Tennis Tips

10 Tips for Faster Serves


After you have learned the basic tennis serve technique and have become quite consistent, it's common to feel the urge to really whack the ball and send a rocket towards your opponent.

You try to hit the ball hard, use all the strength in your body and somehow the serve just doesn’t seem to respond to your efforts.

In fact, it seems that it’s going even slower now.

Here are 10 tips to help you serve faster:

1. Loosen up! Don’t grip the racket so tight, loosen your whole body and swing freely at the ball.

2. Think “fast” instead of “hard.” The tension of your body starts in your mind.

3. Exhale when you serve. That will help you release some of the tension.

4. Make a swooshing sound. Try a few serves without the ball and just listen to the sound. Remember the feel and hit the ball in the same way.

5. Don’t aim! When you are learning how to serve fast, you need to let go. Don’t try to serve fast and at the same time get every ball in.

6. Hit a few balls into the back fence across the whole court. There is an old program running on your brain that tells your arm how fast to move. When you change your target dramatically, you can set yourself free from that program.

7. Throw the racket. Take an old racket, go to a nice lawn and throw the racket as far as you can with a similar motion to serving or throwing a ball.

8. Rotate quickly with your body. The main energy source of your serve is body rotation. Try and consciously rotate your shoulders to increase the racket head speed.

9. Drive with your legs. Legs add only about 10 percent of the racket head speed, but that could mean more than 10 km/h if you take full advantage of the leg drive.

10. Keep a high racket head speed even AFTER the contact. Don’t accelerate only to the ball, instead try and hit through the ball focusing on fast movement for a few inches after the contact.

Cricket News

Pakistan vs England Test Series (11-

12)2nd Test

Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss have experienced much during the 100 occasions they have stood together as England's opening pair, but rarely anything like this - a trial by spin in the desert, an examination against Pakistan's slow bowlers on the world's driest Test ground.

It was all too much for Strauss. He made 11 and was then stuck on the crease, propping half forward suspiciously, when Mohammad Hafeez had him caught off bat and pad at short leg.

Tennis

Roger Federer's serve is one of the most underrated serves in the game.

In fact, Federer is a great model for most players at most levels, much better in many respects than either Sampras or Roddick. By studying his motion you can identify all the basic elements that go into building a high-level technical service motion, a motion that allows players to get the most out of their ability on a consistent basis.

Federer's motion is so smooth and effortless that it doesn't attract the same attention as Pete or Andy. What makes Federer less distinctive is probably what also makes him a better model. It's a simpler, more classical motion with fewer extreme elements.

Federer's Serve: Smooth, effortless, classical.

Roger's serve may not have the m.p.h. or be as dynamic looking as Roddick's. It may not have as much topspin or be as unplayable as Sampras'. But it would be hard to claim it isn't effective, and seamlessly integrated into his all-court game. If you were to pick one service motion from the top players to use as a template for building or improving your serve, my opinion is that it should be Roger's.

Grip: A Mild Eastern Backhand

Like all pro players, Federer uses some version of a backhand grip. You could call it a continental, or a mild eastern backhand. If we look at the position of his hand on the racket bevels, most of the palm of his hand is on the top bevel, or bevel one. His index knuckle appears to be in the center of bevel two. This grip works well for high level players, pro players, college players, ranked juniors, even some advanced club players. But you can develop the same basic swing elements with a slightly less extreme grip as well. You could call that less extreme grip a mild continental. The heel pad slides somewhat more to the right and is positioned somewhat less on bevel one and somewhat more on bevel two. The index knuckle slides somewhat to the right as well, to the edge between bevel one and bevel two. This is an easier grip for lower level junior players and many adults. It worked pretty well at the pro level for John McEnroe as well.

Starting Stance

Federer starts with his weight forward on his front foot, standing up on his back toes. Then he rocks back and stands up as he starts his wind-up. That initial leaning position is not the key to understanding his stance. That a personal ritual, similar to the way Sampras started slightly hunched over, with his front toes up in the air. The real key is to see what happens as he starts his wind-up and stands up so that both feet are flat on the court.

The key to understanding Roger's stance is when both feet are on the court.

What we see at that point is that his front foot is at a slight angle to the baseline, a little less than parallel. This angle is slightly more open in the deuce court compared to the ad. The rear foot is offset to the left of the front foot, with the toe of the back foot roughly in line with the heel of the front foot. The rear foot appears to be just about exactly parallel to the baseline in both courts. But in the ad court it's also set a few inches further back to Roger's left.

