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How Playing Volleyball can Help Boost Health and Endurance

Be it enjoyed as an indoor game, on beach or grass, volleyball is undoubtedly a real-fun sport to play.

Besides the fun-facts, it is an excellent alternative to stay strong and healthy. Playing volleyball in an indoor court or a field is not just about spending some good time with your mates, it also comes with a handful of health benefits that boosts your endurance. And you would hardly assume it as a form of physical exercise! It is enjoyable, engaging, and at the same time, proper utilization of time boosting your overall wellbeing. Whether you are a master player, member of your high school team, or a beginner, putting on the perfect court specific shoes will assist you to be in your best form and boost your performance by offering stability, flexibility, and support.

Volleyball Helps Improve Your Health and Endurance

Besides being a fabulous way of getting involved in social activities, this sport also lets you grow stamina every time you get into court. Let’s dive into how this ‘game of sophistication’ can help boost your energy and physique condition.

Improves Cardiovascular Health

No matter whether you are practicing indoors, or on the beach, playing volleyball is a fabulous way of cardiovascular exercise. While playing volleyball, you get involved in actions, like running, jumping, or, squatting that can significantly develop your lung and heart condition by increasing oxygen and blood circulation throughout the body. When your cardiac and respiratory systems are strengthened, your physique can combat illnesses like diabetes, cancer, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and many more.

Burns Calories and Fat

Not only can cardiovascular activities help to maintain the right shape of your body, but a combination of cardio-exercise with strength training is also significantly beneficial to burn the excess calories. Practicing volleyball keeps your body in continuous action that lets your calorie expenditure surpass the calories you consume. A study of the Harvard Medical School says, depending on your weight, you can burn anywhere from 90-133 calories by playing non-competitive volleyball for 30 minutes while a competitive one will let you burn 120-178 calories. So to say, this fun-game is also an excellent way to maintain your weight and burn excess fat.

Strengthens and Tones Muscles

The game of volleyball comprises a lot of physical movements that help you develop your muscular performance and tones the body. The actions include passing, bumping, setting, spiking, attacking, or serving the ball that mimic a full-body workout aiming to strengthen and tone your upper and lower body, arms, wrist, thighs, abdomen, and shoulder. A piece of research targeting 11 players playing beach volleyball for 12 weeks found that they had gained more endurance, muscle strength, knee extension, and flexibility.

Boosts Intake of Healthy Nutrients

This sport demands a lot of strength and endurance. To supply the body with the required energy, players should take on a diet enriched with a sufficient amount of protein and calories excluding trans fat. An intake balanced with vitamins and minerals works great for volleyball players. Again their diet also incorporates good carbohydrates and proteins to supply the required stamina.

You have to be agile and get involved in various activities and maintain excellent upper body strength for better performance. Thus, your metabolic rate increases to generate energy, build your muscle and avoid injuries. When you play volleyball and ensure healthy nutrients, you can improve your strength, burn the excess fat, and combat diseases.

Improves Joint Health

If you are suffering from joint or arthritic pain, practising volleyball can offer you a great relief. Based on the way you play, this low impact game will help you strengthen your arms and legs to offer better joint strength. Before you kick off, ensure you go through a decent warm-up to make your joints prepared for the sport.

Boosts Your Strength and Flexibility

You have to target distinct muscles to enhance your vitality and flexibility. As already said, playing volleyball is a fabulous way for a full-body workout that helps you grow strong coordination among muscles to develop energy and flexibility.

Things You Need to Play Volleyball

Whether you are playing it professionally or recreationally, you need some pieces of equipment to start. Some of the necessary gears involve:

Net

You will require a volleyball net to kick off the game. You can get nets sold in sets that may incorporate the net itself, the ball, carry bag, and tension straps to offer you effortless storage.

The Ball

You may get a half-decent ball with the net set, but if you are determined to ramp up your performance, you may need a high-quality volleyball.

Knee Pads

Putting on knee pads is a must while practising on a rough surface or an indoor court. Thus you can avoid injuries and keep your joints safe to play for longer.

Shoes

You may not need a suitable pair of shoes for playing beach volleyball, but playing on a rough surface or court demands volleyball shoes. Such shoes offer breathability, better stability, and flexibility while running or jumping, thus keep your ankles and feet safe.

