October 23, 2009
Giselle Mather, Head Coach for the England U20s team has made her choices for the Nations Cup. The England Red Roses will see competition with Wales first at the Brunel University field.
Her player choices are: Natasha Hunt of Bath, Lizell Heather of Kettering, Rose Fong Darlington of Mowden Park Sharks, Sarah McKenna of Old Albanian Saints, Garnet MacKinder of Exeter le, Claire Garner Leeds of Leos, Jessie-Joy Flowers of West Park, Sasha Acheson of Sudbury, Victoria Fleetwood of Lichfield, Charlotte Male of Plymouth Albion, Harriet Mills of Manchester, Charlotte Wild of Leeds Met, Marlie Packer of Bath, Hannah Field of Reading, and Nicola Hoole of Bath. The chosen replacements are Victoria Cornborough of Richmond, Elizabeth Peak of Oakmedians, Davinia Monterio of Bath, Amy Miller of Reading, Hannah Walker-Smart of Pavoirs, Kimberley Davey of Richmond, and Samantha Bree of Worcester.
Mather has made many changes and wishes to give the squad time to impress her before the finals or the playoffs. The team has beaten both Canada and the USA teams so far and beat Wales in April. Wales has since beaten Canada, which is a tough win, so Mather is taking the Wales team seriously.
There is a lot at stake for all teams in the upcoming competitions. Mather is looking forward to seeing what her chosen players can do in her current plan for them. Three of her players (Lizell Heather, Charlotte Wild, and Marlie Packer) will be starters for just the second game straight.
October 23, 2009
England’s women footballers are preparing to compete in the European Championships in Finland next month. In preparation for the finals, they played a penultimate friendly, but found themselves on the losing end. This came after their unbeatable record of 9 wins, no losses.
Iceland was finally able to beat the British team after losing to them nine straight times. England used their fringe players primarily in this match and lost by two. Holmfridur Magnuisdottir and Margret Vidarsdottir scored the two goals for Iceland. Magnusdottir shot a low shot for the goal after 26 minutes.
England’s coach, Hope Powell, used the fringe players to give them a chance to see some real action and she feels that they really gave it a go. Penetration was the problem with the England team, as they did maintain possession a good deal of the time.
England’s goal scoring efforts came in the 43rd minute in the form of a header pounded by Faye White, the team’s captain, but Iceland’s right-winger, Dora Larusdottir, blocked the shot. Jill Scott and Emily Westwood took long shots that were blocked by Iceland’s goalkeeper, Thora Helgadottir.
Coach Powell was interested in playing as many players as possible in order to get a good look at all of them before the Euro finals squad. Her observations answered her questions. She has a rough time of it, trying to decide, as this team has many capable and competitive athletes who would be appropriate choices for the Euro’s.
October 22, 2009
Independent Wormen’s Football League, the premier American women’s football organisation, will hold its 2009 Championship Weekend in Austin, Texas. There will be four full days of play and events. The activities will take place at Round Rock ISD Stadium.
The best woman football players from the North American teams, including their all star players, will be present and competing in this weekend long event. The event is being held in the very city that started the American women’s football league. The game is definitely very different from the “powder puff” ladies football of past days. This is real player full contact football. Anyone who hasn’t seen these women play this sport is in for a surprise.
The IWFL, the Independent Women’s Football League, was founded in 2000. It is described as an international tackle football league for women. The organisation gives the women’s teams a chance to play very competitive games in a league that is at the top of the sport. Sportsmanship is also an important component of the league, as is general goodwill. IWFL is actually the only league that is officially recognised as a women’s tackle football league.
The league is looking to promote the sport among young girls and women and wants to expand its number of teams in participation. It is a very important player in the women’s sports market. It is aiming for a leadership role in the developing of the sport for the women of the future.
October 22, 2009
Although skinny legs may look nice in a skirt, they aren’t necessarily desirable if you need your legs to power through or carry you in your athletic endeavours. They can still look good, and have good muscle tone as well. After all, the name “Twiggy” actually means “looks like a twig or a stick”. That’s not exactly what you might want or need. Women do well to build strong legs to compensate for the lack of upper body strength inherent to the gender.
