Bryan Armetta

This year's edition of the College World Series is set to kick off on Saturday,
July 19th. The CWS is something to look forward to in any year, but this
season's edition feels extra special following a canceled tournament in 2020 due
to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For those looking to watch who are unfamiliar with college baseball, the playoff
structure may feel confusing compared to other sports in both the collegiate and
professional ranks. Despite the seemingly foreign structure, college baseball's
postseason format is exciting and full of surprises. Take last weekend's super
regionals for example: SEC champion and top-ranked team Arkansas was upset in
dramatic fashion
[https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/31627564/nc-state-wolfpack-knock-no-1-arkansas-razorbacks-jose-torres-homer-9th] 
by NC State.

> About this time yesterday, this happened. pic.twitter.com/FoZnt9rDVY
[https://t.co/FoZnt9rDVY]

— #Pack9 ⚾️ (@NCStateBaseball) June 15, 2021
[https://twitter.com/NCStateBaseball/status/1404596183943745541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Road to the CWS
Before college's eight best squads descended upon Omaha, it is important to
understand how they got here. College baseball's postseason is divided into
three separate sections: the Regionals, Super Regionals, and World Series. The
tournament begins with a group of 64 Division I teams (similar to the NCAA men's
basketball tournament).

 * 30 conference-winning teams from across the nation earn an automatic birth to
   the postseason, while the other 34 are selected as at-large bids, determined
   by the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee
 * 16 teams are given what is referred to as a national seed, which gives them
   the option of hosting a super regional round series, assuming they advance
   past the regionals.
 * The group of national seeds also act as the de facto favorites to take home a
   title.

The Regional round has 16 brackets composed of four teams. The four in each
group take part in what is known as a double-elimination, where it requires a
team to lose twice before being officially eliminated. 

The regional No. 1 team faces the No. 4, while No. 2 and 3 play each other. The
winners of those two games play each other, while the losers play an elimination
game. The loser of the 'winners' game then plays the winner of the 'losers'
elimination game. Whoever wins that matchup will then face the team that won
both of its games. The team that has won both of their games will only need to
take one game out of two, but the team that had lost previously during the
regionals must win both games to advance to the super regionals. 

The super regionals are much more straightforward. If one of the top eight
national seeds wins their region, they will host the super regional series.
Otherwise, the NCAA will announce the host team following the regionals. This
year was an exception to this rule; due to COVID-19, super regional host
ballparks stayed the same, regardless of if a national seed was eliminated in
the regionals.

Once the super regionals begin, teams will take part in a best of three series,
where the first to two wins advances to the College World Series. It is worth
noting that national seeds cannot face off against each other until the Super
Regionals round, which means that each year we usually get the chance to see
elite teams battle it out for a spot in the CWS. The eight teams that survive
the Super Regionals punch their tickets to the sport's grandest stage in Omaha,
Nebraska. 

> Here are your Omaha 8!

🔜 #CWS [https://twitter.com/hashtag/CWS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/rEWwYIe55P [https://t.co/rEWwYIe55P]

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 15, 2021
[https://twitter.com/NCAACWS/status/1404624914523607042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The College World Series
Unlike the nice and tidy three-game set of the super regionals, the College
World Series looks a lot more like the chaos that is the regionals round. 

The group of eight that made their way to Omaha are not reseeded (where the top
remaining team would play the worst). Instead, they face off based on the region
that they won, similar to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. For example, #2
overall seed Texas will face #7 seed Mississippi State in the CWS, yet #3
Tennessee takes on unranked Virginia, who advanced in a region that #6 TCU
failed to win. 

Just as it was in the regionals, the College World Series is a
double-elimination bracket, with each team needing to lose twice before being
eliminated. The first two games on each side of the bracket (four teams on each
side, eight total) are straightforward, with the winners advancing to the next
round. The two losers then face each other in an elimination game, with the
winner going on to play the lower-ranked team of the two winners. 

Whichever team wins that game advances, while the loser must play the
higher-ranked seed. The winner goes on to play in a single-elimination game,
with the victor headed to the final round. From there, the last two teams left
standing face off in a best of three series for the National Championship.

All of this can sound hectic, so check out the 2019 College World Series bracket
[https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/baseball/d1/2019/cws] for a better understanding
of how everything works. It may sound overly complex and intricate, but the
sport's postseason is designed to find a fine balance between unpredictability
and competition. While though it would be fun to see the top dogs get bumped out
early, even the best teams can lose a single game. 

The College World Series is one of the most intense environments in collegiate
sports. To play ball on the hollowed grounds of Omaha, a place countless
programs have failed to reach, is the greatest accomplishment in college sports.
Stay tuned to the high-stakes action over the next twelve days, and expect the
unexpected.

College World Series: How The Tournament Works

Scotty Jenkins

Speed may be something you can't learn, but knowing how to make a move at the
right time to find open space can help you skip the tests all together.