Soccer

How to Play Soccer

Soccer fitness is a curious beast. Until the last few decades, one did not have to have an especially athletic build to make it as a pro soccer player. Now, though, players at the top level � and even some semi-pro soccer players � have strict training regimens, and the physiques to match. It's fair to say that in soccer fitness is now more important than ever, so here are some tips to help you get in the right condition for 90 minutes of action.

First of all, you need to know your soccer position, or at least your style of play, so that you know what to Work on the most. Players who operate as soccer wingers will need to be pacy and posses great balance; centre-backs need to work on their aerial abilities, so a jumping skill is an absolute must. Those in the centre of midfield require upper-body strength and an ability to slide in for tackles, while goal-getting strikers need a burst of speed to break free of their marker. Once you know where you should be focusing, you can tailor a soccer fitness regimen to your needs.

That said, there are plenty of important lessons that all soccer players � even goalkeepers � can bear in mind in a bid to stay fit.

First off is basic general aerobic fitness. The pros can cover well in excess of 4.5 miles per game on the field, and although you may not go quite that far, you do need to be ready to go the distance. So, work on aerobics.

Anaerobic fitness is almost as important. This is the 'hardcore' fitness test, and it applies when you're sprinting. So, as well as doing endurance running, do some sprint drills to ensure that you can meet the pace when required.

And, although it doesn't relate precisely to fitness, don't forget some ball work. Practising soccer drills is a great way to break the tedium of running, and if you can combine the two � for example running while dribbling the ball for 50 yards � you'll become a better player, too.

Then, on gameday, always warm up correctly. This is key for fitness as a proper soccer warm-up will decrease the likelihood of injury. To warmup for soccer, start with some basic muscle stretches in all the major groups, and then partake of some sprint drills. Combine these with static turns, especially if you run with the ball a lot, and also do brief runs with a jumping header motion in the middle of them to get your neck ready for action!

Warming down is just as important: not many fans will be able to tell you that, as they've long since left the stadium by the time this takes place. But it's vital that all players at least jog, skip, and stretch. It may be the last thing you want to do after an exhausting (but thrilling) 90 minutes � but you have to if you want to be a fit soccer player long-term. Well, that, and a soccer diet � eat healthily, sleep well, and take on enough carbs before a game to last the distance.

Cricket

High Quality Cricket Goods Is a Must for Ensuring Performance

Cricket as many of us know is a wonderful sporting spectacle. However, at present there are only 12 test playing nations playing cricket from all over the world. The reminder of the countries who participate in very few major events or tournaments are yet to establish themselves as a cricketing nation at the international arena. International Cricket Council (ICC) has structured their organization in such a manner to protect its fraternity and gives lots of opportunities for these underdog nations to develop their cricket and prove their international credentials.

When it all started couple of centuries ago, there were only 3 or 4 teams that were to known to play high quality cricket and they represented International arena. Now we have come a long way where many new teams have been added to the list as ICC looks to expand and take the sport across the globe.

Cricket as a sport has come a long way. It was traditionally played as a gentleman's sport with elegance and style. The appropriate word that could be used to define the way in which the sport was being played would be orthodox with defined patterns. This face was entirely changed by the cricketing God and Master Sir Donald George Bradman. Many think wrongly that it was Sir Viv Richards who revolutionized the sport.

Viv was indeed an aggressive batsman by nature but it was the don who revolutionized the sport. In those days there were hardly any protective goods used for playing the sport. You barely had a cricketing leg guards made out of cotton and had buckles for tying it around your legs. The cricket batting gloves was made out of cotton with soft padding on top of each and every finger. The moment the 5 and half ounce thing of matter struck you in the fingers at quite a rapid pace, you surely bound to break your finger badly. We all know about the ever debatable Bodyline series and the injuries caused because of the intensions and poor quality equipments used back then in 1932-33 series. Helmets were not even in the frame of the portrait until the late 1980's.

You got struck on your head; you are certainly a dead meat until helmets came into the picture. Bert Oldfield got one his forehead during the 1932-33 Ashes series and if not for his cap's pointy forehead he would have died that day.

The quality of the cricket bats back then was also quite poor. They often used to break or incur damage while playing strokes. In fact you ought to season it for at least 6 months to a year before using it in matches. However, this scenario has changed today. Science and Technology has aided a lot and revolutionized cricketing world by several degrees. Today you have high quality Cricket bats being manufactured out of special willows treated with wonderful chemicals such that you can immediately use it the moment you strip off its cover.

