Ice Hockey
By Connie
When people think about ice hockey, they might think about players on skates and holding sticks, or players skating down the ice as fast as they can. Well I'm going to tell you a little more about hockey. Hockey is about pucks and sticks and skates but there's more to it than just that. There's a lot of history about hockey like where it came from or how it got so popular. So let me tell you a little bit more about hockey.
History
Hockey is most popular in North America and Northern and Western Europe. Ice hockey evolved from a stick and ball game, now players use a stick and puck. Hockey is also the oldest stick and ball game. The first ice hockey game was played in Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, Canada. NHL means The National Hockey League, every ice hockey teams is part of the NHL. In 1967 there were six teams picked by the NHL, the teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and, Toronto Maple Leafs.
How Ice Hockey is Played
Ice hockey is a contact team sport that's played in a ice rink. On a team there are three forwards, three defence and two goaltenders. There is only one goalie, but there's also a backup goalie in case he gets injured or can't play. Ice hockey is also an Olympic sport. Players from teams all over get picked to play on one team and go to the Olympics.
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky is one of the best hockey players ever. He played for four teams, the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, and the New York Rangers. Wayne Gretzky was included to the Hockey Hall of Fame, so Wayne Gretzky's got the nickname The Great One. Wayne Gretzky is now a former head coach. He also played twenty seasons in the National Hockey League. He played for four teams from 1979 to 1999.
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded to the NHL playoff winner. Many teams have won the Stanley Cup. The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup twenty four times. The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America. The Stanley Cup was donated by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley in 1892.
Ice Hockey
There are many types of hockey like, street hockey, field hockey, roller hockey and sledge hockey. You can play hockey anywhere, in your backyard, on your street, on a team. If you're lucky you could become a NHL ice hockey player just like the players you see on TV. So if you ever go to a hockey game and when the lights go dim and everyone starts to yell, just remember that there's a lot of history and cool facts behind ice hockey.
History
Hockey is most popular in North America and Northern and Western Europe. Ice hockey evolved from a stick and ball game, now players use a stick and puck. Hockey is also the oldest stick and ball game. The first ice hockey game was played in Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, Canada. NHL means The National Hockey League, every ice hockey teams is part of the NHL. In 1967 there were six teams picked by the NHL, the teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and, Toronto Maple Leafs.
How Ice Hockey is Played
Ice hockey is a contact team sport that's played in a ice rink. On a team there are three forwards, three defence and two goaltenders. There is only one goalie, but there's also a backup goalie in case he gets injured or can't play. Ice hockey is also an Olympic sport. Players from teams all over get picked to play on one team and go to the Olympics.
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky is one of the best hockey players ever. He played for four teams, the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, and the New York Rangers. Wayne Gretzky was included to the Hockey Hall of Fame, so Wayne Gretzky's got the nickname The Great One. Wayne Gretzky is now a former head coach. He also played twenty seasons in the National Hockey League. He played for four teams from 1979 to 1999.
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded to the NHL playoff winner. Many teams have won the Stanley Cup. The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup twenty four times. The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America. The Stanley Cup was donated by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley in 1892.
Ice Hockey
There are many types of hockey like, street hockey, field hockey, roller hockey and sledge hockey. You can play hockey anywhere, in your backyard, on your street, on a team. If you're lucky you could become a NHL ice hockey player just like the players you see on TV. So if you ever go to a hockey game and when the lights go dim and everyone starts to yell, just remember that there's a lot of history and cool facts behind ice hockey.
References
Wayne Gretzky. retrieved on January 21, 2016, from www.biograph.com/people/wayne-gretzky-9320468
Ice hockey. Retrieved on January 21,2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ice_hockey#historyScience of Hockey. Retrieved on January 21, 2016, fromwww.exploratorium.edu/hockey/
Ice Hockey. Retrieved on January 21,2016, from www.olympic.org
Stewart, M. (1998) Hockey. USA: Franklin Watts
Ice hockey. Retrieved on January 21,2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ice_hockey#historyScience of Hockey. Retrieved on January 21, 2016, fromwww.exploratorium.edu/hockey/
Ice Hockey. Retrieved on January 21,2016, from www.olympic.org
Stewart, M. (1998) Hockey. USA: Franklin Watts
Softball
By Maddy T
I started playing softball when I was nine years old. I couldn’t even throw correctly. My dad coached me, and I’ve been playing for three years. My dad coached me for those three years and I now help him draft our team, send emails to parents, and prepare for practices and games. I started playing competitive softball during my first year. I learned more from there. In my second season, I hit a grand slam and two home runs. I am also a pitcher and a catcher for my team. I know pretty much everything there is to know about softball.
Why are softballs different sizes for different age groups?
Softballs are different sizes for different age groups because their hand size. The glove is smaller because the age group that the person is in, is expected to have smaller hands. The ball is big enough for the person to throw and catch it. If they are an 8, they might have a size 10 ball so that it will fit their hand size and their glove size.
Why are softballs bright yellow?
Softballs are bright yellow because they are easier to see when they’re bright yellow. A softball has a very forceful pitch and it is a lot easier to see when it’s bright yellow. When players play college games, they need to see the bright yellow ball so they can hit it easier. Also when the game goes into the dark, it’s a lot easier to see under the lights. Though it’s still very dangerous to play with a softball at night.
What does a prepared coach need?
For every coach, they need a game plan. A game plan comes from practice and players. A team needs to have at least one pitcher and one catcher. A pitcher can give the ball to the batter to hit and a catcher gets the ball, keeps the other team from scoring, and gives the ball back to the pitcher to give another pitch. The players also need to have positions. If the player isn’t good at the position, she shouldn’t be there. Coaching also takes time managment. If you’re not organized, being a coach won’t work well with your day to day life. Practice should be 2-4 times a week for a successful game.
How much equipment is needed for a normal player vs a catcher?
For a normal player, each person needs seven things to be able to play legally. They would need a bat, helmet, glove, face mask, cleats, long socks, and baseball pants. For a catcher, they have all that plus five extra items for their gear set. They need a catching helmet, chest protector, and two knee pads to protect each knee. If they want an extra glove for catching that is optional. The same glove can be used for 1st base as a catcher.
Is a softball pitch more powerful than a baseball pitch or is it less powerful?
A baseball pitch is faster than an average softball pitch by about 30 mph. But a softball pitch is more powerful and has more force. A baseball pitch on average is 90-100 mph. A softball pitch is about 60 mph. A softball pitch is harder to hit and if you hit it, it will go pretty far (depending on where the ball hits the bat).
Why do we need face masks?
Face masks have one purpose; to protect our face. College softball players don’t play with facemasks. A college softball player playing shortstop, got hurt playing without a mask. Almost all the balls that were being hit, were being hit to her. One ball, a line drive, was hit and she broke her nose. She laid on the ground and the girl got a single. She was taken out and they lost that game.
Good bats vs Cheap bats
A cheap bat may look shiny and amazing but the pricing says it all. The bat itself has its own qualities. A good bat is heavy on the end which helps swing the bat and get the max power. A bad bat is not the best because the bat from the tip to the knob it’s a thin metal. It’s the same weight all the way through the bat. When you make contact the bat vibrates all the way through to the knob and gives off a painful feeling.