Plyometrics are exercises that you can do to strengthen and tone up your legs. This method works your hamstring, quad, calve, gluts, and heart muscles. It incorporates strength workouts, fast twitches, endurance, tone-ups, and stamina. You will burn fat in addition, as it is truly a cardio type workout. Plyometrics means, literally, jumping about.
They should be done regularly once a week along with your regular leg workouts. If you were to do 20 plyometrics after 20 leg extensions, then rest for one minute, and repeat all of this three times, you would get a full hard core leg workout. To intensify even more, you can skip the one minute rest in between.
Use the step machine as you usually would, but add in 15 plyometrics when you step off the machine. Go back and do more steps, then more plyometrics, etc. No resting between sets for this one!
Use a Swiss ball for stress positioning against a wall and bend at the knees, lowering yourself slowly until you are in sitting position with an invisible chair. Be careful to keep you back straight and supported with this one. You should feel the burn in your legs that will tell you that you are accomplishing muscle building.
October 21, 2009
The heart is, of course, the largest and most critical muscle we possess. Athletes find the need to tax that muscle on a regular basis. In competitive mode, we put even more stressful demand on the heart muscle. Therefore, it is important to pay much attention to the exercising of the heart.
This may be as simple as breathing. The heart slows and anxiety is reduced when deep breathing is employed. Pilates and Yoga are two forms of organised relaxation technique and include deep breathing in the most natural form. It can be a most invigorating experience.
The deep and slow breathing can help push toxic material from the body and boost your immune system. The oxygenation of your blood will relieve depressing feelings and lack of motivation. The cells of the body will get a wakeup call by improving circulation.
Common ailments experienced by athletes can find some relief with the improved circulatory function. We have all felt the nagging back pain, muscle strain and tensed tendons, and headaches. Those can literally be eased away by these deep breathing exercises.
For general toning and good health, the fat content in the body will be reduced. The metabolism speeds up and the body burns excess fat. This benefit has been reported by Dr. Kyrin Hall of the Couture Curves weight control programme.
Yoga teaches a breathing technique to slow the breathing down to a target of two per minute. Pilates combines spinal alignment with concentrated breathing techniques.
October 21, 2009
The England U20s Team played impressively enough to capture the spoils of the Nations Cup Crown held at Brunel University. Sam Bree of Worcester was unstoppable with six tries, making her total contribution 11 tries scored throughout the length of the tournament. Sarah McKenna scored two, as did Rose Fong. Claire Garner made her presence known by converting 10.
Coach Mather is very proud of the team and the way in which the girls have played. Their diligence in training showed up throughout the tournament. She was particularly pleased with the way in which they took the game against the USA so seriously. They had already beaten the USA team previously, but didn’t allow that prior win to give them an air of overconfidence.
Mather said, “The players moved the ball around extremely well today, they kept the ball alive and delivered everything that was asked of them. Sam Bree scored six tries, outstripping the defence, but it was the pace of the whole team throughout this tournament that kept us moving forward all the time.” This is the team’s second time winning the Nations Cup, which they also won last year.
Within the first four minutes Bree had shown dominance and began the England team’s strong showing. A line-out ball gave Natasha Hunt a break. Bree overran USA defence to score and Garner was able to convert.
After the USA’s restart they could not seem to catch up with England’s storm. England ended with a score of 110 – 0.
October 20, 2009
Australia was a formidable opponent as England played a Test Match against them today. Jodie Fields and Rachael Haynes scored 229, a world’s record sixth wicket. Australia finished the first day 271 for seven.
The npower Womens Ashes Test began as tough competition from the two teams was seen. England’s Brunt went 28 for five, which surprised the Australians. This came after Haynes scored 98, which seemed to be easy enough for her until she reached 90. The last 8 were harder won. This run ended while she attempted to heave a British team member.
Brunt was called player of the match in the World Twenty20. She made a number of bold and effective moves in this first day of the Test Match as well. At one point she stopped Karen Rolton, a threatening scorer. Brunt’s next victim was Lisa Sthaker. Nicky Shaw, the new bowler, got over in the next, with Australia losing the fourth wicket. Brunt struck again as Leah Poulton attempted defence, but was unsuccessful as England was able to take a fifth wicket.