Also today you could find leather gloves with wonderful cushioning that incorporates more protection. The cricket bats have become more powerful because of its sturdiness and essentially mistimed shots can lead into the fence with much ease. The weight of the cricket ball being used in the games still remains to be the same. However, their quality has been drastically improved. Today a ball, ca easily last up to 80 odd over's without being disfigured and the leather pronunciations are more predominant and outlasting as well.

Soccer

Famous Football Teams - Facts About Manchester United

Although City fans can taunt their rivals about the fact that United does not actually come from Manchester (Old Trafford is located outside the city limits in the borough of Trafford), United fans are able to more effectively insult Blues fans by pointing out their lack of success. At the Stretford end of Old Trafford, a banner is displayed as a taunt their biggest rivals, Manchester City. The banner displays two words: 34 years. It has indeed been 34 long years since City have won a major trophy.

However, the "tick-tock taunts" now emanating from the City camp indicate the Blues' conviction that time is running out on United's glory days and that Eastlands will soon be the center of the Premier League universe. Money is now no worry for Manchester City since the super rich Abu Dhabi group took over the Eastlands Club in 2008, and the club has reportedly recently spent approximately £200 million on players.

Manchester United is the most valuable football club in the world - worth £1.2billion according to Forbes, however fears of financial meltdown have stalked the dreams of supporters since the Glazer family took their club into private ownership in 2005. Currently carrying debts of almost 700 million pounds, the team now has no money to buy players. Having broken the British transfer record four times in the last 20 years, United is now trying to restore "value" to the market with its emphasis on homegrown players. United's manager, Alex Ferguson recently criticized the 'kamikaze' spending of rival clubs - although he didn't specifically mention City, his target was easy to figure out - but City's manager Roberto Mancini retorted that by throwing money at the top end of the market, his team is only doing what United have done for years. Additionally, the City team that trounced Liverpool recently fielded no less than 6 English players and with so many home-grown players in their playing 11, they can hardly be written off as foreign mercenaries.

Despite all the taunting appears to be no divide within the city of Manchester - there are no pubs or particular areas that are off limits for those wearing the wrong team's colors. Although the ugliness of chants about the Munich disaster - the 1958 air crash that claimed 23 lives, including eight members of United's Busby Babes and Frank Swift, a journalist and former City goalkeeper still lingers about the fringes, United and City continue, fans of both teams continue to co-exist relatively happily within the same community.

The Manchester Derby is the name given to matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. In the 1990s United went unbeaten in Derby matches for an entire decade. More recently the 2007-2008 Derby games were both won by Manchester City, 1-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium on 19 August 2007, and 2-1 at Old Trafford on 10 February, It was the first time since April 1974 that City had beaten United in the league at Old Trafford and the first time they had won both league derby games since the 1969-70 season. United prevented City from winning a third consecutive derby match in the first derby of the 2008-09 season, with Wayne Rooney scoring the game's only goal. Alex Ferguson proclaimed the 2009-10 Manchester derby at Old Trafford as "probably...the best derby of all time". Manchester United won this game 4-3 after Manchester City had equalised three times only for Michael Owen to score the winning goal after 95 minutes. City will host United on November 10 for the first Derby match of this season.

Hockey

4 Hockey Stretching Exercises To Perform Regularly

As you get going with your hockey training, it's important that you pay attention to some of the important hockey stretching exercises that you should be doing. By performing stretching regularly you will help to reduce the amount of post-workout muscle soreness you experience while also ensuring that you can work through a full range of motion in all the weight training for hockey exercises you perform as well.

Stretching really only takes five to ten minutes at the end of each workout or on-ice session, but will make a big difference on your progress overall.

Let's take a quick look at four good hockey stretching exercises that you should be including regularly.

Quad Stretching

The first stretch is the simple quad stretch, which will help to loosen up the legs which often become quite tight after hours of skating.

To perform this one simply bend one leg upwards and grab a hold of the ankle underneath the bum while pulling backward ever so gentle.

You should feel an instant stretch in the quad region upon doing this.

Hip Flexor Stretch

Second, the hip flexors are another area of the body that can get quite tight with regular skating practice so make sure to stretch these as well.

To perform this stretch simply get into a lunge position with the knee and feet on the ground and then shift the body weight forward until you feel it pulling in the hip region.

Don't push so far that you feel sheer pain however - you're just looking for a gentle pull when performing all of these hockey stretching exercises.

