-fit retail assistants at Sportsmart Kilsyth, went through this quick 4 minute + rests workout and loved it. ‘You could really smash yourself with this,’ Ben said, through deep breaths.

As your cardio fitness and strength improve, you can increase the amount of time on, or upgrade to a heavier bag!

If you have the dosh, two bags can give you even greater flexibility: either two of the same weight for double armed exercises, or a heavier and a lighter weight for different levels of resistance.

As always, it’s best to consult a medical professional before embarking on a new workout regime. And if you’ve got any questions, or want some more advice on exercising with Strength Bags, drop into Sportsmart Kilsyth for a chat.

…and enjoy the pain!

KIDS FOOTWEAR BUYING GUIDE: NETBALL SHOES

by Gerrard Woods, Director, Sportsmart

Sportsmart stocks a wide range of children’s footwear for a variety of sports.

Our buying guides provide some useful information to help parents know what features to look for in shoes for their kids.

Our footwear staff can help with further information and fitting in-store, to help ensure kids get the best shoes for their needs.

NETBALL SHOES

Cushioning

The material between the upper and the sole of the shoe.

Cushioning provides shock absorption, which is important for comfort and protection against ground impact –
i.e. running and jumping.

Ankle support

Where the upper is raised around the collar of the shoe to provide support to the ankle.

Provides stability to the heel and mid-foot, which will reduce stress to kids’ feet and legs.

Outsole grip

The bottom of the shoe that is in contact with the court surface.

Good grip is important for movement and ensures that the shoes will last longer. Netball shoes have more
durable outsoles than normal running shoes.

RACQUET RE-STRINGING FOR THE BIG NAMES IN TENNIS

The founder of Sportsmart, Mike Woods, has had the opportunity to re-string racquets for some big names in tennis in the past. We get the inside info…

How long have you been re-stringing racquets?

41 years

Who are some of the big names in tennis that you’ve re-strung racquets for?

Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe

What do you remember about their re-stringing requirements, and the types of racquets they used?

They were complete opposites, though they both used ‘Gut’.

Bjorn Borg had his racquet strung at 88lbs. He was under contract to an American brand called ‘Bancroft’, but here he used a ‘Donnay’ wood racquet from Beligum, and the ‘Donney’ logo was painted over, with the ‘Bancroft’ logo on it.

John McEnroe liked loose strings, 44lbs. He used a timber ‘Wilson’ racquet.

Both the players were here for the Australian Gold Challenge.

When did Sportsmart first start offering a racquet re-stringing service?

I had a tennis and sports centre in Moorabbin, where I re-strung racquets in the mid ’70s. I moved the racquet repair business to Sportsmart in the mid ’80s.

Sportsmart provides customers with a high quality racquet re-stringing service which is excellent value for money. Our experienced tennis experts will guide you on the best string and tension for your racquet. We will then string them on our electronic machines to ensure exact tension.

WHY RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST TIME FOR TENNIS

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

The Australian tennis season is now over, and footy is well and truly back. Does this mean we hang up the racquet until the end of the year? Of course not! In fact, there is no better time than right now to be playing tennis.

Tennis is generally known as an all-year sport. But, while some (including me) don’t mind playing in the middle of winter, no one could argue against the fact that the weather conditions for playing tennis are far better right now than when the cold weather hits later in the year.

Warmer weather means the balls bounce better and travel through the air faster, resulting in enjoyable rallies. Warm weather also means not being cold! Of course the downside to this is that you may get more tired and may sweat more, but this can very easily be resolved. If you want to play in the heat, play in the middle of the day. If you prefer slightly cooler conditions, play in the morning or evening. It’s that simple. You can tailor the conditions to your own preferences.

So make the most of this weather while you can. Before you know it we will be having 11 degree days and the sun setting at 5:30pm.

And remember to also stock up at Sportsmart’s Summer of Tennis Sale before the end of the month!

KIDS FOOTWEAR BUYING GUIDE: AFL BOOTS

by Gerrard Woods, Director, Sportsmart

Sportsmart stocks a wide range of children’s footwear for a variety of sports.

Our buying guides provide some useful information to help parents know what features to look for in shoes for their kids.

Our footwear staff can help with further information and fitting in-store, to help ensure kids get the best shoes for their needs.

AFL BOOTS

Upper material

The material that covers the upper of the boot. The most common upper materials are leather (kangaroo or cow) or synthetic.

Contributes to the overall comfort of the boot. Leather upper stretches and provides a better fit than synthetic materials, although it is not waterproof and must be cared for to be as durable as synthetic versions.

Studs

Studs are the objects that are raised from the outsole underneath a boot. There are three types available:
Hard ground – made from rubber and slightly soft
Firm ground – slightly longer than hard ground studs
Soft ground – generally made from metal or nylon that screw into the bottom of the boot. Suitable for wet and muddy surfaces.

