FUE Hair Transplant Overseas

Why are hundreds of patients traveling overseas to get their hair restoration procedures? Since hair transplantation is generally not covered by health insurance, there is little incentive to pay top dollars in the US, when a top surgeon in another country offers the same procedure. Medical tourism is a common practice among people in the U.S. and Canada. Most people cannot afford the cost of having the best procedures for hair restoration available today, and certainly the high cost of a hair transplant is not a good indicator for quality. Another very important advantage is anonymity. It is extremely advantageous for certain individuals to go “on vacation” and return home without anyone suspecting they’ve had hair transplant surgery.

No matter what your reason if for traveling, the most important consideration should always be the quality of care you receive. A good experienced FUE surgeon can guide you through all that is needed to have a complete hair restoration.

The best part is the price tag. The total price of an overseas treatment—with airfare, accommodations, and even a few days of vacation tacked on—is often far less than the procedure by itself would cost in the United States. The worldwide demand for plastic surgery rises every year and as more individuals who desire a hair transplant realize they can afford VIP treatment with a top surgeon in another country they're packing their bags and heading to the airport.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair transplantation

FUE hair transplants, or follicular unit extraction procedures are another alternative for hair restoration surgery. With FUE hair transplants, no blades or scalpels are used. Instead, we use a surgical instrument small enough to extract one single follicular unit at a time. The results are the same natural results as a normal strip procedure, but with very little bleeding, no visible scar formation and less recovery time for patients. With FUE, patients can benefit from having no visible scar formation and still have the option of shaving their heads throughout their lifetime.

FUE technique:

With FUE, a0.7 mm cylindrical punch instrument is used to take the follicular unit from the donor area. Then, the follicular units are placed in a special medium solution, and are delicately placed on the recipient area where they grow permanently, following a special pattern and providing density as dense-packing is carefully measured.

Although the follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique is based on a simple principle of obtaining follicular units one at a time, the procedure and the consistency of the results may vary with each doctor. The technique is also very time consuming and requires a high level of skill from the hair restoration surgeon. Please take the precaution to ask for further information on the FUE procedure with each doctor you approach. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is ideal for patients who wish to wear their hair very short or are afraid of surgery.

Advantages of FUE hair transplant

Faster healing time:

Having an FUE procedure has its advantages as it is more comfortable during the healing period, and activities can be resumed in less time. Complete healing from a follicular unit extraction procedure is about 5 to 7 days, compared to two weeks for the traditional hair transplant.

Noscarring:

There is also no visible scarring in the donor area, so patients can feel free to wear their hair short and avoid having a linear scar in the back of their heads.

Easier identification of gray hair follicles:

One advantage of FUE over the traditional strip hair transplant is that it is easier to identify and extract (or avoid extracting) gray hair follicles. With the traditional strip method, the use of a backlight or a special microscope is essential, or gray hair could be damaged during the identification and separation process. With FUE, each follicular unit remains intact during extraction, or FUE can selectively harvest hair that has not gone gray.

Disadvantages of FUE hair transplant

Sessions limited to 2,500 grafts per day:

One of the major disadvantages of FUE procedure is that it is time consuming, and a limited number of follicular units can be harvested in the donor area per session. That is not the case with a normal strip hair transplant where as much as 5,000 grafts can be transplanted per session. For FUE hair transplants, the average amount of grafts extracted in a single day may vary from 800 to 2,500 depending on follicular unit architecture and skin conditions. If more grafts are needed, the use of more than one session is suggested.

Shaving:

For a session larger than 1,000 grafts, having the donor area shaved is a requirement. Since FUE technique requires that the surgeon view the follicular unit groupings as they extract them, it is necessary for the patient to shave the sides and back of their head.

The content of this article was provided by Dr. Luis Nader, Medical Director of Nader Medical, hair transplant clinic. Dr. Nader’s experience with FUE has placed him as one of the top leading FUE hair transplant surgeons worldwide. He is also member of several hair restoration organizations such as the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons, and the European Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. His clinic in Mexico is exclusively dedicated to hair transplantation, being FUE procedures an important part of his practice.

Getting the Most Out of Your Used Vehicle

In today's economy, getting the most out of your vehicle is more important than ever! Even if the economy were better, you should still get the most out of your car. Before you blindly give away your used automobile, learn about how you can get the most out of your vehicle. Why should you settle for less, when you can have more?

Look Online and at the Local Classified Ads

Did you know that scrap car buyers are typically purchasing junk cars to sell certain automobile parts to metal companies or to use on other cars? The quickest and easiest way rid yourself of your old car is to search online for people who buy scrap cars. You can also check out the local classified ads for people who purchase junk cars.

Provide Proof of Ownership

Before you begin the process, make sure that you have the proof of ownership. If you do not own the car and cannot prove that you own it, then you will be incapable of legally selling it.

Classic and Used Autos in Good Condition Can Go for Thousands

If you have a classic or used auto that is in good condition, meaning that it runs efficiently, then you can receive thousands of dollars for it. The exact amount the company will pay you depends on the mileage, how well the car operates, and how much work the car needs. Obviously, the lower the mileage, the higher the value. Likewise, the less work the car needs, the more the vehicle is worth. If the automobile is in good condition, then the company will usually resell it or auction it off. In particular, classic cars are in high demand.

Free Estimate

If you would like to know about how much your automobile is worth, then you can contact most scrap car companies for a free estimate.

In conclusion, getting the most out of your vehicle isn't a difficult task at all. As long as you can provide proof of ownership, you shouldn't have any trouble. You don't even have to leave the comfort of your home to receive a free estimate of how much your automobile is worth. A simple phone call to Cash for Cars companies can provide you with that information. If you are willing to sell your car for the estimate, then you can have them look at your car to provide you with the exact amount. It's a good idea, however, not to settle on the buyer right out of the starting gate. As with anything, different buyers of junk or scrap cars will make different offers. Therefore, it's probably a good idea to get price quotes from at least two or three buyers before you make a final decision on whom to sell your car to.

Sound Proof Windows a.k.a Stress Proof Life

Noise is termed ‘pollution’ for a reason. Continuous noise causes distractions and stress resulting in an assortment of mental and health disorders. This sounds complicated doesn’t it? Well, precisely, it means noise is ‘trouble’. Definitions and descriptions of the term ‘noise’ vary because what it means to one does not mean the same to the other. Ok, here is an example, as an adult you might be annoyed and irritated by a blaring TV but, it will have zero effect on your kid who is watching it.

