The Video Poker Oasis

There are various things which need to be taken into consideration when choosing what kind of flooring to go for. Getting new flooring installed in your home can breathe new life into it and can be a great way to improve your living environment. It may not be as expensive as you think either.

An important factor when choosing flooring is what the role of that room is. Flooring which is suitable for the dining room may not be appropriate for the bathroom or kitchen for example. Some of the more widely used types of flooring are carpet, vinyl, wood, and laminate.

Laminate flooring can be a great alternative to wooden flooring if you are looking to achieve a wood effect floor for a fraction of the price. Laminate flooring is made from a sheet of MDF with a wood-effect plastic surface glued to it. One pitfall of laminate flooring is that whilst it is scratch resistant once it is scratched it is not possible to repair. That aside it can still be an ideal choice for a kitchen, where the plastic coating provides an easily cleanable surface. Conversely solid wood flooring would not be a good idea in a bathroom, or in fact any room which is likely to get very humid and wet. Some woods are more vulnerable to the wet than others.

If you are looking to fit a wooden floor, it’s critical you have a suitable surface to fit it on. An ideal surface would be flat, and dry. There are options however to resolve uneven flooring issues, such as laying ply throughout, or employing an underlay to create a ‘floating floor’.

Often laminate flooring is sold as a product you can fit together yourself which is a great way of keeping costs down. Solid wood flooring requires a higher degree of DIY competence, so it can sometimes be advisable to get solid wooden floors fitted professionally which on the downside can add substantially to the cost.

Something many people do not realise when they measure their room to calculate how much flooring they will need to buy – is that it is crucial to include a 10mm gap around the edge of the room for the wooden flooring to expand and contract.

As an integral part of any interior design scheme, it is vital to select the right flooring. Whilst wooden or laminate floors can be ideal – often for a more chic minimalist look; carpet can be a better option if you are trying to achieve a more traditional home feel. The important thing is you take into account the various factors you need to consider before ordering new flooring.

In this article we’ll focus on the last piece of billiard improvements which is the cue itself.

Cue construction, even in the early days, was more an art than a science. Billiard cues, even going back to the early maces, were probably the most artistic of all the items associated with the game itself. Early maces were hand carved ivory and inlaid jewels and gold. They were probably worth as much as the whole table itself.

With the advances made in industry in the 1800s cues were not only made beautifully but they could now be mass produced in a variety of styles. Probably the greatest cue manufacturer of the era was B. Finck Company. It was said that their cues in both beauty and quality was unequalled by anyone. Their cues were used by the finest players in Europe. Eventually they became the largest cue manufacturer on the continent.

By 1879 Finck had more than 160 cues in its catalogue. They made both one and two piece cues in many designs and styles. They even made cues that were designed for specific games and for all levels of society, from the lowest commoner to the highest in royalty. They also specialized in what were called “cues for kings.” These cues were extremely expensive, made with inlaid gold and very rare gems. Most of the cues were actually purchased by the kings as more of a status symbol and were very rarely used in actual play. Finck also created custom cues which were awarded as prizes in various tournaments across the land.

Since Finck, many other famous cue makers came onto the scene including Britner, Rambow, Paradise, Balner, Martin, Szamboti and Balabushka. All of these companies, even today, make cues that are considered a symbol of excellence and are valued as true treasures.

There are many variations in the cues that are made. They are dictated by the game itself. For example, billiard cues are stiffer than pool cues because billiard balls are heavier than pool balls. Other variations include the type of wood that is used which will determine how light or heavy the cue itself is, as some prefer a heavier cue to a lighter one.

A good part of the reason that billiard cues were able to be made so well and attractive was the art of marquetry, which is the art of making designs or pictures with thin pieces of wood, shell or other materials. This art has been a part of billiard cue making almost right from the beginning. Floral, geometric or other inlaid designs have greatly added to the beauty of tables and cues. Precious gems and metals have also been used in this art. Even the art of “finishing,” which Stradavari used on his violins, was also used on cues and tables.

The truth is, one of the main reasons for billiards popularity is the beauty of the game pieces itself.

In our last article in this series we’re going to show how billiards made its way to America.