Shoulder Stretch

The shoulder stretch is the next one to complete and will help to loosen up the upper body really quickly. Since your shoulder muscles will be constantly contracting as you puck-handle throughout the session, if you're not stretching these out after a game you are very likely to be tight the next day.

To perform a shoulder stretch simply cross one arm over the body and then grasp the forearm with the hand of the other arm. Pull on the crossed arm gently until you feel a slight stretch in the shoulder and then hold for 10-15 seconds. Switch arms and then repeat.

Spinal Column Stretch

Finally, the last of the hockey stretching exercises to perform is the spinal column stretch. Since the chances are high that you will be constantly twisting and turning as you go about your on-ice session, by performing the spinal column stretch you'll help boost your flexibility to ensure you don't suffer from a back injury.

To perform this stretch simply stand upright next to some object that you can grab a hold of and then twist to one side, grabbing the object and gently pulling the body so you feel the stretch along the back.

Once finished with one side, twist to the other to work both sides equally.

So there you have the main hockey stretching exercises that you should be doing daily if possible. Make sure to add any additional stretches you can think of to this that work any given muscle group that's feeling especially sore on that day.

Hockey

How To Select The Right Hockey Stick

There have been tremendous strides over the last couple of years in hockey sticks and on the surface, sticks would seem to be the most basic piece of equipment. In reality though, if you're not careful, choosing the right stick can also become one of the most confusing hockey equipment purchases you can make.

While other pieces of gear either fit or don't fit, the stick really just doesn't fit neatly in a simple little package. Sticks today come in a number of materials and designs, that in and of themselves can be overwhelming.

The overall selection of a stick is as much a matter of personal taste as the type of pop you drink or whether you're a meat or salad type of person. What I hope to do over the next couple of articles, is to try help you narrow that decision down.

At its simplest, it's important to remember that the hockey stick is an extension of the hockey player's arm. This means the stick has to fit properly, and the length, curve and lie angle need to match the size and body type of the player as well as the style of game they play. What I'm going to try to do, is cover as many of the different factors to consider when buying a hockey stick as I can. Because in the end, a good hockey stick fits both your level of play, your strength and playing style.

One thing I do want to mention before we get started however, is a bit of a qualifier for many of you. In the end, no matter what technology comes built into the stick. No matter what blade pattern, "flex-rating" or lie of the blade, It's crucial to remember that basic shooting mechanics are still king. None of the technology built into today's sticks should ever be a replacement to the basic fundamentals of shooting and passing, but rather an enhancement of these core capabilities

Where to begin...

There have been some tremendous strides in stick technologies, from the time when I was a kid playing the game. Sticks are now available in a wide array of materials ranging from all wood sticks, to full Kevlar and Carbon Fibre. Prices are all over the map ranging from an entry-level simple stick costing around $20 to the latest, high-end one piece sticks surpassing the $ 250.00+ mark.

The Original - Wood Sticks

Believe it or not, with all of the emphasis on the high-end one-piece composite sticks available, the good old wooden stick is still out there and still very popular amongst a wide range of players.

Many players just won't make the switch primarily because it's what they know and they're comfortable with the feel. Even with all of the technological advances, it's still tough to create a composite stick that feels quite as nice as that of good old wood.

If your children are like my son, unfortunately wood sticks are just not "cool". The biggest drawback to a wood stick is straight-up durability. Bottom line, wood sticks tend to just wear out quicker Another consideration comes in while shooting. In order to truly shoot the puck hard, you need to be able to flex the shaft and get a good pop on your shot. Unfortunately the fibres in wooden sticks just do not provide that same level of flexibility and the spring that you need in releasing a shot.

Personally though, until a beginner level player really understands proper shot mechanics, stick handling and the other basic fundamentals, they're just not going to make use of all of the technology in a high-end stick. So when you look at it pragmatically, there really isn't much point in spending big bucks on a composite stick.

Like everything else however, there is always a potential exception. For those children playing elite level hockey, there may in fact be a case to say they will gain some benefit from the lighter weight of a composite stick.

Two Piece Shafts and Blades

The first real two-piece shafts and blades were introduced into the market made of aluminum. Over time however, the two-piece shaft and blade is now available in a wide array of materials including carbon fibre, graphite and Kevlar. At the lower price point ranges, many of the shafts are pure fibreglass which does make the stick a bit heavier and more prone to breakage.