 

Volleyball is simultaneously a fabulous way of enjoyment and improving your health and endurance for overall wellbeing. 

 

Tributes to Jack Charlton, the man who dared us to dream

Mick McCarthy and Niall Quinn have led Irish football’s tributes to Jack Charlton, the manager whose ‘Put ‘Em under Pressure’ game put Ireland on the world stage with pride and passion and dared a nation to dream.

As Ireland fans awoke to the sad news of Jack’s death at his Newcastle home, his Captain Fantastic Mick and Italia ’90 hero Niall cried a tear or two for the man who changed their lives.

Both were there when Big Jack stunned his native England at Euro ’88, both were on the pitch when Jack led Ireland into the World Cup quarter-final against Italy two years later and both watched from the stands as Jack gained revenge on the Italians at the 1994 World Cup.

“I’m sure I’m not the only Irish person who shed a tear or two this morning,” Niall told FAI.ie. “I’m devastated. I am finding it very hard to put into words what Jack meant to the whole country, not just to me and to those of us lucky enough to have played for him in an Ireland shirt.

“Jack Charlton led the band. He brought us, as a players and fans, to places we never thought possible beforehand and gave us so many precious moments. He changed lives. For his players, he gave us the best days of our lives.

“This news has hit me with a bang. We have so much to be grateful to Jack for and I am truly saddened, like so many others, with this news today. Our thoughts go to Pat and Jack’s family who shared that wonderful journey with us. May he rest in peace.”

Captain when Ireland reached the World Cup quarter-finals at Italia ‘90, Mick McCarthy last spoke to Jack on the day after the great man celebrated his 85th birthday in May.

“I loved the bones of the man, I am devastated with this news and my heart goes out to Pat and the family,” said Mick. “Jack’s passing will touch Ireland, England and the football world but the loss to football will be felt in Ireland more than anywhere else.

“English fans will always remember Jack as one of their World Cup winners in 1966 but what he did with Ireland will, I suspect, mean even more to our fans and the country.

“He turned a really good team into a team that qualified for tournaments and made an impact at them. He changed my life, he changed everything for all of us who played for Ireland and just look at the memories we have.

“We will always have Stuttgart and Genoa and Giants Stadium thanks to Jack. That’s how we will remember him, with a great big smile on his face. I know this is a sad day but we will remember the great days as well.

“I did speak to him very briefly the day after his birthday but it was difficult due to his health. I told him I loved the bones of him that day and I always will.”

FAI President Gerry McAnaney has expressed his sympathies to the Charlton family on behalf of the Association and the Irish football community.

“We all have so many memories of Jack Charlton and all of them positive – he was the man who brought the nation to a standstill as we all held our breath back in 1990,” remembered Gerry.

“I know I speak on behalf of everyone involved in Irish football and everyone in Ireland when I extend our sympathies to Pat and the Charlton family. Thanks to Jack, they are part of our family now as well and we will never forget what he did for our game and our country.

“He transformed our sport. He changed the way we played football, of course, but he also changed the way the country looked at Irish football. He gave Ireland a team to be proud of and the country took him to our hearts in return. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”

Chris Froome leaves Team INEOS for Team Israel Start-Up Nation

Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome will leave Team INEOS and move to Team Israel Start-Up Nation for next season.

Froome’s current team confirmed on Thursday that the Kenyan-born Briton’s contract would not be renewed.

Dave Brailsford of Team INEOS, formerly known as Team Sky, said of the decision to leave Froome go:

“Chris’s current contract comes to an end in December and we have taken the decision now not to renew it. Chris has been with us from the start. He is a great champion and we have shared many memorable moments over the years but I do believe this is the right decision for the Team and for Chris. Given his achievements in the sport, Chris is understandably keen to have sole team leadership in the next chapter of his career – which is not something we are able to guarantee him at this point.”

Commenting on his impending departure from the team, Chris Froome said:

“It has been a phenomenal decade with the Team, we have achieved so much together and I will always treasure the memories. I look forward to exciting new challenges as I move into the next phase of my career but in the meantime my focus is on winning a fifth Tour de France with Team INEOS.”

