It's Here!

It's finally time to unveil the new League Life blog! Thank you all for supporting us at League Hound! If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in the new blog let me know!

Here is the link:

http://leaguelife2012.wordpress.com/

New Site In the Works!

Hey guys!

Following in the footsteps of LeagueHound, our blog is also in the process of making some huge changes! I am pleased to announce that we will have a new blog site up and running some time this week. Sorry about the lack of postage today, but I have been working hard on the best site League Life has to offer.

Anything you guys want see? Any topics you'd like to read about? Let me know! I would be more than happy to take any and all suggestions!

Golf

If you are looking for a low-key way to get some sports action in this week, you should try to play a round of golf. I really like this sport because you have to use a lot of discipline and control and really understand the way that you use your body. There are tons of different variations of golf that you could try.

Traditional 18 Hole Course

I think that you have to have either a lot of patience or a great love of the sport for this. Get your friends together and play the whole 18 holes. If you don't have a full set of clubs, there's a good chance that you can rent them at the golf course your playing at. If 18 holes are too many, most courses have the option of only playing 9. Just remember to bring water with you because it can get pretty hot out there on the course.

Mini Golf

This is a great family friendly way to play golf without having to really know how to play the actual sport. Instead of using all of the different methods of moving the ball, you focus mostly on putting which is a lot easier. Mini golf is a lot of fun.

Driving Range

This is my personal favorite way to golf. Whenever I need to let go of some stress, I stop at the driving range by myself and buy a bucket of balls. The purpose of the driving range is to practice your drive (aka your long range shot when you tee off at the start of a hole). You basically get to whack a bunch of balls as hard as you can. Whether you want to practice your technique or just have some fun, it feels really good and it's a great stress reliever.

Frisbee Golf

This is a little different from the traditional game of golf. The rules of the game are the same, but instead of a golf ball, you play with a frisbee. This could be better for you if you are not as good at golf. Sometimes regular golf courses also offer a frisbee golf course, but you can also find them at most local college campus'.

Let us know what your favorite way to play golf is! Never played golf? Give it a try this week. Don't forget to visit our website www.leaguehound.com for leagues in your area. And be on the lookout for a new and improved League Life blog that is on its way!

Three Keys to a Successful and Active Summer

Okay, I know that this post might be a little bit obvious. But with the weather getting warmer, it is always important to remember the three keys to staying healthy this summer. If you follow this blog, you probably lead a pretty active lifestyle. Add the stress of daily life into all of the workouts you do, and it can be easy to forget take care of yourself. If you don't, you can run the risk of serious injury which could be a major setback to your summer fun.

Don't Forget to Stretch!
I am guilty of this one almost every day. No matter what you're doing, whether it's going for a quick jog or playing a game of pickup basketball, you should always stretch before and after. Everyone is always in a huge hurry these days, and it can seem really efficient to cut corners like this. However, in the long run, your body faces the risk of serious injuries such as muscle strains or even ligament tears. What is the best way to get a good stretch in during the day? Yoga. It may seem really girly, but you would be surprised how many professional athletes use this as a way to keep their bodies nice and limber. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed!

Get Enough Sleep!
People with hectic schedules may also find it hard to get enough sleep at night. Doctors say that this is very detrimental to the body. A person who has an active lifestyle should be getting between 7 and 9 uninterrupted hours of sleep. Why uninterrupted? Because your body goes through different cycles while you are asleep. Each of them is important to restoring your body's energy in a different way. If you wake up in the middle of sleeping, the cycle begins all over again. If you have trouble sleeping there are a few ways that you can help yourself to fall asleep. The best way is to get into a routine where  you go to bed and wake up at the same times every day. That way your body knows when it should be sleeping.