In fact, with all of the hi-tech materials available, along with designs that include hollow cores, many of the two-piece sticks are a good deal lighter than their traditional wooden stick counterparts. The type of blade selected can also change the weight a bit, but typically these offerings will still weigh less than a wooden stick.

One of the positive things about newer two-piece technologies is better performance and longevity that ensure nearly the same flex and pop for the entire life of the stick. The pop in a composite shaft may fade slightly over time, but nothing like what takes place in a wooden stick.

The major drawback however, is that with a composite stick or shaft, you generally won't know it's going to break until you are holding a separate piece of stick in each hand. Also, even an inexpensive shaft and blade will cost twice what a wooden stick goes for.

The biggest factor in choosing a two-piece combination is the selection of the type of blade. In most instances the blade choice will determine just how much durability you're going to get in a two-piece. Reinforced wooden blades are among least expensive available. Like with their wooden stick brethren, these blades will give a good feel for the puck, but generally last the average player no more than a few months at best.

The Latest One-Piece Designs

As we've mentioned, the most recent one-piece stick offerings now really refer to the high-end, usually very expensive, featherweight, composite offerings. In other words, the sticks my son seems to gravitate to every time. Each of the major manufacturers seems to have their own unique offering, from holes in the shaft, to a spine on the blade, to elliptical and even triangular shafts.

In plain truth, there is more than a little evidence to show that a truly good player will notice a more powerful shot with a one-piece stick. In fact, given the array of options usually available, the new one-piece stick offerings can give a child playing elite level hockey, who understands their shot mechanics, a very real boost in accuracy and performance. The price of one-piece sticks is usually comparable to that of a two-piece at the entry-level, but does top out significantly higher. Usually in the $ 220.00 + and higher range.

To me personally, the biggest drawback to the one-piece stick is their position as the most expensive product going. The big issue I see at the Rep level of hockey, is that our children become brand conscious very quickly and won't consider anything other than the latest and greatest product from manufacturer "x ". They have no clue really why they want it, other than the brand name. Also, for the most part, until they get to the "Major Atom" or "Minor Pee Wee" level they won't truly take advantage of most of the built-in technology.

For many of the mainstream one-piece stick manufacturers, there is some evidence to show puck feel does degrade over time. Some of the manufacturers suffer from this more than others. Every year these sticks keep getting lighter and lighter as technology continues to advance. Most of the R&D money is going into this segment of the stick world, so continue to watch as these products continue to evolve and change. In the next article, I'll talk more about selecting the right stick for your game. We'll look at the size and flexibility of the shaft, choosing the right lie and blade pattern. We'll also talk a bit about the attributes of several of the different patterns available on the market, to help you understand what might make the most sense for you or your kids.

Basketball

The Greatest New York Knicks of All-Time

Some of the greatest players to have worn the Knicks jersey are Patrick Ewing, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Harry Gallatin and Dave Debusschere. All are deserving candidates to be on the list for the greatest Knicks of all-time. I would rank the greatest Knicks of all-time as Walt Frazier, Patrick Ewing and Willis Reed.

No. 3: Walt Frazier (1967 - 1977)

This basketball hall of famer earned two NBA Championships, seven NBA-All Star appearances, seven time All-NBA Defensive Team honors and six All-NBA Team selections. Frazier also holds the record for most assists in franchise history (4,791). He helped lead the Knicks to their first ever title in 1970 with a notable performance of 36 points and 19 assists against the Lakers in game seven of the Finals. The flamboyant point guard was also a member of New York's 1973 championship team. He ranks second in most points, games and minutes in Knicks history. He had very high defensive standards and was always a leader on the court.

No. 2: Patrick Ewing (1985 - 2000)

For fifteen seasons Patrick Ewing dedicated his life to the New York Knicks. His exceptional work ethic helped lead the Knicks to thirteen consecutive playoff appearances. Ewing was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 1986 and was an eleven-time NBA All Star, seven-time All-NBA Team selection and three-time All-Defensive Team selection. He is the all-time Knicks leader in points scored, minutes, games, field goals, free throws, defensive rebounds, steals and blocks. It's hard to believe that a great player such as Ewing went to the playoffs thirteen times and didn't win a title, which is the main reason he is ranked second instead of first on this list.

No. 1: Willis Reed (1964 - 1974)

Willis Reed was the backbone of the NY Knicks when they won NBA titles in 1970 and 1973. His memorable career as a Knick resulted in seven All-Star appearances, an NBA Finals MVP, an NBA MVP, the first ever Rookie of the Year trophy for the Knicks and five All-NBA Team selections. He will forever be remembered for showing up to play in Game 7 of the NBA Finals with a broken leg. This legendary showing of toughness gave the team the inspiration and motivation needed to win the game. Reed's leadership may never be replicated.