Like I said, noise as a pollution differs from people to people, for those of you staying in the industrial area, constants sounds of the machines, or the trucks driving constitute a noise. Whereas; for those staying in a busy city the noises of non-stop bustling activities of life could by itself be annoying. Worst of all, people who have moved to lead a serene life in the suburbs could face a different kind of noise pollution like a noisy neighbor, nonstop barking dogs, lawn movers, construction of new houses, screams of energetic kids or your very own children blasting the rock music making it difficult to even have an adult conversation without raising your voice. Do you realize you are also a noisy neighbor? As luck would have it, YES; you are.

Studies show that noise related stress has proved to cause very poor cognitive growth and delayed language skill developments in children and there are also incidents of hearing impairment and irreparable concentration issues. Adults with stress due to noise have an increased secretion of stress hormones which results in high BP, cardio vascular problems and even stroke. The impact of noise on health is significantly a big problem that cannot be ignored but, it could be BLOCKED.

So, how do you block? You cannot generalize and block away every sound, sound is a necessary evil. What you can do is block the sound when you don’t need it. Say, you want your child to study in a peaceful and calm room, all you have to do is sound proof windows and block out unwanted noise. You want to sleep peacefully in the night without the constant sounds of airplanes or trains passing by? Again the solution is to sound proof windows in your room. Want to entertain your guest without the annoying sounds of your neighbors? Soundproof your living room. As a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure your child does not have to go through unwanted mental and physical stress for a problem that has a simple solution.

The source of noise does not mean a thing because; A1 Sound proof services provide nothing less than 99% noise block. You can create your own asylum of peace in your house by soundproofing your windows using the A1 Sound proof services. They provide top notch sound proofing services with genuine Citiquite products.

Check out Outside Noise Reduction today online at a1soundproof.com!       

Ideas of Fancy Dress Beginning with P

Have you got a party to attend, and the requirement is fancy dress beginning with P? Fortunately, The Fancy Dress Factory have a substantial collection of costumes and accessories for men, women, and children alike!


Below, we’ll give you some ideas and tips for those P costumes you might have missed!


Charming Prince Fancy Dress Costume

The charming prince costume is an outstanding outfit that will always make you look at your best! Coming in one size at a 44” chest, the item includes the Jacket, Trousers, and Sash.

Airline Pilot Fancy Dress Costume

The stunning, sophisticated Pilot Captains costume will give that sleek, professional look you’re looking for. It includes the Jacket, Trousers, Tie, and Hat.


Pirate Wench Fancy Dress Costume

An absolute classic, the pirate costume. Give yourself the classic wench look on your night out with this fantastic costume!


Princess Fancy Dress Costume

Be a princess for the night in this deluxe Princess Costume in pink. The item includes the costume as shown, and a tiara and necklace can be bought separately to complete the look. Make it a special night.

Other Ideas?


If you’re still struggling to find the perfect look, how about considering one of the following.


Police Fancy Dress Costumes
Pimp Fancy Dress Costumes
Priest Fancy Dress Costumes

Well, there’s a few ideas to get you started! We hope this has helped you in your quest to choose the perfect outfit and accessories for the occasion!
Thinking Fancy Dress? Think The Fancy Dress Factory

Ideas of Fancy Dress Beginning with A

Have you got a party to attend, and the requirement is fancy dress beginning with A? Fortunately, The Fancy Dress Factory have a substantial collection of costumes and accessories for men, women, and children alike!


Below, we’ll give you some ideas and tips for those P costumes you might have missed!


Army WW2 General Fancy Dress Costume

Give yourself the Military look with this World War 2 Army General Costume, it’s fantastic! The costume comes in one size fitting a 44” chest and comprises the Shirt, Tie, Trousers and Hat. I salute you sir!

Captain America Fancy Dress Costume

Wanting the Superhero look? Well, here it is, this Deluxe Captain America fancy dress costume will make a real impact with it’s vivid colours and bold demeanour! The costume comes in one piece as a blue, white and red combination with padded chest, deltoids, abdomen, and triceps. It also included the headpiece to complete the look.


Angel Fancy Dress Costume

Go for the Sexy Angel look with this delightful costume in white. The costume comes in a size UK 10-14 (Euro 38-44) and is simply stunning!


Wicked Alice Fancy Dress Costume

Looking for the more evil Halloween look? Well, the Wicked Alice costume will have the desired effect. This one piece dress in blue and white complete with bloodstains will have any fellow party goer trembling with fear!

Other Ideas?


If you’re still struggling to find the perfect look, how about considering one of the following.



Alien Fancy Dress Costumes
Air Hostess Fancy Dress Costumes

Well, there’s a few ideas to get you started! We hope this has helped you in your quest to choose the perfect outfit and accessories for the occasion!


Thinking Fancy Dress? Think The Fancy Dress Factory

Staff Retention Strategies for Small Businesses

In today’s competitive world, staff retention is one of the key challenges faced by small businesses. Finding talented and competent employees is one thing; making them stick around over long periods of time is another matter. Moreover, in the long run, high employee turnover will cost you in time and productivity. In this article we’ll tell you how to retain employees by applying some very effective staff retention strategies.

10 Strategies for Retention of Employees

1)    Offer Lucrative Fringe Benefits Packages

Perhaps the most important strategy for staff retention is offering lucrative fringe benefits packages to your employees. These may include life insurance, health insurance, retirement plan, new office furniture, use of company car, extra vacation time, etc.

2)    Offer Other Small Perks

Certain other perks like flexible working hours, the ability to work from home or the car, longer lunch breaks, etc., may further aid in keeping your staff happy and motivated. Perks like these may appear small, but they can work wonders when it comes to retention of employees.

3)    Implement an Open Door Policy

Implementing an open door policy can go a long way in practically showing your employees that what they have to say is indeed important. Be they workplace complaints and concerns or constructive suggestions for the improvement of the company, your employees should feel free to share them with the management of your company.

4)    Make Use of Employee Contests and Competitions

You can use various sorts of employee contests and competitions to motivate your employees. For instance, you can hold an “Employee of the Month Contest” every month. Such contests and competitions are not only a cost-effective strategy for keeping your employees focused and excited about their jobs, but they also play a significant role in employee retention by making your employees feel that their services are being recognized.

5)    Provide Growth Opportunities With Internal Promotions

Internal promotions are a great way of giving your employees an opportunity to move ahead in their careers.  One of the most common reasons for employees leaving jobs they have had for long periods of time is dissatisfaction with their current jobs regarding growth opportunities. That’s because not having a clear path of advancement frustrates employees as they do not see a clear future for themselves. So you can retain employees by promoting from within whenever possible.