If your younger, don’t rush to a bigger ball, play with a smaller ball at that age. Make sure you don’t go outside when it’s dark and start throwing the ball. Manage your time as a player and a coach. Make sure you have the right amount of equipment and be safe while playing a game. Get the right bat size for you. The knob should be just above your hip. Make sure to take your time to learn the game.
Softball is a great game that gives you time to improve. Now you know all the basics of playing softball.
Why are softballs different sizes for different age groups?
Softballs are different sizes for different age groups because their hand size. The glove is smaller because the age group that the person is in, is expected to have smaller hands. The ball is big enough for the person to throw and catch it. If they are an 8, they might have a size 10 ball so that it will fit their hand size and their glove size.
Why are softballs bright yellow?
Softballs are bright yellow because they are easier to see when they’re bright yellow. A softball has a very forceful pitch and it is a lot easier to see when it’s bright yellow. When players play college games, they need to see the bright yellow ball so they can hit it easier. Also when the game goes into the dark, it’s a lot easier to see under the lights. Though it’s still very dangerous to play with a softball at night.
What does a prepared coach need?
For every coach, they need a game plan. A game plan comes from practice and players. A team needs to have at least one pitcher and one catcher. A pitcher can give the ball to the batter to hit and a catcher gets the ball, keeps the other team from scoring, and gives the ball back to the pitcher to give another pitch. The players also need to have positions. If the player isn’t good at the position, she shouldn’t be there. Coaching also takes time managment. If you’re not organized, being a coach won’t work well with your day to day life. Practice should be 2-4 times a week for a successful game.
How much equipment is needed for a normal player vs a catcher?
For a normal player, each person needs seven things to be able to play legally. They would need a bat, helmet, glove, face mask, cleats, long socks, and baseball pants. For a catcher, they have all that plus five extra items for their gear set. They need a catching helmet, chest protector, and two knee pads to protect each knee. If they want an extra glove for catching that is optional. The same glove can be used for 1st base as a catcher.
Is a softball pitch more powerful than a baseball pitch or is it less powerful?
A baseball pitch is faster than an average softball pitch by about 30 mph. But a softball pitch is more powerful and has more force. A baseball pitch on average is 90-100 mph. A softball pitch is about 60 mph. A softball pitch is harder to hit and if you hit it, it will go pretty far (depending on where the ball hits the bat).
Why do we need face masks?
Face masks have one purpose; to protect our face. College softball players don’t play with facemasks. A college softball player playing shortstop, got hurt playing without a mask. Almost all the balls that were being hit, were being hit to her. One ball, a line drive, was hit and she broke her nose. She laid on the ground and the girl got a single. She was taken out and they lost that game.
Good bats vs Cheap bats
A cheap bat may look shiny and amazing but the pricing says it all. The bat itself has its own qualities. A good bat is heavy on the end which helps swing the bat and get the max power. A bad bat is not the best because the bat from the tip to the knob it’s a thin metal. It’s the same weight all the way through the bat. When you make contact the bat vibrates all the way through to the knob and gives off a painful feeling.
If your younger, don’t rush to a bigger ball, play with a smaller ball at that age. Make sure you don’t go outside when it’s dark and start throwing the ball. Manage your time as a player and a coach. Make sure you have the right amount of equipment and be safe while playing a game. Get the right bat size for you. The knob should be just above your hip. Make sure to take your time to learn the game.
Softball is a great game that gives you time to improve. Now you know all the basics of playing softball.
References
D. A. R. Are Composite Bats better than Aluminum Bats? http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/bats/compalum.html
R. N. The Softer They Come http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/fivering_circus/2004/08/the_softer_they_come.html
D. C. Why are Softballs Yellow? http://www.ehow.com/about_6129064_softballs-yellow_.html
R. N. The Softer They Come http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/fivering_circus/2004/08/the_softer_they_come.html
D. C. Why are Softballs Yellow? http://www.ehow.com/about_6129064_softballs-yellow_.html
Pointe
By Natalie N
Lights. Hot, blinding lights filled the stage where she pirouetted, silent, smiling, her pointe shoes winking in the strong glare. She smiled because she knew the story. She smiled because she was flying. A small girl in the audience watched as the Rose Queen spun, perfect and beautiful. She smiled because she knew her story. She smiled because one day, she was going to fly.
History
Shoes for ladies longing to fly haven’t been available forever. Pointe shoes weren’t even around when ballet was young. In fact, there was a long gap of flat shoed dancers for about 200 years before one clever man invented pointe shoes. That man was Charles Didelot, who made his grand flying machine in 1795. But what was before that? Many ladies wore heeled shoes in the mid 18th century and earlier. Marcie Camargo was the first ballerina to leap and twirl without a heel, which was (to dancers back then) absolutely amazing. Remember Charles Didelot? Well, he did invent a shoe that was made to fly, but Anna Polvia was considered to help remodel the pointe shoe into a more stable, modern shoe. The flying dance has a fascinating history.
What are Pointe Shoes Made of?
Pointe shoes are composed of many things to enable the dancer to fly or rise onto her toes. Traditional pointe shoes are made by hand and the following ingredients: fabric, cardboard, paper, glue, leather, cotton and satin. The satin is the beautiful shiny pink material that you see on the outside of the shoe. Though they are often made with the same things, no pair of shoes, or even individual shoes within a pair, are the same. All pointe shoes are made using 100 operations and 50 parts or pieces. When a dancer receives a new pair of shoes, she must sew on both ribbons (for her ankles), and elastics (to support her foot in the shoe). Shoes must be very strong to support a girl who is ready to fly.
What do you need to dance En Pointe?
Even after purchasing a pair of pointe shoes, which as you already know are made of many things, a dancer requires other supplies. Some of the most popular are Ouch Pouches, toe spacers (gel or cotton), and a stitch kit. But as a pointe dancer begins to realize how much pain she feels and where, she may need the following gear: lambswool, deodorizing spray, athletic tape, booties (to make the muscles warm before class), and gel blister covers. Lambswool is great for preventing blisters. When you first get it, it is soft as you would expect. But after using for a few classes, the wool begins to fit to your toes and hardens to a comfortable wrap. Pointe also requires many other items.
Can I dance En Pointe?
The simple answer is no. The average 6th grader does fit the age range and many young girls did attend dance classes, but no. A pointe dancer must have significant core and calf strength along with the ability to maintain turnout. What is turnout? Turnout is rotating the leg, from the hip and keeping it there through combinations. You must also have at least 2 years of vigorous ballet training in a row and be currently continuing those years. You can technically go into a dance store a purchase a pair, but you can get very hurt if you try to use them. Besides, you must know how to sew on ribbons and elastics, break in your shoe (that’s right! Shoes that you have to break to use!), and you must be willing to pay a lot very often. The beginner pointe dancer wears out her shoes in about 1-2 months. A professional on the other hand, wears out a pair of shoes in just a few hours or even less! And only girls can dance en pointe. Well, boys can, but it is considered “girly” and “unmanly”. Boys are more well known for jumps and lifting pointe dancers. A pointe dancer has to be very committed.
Does it Hurt?