Drink Plenty of Water!
This is probably the most important key to success. We can stay alive for a pretty long time without food, but we would never survive more than a week without water. The biggest function of water, is to help remove waste from our bodies. Water helps to cleanse our systems and keep us feeling fresh and ready to go. Without enough water, you can become dehydrated and lose a lot of your energy. You also run a much greater risk for heat stroke. The average adult should consume about eight 8 oz. glasses of water per day. I learned a really helpful tip to keep track of how much water I drink throughout the day from one of my friends. Mark two water bottles with how much water you should have drank by a certain time of day. Here is an example:

No matter what you do this summer, remember to stay healthy and safe! Use these three keys to help you out, and don't forget to visit our website leaguehound.com for some fun leagues to join in your area!

Volleyball

Happy Memorial Day everybody!

Sorry for the late post, but I was spending the day at the East Coast Championship for club volleyball in Pittsburgh. The tournament was three days long, and there was a great turnout with around 250 teams. I used to play in the tournament when I was in high school, but today I went to support my sister and her team, Westmoreland Elite. Volleyball is a great sport to play in an intramural league. In fact, it is one of my all-time favorite sports to play.

Traditional Volleyball

This is the original type of volleyball that is played either inside or outside on a grass or concrete surface. Usually, each team would have six players on the court at once, and the object of the game is to hit the ball over the net so that the other team is unable to return it. The main ways to score points are on the serve and the spike, but there are other ways to play the ball including passing blocking and setting. Volleyball is a non-contact sport, but it is far from low-key. You might find yourself running all over the court diving to make some sweet saves.

Sand Volleyball

This is the same as regular volleyball except that it is usually played with only 2 players on each side of the net. However, this can be changed if you aren't in a really serious league. Playing in the sand is a lot more challenging because it is more difficult to run and jump. When I played volleyball in high school, part of our summer conditioning was playing on a sand court because we got a better workout and it was a lot of fun.

There are two main types of volleyball that I have talked about in the post, but there are all different kinds of ways that you can have a good time without playing the real sport. If it's a hot day out like it was today, get a group of friends together and play in the water to cool off. If you're short handed you can always pepper with just a few friends. What is your favorite way to play volleyball? Let us know! If you are looking for a league to play in check out our website leaguehound.com for one near you! Here are just a few areas offering volleyball leagues:

Cleveland

Syracuse

Queens

Hockey

We are currently in the midst of the semi-finals for the NHL, and I thought that today would be a great time to talk about hockey. Hockey is a very popular sport in the north east, but you don't just have to play it on the ice. There are tons of different ways that you can get involved with the sport.

Ice Hockey

This is the traditional form of hockey played on, you guessed it, the ice. There are six players for each team on the ice at a time, and their aim is to be the team that scores more goals within three periods. A full set of pads is usually required when playing this type of hockey because it can get very physical. The game is a bit harder because you have to be able to skate well but it is a ton of fun!

Street Hockey

Based on ice hockey, this version of the game is played on foot without skates. A puck is rarely used in this form of the sport. Instead, a rubber ball is used. Street hockey is much easier to play, and it is just as much fun as ice hockey.

Field Hockey

Field hockey is a combination of hockey and soccer. It is played on a field that almost resembles a soccer field. There are eleven players on the field from each team at a time, and the purpose is the same as ice hockey. The positions are very similar to soccer but instead of kicking the ball, the players use a stick much like the ones used in ice hockey.

If you are interested in joining a league check out our website, www.leaguehound.com, and see if there are any leagues near you. Here are some of the cities with leagues that you might be interested in:

Albany

Buffalo

Long Island

Manhattan

Cleveland

How to Handle an Upset

First, I just want to say that I am SO sorry about posting this a day late! I had a lot on my plate with track and finals, but I am also glad that I waited because I was able to see the huge upset between the Lakers and the Thunder last night. For those of you who missed it, Oklahoma City won with a score of 119-90 in the first game of the series. Everyone already knew this was going to be a tense game because the last time the two teams played, Ron Artest (otherwise known as "Metta World Peace") knocked out James Hardin with a vicious elbow to the back of the head that left him with a concussion.