6)    Provide Professional Development Opportunities

Providing professional development opportunities to your employees not only enhances their productivity and competency, but also helps in retention of employees by developing feelings of loyalty and profound gratitude toward your company. A good example of such opportunities is financial assistance by the employer in furthering an employee’s education.

7)    Offer Occasional Monetary Rewards

Try to offer occasional monetary rewards to your employees. Nothing boosts the morale of your employees more than a nice fat bonus. It’s not necessary that such bonuses be very frequent, but try to be as accommodating as possible, as such rewards are an investment in the future of your business. In addition to bonuses for all employees like Christmas Bonus, try to give special bonuses to top performers, that is, if your business can afford such extra bonuses. You can regulate such special bonuses by creating a bonus structure where employees receive an annual bonus for meeting certain performance goals.

8)    Get Your Supervisors and Managers Involved

Try to get the supervisors and managers in your firm or company actively involved in the coaching of your employees. Doing so will not only increase the productivity of your employees, but also help them get trained in order to move to higher positions. All this plays a pivotal role in the staff retention process.

9)    Give Employees as Much Autonomy as Possible

Giving your employees sufficient autonomy can be a great source of motivation for them. Once your employees are adequately trained, give them the freedom to perform on their own. Sometimes, some of them will fail, but trial and error is an inevitable part of any learning process. Employees learn as much from failure as from training. The more you leave your employees to perform on their own, the greater will be your staff retention.

10)    Hire an HR Professional

If possible, and if your business can afford, hire an HR Professional to manage employee benefits, perks, reviews and other employee related tasks. HR Professionals handle all employee related matters in an absolutely professional way, ensuring that all employees are treated fairly. This prevents feelings of injustice and unfair treatment from developing amongst your employees. On the other hand, HR Professionals can also come up with new and innovative ideas for your company’s employee retention program. In a few words, a good HR professional is a great investment in the staff retention process of your business. 

For More Info Visit:  Business Coaching  (glimmermc.com.au)

The Best Keylogger for Windows 7, Vista, XP Support

Keyloggers are frequently misused by most people. Similar to other advancement in technology, they must be used for a good reason, however most others appear to automatically figure out how to misuse it. Because of selfishness, people can at times tweak what others have made and then use these items to further their own benefits. It's bad with keylogging as these are readily available on-line. Everyone can pick and choose it up; setup it on an individual's computer, then walk away with the collected information.

By introduction of new operating systems in the market, all employer and technician has been finding the appropriate tools that may be used as they improve their systems to take advantage of the new capabilities provided by the said Operating System. All along with the searches, obviously, is the search for the best keylogger for Windows 7 or Windows Vista. Employers and parents need this to make sure that they can still watch the activities of those who access their system. It’s not as simple though as going to a neighbor and asking for the best keylogger for Windows 7.

There are plenty of keyloggers in the market today, and few of them are already advertised as the best keylogger for Windows 7. Nothing has been confirmed at this point as people are still in the process of getting familiar with the system, and with the new additions that the company has done to its product, the modern keyloggers are not as silent and not as untraceable as they are supposed and advertised to be. This is a good thing for all users though, as they can sleep soundly at night knowing that their information is safe. Thing do change though, and even though the best keylogger for Windows 7 or Vista may not yet exist, it would be already a good thought to invest in software that hunts down and destroys keyloggers and similar programs.

There is one Keylogger program which is best for Window 7, Vista i.e. LightLogger Keylogger – it’s a versatile monitoring software that secretly records all activities on your PC.

LightLogger is "light" yet full-featured monitoring software:

ü  Great for Concerned Parents - See Heavenward’s  articles on using LightLogger to protect your child from the dangers of the internet.

ü  Stealth Mode - Use stealth Mode to hide LightLogger from all but the most sophisticated users.

ü  Keystroke Monitoring - Record keystrokes typed in any PC or web application.

ü  Application Monitoring - Record all applications opened on your PC.

ü  Website Monitoring - Track websites (including URLs) visited.

ü  Multi-language support - Set LightLogger’s display to use any of six languages, English, Italian, French, Deutsch, Spanish, or Portuguese.

ü  Screen Captures - Configure LightLogger to make and save screen captures at intervals you select.

ü  Windows 7, Vista, XP Support - LightLogger works on three popular Windows operating systems.

Protect Your Children with LightLogger Keylogger and Parental Control

As most of parents are too busy to monitor their children on a regular basis, specifically when it comes to how they use computer and the Internet, parents can now use a Lightlogger keylogger tool for their children. This software serves as a parental control program as it can keep track of what is happening on your computer and record the list of websites visited by any user of the machine where it is installed. It can also provide log files of chat sessions, viewed applications or programs and screenshots of websites including date and time.

Almost parents want to trust their children in using computer and surfing the Internet, predators abound. At this point, it becomes easier for them to get quite into a fall sense of security by these criminals. Everyone takes for them is to come in a chat room and to have anybody approach and chat with them. Before long, the conversation will turn more adult and fraudulent.

LightLogger Keylogger tool can give you all information you require to keep your children and your loved ones safe from these predators. This tool can assist you block your children access to websites that you think unsuitable for them to visit.

LightLogger keylogger software functions runs hidden in the background. It means users will not know that it is installed and actively running on their machines. Besides that, parental control programs are now available.

This kind of software is a useful tool in supervising your children Internet activities. At the same time, you can also effortlessly block unwanted content while your kids are using the computer.

For adult users, this program will also be helpful. It is recommended to keep away from adult websites or those with objectionable material due to its content and possible malware programs which can automatically download and install itself into the computers of unsuspecting users. Among these harmful applications include spyware programs, viruses and the like.

With the monitoring section of the software comes an integral security risk of sensitive information which could fall into the wrong hands. If you use parental control software, you need to be practical, especially with the privacy of your kids, particularly if you install it into a computer shared by other members of your family.

Parents ought not to forget to disable it when doing shopping or banking online. This is because monetary and confidential data will be stored and logged. This may be accessed and stolen by hackers or anyone with access to the machine.

Just install a keylogger application as well as parental control software to defend your children or family. Constantly take into account that protecting your children or family should be your top most priority.

Get more information about LightLogger Keylogger spy software and all the helpful benefits and features provided by the parental control applications. 

Weight Loss Tips

Did you know that 66% of Americans, age 20 and up, are currently overweight or obese? Those health classes that we are required to take in high school don't seem too effective, do they? In order to lose weight and maintain a healthy body, a positive approach and high motivation are necessary. Before you even embark on a weight loss attempt, make sure that you have a positive mindset and will remain dedicated to it. With that accomplished, these weight loss tips will help you shed off those unhealthy pounds.