I have been asked by many people, “Does pointe hurt?” and other variations. Yes. Yes, it hurts. Think about it. You are putting your entire weight on two tiny platforms, which are about 2 inches by 1 inch, depending on how big your feet are. Most of the pain that comes from pointe work can be avoided with a ton of padding. But… you can’t use as much padding as you would like. Dancers must “feel the floor” so only toe spacers and a thin toe pad may be used. Lambswool is allowed for blisters. Some minor injuries that can occur are bunions, corns, calluses, and blisters. Many dancers agree: blisters are the worst part of pointe. But there are worse pains that aren’t so common. These include: broken toe, twisted ankle, sprained ankle, tearing the achilles tendon, and (my favorite to say) flexor hallucis longus tendonitis, or inflammation in the big toe tendon. Many injuries with a tendon can be treated with stretching, such as with a theraband. A way to help blisters on their way to becoming calluses is to spray them with rubbing alcohol. Sadly, pointe isn’t all fun.
Pointe is a beautiful, refined dance. Dancers have been flying for 200 years and it still is alive today. Though painful, pointe is considered classic and artistic. Not everyone can, but those who work very hard will achieve what ballerinas like Anna Polvia have. Flight. Nothing is like flying in a pair of pointe shoes. There will continue to be a perfect Rose Queen with her little girl dreaming. They share a common hope and love. A need to fly. A heart destined for flight. Fly away free.
History
Shoes for ladies longing to fly haven’t been available forever. Pointe shoes weren’t even around when ballet was young. In fact, there was a long gap of flat shoed dancers for about 200 years before one clever man invented pointe shoes. That man was Charles Didelot, who made his grand flying machine in 1795. But what was before that? Many ladies wore heeled shoes in the mid 18th century and earlier. Marcie Camargo was the first ballerina to leap and twirl without a heel, which was (to dancers back then) absolutely amazing. Remember Charles Didelot? Well, he did invent a shoe that was made to fly, but Anna Polvia was considered to help remodel the pointe shoe into a more stable, modern shoe. The flying dance has a fascinating history.
What are Pointe Shoes Made of?
Pointe shoes are composed of many things to enable the dancer to fly or rise onto her toes. Traditional pointe shoes are made by hand and the following ingredients: fabric, cardboard, paper, glue, leather, cotton and satin. The satin is the beautiful shiny pink material that you see on the outside of the shoe. Though they are often made with the same things, no pair of shoes, or even individual shoes within a pair, are the same. All pointe shoes are made using 100 operations and 50 parts or pieces. When a dancer receives a new pair of shoes, she must sew on both ribbons (for her ankles), and elastics (to support her foot in the shoe). Shoes must be very strong to support a girl who is ready to fly.
What do you need to dance En Pointe?
Even after purchasing a pair of pointe shoes, which as you already know are made of many things, a dancer requires other supplies. Some of the most popular are Ouch Pouches, toe spacers (gel or cotton), and a stitch kit. But as a pointe dancer begins to realize how much pain she feels and where, she may need the following gear: lambswool, deodorizing spray, athletic tape, booties (to make the muscles warm before class), and gel blister covers. Lambswool is great for preventing blisters. When you first get it, it is soft as you would expect. But after using for a few classes, the wool begins to fit to your toes and hardens to a comfortable wrap. Pointe also requires many other items.
Can I dance En Pointe?
The simple answer is no. The average 6th grader does fit the age range and many young girls did attend dance classes, but no. A pointe dancer must have significant core and calf strength along with the ability to maintain turnout. What is turnout? Turnout is rotating the leg, from the hip and keeping it there through combinations. You must also have at least 2 years of vigorous ballet training in a row and be currently continuing those years. You can technically go into a dance store a purchase a pair, but you can get very hurt if you try to use them. Besides, you must know how to sew on ribbons and elastics, break in your shoe (that’s right! Shoes that you have to break to use!), and you must be willing to pay a lot very often. The beginner pointe dancer wears out her shoes in about 1-2 months. A professional on the other hand, wears out a pair of shoes in just a few hours or even less! And only girls can dance en pointe. Well, boys can, but it is considered “girly” and “unmanly”. Boys are more well known for jumps and lifting pointe dancers. A pointe dancer has to be very committed.
Does it Hurt?
I have been asked by many people, “Does pointe hurt?” and other variations. Yes. Yes, it hurts. Think about it. You are putting your entire weight on two tiny platforms, which are about 2 inches by 1 inch, depending on how big your feet are. Most of the pain that comes from pointe work can be avoided with a ton of padding. But… you can’t use as much padding as you would like. Dancers must “feel the floor” so only toe spacers and a thin toe pad may be used. Lambswool is allowed for blisters. Some minor injuries that can occur are bunions, corns, calluses, and blisters. Many dancers agree: blisters are the worst part of pointe. But there are worse pains that aren’t so common. These include: broken toe, twisted ankle, sprained ankle, tearing the achilles tendon, and (my favorite to say) flexor hallucis longus tendonitis, or inflammation in the big toe tendon. Many injuries with a tendon can be treated with stretching, such as with a theraband. A way to help blisters on their way to becoming calluses is to spray them with rubbing alcohol. Sadly, pointe isn’t all fun.
Pointe is a beautiful, refined dance. Dancers have been flying for 200 years and it still is alive today. Though painful, pointe is considered classic and artistic. Not everyone can, but those who work very hard will achieve what ballerinas like Anna Polvia have. Flight. Nothing is like flying in a pair of pointe shoes. There will continue to be a perfect Rose Queen with her little girl dreaming. They share a common hope and love. A need to fly. A heart destined for flight. Fly away free.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics, (2015), Ballet and Dance, Retrieved Jan. 23, 2016, from
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/sports/Pages/Ballet-and-Dance.aspx
Amy Brandt, (2013), Am I Ready for Pointe?, Retrieved Jan.25, 2016, from www.dancespirit.com/how-to/ballet/am-i-ready-for-pointe/
History Cooperative, (2015) The Pointe Shoe a History, Retrieved Jan. 21, 2016, from http://historycooperative.org/the-pointe-shoe-a-history/
Perfect Pointe, Does it Hurt?, Retrieved Jan. 21, 2016, from http://perfectpointe.wordpress.com/does-it-hurt/
Philadelphia Ballet Theatre, The Point of Pointe Shoes, Retrieved Jan. 21, 2016, from
www.pbt.org/community-engagment/point-pointe-shoes
Pointe Shoe Physics, (2011), Pointe Shoe Physics Introduction, Retrieved Jan. 23, 2016, from
http://pointeshoephysics.blogspot.com/p/introduction.html
Wikipedia, (2016) Pointe Shoe, Retrieved Jan. 21, 2016, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pointe_shoe
Bussel, D. (1994). The Young Dancer: In association with the Royal Ballet School.
New York, New York: Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc.
Soviet Union vs USA - 1980 Winter Olympics
By Jared
Imagine if your were a college football team from Canada playing an NFL team like the Patriots or Panthers or Broncos. How would you feel? That was what it was like for the young team USA as they faced off against the Soviet Union, U.S.S.R.