David Walker continues his review of the January transfer window and how the moves will impact each team’s success, or survival at the end of the 2005/06 season.

Everton After spending the early part of the season facing a relegation battle the only reinforcements came in the form of Alan Stubbs, joining from Sunderland for his second spell at the club.

Two players have left the club – Marcus Bent to Charlton and Per Kroldrup to Fiorentina. The Danish defender arrived in a £5 million switch from Udinese but returned to Italy for substantially less after making just one league appearance.

At 10 points clear, Everton look safe from the drop but you may be tempted by the 33/1 relegation odds.

Fulham Fulham are battling against relegation and have made five new signings. Goalkeepers Tony Warner and Antti Niemi joined from Cardiff and Southampton respectively while New Zealand international Simon Elliott arrived from Columbus Crew. Defender Wayne Bridge and midfielder Michael Brown joined from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur on loan.

Without an away win all season, Fulham’s strength and key to survival lies in their form at Craven Cottage. 26 of the 29 points accumulated have come from home wins and manager Chris Coleman will need to keep up this momentum. Fulham can be backed at 14/1 for relegation.

Liverpool Third in the table and a favourable draw in the Champions League has seen further recruits arrive at Anfield. Defender Jan Kromkamp arrived in a swap deal from Villarreal which saw Josemi return to Spain while Danish defender Daniel Agger cost £5.8 million from Brondby.

A host of fringe players left on loan deals but all transfers were eclipsed by the return of striker Robbie Fowler, five years after leaving Anfield. Fowler scored 120 goals in 236 Premiership matches for the Reds previously and with Manchester United wobbling, Liverpool could eclipse them in second position. They are three points behind in third but have two games in hand. Rafa Benitez’s side can be backed at 6/5 to win the Premiership in the “without Chelsea” market.

Manchester City Following a blistering start to the season, City are sitting comfortably in tenth position. Manager Stuart Pearce will not stand for half measures and has motivated his side into three wins out of their last four matches, including a 3-1 derby win over bitter rivals United.

Pearce has boosted the ranks with the £6 million signing of Greek striker Georgios Samaras from Heerenveen after allowing Robbie Fowler to rejoin Liverpool and the loan capture of Espanyol midfielder Alberto Riera. Pearce’s managerial qualities have not gone unnoticed and he is quoted at 20/1 to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson as the next England boss.

Manchester United The former Premiership powerhouses have been exposed yet again this season as being nowhere near Chelsea in terms of results, consistency and strength in depth. However, the Glazier’s sanctioned the arrivals of Spartak Moscow defender Nemanja Vidic Spartak for £7 million and £5.5 million signing Patrice Evra.

A dire spell in Europe has seen them with the Carling Cup one of their only chances of silverware this season although Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are still 5/6 favourites for the Premiership “without Chelsea”. Strike duo Ruud van Nistelrooy is 5/6 and Wayne Rooney 10/1 to top the Premiership scoring charts.

Middlesbrough One of the pre season outsiders for a top four position, Middlesbrough are now staring relegation square in the face. Boro have won just once in their last 10 Premiership outings and that was away at rock bottom Sunderland.

No players arrived in January although Szilard Nemeth left for Strasbourg. One of the few bright spots, striker Yakubu, can be backed at 16/1 to top the Premiership goalscoring chart while speculative punters may fancy the 13/2 on offer of relegation.

Newcastle United Manager Graham Souness became the latest Premiership managerial casualty after recently losing five of their last six league matches. With just 36 wins in his 83 matches in charge the club are hovering six points above the drop zone.

Big money arrivals Michael Owen and Alberto Luque failied to ignite an expected charge for European football and former West Ham manager Glenn Roeder and Alan Shearer have taken over the reigns temporarily. Bolton manager Sam Allardyce is the 9/2 favourite to take over permanently and despite a poor run of form the Magpies remain 20/1 outsiders for relegation.

The third and final part of the review will look at transfers involving Portsmouth, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United and Wigan Athletic.

The Powerblock dumbbells are one of the most popular adjustable, quick change dumbbells on the market. Backed by a 10 year warranty, these “made in the USA dumbbells” are extremely durable, replaces dozens of regular dumbbells and can be easily stored away under your bed or in the closet.