Australia has been dominant throughout the Ashes npower test matches. England remains very strong and is definitely still in the running. The World Twenty20 was a preview and England had many very competitive team members fighting to keep the status quo. England women kept the scores close in the end. Australia is also fighting just as ferociously after giving up a day’s test matches that was disappointing for them. England’s ladies expressed disappointment that they couldn’t play more than one day’s match.
October 20, 2009
Joelle King, New Zealand player, has won her crown in the Clare Valley Australian Open Squash Championships. The Open was held in Clare, South Australia at the Valleys Lifestyle Centre.
Annie Au was King’s opponent for the day and was unable to defend her champion status. This is the second time in just three years that a Kiwi came out of the Open victorious.
King is an England native, hailing from Cambridge. She is twenty years of age and was seeded only sixth as she entered this Open. Her first victory was over Kasey Brown, who sat at the top seed spot. Au, the entry from Hong Kong, was seeded second. King’s power was obvious in the matchup between her and Au. Au’s talent lies in her ability to place well, as opposed to King’s speed and force.
The determination that King showed in this event seemed to be the key to her exemplary performance. Au reported that King was relentless in her shots. She overpowered Au by keeping her under constant pressure. King holds the 53rd rank in world standings and is sure that this recent win will be instrumental in launching her career. She was thrilled to have beaten Annie Au, who King considers a real class player. She’s not certain how she kicked the “mongrel” into gear.
Shelley Kitchen, King’s teammate, was the champion of the 2007 Open the first time it was held at Clare. Jaclyn Hawkes and King advanced to the semi finals last year.
October 19, 2009
The women’s Australian basketball team captain, Stephanie Cumming, is looking forward to travelling to Thailand to compete in the FIBA Under 19 Women’s World Championship for 2009. She has many reasons for her desire to go.
Basketball Australia’s trophy cabinet will look good with a Gems trophy in it. Cumming and the others on the team have been working out and training for the upcoming World Championships. They would love to put a trophy they win in that cabinet. It will be a way for them to show their participation in Australia’s strong basketball history.
The weather is much better in Thailand at this time of year. Australia is in its winter freeze climate. The weather in Thailand is balmy in comparison. The average temperature in Bangkok this week was 32 degrees (89 degrees Fahrenheit).
In the first game, Argentina will play the Australian Gems on July 23. The Australian team won the gold medal in 2006 at FIBA Women’s World Championship that was held in Brazil. That was a significant time for the future of Women’s basketball in Australia. It was also good to increase confidence in the current team. Since the past team was able to do it, the 2009 Gems feel that they can do it as well.
Stephanie’s role model for athletics has been Penny Taylor. Stephanie feels that she is a true team player and can bring a great deal to the game. According to Cumming, Taylor seems to motivate those around her to play their best.
October 19, 2009
The weather was decent and the sun was shining in Chicago as the Kansas City team was in town to play women’s American football. It was a Midwest Division contest and both were attempting to take the division lead. Holmgren field, where the contest was held, was filled with the anticipation of both teams and their fans. All were expecting a hot contest with lots of scoring.
Albi Zhubi returned a punt from KC from the 38 yard line. She went out of bounds and was hit, which gave Chicago a 15 yard advantage. Chicago was able to score on the third play when running back Esther Henigan ran it in. Carolyn Lee missed the kick for the extra point, but Chicago did score 6 on the touchdown by Henigan.
The Chicago Force executed a nice pass completion by Sami Grisafe, quarterback, thrown to and caught by Zhubi. Another good pass was thrown to Kim Marks, tight end, and the Force had another first down. They were not able to score this time around, although they were on the Tribe’s 16 yard line. The Tribe held them at bay and then took possession of the ball.
Chicago scored several more times and was up by 28 points to the KC Tribe’s 0 by the end of three quarters with the last quarter left to play. There were several changes and drives in the last quarter and KC was able to score once for 6 points at the three minute point near the end of the game. The final score was Chicago 28, KC 6.