Walk


Some doctors argue that walking is the best exercise for weight loss. In fact, any form of aerobic exercise is great for losing weight. If you do not want to walk, you can consider swimming, jogging, or some other aerobic exercise. It does not matter which one you choose, because all forms of aerobic exercise will help you lose weight. What truly matters is what you enjoy doing. You can even switch things up if you get bored of sticking to one exercise. Aerobic workouts aid in the total circulation of blood throughout your body. This is why they help people feel so much better.

Exercises


In addition to walking, you should also include other physical exercises. You do not have to do anything strenuous, but doing other exercises will help you shed the fat and sculpt your muscles the way you want. You can have that firm, lean body you have always dreamed of. You can have that six pack that you envy on other men. You can have a flat stomach. Naturally, merely walking will not give you a firm, lean body or six pack. You may even have to do some situps in order to get that flat stomach along with your walking. Just as everyone gains weight in different ways, everybody also loses weight in differing ways. Keep that in mind as you work towards your dream body.

Gather Support


It is easier for an individual to stay motivated, when he is in a group sharing a similar goal or has a lot of support. Consider joining a weight loss program or even working on losing weight with a friend. This will not only make the process much more fun, it will also keep your strive enforced. It is loss of motivation that causes people to fail in a weight loss attempt.

If possible, you should also gather all of the support you can get from family and friends. Allow them to help you maintain motivation for losing weight.

Diet


Never starve yourself or go on a harmful diet. You need to eat to live, and you need to eat to lose weight. You just have to eat the right foods. A little research can inform you about so-called healthy foods that are actually bad for you and foods you may think are fattening, but actually help you lose weight. Who said improving your diet had to be a painful ordeal? You can still eat delicious foods and lose weight. Just always keep in mind you should do things in moderation.

In conclusion, positive mindsets, high motivation, walking, exercising, gathering support, and maintaining a healthy diet are the keys to weight loss. Never let yourself feel discouraged or harm yourself. Working towards the body of your dreams will be a challenging, but rewarding experience.
101 Weight Loss - Visit for quick, easy, safe & Safe Weight Loss tips. Articles on diets, pills, plans, programs and more.

White Kidney Bean Extract Can Help You Lose Fat

You might be wondering how White Kidney Bean Extract Can Help You Lose Fat. It is proven that the compound actually works in two ways to help with fat burning. Not only can it actually increase your body's metabolism and burn stored fat but it blocks starches from breaking down into glucose which is proven to be stored in the body as fat when there is too much of it for the cells to use.

It is well known that bodybuilders want to increase muscle tissue mass.  It is perhaps less known that they also need to reduce the percentage of fat on their bodies within healthy limits. The reason for this is that because thinner layers of fat in the skin reveals more muscle definition and it is the muscle definition that they are seeking in the first place. Of all the fat burning supplements on the market today for lowering fat in the body the most promising is white kidney bean extract, or Phaseolus vulgaris.

Phaseolus vulgaris is one of those plants that is a ancient food source. It has been cultivated around the globe by a number of societies for thousands of years. What science did not realize is that there are compounds in this plant that can help with weight loss. Now there is an extract that concentrates this compound to make the properties of the plant even stronger. As mentioned before White Bean extract many be lipogenic, according to several studies. In other words, the extract causes fat loss. This effect may be stronger then the widely used ephedra but without the negative impact on health as ephedra tends to be blamed for. White Bean extract therefor has some beneficial fat burning properties. It also has another bonus.

White Bean extract also increases fat loss because it blocks the enzyme alpha amylase.  This enzyme is the metabolic reason that simple carbohydrates are quickly turned into glucose, or blood sugar.  When glucose is present and cannot be used right away the body tends to store it in the form of – you guessed it – fat.  When you take White kidney bean extract before your meals you can block as much as a third of the starch that would be rapidly converted over into simple blood sugar.  This blocked and undigested starch is then passed through the body like fiber. Because you are digesting fewer carbohydrates you are more likely to burn extra stored body fat then you are to gain weight.

One word of caution, while taking white kidney bean extract will not hurt your workouts, you will want to pay attention to how you react to it and adjust the amount to the right level. Feeling overly hungry or craving carbs, or dropping too much weight should signal that you need to reduce the amount of the extract you are taking. Remember that White bean extract works best when you are watching your diet, eating good foods in healthy moderation, and maintaining a healthy exercise program.

Weight Management for Sensible Weight Loss

If you are trying to lose weight, then the most important thing that you need to do is to focus on your goals. This is without doubt the most important thing, as you will need to adopt a life style of weight loss if you want to lose weight and keep it off. This is important, as many people who diet or lose weight will end up gaining the weight right back, if they do not adopt certain principles that will allow them to live a lean and weight free lifestyle.

In essence, there are several thinks that you need to do for successful weight management. The first thing that you have to do is set a realistic goal for yourself and then stick with the plan that you have adopted for yourself. Don’t forget that it is not easy to lose weight and it requires work on your part. In principle, there are two things that you need to do to lose weight. One thing that you need to do is to reduce the calories that you are in taking every day. The second thing that you need to do is to burn the extra calories and the extra fat that you have accumulated over time.  This is of course done by exercise, the more exercise that you do, more weight that you will lose.

In weight management, you have to try to eat sensibly. This means that never go with huge portions of food. Eat in smaller amounts and try to keep it under control. Don’t forget the fact that you are eating to sustain your body for energy and no more. If you will eat with this principle in mind, then you will be able to keep focused on your goals.

Another thing that you have to watch for in weight management is eating the low fat foods instead of their regular counterparts. This means that you will have to eat low fat cheese and low fat dairy products along with lean meats instead of fatty meats. In addition, you should get used to the idea of drinking skim milk instead of full fat milk, if you want to be successful. Always read the labels and try to lower your calorie intake by watching and counting the calories that you eat.

One thing that you have to watch out for is emotional eating. Many times as reaction to stress, people will eat too much food and thus take more calories than they can burn. Obviously, this is something that you want to avoid and you should take the precautions to overcome this. Also, don’t skip breakfast as this will cause you to lose your sense of perspective in the day. People who are successful in losing weight are those people who control their eating with a regular breakfast everyday. Of course, you should not over do it, but you should eat a healthy full breakfast every morning.

If you focus on your weight loss goals, you will win. However, you will need to stay on your weight loss plan and adopt the weight loss principles for success. Then you can be sure to lose weight and keep it off for a long time.