USA Before the Olympics
Team USA was a very young hockey club consisting of some of the best college players from across the U.S. Only one player on the team, Buzz Schneider, had returned from the 1976 Olympics which they did not fare well in. The team was mostly players from the colleges, Minnesota and Boston U. There were big rivalries after the National Championships they had played against each other. There were nine players from Minnesota and four players from Boston U. Boston U was where the starting goalie, Jim Craig and the captain, Mike Eruzione, had came from.The coach, Herb Brooks, who was very successful at coaching Minnesota, in NCAA Division 1 hockey, wanted to adopt a new type of playing which meant harder practices and a tougher schedule. All in all, they ended up playing 61 exhibition games, ending with a brutal beat down by the Soviets in Madison Square Garden.
In the Olympics
In the Olympics, USA came in as big underdogs. No one predicted they would do very well in these games at all, and in the first game, against Sweden, USA was down 2-1 late in the third-period and with Craig on the bench for an extra attacker, Mark Pavelich found Bill Baker who fired a rocket past the Swedish goalie, Pelle Lindbergh, into the back of the net tying the game 2-2 with 27 seconds left in the game. Their next game was against Czechoslovakia, who were said to be the silver medal favorites, and had what ended up to be the first, second, and third point leaders, Milan Novy, Peter Stastney, and Jaroslav Pouzarin, the entire Olympics. But besides that, team USA won 7-3, shocking the entire Olympics. Their next game was against Norway, who they beat 5-1 with five unanswered (unanswered means how many goals they scored in a row before the other team scored) goals. After that game, they played the country Romania, who they crushed on the scoreboard (7-2) and on the shot clock, (51-21). USA’s last game in the division was against West Germany. After being down 2-0 in the first period, USA came back with a 4-2 victory.
Soviet Union Before The Olympics
The Soviet Union was a HUGE hockey powerhouse. The entire team consisted of professional All-Stars that didn’t want to go to the NHL. Some of the team members worked in the Soviet Military. They were better than the best of the NHL though, beating the NHL All-Stars 6-0 for the Challenge Cup. They were the 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976 Olympic champions and was thought to be the 1980 Olympic champions also.
During The Olympics
The Soviet Union walked through the round robin in a breeze beating Japan 16-0 with three goals from Aleksandr Golikov, a shutout from Vladislav Tretiak, and 67 shots on goal. Their next game, against the Netherlands was almost the same thing, beating them 17-4 with hat-tricks (A hat-trick means that player scored 3 goals or more in a single game) from Vladimir Krutov and Yuri Lebedev. Poland was a little bit tougher, but the Soviets still managed a 8-1 win with three goals from Helmuts Balderis. The Soviet Union’s final two games against Finland and Canada were tough but they still won 4-2 and 6-4.
Soviet Union VS USA
With Sweden and Finland battling against each other and Czechoslovakia smothering Canada in the Consolation Game, that meant one thing, the Soviets would play team USA, and the winner would most likely win the Gold Medal. With USA being the host team and the Soviet Union being the team everyone hated, stakes were very high. The crowd was packed and roaring in the arena. The game, which aired later on TV was one of if the biggest games in the entire Olympics. The game started rough and physical with the Soviets in possession of the puck nearly the entire time, and halfway through the first period USA finally cracked giving up a goal by Krutov assisted by Kasatonov. With team USA down 1-0 as predicted, Coach Herb Brooks decided to show everyone who team USA really was and five minutes later, Buzz Schnieder scored the game tying goal making it 1-1. Eventually, with the Soviets controlling most of the game, they scored another goal credited to Sergei Makarov. With time ticking down in the first period, 2-1 Soviets, Dave Christian took a shot from center ice with the rebound hitting Tretiak and bounced away and out came Mark Johnson who streaked past two defense men and fired it in the net just before the horn blew making it 2-2. In the third period with team USA down 3-2 after they gave up a goal to Aleksandr Maltsev in the second period and the Soviets goalie, Vladislav Tretiak was pulled for Vladimir Myshkin. Halfway through the third period with USA on the power-play, Mark Johnson found the back of the net tying it 3-3. Just a little bit later, Mark Pavelich found an open Mike Eruzione for the back of the net giving USA the 4-3 lead which lasted till the end of the game.
USA Before the Olympics
Team USA was a very young hockey club consisting of some of the best college players from across the U.S. Only one player on the team, Buzz Schneider, had returned from the 1976 Olympics which they did not fare well in. The team was mostly players from the colleges, Minnesota and Boston U. There were big rivalries after the National Championships they had played against each other. There were nine players from Minnesota and four players from Boston U. Boston U was where the starting goalie, Jim Craig and the captain, Mike Eruzione, had came from.The coach, Herb Brooks, who was very successful at coaching Minnesota, in NCAA Division 1 hockey, wanted to adopt a new type of playing which meant harder practices and a tougher schedule. All in all, they ended up playing 61 exhibition games, ending with a brutal beat down by the Soviets in Madison Square Garden.
In the Olympics
In the Olympics, USA came in as big underdogs. No one predicted they would do very well in these games at all, and in the first game, against Sweden, USA was down 2-1 late in the third-period and with Craig on the bench for an extra attacker, Mark Pavelich found Bill Baker who fired a rocket past the Swedish goalie, Pelle Lindbergh, into the back of the net tying the game 2-2 with 27 seconds left in the game. Their next game was against Czechoslovakia, who were said to be the silver medal favorites, and had what ended up to be the first, second, and third point leaders, Milan Novy, Peter Stastney, and Jaroslav Pouzarin, the entire Olympics. But besides that, team USA won 7-3, shocking the entire Olympics. Their next game was against Norway, who they beat 5-1 with five unanswered (unanswered means how many goals they scored in a row before the other team scored) goals. After that game, they played the country Romania, who they crushed on the scoreboard (7-2) and on the shot clock, (51-21). USA’s last game in the division was against West Germany. After being down 2-0 in the first period, USA came back with a 4-2 victory.
Soviet Union Before The Olympics
The Soviet Union was a HUGE hockey powerhouse. The entire team consisted of professional All-Stars that didn’t want to go to the NHL. Some of the team members worked in the Soviet Military. They were better than the best of the NHL though, beating the NHL All-Stars 6-0 for the Challenge Cup. They were the 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976 Olympic champions and was thought to be the 1980 Olympic champions also.
During The Olympics
The Soviet Union walked through the round robin in a breeze beating Japan 16-0 with three goals from Aleksandr Golikov, a shutout from Vladislav Tretiak, and 67 shots on goal. Their next game, against the Netherlands was almost the same thing, beating them 17-4 with hat-tricks (A hat-trick means that player scored 3 goals or more in a single game) from Vladimir Krutov and Yuri Lebedev. Poland was a little bit tougher, but the Soviets still managed a 8-1 win with three goals from Helmuts Balderis. The Soviet Union’s final two games against Finland and Canada were tough but they still won 4-2 and 6-4.