Ranking the best Knicks of all-time was no easy task. Both Frazier and Reed won two titles during their tenure, while Ewing went to 13 post seasons and has almost every record in Knicks history. I am of the belief that if a player brings a team titles it can easily outweigh statistics. With that in mind, I have no problem ranking the best New York Knick of all time as Willis Reed, one of the greatest leaders in NBA history, and winner of two NBA Championships.

Cricket

Which Test Cricket Players Have Had the Most Wickets in Their Career?

Cricket is a very stimulating game, with a long history. I want to take a look at some of the top players of all time starting with test bowlers with the highest number of wickets in their career. Here is the top five and a bit about their careers.

The number one spot goes to a player that played for eighteen years. In his eighteen years of cricket playing he had 800 wickets, a nice round number. He played for Sri Lanka and his name is Muttiah Muralitharan. He averaged a little over six-wicket takings a game. This year he received the Outstanding Achievement in Sport honor at the Asian Awards. Today, Muralitharan is a politician in his hometown.

The second test cricketer is Shane Warne. Warne had 708 wickets in his career, which lasted fifteen years. He played for Australia and will be considered as one of the top bowlers of all time. He is known for his spin on the ball and making leg spin bowling popular again. He held the record of most wickets takings from 2004 until 2007. Warne was awarded the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 2005.

In third place is a man named Anil Kumble. Kumble played for India and retired in 2008. During his 18-year career he had 619 wickets. He is known for claiming almost all of the Indian records. His 600th wicket came in January 2008, and he followed that with nineteen more before his retirement.

In a prestigious fourth place is a man named Glenn McGrath of Australia. McGrath retired in 2007 with 563 wickets. This man held the record for most wickets in 2005 until Kumble surpassed him in August of 2007. McGrath's bowling career lasted for 14 years, which is the shortest career of all the top 5 test bowlers.

The fifth bowler is Courtney Walsh. Walsh played for the West Indies and retired in 2001. He had 519 wickets in his 17-year career. He held the World record of most wickets in test cricket from 2000 until 2004.

Furthermore, Walsh, Warne, Muralitharan and Kumble are the only four bowlers to have bowled over 5000 overs in Test cricket. This is an impressive number, pairing it with their combine wicket takings.

In conclusion, there are many great bowlers in test cricket history. These are just five of the World's greats. I look forward to many more great cricketers to come in the near future.

10th Biggest Soccer Stadium in The World

Number #10: Borg El Arab Stadium - Alexandria, Egypt

Capacity - Around 86,000

This grass-surface stadium is the largest in Egypt and the second largest in Africa. Egypt wanted to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which is the main reason this stadium was built, although only one match in the tournament was played in this stadium - the opening match between Egypt and Trinidad and Tobago. But it did host the opening ceremony. What makes this stadium unique is that it's designing and building was undertaken by the Egyptian Armed Forces Corps of Engineers (EAFCE). Among the features of this stadium, 2 training fields, 32 restaurants, 76 staircases, 68 restrooms, along with a 200 bed hotel for the players, are the important ones.

Number #9: Bukit Jalil National Stadium - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Capacity - Around 87,500

This bowl shaped stadium was built by United Engineers Malaysia, Bhd, in 1998. Although it was initially built for the 1998 Commonwealth Games, it is now a multipurpose stadium and also the 25th largest stadium in the world. The colorful seating arrangement makes a pattern representing the national flag in motion! It is also used to host music shows and concerts, and artists like Usher, Paramore and Kelly Clarkson have performed here.

Number #8: Gelora Bung Karno Stadium - Jakarta, Indonesia

Capacity - Around 88,500

This stadium is named after the first President of Indonesia, Sukarno. It was opened in 1962 and has a range of facilities like a tennis stadium, an indoor gymnasium, an archery field, an aquatics arena, a softball and a hockey field as well! The temu gelang, which is the huge ring formed by the gigantic steel roof, is the main feature of this stadium. It enhances the grandeur of the stadium. It has a grass surface and cost an amazing $12,500,000 to build!