There are, however,  a lot of lessons that can be learned from this game. The most important lesson being how to deal with an upset. It's something that a lot of teams face no matter what sport you're playing, and everybody handles the situation differently. Here are some tips on how to deal with an upset with good sportsmanship:

Keep Playing Your Hardest

No matter what happens in the game that you are playing, you should keep playing your hardest. A lot of players tend to give up when things start to go south. They feel as though it is worthless to waste their energy on the rest of the game that they know they are going to lose. This can cause a bad dynamic within the team.You owe it to yourself and your teammates to continue on and hope for that win. 

Don't Abandon Your Team

This is in tandem with the previous tip, but it goes a step further. Some players don't just give up, they completely walk out on their team. World Peace did this at one point during last night's game and I just had to shake my head. When you sign up to be a part of a team, you are a part of that team no matter what and you should always be there for him. I understand that he has anger issues, but he should have just sat himself on the bench and still showed a little support for the team.

Congratulate Your Opponents
This one is a little tricky. We have all been pushed to the point where we do not want to shake hands after a bad loss. But this move really shows maturity and class. It may not be the best feeling in the world, but giving the other team the cold shoulder won't make you feel any better either.

Don't Sweat It

This is the most important piece of advice. I was once on a club volleyball team that had a season of 2-35. My dad would always tell me that "when you look back on these moments as an adult, you will hardly even remember how angry you were after this game." Even if it's an important game like the playoff game between the Lakers and the Thunder, there is nothing else you can do except to get over it and move on to the next game with a fresh start and a new attitude. 

How do you handle a bad loss? What is the biggest upset that you can remember in sports history? Let us know! And don't forget to visit our website www.leaguehound.com!

My Favorite Sports Movies

The weather is looking a little grim today, and all I feel like doing is curling up in my bed and watching movies. If you guys are feeling the same way, here is a list of some of my favorite sports movies.

The Replacements

My absolute favorite football movie! During a pro football strike, the owners of a football team hire substitute players. It is actually based off of the 1987 professional football player's strike.

The Karate Kid

A martial arts master agrees to teach a bullied boy karate and shows him that there is more to the martial art than fighting.

Miracle

This movie is based on the amazing story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. The Olympics took place during the Cold War and Russia was favored to win, but the U.S. weren't going to let them have the gold too easily.

Rocky

This movie is a true underdog story. Nothing gets you more pumped up to get out there and face your toughest opponent like watching Rocky's training montage.

The Sandlot

When Scott Smalls moves to Los Angeles he finds himself with a new group of friends learning all about the game of baseball. This movie will bring back tons of memories of childhood pick-up games!

Remember the Titans

This movie was on T.V. 3 different times in one day last week. The movie follows a high school football team during the time of desegregation in the seventies and their quest to overcome adversity. It is a movie about not letting your differences keep you from playing as a team.

Field of Dreams

A mysterious voice that whispers, 'If you build it, he will come,' inspires a man to reconnect with his deceased father through baseball. A really fun movie.


Hoosiers

Hoosiers is my favorite sports movie out there. It's a true story based on the Milan High School basketball team that went on to win the Indiana State Basketball Championship in 1954.


Watch one or two of these awesome movies this week. Have a movie marathon and watch them all! What's your favorite sports movie? Let us know! And don't forget to visit www.leaguehound.com

The Sport That Started It All

Most of you don't know this, but I am a thrower for the Baldwin-Wallace track and field team. This weekend we competed in our conference championships. The men and women both placed second overall, and I was inspired to write an article on the first sport ever.

Track and field was first enjoyed way back in the day by the ancient Greeks. The first Olympic games were held in 776 B.C., and the only event that was held was a stadium footrace. Track and field evolved into a myriad of different events.

Track and Field Event Types:

Sprinting
Hurdling
Jumping
Throwing
Pole Vaulting
Distance Running
Heptathlon
Decathlon

The greatest thing about track and field is that it is an individual sport. The only thing you have to rely on is your mind and body. The sport allows you to really be in tune with how you use all of the different parts of your body in sync with one another to execute an action.