If you’re considering the Power Block, then chances are you already know the benefits of strength training, and you probably want the best, space efficient dumbbell on the planet. But with all the different Power Block dumbbell models out there, you might be scratching your head and thinking which one is right for you.

Here is an overview of what’s available:

Personal Power Block

This set adjusts from 5-45 lbs in 5 lb increments in each hand. This set has a maximum weight of 45 lbs per hand and cannot be made heavier than the 45 lb maximum weight per hand.

The Sports Power Block

This set adjusts from 3-21 lbs in 3 lb increments. This set has a maximum weight of 21 lbs per hand and cannot be made heavier than the 21 lb maximum weight per hand

Elite Trainer 2.5-50

The Elite Trainer Set allows you to adjust the weight by 2.5 lbs within the weight range of 2.5-50 lbs per dumbbell.

The Elite Set 5-50

The Elite handle weighs 5 lbs without the chrome adder weights in the handle. You can expand this dumbbell by using the add-on kits. The 40 lb Elite Add-On Kit would take the set from a maximum weight of 90 lbs in each hand. The Elite Big Block Kit would take you to a maximum weight of 130 lbs in each hand.

The Elite 5-90

This set is expandable to 130 lbs per hand using Elite Big Block Kit.

The Elite Set 5-130

This is the Elite Power Block dumbbells in one package. The weight ranges from 5-130 lbs, and adjusts in 5 or 10 lb increments.

The Power Block Pro Rexan

The weight ranges from 5-85 lbs base set comes with plates 1-8 and adjusts in 5 or 10 lb increments.

Big Pro Rexan 5-125lbs

These are basically the same as the Pro Rexan, with the add-on weights included bring the weight up to 125lb for each dumbbell.

Things You Should Know When Choosing a Power Block Dumbbell Set

Keep in mind that the add-on kit (which makes your dumbbells up to 130 lbs each) is compatible with only a few select models.

If you don’t plan on building muscle, then the Personal and Sports Power Block should be fine for you.

However, if strength, power, and muscle mass are one of your goals, then consider the Power Block Elite Set or the Power Block Pro Rexan models. These models are upgradeable to a maximum of 125-130 lbs for each dumbbell if you purchase an add-on. You can also buy the complete set, saving you from upgrading at a later time.

Other Benefits

Patented Selector Pin Design- Power Block dumbbells use a selector pin to change weights, much like a weight stack machine at a gym.

Padded Wrist Supports- Power Block offers padded wrist supports within the construction of the dumbbells.

Who is it for?

If you’re sick of waiting in line at the health clubs for a dumbbell and want to work out in the comfort of your own home, the power block is much more convenient and cost effective than multiple sets of regular dumbbells.

If you’re a personal trainer then these dumbbells are great for your studio. If you’re doing in-home personal training for your clients, nothing beats a set of power blocks and the foldable Travel Bench for portability and convenience.

You have permission to publish this article in its entirety either, electronically or in print, free of charge. As long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be greatly appreciated! Thank You.

Lockport is about 20 miles north of the Winnipeg airport on the RED RIVER OF THE NORTH. My brother and I went there for 6 days of fishing. Stayed at “Cat’s on the Red”. Rented a boat for the time we where there. The River was in perfect shape. The weather also co-operated in being mild to warm most of the time. We were told of another 2 guys from KY. that had been up there a week before had caught over 350 cats! They must have spent 12 hours a day fishing for you can NOT haul those huge channel cats in a boat in just a couple minutes.

I must says having to use barbless hooks works out very well. We did NOT lose a fish by the hook coming out . Once the fish was in the boat it sure made it so easy to get the hook out. So you can lift the big fish up for the picture. By all means take your camera for your pals won’t believe you without the proof of the photos.

We did O.K. landing over 70 Channel cats most over 20 lbs. My brother caught the largest one of 29 lbs.!! Your odds of getting a Channel cat that large out of the Ohio River are very slim. My brother got around 45 and I landed around 28 cats. As a bonus caught around 8 white perch from 5-12 lbs.

We caught 26 cats between 20 and 25 lbs another 16 between 25 and 29lbs. Total weight for the week came to around 1,313 lbs. Total of 73 fish the average came out 19.1 lbs!!! That is what catfishing DREAMS are made of.