Number #7: Wembley Stadium - London, England

Capacity - Around 90,000

This stadium needed a mind-boggling 800 million pounds to build, making it the most expensive stadium in the world! Its most famous feature is the Wembly Arch which measures 134 meters in height and has a span of 137 meters, and is quite a sight at night when it is lit up. It is a bowl shaped structure with a partially retractable roof, and the only stadium which requires beacons for low flying aircraft! Besides football, it is used to host rugby matches and music concerts. This stadium actually is rebuilt; its original structure being the Empire Stadium, which was one of the most famous soccer stadiums in the world until its demolition in 2003.

Number #6: FNB Stadium - Johannesburg, South Africa

Capacity - Around 95,000

FNB stands for First National Bank and it is named that, because of the deal with its sponsor, you guessed it right, the First National Bank! The largest stadium in Africa, its structure is similar to the African gourd/pot, which gives it the nickname "The Calabash". It was known as Soccer City during the FIFA World Cup 2010, and required around $450 million for its construction. There are a few unique things about this stadium that you may find interesting...

• Nelson Mandela gave his first speech, after his release from prison, in this stadium.
• There were originally 9 black vertical lines to align the stands in this stadium. A 10th line was added, because according to South African culture, 9 is an unlucky number.
• Chris Hani, who was a rival of the Apartheid Government in Africa, and also a leader of the South African Communist Party, was assassinated 10 April 1993. His funeral took place in this stadium.
• For special effects, it has mosaic lights in warm colors, along the bottom of the structure on the outside, to make it look like there is fire under the gourd!

Number #5: Camp Nou - Barcelona, Spain

Capacity - Around 99,500

Camp Nou was constructed in 1957 and is the largest stadium in Europe. 'Camp Nou' is actually the nickname of the stadium! Its official name was Estadi del FC Barcelona, until 2000. An interesting fact about this stadium is that when it was remodeled in 1980, the funds came from thousands of supporters who paid donations to have their names inscribed on the bricks! The 1999 Champions League final, with the thrilling last minute Manchester United comeback against Bayern Munich, was held here! Other than soccer legends, Camp Nou has hosted celebrities like Michael Jackson, U2, Pope John Paul II, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, etc.

Number #4: Azadi Stadium - Tehran, Iran

Capacity - Around 1,00,000

This is the place where you can watch the match live as well as get the experience of watching it on a BIG screen - the original scoreboard was replaced by one of the biggest televisions in the world (20m X 7.5m)! This stadium, considered to be intimidating for visiting teams, was originally built to host the 1974 Asian Games. It's a beautiful structure, sloping downwards from the stands towards the stadium, in a bowl shape. Originally named Sad-Hezar Nefari Stadium, it was called Azadi Stadium after the Iranian Revolution, since in Persian, Azadi means Freedom. It is Iran's National Stadium, fifth biggest in the world, and the largest in the Middle East.

Number #3: Estado Azteca - Mexico City, Mexico

Capacity - Around 1,05,000

This grass surface stadium, opened in May of 1996 is special for many reasons. Here are a few:

• This is the only stadium which has hosted two world cup finals! Brazil vs Italy in 1970 and Argentina vs West Germany in 1986.
• Maradona and Pele, considered to be the gods of soccer, lifted their last trophies in this stadium. Maradona lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy, while Pele lifted The Jules Rimet Trophy.
• Maradona scored two scintillating goals of his career here, 'Goal of the Century' and 'Hand of God Goal' (yeah, the names say it all!).
• This is the largest stadium in the world which is specially dedicated to soccer.
• The 1970 semifinal (declared as the 'Match of the Century') where Italy beat West Germany(4-3) during extra time was played in this stadium.

There is also a plaque and a monument outside the stadium to immortalize the 'Goal of the century' and 'Game of the Century', respectively. Definitely deserving of its number 3 position, huh?

Number #2: Salt Lake Stadium - Kolkata, India

Capacity - Around 1,20,000

This stadium, although mainly used for football, is a multipurpose stadium. The surface is Astroturf and it has many facilities like 4 reservoirs fully equipped with fire fighting arrangements, diesel generation sets, its own water arrangement, and lighting arrangements for nocturnal sports! Also, Oliver Kahn played his last match for Bayern Munich in this stadium. The stadium is also used to host concerts, athletic events, derby matches and other important events. It also hosted the 1987 SAF Games.

Number #1: Rungrado May Day Stadium - Pyongyang, North Korea

Capacity - Around 1,50,000

This is the biggest stadium in the world that is used for soccer. It is a sprawling and humungous structure covering 2.2 million ft² of floor space and towering above the ground at 60 meters! But it is also an aesthetically pleasing stadium, with 16 arches forming a ring resembling the magnolia flower! An interesting fact about this stadium is that many North Korean army generals were burnt alive here, after being implicated for attempting to assassinate Kim Jong-II. This stadium is not dedicated only to soccer though, and it hosts many gymnastics events as well as other sports and cultural events.