It's also a great cross-training activity for athletes of other sports. You can work on your strength and conditioning while competing at the same time. Overall, It is a really fun sport to participate in, and it has also been a very important part in the development of our favorite sports today.

Some of the members of the BW Team!

Take some time this week to get to the heart of athletics and go for a run. Maybe even do a sprint workout on a local track. Whatever sports you participate in, try to practice being more in tune with your body the way that track athletes train themselves to be. What is your favorite track and field event? Let us know! And  don't forget to visit our website www.leaguehound.com!

Combat Sports

This weekend, I watched The Fighter with Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg. It inspired me to make this week's post about some of the different options out there that allow us to become fighters. Boxing isn't the only option. There are plenty of other combat sports with great health benefits that are waiting to be tried!

Karate

Karate is a form of combat using kicking, punching, knee/elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques. It can be practiced in many different ways that are beneficial. It is not only considered a sport (many times a contact sport), but it is also considered an art. Both of these aspects are practiced in different ways. The art form of karate is practiced in a less hands-on manner which is nice for those of you who would like a more mellow activity. There are also many levels from beginner to expert, so you won't be instantly thrown into a class with the pros and you can learn at a comfortable pace.

Boxing

Boxing is a combat sport where two people fight using only their fists. If you have seen The Fighter, you would know that this is the style of fighting being done in the movie. The training that they do looks like a lot of fun, too (but also pretty challenging!).

MMA

Mixed Martial Arts is a combination of many different forms of combat. It is full contact and utilizes both striking and grappling techniques. It includes the previous forms of combats and many more including wrestling and jiu-jitsu. This is by far the most challenging and intense form of combat, but it is also a lot of fun.

T'ai Chi

If you are looking for something a little more slow-paced, then you might want to sign up for T'ai Chi. You still get most of the same benefits from the other forms of combat, but it is at an easier pace.


Combat sports are a great way to lose weight and get a full body workout. They can also build your confidence, and you can have a great time doing it. Don't be afraid to try something new! Let us know what your favorite combat sport is. And don't forget to visit our website Leaguehound.com!

Let's Go Fishing!

I don't know how many of you got to take advantage of the weather outside yesterday, but it was perfect! I spent the day outside in sunshine fishing to my heart's content. I know what you might be thinking: fishing is too boring and slow-paced for me. But sometimes we need to take a break from our busy lives to enjoy some peace and quiet and to be one with nature. I always go fishing around the end of the semester to get rid of all of the stress from final exams. What's stressing you out? Maybe a little fishing trip might help relieve some of that stress!

What You Need

You can pretty much use anything to go fishing, from your bare hands to a spear. The most common methods of fishing, however, are angling and netting. Netting is more easily used for the smaller fish like blue gill and crappie. If you are looking for bigger fish, angling is the right method for you.

You'll need:

-A Fishing License

-A Fishing Pole

-Fishing Line

-Hooks

-Bait

There are three main different kinds of bait: artificial, natural, and live. Artificial is the least messy and easiest to use. It's also efficient because it is reusable. Natural bait is the middle of the road between artificial and live bait.  It is usually some type of biodegradable material that can be found with the live bait in stores. Live bait is typically some sort of worm. This is definitely the most gross but also the most effective kind of bait.

Whatever method or bait you use, set aside some time this weekend to head out to the nearest lake or stream. Relieve that stress and have fun at the same time! 

What's your favorite way to fish? Have any good stories about fishing? Let us know at leaguelife19@yahoo.com. Also, visit our website, Leaguehound.com.

Winner of the March Madness Contest!

League Life would like to use today's post to congratulate Michael Gallagher, winner of this year's League Life March Madness Contest! It was a close competition, but Michael came out on top correctly selecting Kansas and Kentucky to make it to the final. He also picked Kentucky for the win. This put him far above the competition with a score of 136 points out of 192. Congratulations, Michael, you win a free Leaguehound t-shirt!

We would also like to thank all of the other competitors for this year. Our first contest was a lot of fun, and we hope to have another one next year with even higher stakes!