Around 90 percent of the fish were caught from the boat. However we did catch a number of them from the bank. The first night there we fished right in front of the lodge and caught 3 or 4 nice cats. My brother biggest cat was caught right at the boat dock. He almost lost his pole when that monster cat took off with the bait. I hope this has been of some help to anyone thinking about a trip for the GREATEST Channel cat fishing experience going. For more information on lodging and guide service cost drop me an e-mail So get a couple of your friends together to split the cost. For I am sure you ALL WILL experience a TRIP OF A LIFE TIME.

nlcatfish@fuse.net webmaster of Cincinnati Catfishing http://www.cincinnaticatfishing.com AND SHOP WITHOUT DROPPING http://www.cincinnaticatfishing.com/Shop1.html Links 4 Fishing Information And Supplies www.cincinnaticatfishing.com/links4fishing.html

Basic body movement is essential in any sport. Of course it is also essential for any type of physical activity we do.

As parents, we teach little children how to do the simplest of things. This includes how to move and how to control movements for precision and safety.

Basic body movement also means limiting movement to the essential movement for what you want to do. We control the desired movement. And, we prevent unwanted movement. We learn to keep our movements just firm enough to be coordinated. We also learn to allow just enough relaxation so the movements can flow through their proper range with the most comfort.

For many golfers, if you think about your hands doing something or even have much of your focus on your hands then, usually, you will do something incorrect with your hands.

Basic body movement, under control, is to be your main focus. When you become good at this part of your golf swing then can you try advanced hand movements. But, any of these hand movements should only be done in harmony with the dominant body and upper arm movements.

Even your arm movements need more focus in the early learning stages than any perceived hand movements. And, these arm movements should focus on movements generated in the upper arms which are as close to your body as possible.

A Special Lesson With A Good Golfer

A few years ago I did 2 golf lessons with a man who stood a little over 6 feet tall. He was having trouble spraying his hits with his mid-irons to his woods. I asked him to hit a ball with a wedge. He chose his 64 degree lob wedge and promptly hit a high, 95 yard hit.

What was he doing wanting a lesson from anyone? Answer: He had one wrong move that he wasn’t aware he was doing.

I used my interpretation of Fred Couples’ looping swing to guide him to the correct arm movement. When he tried my idea of Fred’s swing Andy hit the ball higher and 15 yards farther.

He did not want to develop that move but he understood how to correct his error with the proper movement. He hit a lot of good golf balls afterwards and knew why he did so.

Andy’s other problem involved chipping. He had a good hand movement in his chipping effort. He had no idea how to use that good movement with the movements of his body. As well, he had no idea of the importance of his body activity during his chipping.

A few minutes into the 2nd lesson he had learned how to time his hand movements with his body movements. He also learned where his hands should be in relation to his spine as he did the hand movements that he wanted.

His chipping improved dramatically within the lesson. His confidence was as high as possible that he could land a golf ball where he wanted. And, all it took was understanding how his arms and hands were to move in harmony with his body and also in relationship to his body position.

How I Developed My Understanding Of Basic Body Movement

I taught physical education from Grades 1 to 9. In one short span of time I could see the development of movement in all stages of growth. I could also see the physical and mental effort carried out by these children as they learned the skills and the games which I taught.

I used to teach the various Grades a level of a game which they could handle. I taught positional play in slow motion and then introduced body movements which enabled the students to move fluently up and down the playing surface. They quickly learned this and asked for more. That is when I taught the various skills. The game was taught first; and then came the skills.

In golf, there are a number of games played during a round. * We try to get a better score than someone else. * We try to get a personal best score during a round. * We try to play against the golf course to get a par round or better. * We try to get a better score than par on each hole.

BUT, usually forgotten is the game of playing each golf shot as good as we possibly can. It is this last “game” which I teach in my golf lessons.

The free articles combined with the instruction modules will teach you how to win “the game” of playing each hit during your round of golf.

Relating this to teaching golf swing skills I emphasize basic posture, alignment, control, and body movement. Arm and hand activity do not get taught until my students learn basic movements. Because of this, beginners and students who had never hit the ball in the air soon hit draws with even their short irons when they hit the ball over a fence.