Canoeing

Native North ans South American Indians are believed to have been the originators of the canoes we recognise today. They were built from hollow-out tree trunks or were constructed from birchbark. The inuit people of North America and Greenland created their own from of canoe: the sealskin vessels they called kayaks. Aa a competitive sport canoeing was invented by the Scotsman John MacGregor, who in 1866 founded the Canoe Club at Richmond, Surrey.

Rules and Description

Competitive canoeing is divided into two types, depending largely upon the paddle and craft used. “Kayaking” has a paddle with a blade on each end and the kayaker sits in the boat, paddling on alternate sides of the craft. The kayak is a closed decked craft. In “Canadian canoeing” the paddler has just one blade and adopts a half-kneeing position in the canoe, switching the paddle from side to side. The Canadian canoe is an open-decked craft.

In flatwater contests canoeists and kayakers race in lanes over a set distance generally 500m 0r 1,000m were competed over. Flatwater contests are also known as “sprints”, irrespective of the distance. Whitewater or slalom events are held over rivers (natural or man-made) with a series of rapids, currents and sddies. Competitors have to negotiate a series of 18 to 25 gates on a 250-400m course, heading downstream and reversing direction to go upstream. They are timed over the length of the course and can incur penalty points for missing gates or touching gate poles.

Competitor Profile

Competitive canoeists tend to develop a very high level of physical flexibility, strength, and stamina, as the repetitions involved in the aerobic activity of paddling make use of all the muscles in the upper body-abdominals, arms, shoulders, back, and chest – as well as those in the leg.

Speed and Safety

Racing or sprint canoes are long and narrow to facilitate speeds. Slalom canoes are shorter and are fitted with a spraydeck – a waterproof apron worn around the canoeist that stretches over the rim of the canoe cockpit to prevent water from entering the boat.

Protective helmet – A lightweight yet tough and rigid outer shell covers an inner foam lining to provide maximum protection and comfort.

Paddle top – A fully waterproof cagoule, which allows the canoeist complete freedom of movement, is made from a specialist lightweight rubber material.

Flexible spraydeck – The cagoule is combined with a rubber spraydeck that stretches over the canoe cockpit to form a waterlight seal.

Buoyancy vest – To help a canoeist remain afloat in case of a capsize, a foam-filled vest is a useful piece of safety kit, particularly on fast-flowing wartercourses, such as white-water rivers.

Lightweight paddle – Many modern canoe paddles consist of a durable polypropylene blade mounted on an aluminium shaft.

Tough Hull – Canoe hulls, which need to be lightweight yet impact resistant, are constructed from materials such as fibreglass, Kevlar, polythylene plastic, or ultralight carbon fibre.

Boxing

Boxing is a sport of great skill and physical toughness. Two combatants endeavour to punch one another to score points from the judges or referee, while avoiding being hit themselves. Almost all area of the head and body above the waist are designated scoring areas. Contests are won on points or by knockout. There is a major disparity between the amateur and professional ranks in boxing. Leading professional fighters are among the biggest earners in the world.

Fighter profile

Boxers require upper body strength particulary a strong punch – and a high resilience to being hit (a “good chin”). Boxing is a really tough aerobic workout so fighters need to display a fanatical training ethic and great stamina. Speed agility, and quick reflexes are beneficial, particulary for those fighting at lower weight levels.

Need2Know

Modern boxing was first codified in 1867 by a set of 12 rules written by John Graham Chambers and endorsed by the 9th Marquis of Queensberry.

Amateur boxing differs in various ways from the professional arm of the sport.

The Ring

The name Boxing “ring” is an atavism that dates from when contests were fought in a roughly drawn circle on the ground. A modern boxing ring is set on a raised platform. It is square, with posts at each corner to which four parallel rows of ropes are attached with turnbuckle. Each side of a standard ring is 4.88-7.32 (16-25ft) between the ropes, with another 60cm (2ft) outside known as the apron. The platform is 90-120cm (3-4ft) from the ground with posts rising around 1.5m (5ft).

Fighting Gear

Boxers wear shorts, boxing shoes, and padded gloves which come in two sizes – 227g (8oz) and 283 (10oz) depending on the weight of the boxer. Mouth guards are compulsory and groin guards optional in professional boxing. In amateur bouts fighters additionally wear headguards and vests and have larger, softer gloves. This is the only equipment fighters wear and use in the ring, but in training boxers additionally use free weights, punchbags, skipping ropes, speed balls, and other items to hone themselves into fighting shape.

Groin Guard

Protects fighters, groins from injuries resulting from illegal low blows.

Mouth Guards

Plastic gumshields guard the top teeth from being knocked out.

Gloves

Gloves are specially padded to protect only the wearer.

Head Guard

Worn for amateur contests and professional sparring only, they offer protection but limit peripheral vision.
Ring Craft

Basic boxing training centres around physical fitness, speed of movement, and throwing jabs, and footwork. Good punches can only be thrown from a solid base. The techniques of throwing different punches is taught later. Top boxers work with their trainers for weeks at a time leading up to chamionship fights working on their overall conditioning and on a fighting style tailored to their upcoming opponent. They will practice key punches and spar with fighters of a similar build and fighting style to their opponent in an attempt to gain some advantage.

Lawn Bowling

It is believed that bowls developed from a game played by the Egyptians with skittles with round stones. Variants of the game are now played around the world, eg in Italy 9bocce), Denmark (bolle), France (boules: and Polynesia (ulamiaka). The oldest bowls green still in use is in Southampton, England, records showing that bowls have been played there since AD 1299. Henry VII was a keen bowler but thought it should only be played by the nobility, banning Bowyers, Fletchers, Stringers and Arrowhead makers from taking part as they were being distracted from their traders, and imposing a fee of 100 pounds for anyone who wanted to keep a private green. Bowls was introduced into North America in the early 17th century (George Washington is believed to have been a keen player). The game spread throughout the British Empire, with reports of it first being played in Canada (Nova Scotia) in 1730, Australia 9Tasmania) in 1844, and New Zealand in 1860.

Rules and Description

Outdoor or “lawn” bowls is played in 44 countries worldwide on a flat lawn or “green” surrounded by a shollow ditch, enclosed by a low bank and divided into strips known as “rinks” on which each game takes place. Games are contested between individuals, or teams of two, three or four. Bowls (which are flattened on one side to give them a bias) are delivered alternately and rolled towards a small white target ball (the jack), the aim being to place as many of your bowls as possible closer to the jack than your opponents nearest bowl, one point counting for each. Each set of deliveries is called an “end”. Singles is normally played to 21 shots, or to a sets format, with pairs and fours games being the best of 21 ends, and triples the best of 18. After each end, players play in the reverse direction, back up the rink. Bowlers must have one foot on or over a small mat when delivering the bowl. Similar rules apply for indoor bowls, although competitions are usually played on a piece of carpet with a single rink.