Soviet Union VS USA
With Sweden and Finland battling against each other and Czechoslovakia smothering Canada in the Consolation Game, that meant one thing, the Soviets would play team USA, and the winner would most likely win the Gold Medal. With USA being the host team and the Soviet Union being the team everyone hated, stakes were very high. The crowd was packed and roaring in the arena. The game, which aired later on TV was one of if the biggest games in the entire Olympics. The game started rough and physical with the Soviets in possession of the puck nearly the entire time, and halfway through the first period USA finally cracked giving up a goal by Krutov assisted by Kasatonov. With team USA down 1-0 as predicted, Coach Herb Brooks decided to show everyone who team USA really was and five minutes later, Buzz Schnieder scored the game tying goal making it 1-1. Eventually, with the Soviets controlling most of the game, they scored another goal credited to Sergei Makarov. With time ticking down in the first period, 2-1 Soviets, Dave Christian took a shot from center ice with the rebound hitting Tretiak and bounced away and out came Mark Johnson who streaked past two defense men and fired it in the net just before the horn blew making it 2-2. In the third period with team USA down 3-2 after they gave up a goal to Aleksandr Maltsev in the second period and the Soviets goalie, Vladislav Tretiak was pulled for Vladimir Myshkin. Halfway through the third period with USA on the power-play, Mark Johnson found the back of the net tying it 3-3. Just a little bit later, Mark Pavelich found an open Mike Eruzione for the back of the net giving USA the 4-3 lead which lasted till the end of the game.
The famous quote:
¨11 seconds, you've got 10 seconds, the countdown is going right now! Morrow up to Silk, five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles!? YES!!¨- Al Michaels and Ken Dryden
After The Game:
In the Soviet locker room after the game, their coach singled out his best stars, Mikhailov, Tretiak, Kharlamov, and Petrov, and said, ¨This was your loss!¨ After the games, USA beat Finland 4-2, getting the gold medal with the Soviets receiving the silver medal. Later, most of the players from both teams ended up in the NHL and even some are in the Hall of Fame. This game was recognized as one of the greatest underdog wins in all of the sports.
¨11 seconds, you've got 10 seconds, the countdown is going right now! Morrow up to Silk, five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles!? YES!!¨- Al Michaels and Ken Dryden
After The Game:
In the Soviet locker room after the game, their coach singled out his best stars, Mikhailov, Tretiak, Kharlamov, and Petrov, and said, ¨This was your loss!¨ After the games, USA beat Finland 4-2, getting the gold medal with the Soviets receiving the silver medal. Later, most of the players from both teams ended up in the NHL and even some are in the Hall of Fame. This game was recognized as one of the greatest underdog wins in all of the sports.
References
Wendel,T. (2009) Going for Gold. Minola NY: Dover
Publications INC.
Miracle on Ice: History. (2016). Retrieved February 7, 2016, from
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice#History
Ice Hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2016, from
Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Hockey_at_the_1980_Winter_Olympics
Publications INC.
Miracle on Ice: History. (2016). Retrieved February 7, 2016, from
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_on_Ice#History
Ice Hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2016, from
Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Hockey_at_the_1980_Winter_Olympics
Wakeboarding
By Nicholas
Lots of sports are known to be extreme, hard or athletic. Wakeboarding should be on the top of this list. Some might think that wake boarding is standing on a board on water, but it’s much more.
History
Wakeboarding was not always called wake boarding, it used to be called skurfing. The boards were more like surf boards. And they did not hold your feet in place. Staying on the board was really difficult. Finally, a man named Finn was friends with some wind surfers that offered him some bindings for his board. He wondered if he could attach them to a skurf board. After he tried that, he realized that people now could do tricks. This changed the sport forever. But there were still problems, like the board was to thin and is was hard to land a trick. It was too buoyant and would float too much so it made it extremely hard to get up.
A man named Herb O’Brien teamed up with the best skurfers in the world to create a new board. It still could only go one way. It was lighter, smaller, and really thin. Later hyperlite made a board with twin tips. So you could go in whichever way you wanted. The sport grew rapidly. In 1992 the World Wakeboarding association started to hold events for wakeboarding. Wakeboarding gained fame from the X Games in 1996. Wakeboarding had its first world championship cup in 1998.
Lots of sports are known to be extreme, hard or athletic. Wakeboarding should be on the top of this list. Some might think that wake boarding is standing on a board on water, but it’s much more.
History
Wakeboarding was not always called wake boarding, it used to be called skurfing. The boards were more like surf boards. And they did not hold your feet in place. Staying on the board was really difficult. Finally, a man named Finn was friends with some wind surfers that offered him some bindings for his board. He wondered if he could attach them to a skurf board. After he tried that, he realized that people now could do tricks. This changed the sport forever. But there were still problems, like the board was to thin and is was hard to land a trick. It was too buoyant and would float too much so it made it extremely hard to get up.
A man named Herb O’Brien teamed up with the best skurfers in the world to create a new board. It still could only go one way. It was lighter, smaller, and really thin. Later hyperlite made a board with twin tips. So you could go in whichever way you wanted. The sport grew rapidly. In 1992 the World Wakeboarding association started to hold events for wakeboarding. Wakeboarding gained fame from the X Games in 1996. Wakeboarding had its first world championship cup in 1998.
How to Start
Wakeboarding is not easy. It requires skill and endurance. It is not as easy as some sports. It requires a body of water and boat. The boat must be allowed to tow you too. Getting up is the hardest part, you have to lean back and pull towards you.
Gear and Safety
First, it is important to have the right gear. Because wakeboarding is already dangerous. You need a strong tow rope, a good board and a boat to tow you. Having a helmet helps a lot. When you are skimming along at 15+mph landing can hurt, and they hurt even more if you hit your board. I learned that gloves help. Your hands might get blistery if they are holding to the handle a long time. And they help if your fingers slap the board too.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell wakeboarding is a extreme sport. Once you are good you can enter in competitions. All in all wakeboarding is one of the funnest sports in the world. You should try it!
References
Pro Wakeboard Tour http://www.wakeboardingmag.com/king-of-wake-pwt/
Wakeboarding (book)
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakeboarding
https://awe365.com/content/uploads/2013/07/Europe-wakeboarding-holidays-flickr-image-by-S110.jpg
https://wakeboardingg.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/wake-boarding-the-saga-continues-wakeboard-249748.jpg
Wakeboarding is not easy. It requires skill and endurance. It is not as easy as some sports. It requires a body of water and boat. The boat must be allowed to tow you too. Getting up is the hardest part, you have to lean back and pull towards you.
Gear and Safety
First, it is important to have the right gear. Because wakeboarding is already dangerous. You need a strong tow rope, a good board and a boat to tow you. Having a helmet helps a lot. When you are skimming along at 15+mph landing can hurt, and they hurt even more if you hit your board. I learned that gloves help. Your hands might get blistery if they are holding to the handle a long time. And they help if your fingers slap the board too.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell wakeboarding is a extreme sport. Once you are good you can enter in competitions. All in all wakeboarding is one of the funnest sports in the world. You should try it!
References
Pro Wakeboard Tour http://www.wakeboardingmag.com/king-of-wake-pwt/
Wakeboarding (book)
Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakeboarding
https://awe365.com/content/uploads/2013/07/Europe-wakeboarding-holidays-flickr-image-by-S110.jpg
https://wakeboardingg.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/wake-boarding-the-saga-continues-wakeboard-249748.jpg
Girls Soccer History
By Kendall
“You can’t score a goal without taking the shot.” -Anonymous
There are many different girl soccer players that made history. One girl that stood out to me was Alex Morgan. It amazes me that she is so young and be so good. She inspires me and also many girls in the USA. She teaches girl around the USA that girls can be strong, and powerful. I hope she keeps doing what she does and to inspire people along the way.