Shortly after the announcement from Team INEOS, Team Israel Start-Up Nation confirmed that Froome would lead their team next season.

The Israeli team and the 7-time Grand Tour champion will sign a long-term contract on August 1st that will see Froome wear ISN’s blue and white until the end of his career.

“Chris is the best rider of his generation” said Israel Start-Up Nation co-owner, Sylvan Adams,” before adding “and will lead our Tour de France and Grand Tour squad. We hope to make history together as Chris pursues further Tour de France and Grand Tour victories, achievements that would make a serious case for Chris to be considered the greatest cyclist of all time.”

Chris Froome commented: “I’m really excited to be joining the ISN family. I look forward to challenging and being challenged by their talent and continuing to strive for the success that I’ve enjoyed up to now. ISN’s impact on the sport is rapidly expanding, and I’m energized to be along for the ride. I feel we can achieve great things together.”

Team Israel Start-Up Nation’s rapid progression from its beginnings as a Continental team to the WorldTour in just five years has now entered its next phase, explained ISN’s Team Manager, Kjell Carlstrom

“We have been looking to strengthen the team for 2021 in several ways, not least of which is to become Grand Tour contenders. With his impressive palmarès, Chris Froome is the perfect leader to mark our arrival as a serious contender for these races, particularly the Tour de France. Chris’ career has been extraordinary, and we believe that he has both the mindset and physical talents to win more Grand Tours with us, while also acting as a mentor to our young talents, helping them succeed.”

One of Froome’s new team mates will be Irish cyclist Dan Martin, who signed on a two-year contract for the team in August 2019, when it was known as Israel Cycling Academy.

Qualifying Process for Ryder Cup frozen until 2021

The qualification process for Team Europe for the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits has been frozen until the beginning of next year after the biennial contest was postponed until 2021.

The Tour’s Tournament Committee voted unanimously to ratify the changes which will see qualifying resume on January 1, 2021, ahead of golf’s greatest team contest which will now be staged from September 24-26, 2021.

All points earned to date on both the European and World Points lists, which started at the 2019 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and which were paused after the 2020 Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in March this year, will continue to count.

In addition, one or more points multipliers may be introduced during the course of the 2021 European Tour season to ensure that strong performance closer to the match in September 2021 is given added importance. These will be agreed once the 2021 European Tour schedule has been announced and communicated to the Membership prior to 1st January.

As in 2020, Qualification points will not be available anywhere in the world during 2021 from a tournament played opposite a Rolex Series event, further enhancing the status of the premier series of events on the European Tour.

Overall, there will be no modification to the qualifying criteria ratified by the Tournament Committee last year: i.e. the first four qualifiers for Team Europe will come from the European Points list, the next five from the World Points list and Captain Pádraig Harrington will have three wildcard picks.

The change to the qualifying process maintains the normal length of the qualification period plus a further two months, as January and February in both 2020 and 2021 are included. The end date of the qualification period will be confirmed when the 2021 Race to Dubai schedule is announced.

European Captain Pádraig Harrington said the announced changed:

“I think the proposals that have been outlined are fair to all players involved in the qualification process, whether they have already amassed points or will be looking to do so from next January onwards.”

Blake wins Power & Speed at Tryon with Merveldt 4th in Austria

Co Clare rider David Blake won the $10,000 Power & Speed Stake at Tryon, North Carolina, USA, while Irish Dressage rider Anna Merveldt was fourth in the CDI4* Grand Prix Special at Achleiten in Austria.

Blake, riding Don’t Touch Du Bois, dominated the second phase of the Power and Speed competition as the 11-year-old mare clocked 26.893 seconds to win ahead of Australian Rowan Willis with Wellington Grandorie, who finished in 27.419 seconds. American Daniel Geitner and Vesta De Lavardin were third in 28.404 seconds.

David Blake and Don’t Touch Du Bois won in Tryon, North Carolina. Credit: Sportfot.

Anna Merveldt and the 11-year-old stallion Esporim, with a personal best score in Grand Prix Special of 71.426%, were fourth in the CDI4* Grand Prix Special at Achleiten, Austria, a competition won by Germany’s six-time Olympic Gold medallist, Isabel Werth, with DSP Quantaz on a score of 80.149%.