Crown green bowls is played predominantly in northern England on a square green, larger than that used for lawn bowls and with a raised “crown” at the centre. Each player (the usual game is singles) bowl closer to the jack than his opponents nearest bowl. Players start each new end from the position of the jack of the previous end. Games are usually played to 21 points.

Player Profile

Lawn bowling is an easy game to learn and is played by just about anyone – men and women, old and young,. The best bowlers have great hand-eye coordination and are very strategic thinkers.

The Bowls

Although bowls were traditionally made of wood or rubber, or a composite, modern bowls are made of lignite. They are designed to travel a curved path, referred to as their bias, produced by the asymmetrical shape of the bowl. The jack is perfectly spherical and usually coloured white.

The Green

Bowls is usually played on a manicured grass or synthetic surface known as bowling green, which is divided into parallel playing strips known as rinks. An indoor variation on carpet is also played. Outdoor greens have a uniform length, but may be of varying widths, depending on the number of rinks Indoor greens are usually smaller, their dimensions being set by organizers.

Equipment and Protection

Formal flourish – Although a players attire is not a significant part of the game, in competitions men will usually wear white clothes and a tie.

Rubber mat – Bowlers must stand with at least one foot on the rubber mat in the centre of their rink

Basketball

A Canadian, James Naismith (1861-1939), is regarded as being the originator of basketball, although a similar game is believed to have been played in Mexico in the 10th century. Naismith invented the game in 1891 at the YMCA college in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, using peach baskets on a gym wall. The game was originally designed merely to bridge the gap between the baseball and American football seasons, but it soon became popular in its own right.

Rules and Description

Five-a-side team ball game played on a hard – surface court with a bottomless basket at each end. The object is to move the ball by a series of passing and bouncing moves and throw it through the opponents basket. If the shot is not attempted within a prescribed time (24 seconds in the NBA), possession is awarded to the other team. Throwing the ball through the basket from open play scores a “field goal” worth two or three points depending on the distance of the shot. Fouls may be penalized by a series of “free throws” at the basket for one point each.

Playing the Game

Following the tip off which starts the match, each team simply aim to score more points that the other via offense and defense. Offense is generated via passing and dribbling (continually bouncing the ball while moving) and when a player feels they are in a position to score they shoot. Basketball is truly an “end – to – end” sport with numerous baskets scored during the course of the game. Often the winning side will have accumulated more than 100 points.

Out of Bounds

The ball is out of bounds when it touches the floor, or any object on, above, or outside of a boundry, or the backboard supports. When the ball goes out of play the clock is stopped. The ball is put back into play by the team that did not touch it last when it went out of bounds. A player has five seconds to put the ball in play after the referee signals the restart.

The Basket – James Naismiths first basket was an improvised peach basket which retained the ball. The modern basket is a metal rimmed hoop (measuring 50cm (18in) across) fixed to a backboard.

The Hoop – Strong enough to withstand players hanging from it during dunking.

Netting – Gathers the ball into a consistant drop for easy restarting of the game.

Backboard – Made of clear material to afford spectators seated behind the baskets a clear view of the action.
Baskets, Possession, and Rebounds – If a player is successful in shooting a basket, the team is awarded two or three points depending on the distance from the basket. The game restarts with the opposing team in possession on the baseline underneath their own basket. If a shot is unsuccessful, and it bounces off the rim or the backboard, players compete for the rebound. If the attacking team picks up a rebound they can prepare for another shot, if it is the defending team they attempt to move the ball to the other end of the court to score. Having a centre who is particularly adept at picking up rebounds on defense is a huge advantage as it inibits the opposing teams offense. Wilt Chamerlain, who played NBA in the 1960s, is arguably the greatest rebounder of all-time.

The Referee – He stands clear of the players after throwing the ball skyward.

Size Matters – Overall height and the ability to leap vertically from a standing position, are useful attributes at the tip off.

Fair Play – Players must not impede one another when jumping for the ball.

The Ball

The basketball has come a long way since the style first used in the late 19th century. That ball was heavy, with prominet sticthing, and an inconsistant bounce. Todays basketball is made from eight finely stitched pieces of leather filled with air. The mens ball has a radius of 19.3cm and a circumference of 76cm and weighs 600-650g (21-23oz).

Laws of the Court

Basketball was born in 1891 with 13 rules covering all the basics of play. Incredibly, the NBA have only 12 main rules today – but each has many clauses and sub-sections. There are subtle rule differences between the game played by the NBA, International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Games are made up of four 12 minute quarters in the NBA. Teams can have up to 12 palyers but only five of these can be on the court at a time.

Timeout – Timeouts are breaks in the action which can be called by tem coaches and players, usually at key points in the game, to discuss tactics and raise player morale. In the NBA, teams are allowed one 20 second timeout per half, and six regular timeouts over the course of the entire game.

Baseball

The sport developed from the British bat-and-ball game of rounders, which was played by colonists in North America at town meeting days. References to basebll have been found in American newspapers and civic documents from as early as 1791, and there is a tradition (now discredited) that the rules of the game were laid down by Abner Doubleday (1819-93) at Cooperstown, New York, in 1839. The first recorded organised game was played between the Knickerbockers and the New York Nine at Hoboken, New Jersey, on 19th June 1846 under rules drawn up by Alexander Cartwright (1820-92). Rules concerning equipment, numbers of “balls” and “strikes” allowed, and dimensions of the field of play developed over the next 50 years. The distance from the oitchers mound to home plate was finally fixed at 18.4m/60ft 6in in 1893, since when there have been only minor changes to the game.

Rules and Description

Team game played between two sides on a field containing a diamond-shaped “infield” which has “bases” at the corners, 27.4/90ft apart, and an “outfield” lying beyond this. Each side consists of nine players who “bat” and “field”, but players may be replaced during the game by substitutes from a total squad of up to 25. Essential pieces of equipment are long solid bats, the hard ball “pitched” from the “mound”, and the glove worn by each fielder: the team”at bat” tries to score runs during each “inning” by having its players hit the ball, circle the bases and return to home plate before being put out by the team “in the field” players are out if their hit is caught, if they are tagged with the ball when “off-base”, if the base is touched by the fielder with the ball before they arrive at it, or if they “strike out”, ie fail to hit the ball after three pitches have been judged “strikes” by the umpire, the team at bat is retired after three players are put out, ending the inning, a game consists of nine innings for each team, plus unlimited extra innings in the event of a tie.