Studs provide the grip on the playing surface. These days, as sports grounds are receiving less water, firm ground studs are the preferred choice. Make sure you choose an appropriate stud/sole for all the surfaces your child plays on. Check with your league about their rules with regard to studs.

Fit

How well the boots fit your child. As football involves kicking, the fit should be tight but comfortable.

Ensure your child tries on AFL boots with footy socks, as they are a lot thicker than regular socks. If you forget, Sportsmart has suitable try-on socks in store.

WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN A TENNIS CLUB!

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

For those who love the game of tennis but do not regularly play, there are many reasons why you should join a local tennis club. Depending on your tennis ability and your reason for playing- whether it is socially or competitively- there are different tennis clubs which suit different people. No matter your tennis ability, there IS a tennis club for you!

While tennis clubs provide players with access to competition tennis, they also offer so much more for those who just enjoy the occasional hit. Clubs that accommodate social tennis are perfect for this. Every player has to start from somewhere, so don’t be afraid of not being up to the standard of others. At my own tennis club, Highmoor Uniting Tennis Club, players are matched up fairly in doubles matches, so that you are always able to play with and against players of a similar standard.

Tennis is also one of the best sports which maximises exercise without sacrificing enjoyment. If you are looking to improve your fitness you will be amazed at what a few social sets once or twice a week will do for you. You also get the chance to meet new people.

So go and find a tennis club near you and join. There are no more excuses left, and only a lot to gain!

KIDS FOOTWEAR BUYING GUIDE: BASKETBALL SHOES

by Gerrard Woods, Director, Sportsmart

Sportsmart stocks a wide range of children’s footwear for a variety of sports.

Our buying guides provide some useful information to help parents know what features to look for in shoes for their kids.

Our footwear staff can help with further information and fitting in-store, to help ensure kids get the best shoes for their needs.

BASKETBALL SHOES

Cushioning

The material between the upper and the sole of the shoe.

Cushioning provides shock absorption, which is important for comfort and protection against ground impact – i.e. running and jumping.

Ankle support

Where the upper is raised around the collar of the shoe to provide support to the ankle. In the case of basketball shoes, this may cover the ankle bone.

Ensures stability of little ankles to help avoid injury.

Outsole grip

The bottom of the shoe that is in contact with the court surface.

Gives greater court traction, which allows kids to move around easier and ensures the shoes last longer.

 

LOOKING BACK – THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2011

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

After a very successful Australian Open we once again witnessed fighting spirits, noble sportsmanship and sublime skill. However, we are also left to ponder many questions – What does 2011 have in store?

First there is the question raised by many, after Djokovic’s second grand slam win, were we witnessing the changing of the guards? Both Murray and Djokovic are similar in age and according to many have potential to get even better. Both made the final, with Nadal losing in the quarter finals and Federer being clearly outplayed in the semis. Does this mean that these two players as well as others coming through will overtake Nadal and Federer at the top? Perhaps they will, but then again we have heard this for many years now every time Federer or Nadal lose a match.

While the gap probably is closing, I think a lot of this hype is nonsense. Before the Australian Open, Federer and Nadal had won 21 out of the last 23 grand slam titles. We have to remember Nadal primarily lost his match due to injury and he is also at a similar age to Djokovic and Murray, so he isn’t exactly aging. Federer on the other hand still has a few good years in him and at his absolute best can be unstoppable. I think between them they will win the next three grand slams in 2011.

Overall on the men’s side of the draw I think we can expect the rankings to shuffle around. While the top six or so players will most likely remain inside the top 10, I think other players such as Andy Roddick may find themselves outside the top 10 for the first time in a long time. Roddick simply has to be more aggressive on his groundstrokes and cannot rely solely on his serve to get him through. I think Lleyton Hewitt will make his way back into the top 30 while John Isner will be close to the top 10.

On the women’s side of the draw things have really opened up. There is now uncertainty at the top of the rankings, and gone are the days where we could pencil in a Serena-Venus final. Serena Williams is still injured and how well she recovers from this no one can be sure of. Venus seems less threatening recently too. Combine this with the fact that the world number one hasn’t won a grand slam and things are looking cloudy. Kim Clijsters seems to be the obvious favourite going into grand slams this year, especially after her recent Australian Open victory. Yet she has never won the French Open or Wimbledon. So can she break this trend?

The time is now for Sam Stosur to step it up and take out her maiden grand slam title. She has been a French Open finalist before and with others around her having problems this is a great chance for her. Unfortunately for her, she is currently not in the best form, but who knows what can happen… It would be great if she could win though!