Ever since the invention of soccer, it has won millions of fans for itself. Call a stadium a stadium in front of a true blue soccer fan, and you may be at the receiving end of a scornful, withering look! No people, it's not merely a stadium - it's a place where dreams are born, passions are ignited, and hearts are broken! Goose bumps, tempers, feverish chanting, absolutely crazy stuff - you gotta be there to have an indelible memory!

Basketball

How to Play Basketball?

The game of basketball was invented over a hundred and twenty years ago by Dr. James Naismith, who was a physical trainer at a YMCA center in the United States. It was raining outside, and he did not want his gym class to sit idle. So after a few thoughts and ideas, he came up with the game of basketball. Although the game has undergone a lot of changes over time, the fundamentals of how to play basketball still remain the same. Before we talk some more about this game, let us have a look at some images, which will tell us more about the equipment used and the type of shots that are played.

Basketball Equipment
To start playing the game, we need to first gather the equipment. This should be very easy as the game only requires a ball and two hoops perched at a height of ten feet at the opposite ends of a court. It is also a good idea to wear proper basketball shoes, and not any jogging pair while playing. A nice team jersey can be worn when you get better at playing and are part of your school or college team.

Basketball Court
Basketball can be played outdoors too, but the norm is to play on an indoor court on a maple-wooded highly polished floor. The size of the court varies according to the level of competition. For school games, the court size is usually 74' × 42'. High school games are mostly played on a court size of 84' × 50'. Games played according to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules are played on a court that measures 91' 10.4" × 49' 2.6". As far as the NBA is concerned, the court size is 94' × 50'. The height of the rim of the basket is 10'.

Basketball Rules
Next, we need to set the teams. There are two teams with 5 players per team. The object of the game, very obviously, is to score baskets. As for the length of the game, the famous National Basketball Association (NBA) teams play a 48-minute game with four 12-minute sessions. The length can vary based on the type of tournament and organization.

The game starts with a jump ball. A jump is when one person from each team goes in the center of the court and jumps to tip the ball to their teammates after the referee throws the ball straight up. The goal here is to direct the ball towards your team. Each goal or 'basket' is worth 2 points. However, if a basket is scored from outside the 3-point line, that is the arc-shaped line outside the free throw line, then the basket is worth 3 points. The 3-pointer distance from the basket is 23.75' in the middle of the court, and it gradually decreases to 22' at the sides. 4' around the basket is the restricted area arc where a defending player cannot force an offensive foul. The free throw line is at a distance of 15' from the backboard. A free throw that results in a basket is worth 1 point.

The game of basketball consists of offense and defense. When the ball is present with a player of your team, then all the team members of your team are on the offense. The goal here is to score points by shooting the ball into the defending team's basket. Similarly, when the ball is present with the opponent team, then all the team members of your team are on the defense. The goal here is to stop the other team from shooting the ball into your team's basket, and also to steal the ball from them so you can again attack and score.

While on the offense, you can pass on the ball either via dribble or passing. Bouncing the ball continuously and moving forward simultaneously is known as dribbling. It is important to remember here that once you have dribbled the ball past the mid court, you cannot go back into your own half. A pass can be used to advance your offense. Most passes are accompanied by a step forward to increase power and are followed through with the hands to ensure accuracy.

A dribble ends when you stop and hold the ball. If you hold the ball for more than five seconds, then you incur a penalty as well as lose possession of the ball. An attempt to unfairly disadvantage an opponent through physical contact is illegal and is called a foul. You are allowed five personal fouls per game. On committing a 6th personal foul, you have to sit out and be substituted by another player. On offense, you cannot remain in the "key" (area designated underneath and directly in front of basket) for more than 3 seconds. If there is a 3-second violation, there will be a subsequent change of possession.

Now that we know about the basketball court, equipment, scoring details, the game and the fouls, here are some basketball tips to end the article. Always shoot with both the hands. Using a single hand may look very fancy, but it is best to use both the hands for better control. It is very important to learn to dribble the ball without actually looking at the ball. Repetition is the key to improve your shooting. Lastly, quality training equipment will make the difference in your game. Well, the game is simple and the equipment is easy to procure. Now that you know how to play basketball, it is time to go out there and shoot some baskets!