Under National League rules, all nine players who field also bat, under American League rules, the pitcher is not required to bat, and there is a “designated hitter”, who bats but does not field.

Player Profile

Baseball is a game of skill, strategy, and athletic ability. Catching, hitting, and throwing all require excellent hand-eye co-ordination. It also helps to have great reflexes when facing the pitcher. Batters have just a fraction of a second to decide whether or not to swing at a pitch. Fitness is another important part of the game, for sprinting between bases and chasing down fast-moving balls in the field. Physical endurance is also crucial as the pros endure a gruelling 162-game regular season.

Equipment and Protection

Head Protection – Some pitchers can deliver the ball at 160kph (100mph) and more, so a helmet is essential for a batters safety.

Players Identification – Players from all the Major League teams bar the New York Yankees have their names on the back of their jerseys. A number on the front of the jersey also identifies the player.

Team Strip – Each player wears a strip in the distinctive team colours.

Shocking Stockings – Two Major League clubs are named for their stocking colour: the Boston Red Sox and the Chicargo White Sox.

Gripping the dirt – Baseball shoes have metal or plastic cleats on the soles that provide grip when running on dirt.

Bat attack – The baseball bat can measure anywhere between 63.5cm (25in) and 101.6cm (40in) in length and tapers at the handle. Professional players must use a wooden bat. Aluminium bats may be used in amateur baseball .

Padded Protection – The gloves of all fielders are well padded to protect the fingers.

Catchers Mitt – The fingerless mitt of the catcher guards the hand and makes it eadier to catch pitches

Catchers Mask – Modern masks are generally a one-piece design, similar to those worn by Hockey goalies.

Chest protector – Padding cushions the ribcage from pitches and deflected bats.

Knee pads – Special pads are comfortable for the catcher to rest on when in the squat position: they also provide protection for the knee joint.

Extra padding – Padding over the stomach prevents the catcher from being winded.

Shin guards – Also called spike protectors, they are used to prevent injury from base runners sliding into home with “spikes up”

Foot guards – Hard plastic guards cover the catchers shoes to prevent damage to the feet.

Badminton

The chinese are reputed to have played the game more than 2,000 years ago, However, the game it most closely resembles is “battledore and shuttlecock” (the former a taut leather paddle: the latter a small feathered cork), a childrens pastime from Middle Ages. The modern game takes its name from Badminton Hall, in South Gloucestershire, a seat of the Dukes of Beaufort, where games were played in the 1870s. Badminton was also being played in India by British army officers that same decade and first rules were drawn up in 1873.

Rules and Description

Badminton is a game for two or four people, played mainly on indoor courts. The court measures 13.4 x 6.1m/44 x 20ft and is divided in two by a net, which is suspended 1.55m/5ft above the floor. The court size varies for singles and doubles play. The game is played with lightweight rackets and a “shuttlecock”, a cone fashioned from a cork base stuck with 16 goose feather flights (cheaper alternatives are made of plastic). The object of the game is to win more points than the opposition by preventing the shuttlecock from hitting the ground. The server serves into the diagonally opposite service court and a rally continues until the shuttlecock falls outside the court or the opposition cannot retrieve it or a fault is committed. Only the server can score points: if the opposition player wins the point the service advantage moves to him/her.

In the mens and doubles game the first to 15 points wins. If the score reaches 14-14 the player that reaches 14 first decides either to play on to 15 or to “set” the game to 17 points. In the womens game players need to reach 11 points – there is the option to “set” the play at 10-10 to play the best of a further 3 points. Matches are the best of three games, in doubles play both players on a side get the opportunity yo serve before it passes to the opposition.

Clothing and Equipment

Light clothing – lightweight cotton shirts and shorts or skirts keep the players cool.
Shuttle and Racket – Top shuttlecocks weigh around 5g (quarter of oz) and have 16 goose feathers in a cork base and are notoriously fragile: top players often get through ten in course of a match. By contrast, rackets are strong and designed to transfer the maximum energy from the player to the shuttle, giving it greater speed and distance in flight.


 

Australian Football

The know all of Australian Football

Australian Rules Football, or Aussie rules, was invented in the mid- 1800 by Tom Wills, W J Hammersley and J B Thompson. English-educated Wills was a keen cricketer and also football captain at Rugby public school. On his return down under, Wills suggested that cricketers could maintain fitness during the winter months by playing a version of Rugby Football. In 1858 Wills and his associates drew up some rules (which have since been modified), the Melbourne Football Club was formed, and the codes first recorded game was played between Melbourne Grammar school and Scotch College. In 1877 the games first league, the Victorian Football Association, was formed. The game soon spread to other Australian colonies, although Queensland and New South Wales chose rugby union and rugby league as their winter games.

Rules and Description

A field game played between two teams of 18 players, generally on cricket ovals during the winter months. The object of the game is to score “Goals” by kicking an inflated oval ball between the four posts erected at either end of the oval. A goal scored between the two inner posts is worth six points, a goal scored between an inner post and outer post is worth one point. The ball may be kicked, caught, or passed to another player by punching, but may not be thrown. Playersmay run with the ball but must bounce it to the ground every ten metres. A player who catches the ball cleanly may call for a “mark”, which entitles them to an unimpeded kick. The game is regulated by field umpires, goal umpires, and boundry umpires. Each game consists of four quarters of 20 minutes. Each team has four “inter-change” players (substitutes), who can come on and off the pitch at any time during the match.

Equipment and Protection

Head protection – Although lightweight guards called “helmets” are permitted, most players choose not to wear them.

Team colours – Players wear jerseys that display their team colours and an identifying number on the back.

Mouth guard – Most players wear a mouth guard to protect their teeth.

Boots – Players wear soccer style boots with studs or cleated soles.

Oval Ball – An Austrailian football is an inflatable bladder enclosed in four pieces of leather.

Goal posts – These are two posts in the centre. If an attacking player kicks the ball between them, their team is awarded six points.

Behind posts – Two shorter posts flank the goal posts, if the ball passes between a behind post and a goal post, the attacking team scores one point.

Player Profile

Austrailian Rules players are usually tall and athletic. They are fast sprinters and must have enough stamina for sustained running. Players are also physically strong and able to withstand the force of onrushing opponents.

