Tag Archives: basketball

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection, Uncategorized

SAME TIME, EVERY YEAR: IT’S MARCH MADNESS TIME!

SAME TIME, EVERY YEAR – IT’S MARCH MADNESS TIME! 

All right, you round ball fans!  It’s time to gear up for another few weeks of March Madness!  Beginning on March 18, with 68 men’s basketball teams involved this year, the final NCAA Men’s Championship Game will be April 7th.  The NCAA Women’s Championship Game will be April 8th.  Chances are, many of you already have your brackets resting right beside the remote, ready and willing to keep up with all the games, both girls and boys! 

That gives you just enough time to get your personal protective safety products ready.  If you plan to attend some of the area games, you will need earplugs for sure.  The decibel level gets really loud at those competitions, so be prepared. 

Also, a great show of support is your NCAA team favorite hardhat!  Whether at the game, or wearing it to work, what better way to back your team than by sporting a hardhat with their logo? 

These basketball teams have been chosen to represent their schools because of their accomplishments on the court.  Several other teams were “on the bubble”, and didn’t get picked.  Chances are they will be showcased on the National Invitational Tournament.  They have all represented their schools well.   

The four teams that are lucky enough to make it to the 2014 Men’s and Women’s Final Four are sure to be four of the top teams in the nation. A team has had to win over other excellent teams to even get to this stage of the NCAA Tournament. Making it to the Final Four is a prestigious honor that is only bestowed on the best teams in the country. These teams will feature the best players in the nation, some athletes that will amaze you on the court. Being there in person for this event is the chance to see up to three amazing games in a three-day period.

Safety must be the priority for all players and officials of the games.  Referees must be in good shape in order to keep up with the rapid pace of the game, and also keep things from getting out of hand, in case tempers flare, which sometimes happens.  Trainers are on standby to administer first aid to the players; it takes the combination of all involved to have successful tournaments.

College basketball is one of the most exciting games to witness in person, and catching the women’s game is always a great experience. These female athletes are some of the most impressive players you’ll ever see in any sport, and they often possess better fundamentals than their male counterparts. When you’re there in the stands for a big college basketball game you’ll experience an atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. The games played at the Final Four are about as big as it gets, so the excitement in the atmosphere is more electric than usual. That’s why so many people will be clamoring to gain access to the arena for the chance to see a Final Four contests live and in person. It’s all leading up to the National Championship, the pinnacle of the sport, so you’re going to want to be there to see who comes out on top and gets to trim the net!

Good luck to all the teams, and their fans. May all arrive safely for the games, and get back home safely.  Be proud of these youngsters, many who will be playing professionally before we know it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

BASKETBALL IS A FUN, ROUGH GAME!

Basketball is a fun sport that most kids have probably tried at one time or another.  From “Little Dribblers” on up, it is a great game.  Kids need to understand the rules of basketball and how much fun it can be when all participants follow those rules.  Because it is a contact sport, basketball injuries occur very often.  There’s lots of flailing of arms and throwing elbows while trying to go for rebounds or fending off a competitor.  Kids who want to participate in basketball or any sport usually are aware of the risks involved.  That is why they are taught the fundamentals of the game, and learn to be safe playing on the court with other players.   Those who play in team sports  bond with teammates, and that bond carries on through their school years and many times, beyond.

Strength training is important for preparing for any sport.  For basketball, strengthening the muscles around the knees can be very helpful.  Common injuries in athletes who play basketball are sprained knees, sprained ankles, jammed or broken fingers, broken noses, and poked eyes.  Other possibilities are colliding with other players, walls, or posts, and head concussions.   Players must wear the correct types of basketball shoes, protective mouth guards, and eye and nose gear as needed.  Doctors may prescribe certain bracing be worn by athletes who have experienced injuries of their knees.  (Now that we’ve pointed out a few hazards, let’s talk about some fun things.)

One of the most exciting March activities for college students and basketball fans alike is March Madness!   A total of 65 men’s teams vie for the Men’s Division I NCAA championship.  Women’s Division I NCAA Basketball playoffs feature 64 teams competing to reach the Championships.  At the time of this writing, conference tournaments are being played to see who gets picked to compete in the regional play-offs and later advance to the Road to the Final Four.   This is the culmination of a season of hard-played basketball, with many games won by a margin of one-point.  It’s hard to pick the real winner when both teams are equally skilled, but the team with the top score gets to move on.  

Another exciting tournament held each year is the National Invitational Tournament, which invites teams that did not make the NCAA playoffs to first compete on campus sites, with the semi-final and final game played at Madison Square Garden, in New York City.  This is also an honor to the teams that almost made it to the Big Dance, but maybe missed by only a point or two in play-off games.  Because the NCAA tournament is required to host winners from all Division I conferences, chances are that some of the ones that missed an invitation to that tournament may have had better records.  Also,  pro basketball teams have been competing now for a while, so we will watch as they begin their playoffs, as well.  There’s plenty to enjoy if you are a round-ball fan, before we move on to baseball!

Each year, many talented college players  will be chosen to move on to professional basketball next season.  So, if your “little dribbler” aspires to play like his/her hero when he or she is older, teach him or her, to play safe, play fair, and keep in good physical condition.  Parents can start them off by providing them with healthy diets and teaching good sportsmanship.  Whether they choose to be an athlete, or a scholar, or both, leadership qualities are taught at home, at a young age.