Opening Day!

This Thursday is the opening day for baseball season. The forecast is projecting chilly but beautiful weather for most games. Fans everywhere will be flocking to support their favorite teams.

Who is going to be the best this year? The Red Sox and the Yankees should be successful as usual while the Rays and Angels are also looking promising.

It's been said by League Life before: there is nothing better than watching a live game and enjoying a good stadium dog and a beer. Nothing except for actually playing the game! Let's celebrate America's pastime this week by getting out there and having a ball game with friends.

If you're looking for a baseball/softball league in your area visit our site Leaguehound.com

There are leagues being featured in:

Albany, NY

Brooklyn, NY

Buffalo, NY

Rochester, NY

Cleveland, OH

And many others!

What are your thoughts on baseball? Let us know. And don't forget to have fun!

April Showers

Well League Lifers, it's the last week of March. That means that we have some April showers in our future. On a rainy day, it's difficult to play many of the sports that were in our last post. Here are some great rainy day alternatives for some spring fun.

Racquetball

Racquetball is played with two to four people, but you can also play it by yourself. It's very fast-paced but it is a great workout.

Swimming

Swimming laps is a great way to burn a lot of calories. You can swim the classic free style stroke or be adventurous and try some others like the butterfly. If you want to get a group together, you can play games like marco polo or basketball. You could even have a good old fashioned cannonball contest.

Dodgeball

Dodgeball is a great activity to play indoors. You and your friends can make it as intense as you'd like. This is a game where you need a good number of people, but the more the merrier.

Board Games

If you're the kind of person who likes to sit around the house on a rainy day, you can still find ways to have fun. Invite your friends and family over to play some board games. You could go old school with games like Monopoly and Scrabble or you could try some new games like Apples to Apples and Catchphrase. If you don't have any board games, you can always grab a deck of cards and play the classic card games.

Rugby/Soccer

If you still want to get outside when it rains, the best thing to do is to go out and play rugby or soccer. They're great games by themselves, but it's even more fun to play them in the mud. Don't be afraid to get down and dirty and to play a little rough!

Can't Get Enough?
If you are looking for a league in any of the sports mentioned in today's blog post, go to Leaguehound.com and sign up for one in your area!

League Life Has Spring Fever

The weather has been getting warmer recently, and all of us at Leagehound have got spring fever. When it's a beautiful day outside, you can't help but want to get out there and play! Just in case you couldn't think of anything to do, we made a list of some great activities.

Lacrosse

Get a group together to play a game. It's a physical game that is great for getting rid of the stress that's built up from being cooped up all winter. If you don't have enough people or enough room for a game, grab a couple of friends and just toss the ball around for a while.

Sand Volleyball

Whether you are some place where it's warm all year round or some place where it's only warm for half the year, you'd be surprised how easy it is to find a sand court in your area. Playing in the sand is harder on your muscles so it's a great workout. The sand is also a lot softer than a gym floor so it's easier to go hard and dive for those balls.

Frolfing and Ultimate Frisbee

Frisbee sports are becoming increasingly more common these days. Frisbee Golf is a great way to play and take a walk at the same time. You can find courses on college campuses and local parks. Frolf is a great game to play if you want something that isn't too competitive. If you don't want to Frolf but you still like Frisbee, get a group of friends together for a game of Ultimate Frisbee. It's way more intense but it's a lot of fun.

Badminton and Tennis

Another great activity to work up a sweat is tennis. If tennis is too difficult, badminton is a much easier game. It requires little skill and can be played almost anywhere. You can play singles, doubles, or even play by yourself against a wall.

Softball or Baseball

One of the best things about spring is the beginning of baseball/softball season. There's nothing better than enjoying a game with a cold beer and a stadium hot dog. But playing is great too! This is even a great game to play with your family. Get everyone involved!


There are so many different activities you can do to take care of your spring fever. Let us know what activities you think are the best. If you are interested in joining leagues for these or any other sports in your area, check out Leaguehound.com!