Anna Merveldt and Esporim. Credit: Joe Reynolds.

Irish competitors will be represented at international shows this weekend, across the USA and Europe.

In showjumping, Irish riders will be in action as St Tropez Grimaud (FRA), Opglabbeek (BEL), Vilamoura (POR), Royan (FRA), Traverse City Michigan (USA), Bonheiden (BEL), Ste Cecile (FRA), Tryon North Carolina (USA) and San Giovanni In Marignano (ITA).

Ireland will also be represented in dressage at Grote-Brogel (BEL), in endurance at Ehrhardt South Carolina (USA) and in driving at Buehl (GER).

Champions League round of 16 get go ahead

The Champions League round of 16 games have been given the go ahead by UEFA it has been announced. The four second leg ties in the round of 16 were subsequently postponed owing to Covid 19. Travel will have to be possible without restrictions.

In a statement UEFA said the Europa League equivalent will also go ahead, with the same rules applying. The games in both competitions will be played behind closed until further notice the European football governing body said.

The games still to be completed are Manchester City v Real Madrid, Bayern Munich v Chelsea, Juventus v Olympique Lyonnais and Barcelona v Napoli. These matches will be played on 7-8 August.  Going by the first league results, City lead Real 2-1, Bayern are 3-0 up against Chelsea, Juventus are behind  Lyon 1-0 while Barca and Napoli are level a goal each.

UEFA have said it will monitor the ongoing pandemic and if plans change between now and August then they will look at moving the matches to Portugal. Stating, “If New events occur that would make it impossible to play one or more matches at the original venues.” The quarter finals of the Champions League have already been pencilled to be played in a mini tournament as such in Portugal. The Europa League will be played in Germany from the quarter-finals onwards also as mini tournament.

UEFA have also said it would be mandatory for all participating teams to follow health guidelines. This sets out sanitary and hygiene-related procedures that have to be adhered to.

Taylor v Persoon fight confirmed for August 22nd

Katie Taylor v Delfine Persoon will take place on August 22nd. It means the Bray women will put her WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine title on the line.

It’s a rematch between the two fighters after they met last year in Madison Square Garden in a controversial fight. Taylor got the win on points but on evidence the fight should have gone to Persoon. In fact, Persoon was quite furious after the fight as she believed she had done enough to win the fight.

Katie Taylor was due to meet Amanda Serrano. But a deal failed to materialise. This led to Matchroom Boxing and Taylor’s promoter, Eddie Hearn seesrching elsewhere for a fight for the Bray woman. The fight will now be apart of the Fight Camp, which is a series of fights behind closed doors in Essex in England.

Taylor speaking to the media about the fight said, “With Amanda Serrano not taking the fight I wanted the biggest fight possible in August and I think a second Persoon fight is one that everyone wants to see”. She continued, “I’ve been looking forward to a rematch ever since the first fight and I’m delighted it’s been made”. Taylor stated the first fight between them was “very close” and felt she done enough to win the fight but she will know doubts this time around.

Belgian boxer Persoon was also looking forward to the rematch. She said, “I am ready to get the victory following the injustice last June in New York, not by words but in the ring – I am ready.”

The fight will be on the same card as Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin. The fight will be also be shown on Sky Sports television.

Ryder Cup rescheduled for September 2021

The PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA Tour jointly announced that both The Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup have been rescheduled and will now be played one year later than originally planned.

The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled for the week of September 22-27 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, USA, has been rescheduled for the week of September 21-26, 2021.

Likewise, the 2021 Presidents Cup, initially scheduled for September 30-October 3, 2021 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, will now be played September 19-25, 2022.

Guy Kinnings, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director, said of the decision:

“The Ryder Cup is rightly celebrated as one of the world’s greatest sporting occasions, made special and totally unique in our sport by the fervent atmosphere created by the passionate spectators of both sides.

“While that point is significant, it is not as important as the health of the spectators which, in these difficult times, is always the main consideration. We considered all options including playing with a limited attendance but all our stakeholders agreed this would dilute the magic of this great occasion.”