Soccer is a very popular sport in many different countries. It has been around for more than three thousand years! It was played in the medieval times! They used a leather ball and kicked it. They were allowed kick, bite, punch and gouge the other team while they were playing to get the ball and score into their tiny nets. In the modern day world, football is professionally played with so many teams evolving worldwide. However, soccer is also played at an amateur level in various parts of the world. The famous clubs in the world are in England, Italy, Spain and some countries in South America. Players in these clubs are paid highly. It is also observed that soccer nowadays evokes emotions from football fans who end up committing atrocities in the field when their favorite teams are defeated by opponents.
The history of modern day soccer was created in October 1863 when 11 representatives met from London club and made the no ball with your hands rule. Now, soccer is played by many ages, genders, and in many states, still following that rule. Girl soccer history is different. Girls didn’t start playing in the U.S.A until the late 1970’s. There are many great girl soccer players in the world and it is amazing that so many of us are playing and that we might be able to play as a professional soccer player that a lot of people look up too, such as Alex Morgan but, her story is different.
Alex Morgan
“ Dream big because dreams do happen.” -Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan is a part of girls soccer history today and will be in the future. When she was younger, she dreamed that one day she would be a professional soccer player and now, she one of the best and well-known soccer players in the world.Alex Morgan was a multi sport athlete growing up, but she didn't start playing organized soccer until she was 14 years old.
Then, when she started to get better, she went to the youngest on the U.S. National Team to winning her first gold medal.Alex Morgan became the youngest member of the U.S. women's national soccer team in 2009, and was the first overall pick in the 2011 Women's Professional Soccer draft. In 2012, Morgan landed a spot on the U.S. Olympic women's soccer team. At the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Morgan won her first Olympic gold medal by helping the U.S. women defeat Japan.
Three years later, she was a leader on the team that again defeated Japan to win the FIFA Women's World Cup. She played against Japan at the Olympics with the biggest Olympic crowd in history watching, she won the game 2-1. Alex Last year, (2015) she was injured in the knee and wasn't fully healed for the World Cup, but she still played. Alex Morgan is a strong role model that a lot of people look up to and continue for a long time to come.
Final Thoughts
I hope you learned a lot about girls Soccer History and Alex Morgan. Soccer seems so simple just looking at it but it has so much physics behind it. If you play soccer, then I hope you are inspired to play like Alex Morgan, if you don’t, then I hope you are inspired to do what you love, even if it isn’t soccer.
References
David Litterer, August 17, 2011, Women's Soccer History in the USA: An Overview; Retrieved February 25, 2016, from http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/womensoverview.html
Biography.com Editors, Alex Morgan Biography, Retrieved February 25, 2016, from http://www.biography.com/people/alex-morgan-20837393
Mark Stewart, 3/1998. Soccer; A History of the World’s Most Popular Game: Franklin Watts http://www.paperbackswap.com/Soccer-History-Worlds-Mark-Stewart/book/0531114562/
http://www.artofbrands.com/us-en/women-s-soccer-2
Biography.com Editors, Alex Morgan Biography, Retrieved February 25, 2016, from http://www.biography.com/people/alex-morgan-20837393
Mark Stewart, 3/1998. Soccer; A History of the World’s Most Popular Game: Franklin Watts http://www.paperbackswap.com/Soccer-History-Worlds-Mark-Stewart/book/0531114562/
http://www.artofbrands.com/us-en/women-s-soccer-2
Football History
By CJ
Football has evolved for many years. Football originated from rugby. A lot of colleges had there own version of football. Students at Princeton called their version of football ballown. Harvard had a football like game that they played the first Monday of the school year. The game involved brute force and caused many physical injuries, and the day was known as Bloody Monday.
Football has many mixed reviews. Some people think football and think injuries. Other people think football and say, I want to do this for the rest of my life. Some people think that football took over the Sabbath Day, and football players know that football got them to where they are in their life.
Football Leagues
The AFL (American Football League) was always overseen by the NFL (National Football League). The AFL and NFL were crazy rivals from trying to outbid the other league for college players, and trying to poach other players in the other league with higher pay.
The IFL (Intercollegiate Football Association). The end of the civil war in 1865 gave a new dawn to American football, and football gained popularity fast. In 1867 Princeton laid down the first rules to football. Only 25 players were allowed to play at first according to the rules Princeton laid out. Four years after the first Intercollegiate game was played between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869. Representatives from Princeton, Rutgers, Columbia and, Yale formed the Intercollegiate Football Association.
The NFL (National Football League) was the better league compared to their bitter rivals the AFL. Almost everybody in college wanted to play for the NFL. In 1967 the NFL’s Green Bay Packers won the first Super Bowl and three years later the NFL and the AFL merged. The NFL today has 32 teams. You can see how much football has grown.
Football has many mixed reviews. Some people think football and think injuries. Other people think football and say, I want to do this for the rest of my life. Some people think that football took over the Sabbath Day, and football players know that football got them to where they are in their life.
Football Leagues
The AFL (American Football League) was always overseen by the NFL (National Football League). The AFL and NFL were crazy rivals from trying to outbid the other league for college players, and trying to poach other players in the other league with higher pay.
The IFL (Intercollegiate Football Association). The end of the civil war in 1865 gave a new dawn to American football, and football gained popularity fast. In 1867 Princeton laid down the first rules to football. Only 25 players were allowed to play at first according to the rules Princeton laid out. Four years after the first Intercollegiate game was played between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869. Representatives from Princeton, Rutgers, Columbia and, Yale formed the Intercollegiate Football Association.
The NFL (National Football League) was the better league compared to their bitter rivals the AFL. Almost everybody in college wanted to play for the NFL. In 1967 the NFL’s Green Bay Packers won the first Super Bowl and three years later the NFL and the AFL merged. The NFL today has 32 teams. You can see how much football has grown.
Football Rules
The team with the possession of the football is called the offense. The offense tries to advance the football on plays. The defense tries to prevent the offense from scoring or advancing the football to the end zone. The down system: The offense must advance the ball at least 10 yards every four plays or downs. Each time the offense is successful in advancing the ball 10 yards, they get four more downs or what is called a first down. If the offense does not get 10 yards in four plays, the other team gains possession of the football at the current line of scrimmage. In order to keep the other team from getting good field position the offense can punt (kick) the ball to the other team intentionally. This is often done on 4th down, when the offense is outside of field goal range. Offensive plays on downs start with a snap. This is when the center passes the football between their legs to one of the offensive backs (usually the quarterback). The ball is advanced either by running with the football (called rushing) or passing the football. The football play is over when 1) the player with the football is tackled or goes out of bounds 2) an incomplete pass 3) there is a score.
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl, is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football in the world. The game culminates a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. Normally, Roman numerals are used to identify each game, rather than the year in which it is held. For example, Super Bowl I was played on January 15, 1967, following the 1966 regular season. The single exception to this rule is Super Bowl 50, which was played on February 7, 2016, following the 2015 regular season.
The game was created as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then-rival league, the American Football League (AFL). It was agreed that the two leagues' champion teams would play in the AFL–NFL World Championship Game until the merger was to officially begin in 1970. After the merger, each league was redesignated as a "conference", and the game has since been played between the conference champions to determine the NFL's league champion. Currently, the National Football Conference (NFC) leads the league with 26 wins to 23 wins for the American Football Conference (AFC). The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most Super Bowl victories with six.
