Snorkel and Mask Tips – Recreation
Snorkel and Mask Tips
Jakob Jelling
Before you start your diving activities and using a snorkel for the first time, there are some important tips and notions which you must learn and take into account. When done properly and following some main guidelines, diving and wearing a snorkel can be a great and very enjoyable activity, but if it is done without following the basics problems might arouse and it might end up being a headache rather than gratifying.
Your snorkel and the rest of your diving equipment might be the most important factor which you must pay attention to when you wish to dive. First of all, you should choose a good diving mask, which adapts to your face and fits it properly. With your diving mask, you should also buy a defogging solution which will allow you to avoid having fogging problems while you dive.
The most important aspect to which you must pay attention to when you buy a new diving mask and snorkel is the way it fits your face. The mask you buy must fit you perfectly or otherwise water might enter into it and become a big problem. You should also make sure that your snorkel can be attached to the mask without any problems. If your masks strap is too wide or too narrow for your snorkel to be properly attached to it, you might have to look for another mask.
Besides your mask, the fins you choose are a very important part of your snorkel complementary equipment as well. The fins you choose should fit you and allow you to feel comfortable while wearing them as well as they should adapt to the specific kind of diving activities you will practice. You should make sure that they fit you and adjust to your fit size but without making you loose mobility.
Another very important factor which might have a great impact on the way you practice and enjoy diving is the way you feel while being into the water. In order to be able to enjoy your diving practice you must be able to relax and feel comfortable while using your snorkel as well as while being in the water. This is a must if you wish to start practicing this sport and acquiring new skills and techniques, you can not practice this activity if you feel scared of the water or of using a snorkel.
About The Author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.divepilot.com. Please visit his website to discover the world of diving!
What you should know about Volleyball Safety to make the most of your play time – Recreation
What you should know about Volleyball Safety to make the most of your play time
Rebecca Blain
The fun and excitement of volleyball lures many children and adults into playing the sport. However, in order to have as much fun as possible, volleyball safety is something that you must always keep in mind. There is no fun in a sport if you are injured and cannot play due to something as simple as knowing when or when not to bend your wrist. Your first consideration when preparing to play volleyball, or any sport for that matter, is to make certain you have all of the equipment you need to play safely. Depending on where you are playing volleyball, there are several types of equipment you can purchase that can help prevent injuries. The basic equipment falls under several categories:
Protective Gear
Shoes
Clothing
Miscellaneous Accessories
Protective Gear
The most common type of equipment is the basic protective gear. Pads and palm protectors fall into this category. Pads, such as elbow pads and knee pads are generally used in hard floor based volleyball, such as indoor courts located in schools world wide. All three are also highly suggested in sand based courts, and are considered a vital part of volleyball safety, as they protect the most vulnerable parts of your body. Volleyball pads are used to prevent injury due to impact with the ground from purposeful dives and accidental falls. Palm guards are used to protect your hands and wrist from impact of the volleyball, as well as from falls.
Shoes
The second category of equipment that is vital for volleyball safety is the style and type of shoes worn during game play. Specially designed men and womens volleyball shoes allow for better grip on the court, which prevents sprained ankles and dangerous falls. Without the proper shoes, you put yourself at risk. Nike and Reebok are two companies which specialize in sports shoes.
Clothing
During a volleyball game, wearing the proper style of clothing is the only way you can ensure accidents are prevented. Some styles of clothing, such as high riding shorts, can cause discomfort to the player, which can lead to a lack of concentration and injury. By wearing proper sports jerseys and comfortable low rise shorts, you can enjoy a comfortable game without additional risk of injury.