Irish golfer Pádraig Harrington, Captain of the European Ryder Cup Team, spoke about the change of date for the event, admitting:

“Rescheduling the Ryder Cup was never going to be an easy decision given the many factors to take into consideration. But I believe it is the right assessment given the unprecedented circumstances we are facing at this time.

“When you think of the Ryder Cup you think of the distinctive atmosphere generated by the spectators, such as around the first tee at Le Golf National two years ago. If that cannot be responsibly recreated at Whistling Straits in September, then it is correct that we all wait until it can be.”

For Ryder Cup qualifying, both the United States and European teams will revisit their respective selection processes in the near future.

Tickets purchased for The 2020 Ryder Cup via rydercup.com will be automatically valid for the corresponding day(s) in 2021.

With the decision to play The 2020 Ryder Cup in September 2021, all subsequent Ryder Cups after Whistling Straits will also shift to odd years: 2023: Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (Rome); 2025: Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, New York); 2027:Adare Manor (Co. Limerick); 2029: Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota); 2031: Europe (to be determined); 2033: The Olympic Club (San Francisco); 2035: Europe (to be determined); 2037: Congressional Country Club (Bethesda, Maryland).

Champions Cup Final moved from Marseille

The Champions Cup Final has been moved from Marseille. The EPCR confirmed the news on Thursday and have said a new venue is still to be decided on.

The European Professional Club Rugby organisers have said that the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Finals will not take place at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Both finals were due to take place on the weekend of 16th of October, but a new venue will now be required to host the games.

However, it is not all bad news for Marseille, as they will get the chance to host the finals in 2021. The EPCR have also announced that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London will host the 2022 finals. The tickets for this years final will be valid for the 2021 showpiece in Marseille according to the tournament organisers. A refund can also be given if fans can’t travel.

In a statement the EPCR said, “Due to the many uncertainties created by the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been decided that the 2020 Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals will not now be held in Marseille as planned and the matches will be played at a new venue or venues,”. It continued, “With tens of thousands of fans scheduled to travel to the south of France, the Board of EPCR and the local organising committee have agreed that insufficient safeguards are currently in place during the public health crisis to stage two high-profile matches at the 67,000-capacity Stade Vélodrome”.

“As a consequence, EPCR is currently working with its shareholder leagues and unions to secure an alternative venue or venues for the two finals which will be played on the weekend of 16/17/18 October, and details will be announced as soon as practicable.”

Irish sides Leinster and Ulster are due to play their Champions Cup quarter-finals in September, against Saracens and Toulouse. It is thought the finals will still go ahead on the same weekend of 16th of October.

Taylor looks set for rematch with Persoon

The pride of Bray Katie Taylor looks set for a rematch with Delfine Persoon. The fight although not confirmed will be a rematch of the 2019 bout between the pair, a fight which Taylor won.

The rematch with Persoon looks inevitable with the boxers promoter Eddie Hearn tweeting a link to the Persoon fight last summer, under which Katie Taylor commented “Let’s Go”. Taylor has already been confirmed on the same card as Dillian Whyte v Alex Povetkin on August 22nd. However, her opponent has yet to be announced for this. Katie who was a gold medalist at the London Olympics in 2012 was also due to fight Amanda Serrano in May, however, the deal and arrangement fell through.

Speaking to Sky Sports Eddie Hearn said, “We are working hard on the Taylor versus Persoon rematch for August 22,”. He continued, “Katie wants the biggest fights out there and when [Amanda] Serrano pulled out, Katie immediately asked about the Persoon rematch”. “The first fight was one of the best I’ve ever seen live and as a fan I would love to see it again. Whyte versus Povetkin and Taylor versus Persoon 2 is an epic double header – let’s see if we can get it done.”

Eddie Hearn has said in a recent interview that he and his team have made three offers to Persoon for the fight.” We’ve made three offers to Delfine Persoon. It’s close, it’s close.” Hearn continued, “It’s a much bigger fight because of the controversy from the first fight,”.

He said,” Katie Taylor is a legacy fight. When you look at the world, the only thing I can guarantee Katie Taylor if we can get Persoon over the line is, we can do it now. Can we do it in October or November? I don’t know. But I know we’ve got a slot in August. I think she’ll be up for it.”