You, The Ground, And The Golf Ball

We stand on the ground. The golf ball rests on the ground (er, usually). Before we try to dislodge that golf ball from its place on the ground we should learn a good method of relating what we do from our “perch” on the ground.

Between our connection to the ground and the ball’s position on the ground we have a lot of body mass and joints along with that “stick” thing. We need movement to make the golf ball move. Therefore, we swing back and forth to make the golf club move the ball. But, those joints want to do all sorts of contortions during our golf swing efforts.

We need to develop an understanding of how to move at the fewest possible joints and how to control or prevent movements of the rest of our joints. This is basic to anything we do. It is very important to this “confusing” skill called the golf swing.

Picone B&B is a bed and breakfast in Catania, located in Via Umberto 104

The B&B PICONE, composed by 4 independents rooms (3 doubles and 1 triple) with balconies, bathroom, internet wireless, TV and air conditioned (in addition to the breakfast room and the adjacent kitchenette), is situated in the heart of the historic center of Catania, in the picturesque Umberto Street, in a big and shining apartment – totally restored – at the first floor of an ancient building of the first of the 1900s, situated under the lee of the picturesque ness Vittorio Emanuele III Square, with its crowded "ciospi" – characteristics little refreshment-booths where very good lime or typical fruit syrup drinks are served – and at few steps from the important city street, Etnea Street, the "Catania’s living-room", where you can still breath the atmosphere ofthe eighteenth-century city, so risen after many natural catastrophes, with its splendid Baroque, the big lave-stone pavements and the elegant shops.

The central position make possible to reach on foot the most important public buildings and the city-sites of mayor architectonical, historical and cultural interest.

Thanks to public means of transport, which pass into Umberto Street (an halt is just under the B&B) or nearby the B&B, is possible to reach the most decentralized destinations, like the railway-station and the extra urban bus-station, the airport and, above all, the seaside and the different beaches that are characteristic of the Catania’s coast: from the lave-stone cliffs, forged by antic Etna’s eruptions (and in summer equipped with practical "solarium"), to the gilded sandy expanse "Playa".
All of these characteristic, apart from the typical family reception, make the B&B PICONE the best place for a tourist or business holiday, especially for visitors which arrive in Catania by train or by aerial, because in the moment of the reception could take advantage from taxies parked nearby the station. While for visitors which like travel by car, they could find lots of very big (payment) car-parks.

Other than Picone B&B, you can browse our offers for other accommodations in Catania, from cheap to luxury, togheter with Tours all over Italy; tourist information about Italy can be found on World 66

It happens to all of us, even though we do not want to admit it. The reality is we all get older. Some of you may already know what I am talking about, and others may have yet to experience the phenomenon of aging. Those of you who are reading this article and are no longer “spring chickens” get my drift. Even if you are one of the lucky ones, still young, let me fill you in on what happens as the body gets a few miles on it.

Probably the biggest thing that we all dislike when we creep into our thirties and forties is the extra poundage (i.e. weight) we tend to put on. (It is also a lot harder to take off when we get older.) Unfortunately, because our metabolism slows down, we are unable to pound down a burger, fries, and a couple of cokes without the bathroom scale hitting “tilt” a few days later. In my mind, that probably is the most difficult adjustment we have to make: an adjustment in our nutrition intake as we age.

The second most noticeable difference as we age, especially for the more active individual, is it becomes a little more difficult to get out of bed. The back is a little sore, the knees are a little creaky, and, if you workout, the soreness does not go away as quickly. This is a result of a few things that happen to our bodies when we get older. Number one is we lose a percentage of our muscle mass on a yearly basis. After the age of 25 (don’t quote me on the specifics, but I believe) about 1% of your muscle mass is lost per year. Makes sense now why we get a little sorer and getting out of bed is more difficult. We simply do not have as much muscle to do the work.

I could go on and on with the depressing facts of aging, but let us look at just one more before moving on. As you get older you become less flexible. It takes you a lot longer to “limber up” for any sporting activity: golf, tennis, or a pick up game of basketball. Less flexibility predisposes you to experience more difficulty with certain movements: touching your toes, rotating during a golf swing, or even reaching down to pick something up off the ground. Why does this occur? Our bodies, as a result of wear and tear, become more “tight” and “wound up” as we get older.