I’ve learned that Football affects people in very different ways, Some are good and some are bad but find a way to make Football a good part of your life.
The team with the possession of the football is called the offense. The offense tries to advance the football on plays. The defense tries to prevent the offense from scoring or advancing the football to the end zone. The down system: The offense must advance the ball at least 10 yards every four plays or downs. Each time the offense is successful in advancing the ball 10 yards, they get four more downs or what is called a first down. If the offense does not get 10 yards in four plays, the other team gains possession of the football at the current line of scrimmage. In order to keep the other team from getting good field position the offense can punt (kick) the ball to the other team intentionally. This is often done on 4th down, when the offense is outside of field goal range. Offensive plays on downs start with a snap. This is when the center passes the football between their legs to one of the offensive backs (usually the quarterback). The ball is advanced either by running with the football (called rushing) or passing the football. The football play is over when 1) the player with the football is tackled or goes out of bounds 2) an incomplete pass 3) there is a score.
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl, is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), the highest level of professional American football in the world. The game culminates a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. Normally, Roman numerals are used to identify each game, rather than the year in which it is held. For example, Super Bowl I was played on January 15, 1967, following the 1966 regular season. The single exception to this rule is Super Bowl 50, which was played on February 7, 2016, following the 2015 regular season.
The game was created as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then-rival league, the American Football League (AFL). It was agreed that the two leagues' champion teams would play in the AFL–NFL World Championship Game until the merger was to officially begin in 1970. After the merger, each league was redesignated as a "conference", and the game has since been played between the conference champions to determine the NFL's league champion. Currently, the National Football Conference (NFC) leads the league with 26 wins to 23 wins for the American Football Conference (AFC). The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most Super Bowl victories with six.
I’ve learned that Football affects people in very different ways, Some are good and some are bad but find a way to make Football a good part of your life.
References
Debopriya, B. (2009) Retrieved January 20, 2016, History of American Football website: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-of-american-football.html
Retrieved February 17, 2016 a brief history of the game website: http://www.hornetfootball.org/documents/football-history.htm
Hans, H., (2013) The Super Bowl All about Pro Football’s Biggest Event. Minnesota: Capstone Press
Retrieved February 17, 2016 a brief history of the game website: http://www.hornetfootball.org/documents/football-history.htm
Hans, H., (2013) The Super Bowl All about Pro Football’s Biggest Event. Minnesota: Capstone Press
For a printable version of this puzzle, created by Adam, please click here:
football_maze.pdf | |
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Soccer History
By Natalie
Soccer is a very popular game throughout the world. Soccer is huge in almost every country. Have you ever wondered who created soccer? Where and when it was first played? How the the ball was made and who created it?
Nobody really knows who created soccer but they do know that it was first played in Egypt, China, Rome, Greece, and England. They also know that it was played around 4,500 years ago.
EGYPT
The Egyptians were very creative people. They made their soccer balls out of linen, cloth, and they wrapped some in animal skin and intestines to improve the balls bouncing abilities. From drawings that they've seen scholars speculate that Egyptians played soccer-like games at Fertility Feasts. Roughly two years later a similar soccer-like game called Cuju appeared in China.
CHINA
Ancient China is one of the first places that soccer was played in. They played a game much like soccer that they called “cuju” from around 467 B.C. to 221 B.C. The word cuju is translated as “kick the ball with foot.” The Chinese were very creative. They made a ball by stuffing leather with feathers. The game play was similar to the game play of soccer nowadays but it was a bit simpler. They played on a rectangular playing field just like soccer players do now. To score they would have to shoot the ball through a piece of cloth held by two poles.
The game started to become more popular because military leaders used it as a competitive game to keep their soldiers in shape. As the game became more popular Royal Courts started organizing cuju matches (played by professional cuju) players. Teams made up of townspeople and women also played in tournaments. Just like how it is now the players were allowed to touch the ball with any part of their body except their hands and arms. They even had referees at the Cuju matches. Unlike soccer nowadays the number of players didn't really matter. The number of players could range from 2-6 for each team and in the games sponsored by the Royal Court the number of players usually ranged from 12-16 on each team. Soccer nowadays has 11 players on the field per team.
Not all Cuju matches were won by the amount of goals scored. In some tournaments the games are decided by scores that were given to players on how they played in that game. For example people who made bad passes or kicked the ball out of bounds got points taken away. The team with the smallest amount of points deducted wins. During the mid 17th century Cuju started to lose its popularity,but similar games are still played today.
Nobody really knows who created soccer but they do know that it was first played in Egypt, China, Rome, Greece, and England. They also know that it was played around 4,500 years ago.
EGYPT
The Egyptians were very creative people. They made their soccer balls out of linen, cloth, and they wrapped some in animal skin and intestines to improve the balls bouncing abilities. From drawings that they've seen scholars speculate that Egyptians played soccer-like games at Fertility Feasts. Roughly two years later a similar soccer-like game called Cuju appeared in China.
CHINA
Ancient China is one of the first places that soccer was played in. They played a game much like soccer that they called “cuju” from around 467 B.C. to 221 B.C. The word cuju is translated as “kick the ball with foot.” The Chinese were very creative. They made a ball by stuffing leather with feathers. The game play was similar to the game play of soccer nowadays but it was a bit simpler. They played on a rectangular playing field just like soccer players do now. To score they would have to shoot the ball through a piece of cloth held by two poles.
The game started to become more popular because military leaders used it as a competitive game to keep their soldiers in shape. As the game became more popular Royal Courts started organizing cuju matches (played by professional cuju) players. Teams made up of townspeople and women also played in tournaments. Just like how it is now the players were allowed to touch the ball with any part of their body except their hands and arms. They even had referees at the Cuju matches. Unlike soccer nowadays the number of players didn't really matter. The number of players could range from 2-6 for each team and in the games sponsored by the Royal Court the number of players usually ranged from 12-16 on each team. Soccer nowadays has 11 players on the field per team.
Not all Cuju matches were won by the amount of goals scored. In some tournaments the games are decided by scores that were given to players on how they played in that game. For example people who made bad passes or kicked the ball out of bounds got points taken away. The team with the smallest amount of points deducted wins. During the mid 17th century Cuju started to lose its popularity,but similar games are still played today.
SOCCER BALL
Charles Goodyear is the inventor of the modern day soccer ball. There were so many different types of soccer balls throughout the years. In the 1800 they started to pay more attention to the quality of the soccer ball.
1855
1855 was a significant year in soccer history. It was the year that the first round soccer ball was made. The ball was made by a man named Charles Goodyear. Before that soccer balls were not all the way round because they were made from a bladder. They also couldn't be made with rubber because it is sticky and deforms easily in hot playing conditions. Charles Goodyear solved that problem by finding a method of treating rubber so it became more solid without losing its bounce. The method was called “vulcanization’’
1872
In the year of 1872 the English Soccer Association decided that the ball should be spherical and between 27 and 28 inches in circumference. It is the size of the official soccer ball today.
1888
Leather balls were widely used as well as rubber balls. In 1888, the first mass-production of leather balls spurred. The ball in this era was made of many different panels of leather laced at one surface around a bladder. The soccer ball also had laces on it. This type of ball was the one used in the very first World Cup The 1930 World Cup.