Miscellaneous Accessories
When selecting your other accessories, you need to always keep your safety in mind. While ear rings and other piercings may be aesthetically pleasing, they do not belong on a volleyball court. Choosing what to wear besides the standard volleyball safety gear is very important. A volleyball to the stomach could cause a great deal of pain and danger should you have a naval piercing, for example. Earrings being ripped from earlobes is another common volleyball injury which is easily prevented. Play it safe. If you do not need the accessory, take it off for the duration of the game. If you play volleyball a great deal, arrange for any piercings to be done and finished healing before or after the season. If you must have volleyball accessories, some good wholesale accessories for volleyball include hair scrunchies, temporary tattoos, and arm bands. Another thing to consider is most, if not all volleyball leagues do not allow temporary tattoos to be worn during matches. Much like glitter, they could be considered a distraction to the competition at hand.
After you have been fully equipped for playing volleyball, there are other things that you need to keep in mind. These are the basic safety rules of volleyball, and should be adhered to at all times.
Body Positions - Setting, Serving, Spiking and Passing
Physical Contact
Body Positions
In volleyball, an important aspect of the sport is the position your body is in, whether you are setting the ball, serving, or spiking. Improper body positions can cause injury to yourself, or potentially others, so you should take great care in assuring that you assume the proper positions.
Setting
When setting the ball, you should always be careful to watch the ball, and be in position several ball lengths before arrival. Facing the target rather than the origin can prevent being hit in the face with the ball. Losing focus on the ball can also result in being unbalanced due to reacting to the ball being where you do not expect it. This can result in injury, as sprained wrists and ankles are a likelihood.
Serving
When performing the serve, you want to make certain your lead foot is opposite from your hitting arm. If your lead and hitting arm are both on the same side, you will be unbalanced, which can result in a wide serve and injury. You must also make certain to hold a firm wrist position when completing the serve.
Spiking
This can be one of the more dangerous aspects of volleyball. When spiking the ball, you will be in motion, and using a heavy, hard action on the wrist and your body. As you are jumping in this move, you run risk of sprained ankles and other foot related injuries. Injuries resulting from falls are also extremely potential in this move. When performing your spike, there are several things you need to remember. First, you should be jumping with both feet. A one foot jump can lead to injury. Also, you should not perform a "tennis" swing. This is where you side-sweep with one arm, while your other arm swings backwards. This is a risk to yourself and your teammates, and should be avoided. Your wrist should also be held back in this position, and snapped forward on the spike. A dead-on hit can jam or sprain your wrist. By keeping these small tips in mind, you should be able to prevent injuries.
Passing
This is the one of the most common moves in volleyball. The pass, or the forearm bump, is performed by holding your hands together and hitting the ball with your forearms. A good pass involves your hands being held together, while your elbows are held straight, and your wrists remain firmly in position. Your body should be positioned towards your target when the pass is completed. If any of these things are not done during the pass, you run a risk of injury to yourself and others. This is where a great deal of wrist injuries occur, as hitting the ball with your hands instead of your forearms can cause sprains or breaks in your wrists.
Physical Contact
In Volleyball, physical contact should be avoided at all times. As this is a no-contact sport, collisions usually result in injuries that prevent you or your teammates from participating in future games. While many sprains only take a week or two to heal, broken ankles and wrists from collisions take far longer and can ruin your season. Always keep in mind where your teammates and opponents are. By doing this, you can save yourself and your comrades a lot of pain and trouble.
At first, all of these volleyball safety tips may be overwhelming. However, without them, you will find yourself out of play due to a painful injury. Persistence in following the basic rules of safety can prevent this and enable you to enjoy the game to its fullest extent.