So there you have it! Some of the great things to look forward to as you get older (kidding of course). So if you’re in your twenties and you’re reading this article, “enjoy it while it lasts,” because the road gets a little more difficult to travel as you get older. But, if you’re beyond your twenties, I am sure you can relate to the general results of aging in relation to your golf game. Quite simply, extra pounds decrease your stamina (and may affect your swing plane). Less muscle equals less distance off the tee, and decreased flexibility tends to make the turn in the golf swing much harder to perform. An unfortunate situation, but the good news is that we can slow down the aging process and limit the effects of aging on your golf game.

Slowing Down the Aging Process for the Golf Swing

I have given you a little “carrot of information” that we can slow down the aging process. How do we do it? It is actually quite simple and only requires a little time out of each day (15-20 minutes) and a little discipline. Sounds pretty easy when you think of all the benefits you stand to gain. What we are going to do is provide you some answers on how to slow down the aging process. Remember we can’t stop the aging process, but we can sure slow it down. The benefits of slowing down the aging process are evident when you see guys in their 50’s winning tour events. It just takes a little time, some knowledge, and discipline. If you are saying, “I don’t have the time,” let me ask you one question: How would you like to feel 10 years younger right now and hit the ball farther then you did in your twenties? I imagine the answer to both of those questions would be a resounding yes!

Let us start with the first topic that we described when you get older, the additional pounds. Unfortunately, as you age your metabolism slows down. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the word metabolism, think of it as your own internal furnace. It is the rate at which you burn fuel (food is fuel to the human body). When we are younger we tend have faster metabolisms, and as we get older they slow down. (I know it is a bummer.) Well, let me tell you, there are activities to speed that metabolism back up. The way to do it is by performing some fitness activities. If you are active and participate in some type of structured activity your body will burn more fuel and elevate its metabolism during this time. In addition, if these activities are resistance-training activities (i.e. weights, tubing, light dumbbells, body weight), then over time you will build some muscle. The great thing about that is the more muscle you have the higher your metabolism will be all the time (translation: you will burn more fuel all day and night). A secondary benefit of such activities will be greater stamina on the course. So rather than “spraying your shots” around on the back nine because you’re tired, you can have pinpoint accuracy going into the 18th.

Moving on to our second point, the loss of muscle mass as you age, this one is a tough one to swallow. Just think, we actually LOSE muscle as we age. Pretty depressing. The good news is it can be limited or stopped. Before I give you the solution, let’s look at how this affects your golf swing. Essentially, in the golf swing you create club head speed. That club head speed is the result of creating rotational power, which we define as torque. To create torque, the muscles of the body have to be flexible, strong, and powerful. Now guess what? If you have less muscle, what do you think is going to happen to your power outputs and club head speed? The answer is they will decrease. No wonder they make senior shafts with a lot of flex. This is the golf manufacturers’ attempt to deal with this problem. It helps to a point, but we have a better solution. How about putting something in your bag that makes you stronger, improves your power, and gets back that lost distance? Sounds good? Well, it can be done if you implement a golf-specific strength-training program. You can get back that lost muscle mass, get back that power, and improve your driving distance. This is what we call the development of “golf strength,” and it can be done with a program that takes a total of 15 minutes a day!

Finally, moving on to the flexibility issue, our bodies lose flexibility as we age. Flexibility is a must when it comes to the golf swing. Here is what happens when you do not “work” on your flexibility. A loss of flexibility in the golf swing limits the ability of the body to perform the correct actions to create the proper swing. Essentially, your body won’t allow you to take the club back and through on the correct swing path. This leads to miss hits, slices, hooks, and a whole bunch of other shots that are very unpleasant. So how do we fix this problem or not allow it to become a problem? The answer is to implement a golf-specific flexibility program. This again requires a daily commitment, but the time frame is very little (say 5 minutes a day). So again, ask yourself: Is it worth spending 5 minutes a day on flexibility to have the golf swing you would like? I bet most of you would answer yes.