Archery

Bows and Arrows were used as hunting tools at least 10,000 years ago. Archery was played as a sport in the Middle Ages as well as being a vital instrument in war. English archers won decisive battles against the French at Crecy (1346) and Agincourt (1415). The Royal Toxopholite (Greek for bow lover) Society was formed in 1787 and developed into the Grand Archery Association in 1844.

Rules and Description

Archery is the art of using a bow to shoot arrows at a target. Archers participate in singles and team competitions. Bows, once made of wood (preferably yew), are now mainly composed of plastic, fibreglass or graphite and carbon composites.

Competitive bows made from wood are termed “primitive”. Arrows are made of carbon graphite or aluminium with feathers at one end. There are three different types of bow: “recurve” or “classic”: compound (a bow augmented with pulleys and cables): and “barebow” (a recurve bow with no sights or stabilizer).

There are tow main types of competition: target archery and field archery. In target archery competitors shoot at circular paper targets attached to an upright coiled straw boss. Points are scored according to how close to the centre an archer hits. From the centre outwards there is a gold inner bull (10 points): gold outer (9), red inner (8): red outer (7): blue inner (6): blue outer (5): black inner (4): balack outer (3): white inner (2): white outer (1). Archers shoot a specified number of arrows over a predetermined variety of distances up to 90m (70m for women).

In field archery competitors move along a course or path aiming at targets, or targets fashioned to look like animals. The World Field Archery Championships is held in three bow divisions (barebow since 1959, recurve or classic since 1969 and compound since 1990).

Competitor Profile

Archers need steady arms, a good aim, and concentration, but these are not the only requirements. Much of the pressure is psychological – the need to hit a cerain score to win may make a target harder to hit than it would be in a practice session.

Equipment and Protection

Nock Lock – A mark on the string indicates the nock point – the point at which the indent in the rear of the arrow should be placed.

Excuse Finger – Leather tabs are worn to protect the first two or three fingers of the drawing hand.

Bowstring – The string is made from high-strength polyethylene fibre.

Accessible Quiver – The arrows are held in a tube worn on the same side as the archers drawing hand, for ease of reloading after every shot.

Stabd Fast – Archers wear sturdy shoes with smooth soles to maximize the area in contact with the ground.

Arm Guard – A brace protects against burns

Bow Shaft – Once universally made from wood, the modern bow is a mixture of carbon fibre and fibreglass, bonded with plastic foam.

Sharpshooter – A protruding metal or plastic rod with a viewfinder at the end is used by the archer to sight on the target.

Steady as she goes – Long or short stabilizers jut forward to increase vertical balance and sideways or in a V-shape to assist horizontal balance.

Row of Officials – Judges check distances and adjudicate any disputes: there should be at least one for every ten targets: Scorers work out the points after each round.

Traffic Lights – Archers may not shoot on red: green means they may fire, amber means they have 30 seconds left.

Flight Control

In FITA tournaments archers have a fixed amount of time to shoot 12 rounds ( a total of 36 arrows) at targets between 30m (98ft) and 90m (295ft) away. Scores are updated sfter six arrows at longer distances and three at shorter distances. An arrow touching two colours or a dividing line scores the higher value, and one that rebounds from or passes through the target counts only if it leaves a clear mark. In the event of a tie, the winner is the archer with the most scoring hits.

American Football

In 1869 the first intercollegiate game was played (between teams from Rutgers and Princeton) following a modified form of the rules of soccer. Over the next decade, rugby became more influential then soccer: an oval ball was introduced in 1874, and the first set of rules for American football was drawn up at the Massasoit convention of 1876. At Yale University between 1888 and 1892, Walter Camp (the father of American football) helped to shape the current rules, introducing the eleven-man side, the line of scrimmage, the concept of “downs” and “yards” gained, and a new points-scoring system (which was later to be adjusted several times). The distinction from rugby was further accentuated in 1906 by the legalization of the forward pass.

Rules and Description

Players wear heavy padding and helmet, and passing of the ball by hand, including one forward pass per play, is permitted. The game is played on a rectangular field, divided gridiron-like into segments: the object is to score “touchdowns” by moving the ball into the opposing teams “end zone”, but progress has to be made upfield by a series of “plays”: a team must make 9.14m/10yd of ground within four plays, otherwise it loses possession of the ball. Six points are awarded for a touchdown. An extra point can be gained by kicking the ball between the posts and over the crossbar, or two points can be gained by advancing the ball (through play rather than kicking) from the two-yard line into the end zone in a “two point conversion”. A goal kicked from anywhere on the field (a field goal) is worth three points. Teams consist of more than 40 members, but only eleven are allowed on the field at any one time: separate units of players are used for attacking play, defensive play, kicking off, etc.

Players and Positions

Every NFL team has a roster of up to 53 players. Only 11 are on the field at any one time, but many are used in the course of the game-some or all of the team may be substituted in the break between plays, if there enough time. Each player has specialized role within one of three main playing units: offense, defense, and special teams. Offensive linemen, linebackers, cornerbackers, and safeties. Positions in the srecial teams include placekicker, punter, holder, long and short snapper, and puntreturner.

The Gridiron

A football field is bounded by long sidelines and short end lines, forming a rectangle that measures 120x53yd (109x49m). The 100yd (91m) between the posts are divided by yard lines that cross the field every 5yd (4.5m), and are numbered every 10yd (9m). Four rows of hash marks span the length of the field-the outer two mark 1yd (90cm) from the sidelines: the inner, or inbound, two mark the area in which players must start if the ball goes out of bounds on the previous play. The scoring area (end zone) is bounded by the goal line, the end line, and sidelines. Most fields are covered in grass, but many have an artificial surface.

Equipment and Protection

Oval ball – An official NFL football is 28cm (11in) long, has a 71cm (28in) circumference at its widest point, and weighs 425g (150z)

Head Gear – The helmet and face guard protect the players head and face from injury.

Shoulderpads – Every player suits up with foam-lined plastic shoulderpads.

Team Colours – Every player wears a jersey in the team clours. The name and number identifies the player and includes NFL and team logos.

Tight Fit – A combination of nylon and spandex allows the pants to stretch over the bulky leg padding.

Padded inserts – Players slip padded inserts under their pants to protect legs against falls and blows from other players.

Lightweight shoes – On grass, players wear shoes with hard plastic cleats, which screww into the soles, but on artificial surfaces, shoes with moulded soles are worn.

Goal posts 

The goal posts are positioned on the back line of the end zone. The offense can lick a field goal (3 point) or a conversion after touchdown (1 point) between the two posts. The base is padded for the protection of the players.

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