1950
In the 1950s they started making leather balls waterproof. The lace was also removed to make the surface of the ball smoother and also making the ball easier to control. In 1951 white soccer balls were made to improve visibility,and in snowy venues they created an orange soccer ball.
1970
Finally, in 1970 the first black and white soccer ball was introduced by Adidas. The ball was made specifically for the 1970 World Cup. It has 32 panels that were painted alternately black and white (20 panels white and 12 panels black). The colors made it more visible on black and white television.
The game of soccer has come a long way. From its start in Egypt to the modern game we play today. It has become a very competitive sport and one of the world's most popular sports.
Charles Goodyear is the inventor of the modern day soccer ball. There were so many different types of soccer balls throughout the years. In the 1800 they started to pay more attention to the quality of the soccer ball.
1855
1855 was a significant year in soccer history. It was the year that the first round soccer ball was made. The ball was made by a man named Charles Goodyear. Before that soccer balls were not all the way round because they were made from a bladder. They also couldn't be made with rubber because it is sticky and deforms easily in hot playing conditions. Charles Goodyear solved that problem by finding a method of treating rubber so it became more solid without losing its bounce. The method was called “vulcanization’’
1872
In the year of 1872 the English Soccer Association decided that the ball should be spherical and between 27 and 28 inches in circumference. It is the size of the official soccer ball today.
1888
Leather balls were widely used as well as rubber balls. In 1888, the first mass-production of leather balls spurred. The ball in this era was made of many different panels of leather laced at one surface around a bladder. The soccer ball also had laces on it. This type of ball was the one used in the very first World Cup The 1930 World Cup.
1950
In the 1950s they started making leather balls waterproof. The lace was also removed to make the surface of the ball smoother and also making the ball easier to control. In 1951 white soccer balls were made to improve visibility,and in snowy venues they created an orange soccer ball.
1970
Finally, in 1970 the first black and white soccer ball was introduced by Adidas. The ball was made specifically for the 1970 World Cup. It has 32 panels that were painted alternately black and white (20 panels white and 12 panels black). The colors made it more visible on black and white television.
The game of soccer has come a long way. From its start in Egypt to the modern game we play today. It has become a very competitive sport and one of the world's most popular sports.
NFL Fun Facts
By Maddy C.
1. THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WERE ALMOST NAMED THE BAY STATE PATRIOTS.
2. The most watched television event in the United States is the Super Bowl.
3. Just two years after finishing their careers, approximately 78% of NFL players go bankrupt.
4. In an NFL game, as many as 75 minutes, or about 60% of total TV air time (excluding commercials), is spent on shots of players standing on the line of scrimmage, huddling, or just walking around between snaps.
5. NFL cheerleaders typically make $50–$75 a game.
6. The most famous NFL cheer leading squad is the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. They were originally a male/female group called the CowBelles & Beaux.
7. The wealthiest team in the NFL is the Dallas Cowboys. They have an estimated value of approximately $2.1 billion and generate almost $269 million in annual revenue.
2. The most watched television event in the United States is the Super Bowl.
3. Just two years after finishing their careers, approximately 78% of NFL players go bankrupt.
4. In an NFL game, as many as 75 minutes, or about 60% of total TV air time (excluding commercials), is spent on shots of players standing on the line of scrimmage, huddling, or just walking around between snaps.
5. NFL cheerleaders typically make $50–$75 a game.
6. The most famous NFL cheer leading squad is the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. They were originally a male/female group called the CowBelles & Beaux.
7. The wealthiest team in the NFL is the Dallas Cowboys. They have an estimated value of approximately $2.1 billion and generate almost $269 million in annual revenue.
Soccer
By Robert
Let me give you a little background of how I got so wrapped up in “soccer”. It all started when I was six. My dad and I were watching TV when we got this one sports channel. I saw a green field with men in jerseys, “football’ I thought. Then I saw this odd black and white ball, then they all started chasing and kicking it. “What's that I said to my dad “That's soccer, I was always more of a football fan but maybe you will play when you are older”.
Fast forward to when I was nine. After kicking a soccer ball in my backyard for a couple weeks, I was ready to sign up for soccer. We bought my equipment and signed up. I was put on a green team, we all got our own green jerseys. We had to come up with a name for our team. All of my teammates were thinking until I said”Green Machine”[It sounded cool for my age]. They all happily agreed. A few days later was my first game. I was anxious but I managed to pull it together and we won our first Game! I’m 12 now and to this day I still play and enjoy soccer very much.
Fast forward to when I was nine. After kicking a soccer ball in my backyard for a couple weeks, I was ready to sign up for soccer. We bought my equipment and signed up. I was put on a green team, we all got our own green jerseys. We had to come up with a name for our team. All of my teammates were thinking until I said”Green Machine”[It sounded cool for my age]. They all happily agreed. A few days later was my first game. I was anxious but I managed to pull it together and we won our first Game! I’m 12 now and to this day I still play and enjoy soccer very much.
How did soccer become so popular?Soccer has been voted to be the most popular sport in the whole world! How is it so popular you ask? You see, well over 150 countries play the sport regularly. America, England, Mexico, France and many more! Not only is the sport fun and a preferred by most people, it really does keeps you very active and alert. Over all, most the world loves this sport.
Why is it even called “soccer”? Believe it or not, the British actually came up with the name”soccer”. It was way back in England, 1863 when barely anyone knew what soccer was. A man had heard about it and told all of his friends how to play. They all agreed to get more people and meet up tomorrow for a game. The next day the man established some rules, such as no kicking or punching other and no hands on the ball. They called themselves “The football Associations”. A couple years later another group of men decided to make two versions of soccer. The original version, no kicking or punching. Then their own version, this version with violence. The passive version got the name “Football”. The other version got the name “Soccer”. Eventually the Americans adopted the word and the British kept “Football”. That’s why the sport we know and love today, is called soccer.
Who are the most famous soccer players?As you know many people play soccer across the world. Some players play real games and are professional players. This list includes the top ten most famous soccer players. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, Neymar, Diego Maradona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Gareth Bale, and Wayne Rooney. They are the world’s most famous soccer players.
You see, I have had a passion for soccer for many years. I’ve learned many things about soccer in those years, I hope that I taught you something about soccer. I congratulate you for reading this far, the end.
Why is it even called “soccer”? Believe it or not, the British actually came up with the name”soccer”. It was way back in England, 1863 when barely anyone knew what soccer was. A man had heard about it and told all of his friends how to play. They all agreed to get more people and meet up tomorrow for a game. The next day the man established some rules, such as no kicking or punching other and no hands on the ball. They called themselves “The football Associations”. A couple years later another group of men decided to make two versions of soccer. The original version, no kicking or punching. Then their own version, this version with violence. The passive version got the name “Football”. The other version got the name “Soccer”. Eventually the Americans adopted the word and the British kept “Football”. That’s why the sport we know and love today, is called soccer.
Who are the most famous soccer players?As you know many people play soccer across the world. Some players play real games and are professional players. This list includes the top ten most famous soccer players. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele, Neymar, Diego Maradona, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Gareth Bale, and Wayne Rooney. They are the world’s most famous soccer players.
You see, I have had a passion for soccer for many years. I’ve learned many things about soccer in those years, I hope that I taught you something about soccer. I congratulate you for reading this far, the end.