The Magic Pill

Well, there you have the pleasures, displeasure, joys, and sorrows of the aging process. We all get older, but there are things we can do to prevent the displeasures and sorrows. If we take a little time every day and perform the proper exercises and activities, we can reduce the effects of aging and have a great swing for as long as we like. That’s the only magic pill we know of. If you would like more information on this subject and how to go about improving your golf fitness, take a look at our web site at www.bioforcegolf.com.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly with 2004 Masters Champion Phil Mickelson. He has made many of his golf tips, golf instruction and golf swing improvement techniques available to amateur golfers on the website www.bioforcegolf.com. Check out his manual and DVD, Your Body & Your Swing, on BioForceGolf.com. To contact Sean, you can email him at support@bioforcegolf.com.

El guardameta argentino del Alavés, Bonano, se mostr muy satisfecho tras el partido del pasado sbado ante el FC Barcelona, donde hizo un gran partido: “Esta vez no voy a presumir de humilde, as que debo afirmar que ante el actual campen de liga me sali un partido redondo, casi esa actuacin siempre tan soada por todos los que jugamos al ftbol como profesionales”.

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Are you sure you’re doing everything you can to be the best coach possible? Absolutely sure?

I’ve been a coach and I’ve had a lot of coaches. You know what I’ve found? Some coaches put all the pieces together and some just don’t invest time developing the coaching skills that make a difference.

I can’t turn you into a coaching superstar overnight but I can get you started with these six powerful communication skills. I’ll break them into two groups: Verbal and Non-verbal.

Three verbal communication skills you must master:

1) Consistency

Don’t send your players mixed messages by telling your team something today and then two days from now completely contradicting yourself. Your players must be able to trust the words that come out of your mouth.

Also, keep your tone consistent with what your words are intending to get across. I had a coach once who, when one of us messed up, would say, “That was great” in a dripping wet sarcastic tone. Talk about sending us a negative message and beating team morale into the ground!

2) Honesty

Be honest with your team and always in a positive way. Your team knows when mistakes are made so don’t try to ignore them. If you try to gloss over them, you’ll lose your team’s respect. Just be sure to correct mistakes in a positive way that helps a player see what was done correctly but also feel good about fixing the mistake.

When pointing out a mistake, first say what was good, then say “and if you follow through properly, you’ll get the proper spin on the ball”, rather than “but if you follow through properly, you’ll get the proper spin on the ball”.

3) Be Concise

Don’t speak to your team unclearly. Think through what you want to get across ahead of time and deliver your thoughts in a clear, concise manner. Come right out and say it. Don’t go off on tangents and bore your players with unnecessary talk. Get to the point and then get the troops moving.

Three non-verbal communication skills you must master:

4) Facial Expressions

Be aware of how closely your team pays attention to what your face is “saying”. Don’t be a phony by trying to hide what you really feel with a fake smile or a serious blank stare.

Realize, also, that just a simple smile can do wonders for a struggling player or a player unsure of what they’re doing. Show them that you’re behind them, glad to be with them and there to help.

Don’t overdo this, though. Your players will pick up on that. Be genuine in your coaching efforts.

5) Body Language

If you’re standing on the sideline in a way that shows you are happy to be there and confident, how will your players respond as opposed to you scowling around all hunched over and looking angry? Remember to present body language that represents enthusiasm, class and character.

Body language can also be used in the form of physical contact such as a pat, a handshake or an arm around the shoulder. Stay ethical, of course, but physical contact can show your players the many emotions you feel about them – happiness, concern, affection, approval, etc.

6) Listen

This one’s huge! You need to pay attention to your players. You’ve got to focus on really seeing and hearing your players’ verbal and non-verbal signals.

If your players keep hearing you say, “What was that?” or “Did you say something?”, you’re in trouble and you need to work on your listening skills big time.

Start practicing this coaching skill and watch how much more you instantly start to learn about your team. You’ll see a player is upset over something even though he’s trying hard to hide it. You’ll see how each player reacts to not only you but to one another.

Master these six coaching strategies and watch your coaching skills skyrocket. Your players must know you care way before they’ll care about what you have to say. Remember this because too many coaches don’t.