About The Author
Rebecca Blain is a professional and hobbyist writer who enjoys taking care of her fish and educating people about volleyball equipment which can be read about here:
http://www.everything-volleyball.com
5 Tips for Savvy Use of Your Home Equity Line of Credit – Mortgage
5 Tips for Savvy Use of Your Home Equity Line of Credit
Tim Paul
Tapping your homes equity to pay college expenses, consolidate credit card debt or even to buy a new car or boat is common place. Many economists attribute the additional buying power afforded consumers through home equity debt as a primary reason the nations economy has been able to emerge from the recent recession. Yet, aside from simply allowing consumers to spendmore, the flexibility and efficiency of a home equity line of credit HELOC can provide the financially savvy person with the means to savemoney, make money or simply take advantageof opportune situations he or she might otherwise miss out on. Here are five tips to show you how:
Tip 1: Take Advantage of Higher Insurance Deductibles! You probably know that raising deductibles on auto and homeowners insurance policies can mean big savings on insurance premiums. If you increase the deductible on a homeowners policy from $500 to $1,000, youll cut your premium by as much as 25%! Yet many people dont do this because they fear they may not have the necessary cash available in the event of a loss. With low-interest cash readily available through a home equity line of credit youll have the security and confidence you need to raise your deductibles and reap the savings!
Tip 2: Lock In Big Savings! Credit card companies e.g. the GM card frequently have shopping programs with names like "Main Street Savings" on a 30-day free trial basis. These programs allow you to buy discounted gift cards 20% discount for major national retailers like Target, Sears, and Home Depot. The flexibility afforded by a home equity line of credit can allow you to purchase during the free trial period a large amount of discounted gift cards for major retailers you frequent. Then use these cards instead of cash or credit when you purchase everyday items The cash you would have spent can be used to pay down the HELOC. Although you pay low interest on the home equity credit line, you receive a front-end discount of 20% on everything bought. When combined with store coupons and sales, you can realize total savings of 70% or more! In short, a HELOC provides the low interest cash availability to take advantage of bargains like this that you might otherwise have to pass on.
Tip 3: Take Advantage of 0% Balance Transfer Offers! Weve all seen no-fee credit card offering "0% APR" on balance transfers for 6, 12, and even 18 months. If you have a balance on your HELOC, you may be able to take advantage of these offers. Heres an example of how: last year I accepted such an offer and promptly transferred $10,000 from my home equity credit line balance which had a 4.25% rate. Then I cut up the card! For the next eleven months, I paid the monthly minimum credit card payment 3% of the outstanding balance by writing a check from my home equity line of credit. In the twelfth month, prior to the expiration of the 0% offer, I paid off the remaining balance with another home equity credit line check. During the 12 months, I also made sure to continue my regular payment towards the HELOC at the same level, meaning that more of each went to pay down principal and less went to interest. Net result: interest savings of over $350.00, lower principal balance on my HELOC, and a positive addition to my credit repayment history!
Tip 4: First Pay With a Rewards Credit Card! If youre contemplating using your HELOC for a major purchase, you should consider whether or not the merchant your dealing with accepts credit cards. Why Because it makes a great deal of sense to pay first with a rewards credit card and then pay off the card with your HELOC check. On a recent $14,000 bathroom remodel, I was able to charge plumbing services, cabinets, and almost everything else to my Fidelity/MBNA 529 College Rewards Mastercard. This card pays you back by putting 2% of everything charged into a 529 college savings plan. Result: $280.00 in college savings that would have been missed if I paid the bills directly with home equity credit line checks! Whatever rewards credit card you favor, its sensible to pay first with the card whenever possible. Keep in mind, though, you must promptly pay off the balance and not incur finance charges.
Tip 5: Replace Your 1st Mortgage with a HELOC! According to Money Magazine, if you have more equity than debt and plan to stay in your home for 3 years or less, you should consider replacing your first mortgage with a home equity line of credit. HELOCs are currently available around the country at rates of 4% or lower. Even if rates increase a full percentage point each year, theyll still be low when you pay off the loan. Best of all, there are no closing costs with most HELOCS so you wont have to worry about recouping them through interest savings as you do with a traditional mortgage refinance. A savvy person - using tip 3 in conjunction with tip 5 - might even move a portion of his mortgage to a 0% credit card thanks to the flexibility of a home equity line of credit.
About The Author
Tim Paul has more than 25 years executive financial management experience. His recent area of focus has been to develop and catalog proven strategies for financially savvy persons to get the most from their home equity credit lines. His website is www.sagetips.com.
mail@sagetips.com