The New Orleans Saints know that better than most. They saw NFL greats like
Alvin Kamara, Deuce McCallister, and of course, the untouchable Reggie Bush dice
NFC South defenses up on a weekly basis.

That's why the Saints, in the midst of their FREE High School Showcase Series
Powered By Sanderson Farms
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/17/new-orleans-saints-hs-showcase-series-presented-by-sanderson-farms]
, are giving out awards to highlight some of the best feet they found in athlete
submissions.

The Footwork Freak Award
[https://gmtm.com/articles/nfl-team-is-looking-for-high-school-football-talent-2021] 
is a virtual trophy that every young football player, who claims to be the best
on the field, wants to have on their Twitter profile.

And whether they submitted a footwork drill that we had to put in slow motion or
a best highlight that had the defense running in circles, the Footwork Freak is
the validation that those top participants deserve.

Here are the three winners of the Footwork Freak Award, given to the top athlete
submissions in the New Orleans Saints HS Showcase Series Presented by Sanderson
Farms
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/17/new-orleans-saints-hs-showcase-series-presented-by-sanderson-farms]
.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marlon Gunn [https://gmtm.com/athletes/178287/marlon-gunn-jr] - 2022 RB from
Baton Rouge, LA
The Saints only had to look out their back door to find one of the most electric
running back recruits in the region. Out of Scotlandville High School in Baton
Rouge, 2022 recruit Marlon Gunn is a threat to score from anywhere... at any
point in a game.

His speed makes it tough for anybody to hang with him in open space and a
6-foot, 2oo-pound frame leaves defensive backs on the ground if they ever do
catch up to him. Wearing No. 26, "The Gunn Show"
[https://twitter.com/marlon_gunn?s=20] in Scotlandville's black-and-yellow has
me seeing flashes of vintage LeVeon Bell highlights.

Marlon Gunn, Jr.'s 2020 highlights were nasty. Touchdown catches, outrunning
speedy defensive backs, and plenty of cutbacks like these make him a force in
the 2022 class.But, as a winner of the 2021 Footwork Freak Award, the New
Orleans Saints weren't looking at Marlon's elite size, as much as his lightning
quick feet. In his submission to the New Orleans Saints HS Showcase, Marlon
shared his Best Play
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/17/new-orleans-saints-hs-showcase-series-presented-by-sanderson-farms/tasks/339/best-play]
. In the video, he was torching defenses all over Louisiana and collecting
touchdowns in about every city the team bus would stop in.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strachan Liberman [https://gmtm.com/film/8178013/broad-jump/strachan-liberman] -
2023 DB from Vancouver, BC
There aren't many places more different from the bayous of Louisiana than
Vancouver, on the west coast of Canada. But, past the tall evergreens and
snow-capped peaks, the New Orleans Saints saw something they recognized in the
Great White North.

It was the quick feet of 2023 defensive back, who was hawking balls deep down
field like a young Marshon Lattimore.

The resemblance of Footwork Freak Award winner Strachan Lieberman to some of the
Saints' greatest to play in the secondary wasn't hard to see. The 3-time
District Champion sprinter [https://twitter.com/SLiberman37] can cruise
alongside any wide receiver he matches up against. And his awareness down the
field can make any offensive coordinator second guess the passing game.

Strachan Lieberman may be used to the metric system, but his 40-yard dash time
and 5-10-5 drills are no joke. The 2023 DB prospect from Canada was standout in
the Saints HS Showcase.Lieberman, who is a 2023 recruit from Notre Dame High
School, stood out with his submission to the Saints High School Showcase on
GMTM. Submitting a 40-Yard Dash
[https://gmtm.com/film/8177694/40-yard-dash/strachan-liberman], a Ladder Drill
[https://gmtm.com/film/8177559/footwork-ladder-drill-3/strachan-liberman], and 
a
5-10-5 [https://gmtm.com/film/8178014/5-10-5-shuttle/strachan-liberman], it only
took a couple video submissions to show why he's one of the most exciting
prospect to watch from north of the border.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tommy Kinsler [https://gmtm.com/athletes/1329956/tommy-kinsler] - 2023 OT from
Ocala, FL
In the course of any football game, nobody is making as important moves as the
boys on the offensive line. A step too late for an O-lineman can be the
difference between a game-winning pass or a 7-yard loss. And without the
hogmollies up front hitting their mark as the ball is snapped, not even the
shiftiest skill player will be able to show what they can do.

One offensive linemen stood out from the rest in the New Orleans Saints High
School Showcase Series, a 6-foot-6 prospect out of Trinity Catholic HS in
Florida.

Tommy Kinsler may look small in his iPhone videos. But, this 6'-6", 330-pound
offensive tackle from Ocala, FL is a legit man amongst boys in the 2023
recruiting class.Tommy Kinsler submitted some of his offseason work to GMTM
[https://gmtm.com/film/8175228/best-play-challenge/tommy-kinsler] in the spring
and showed how much offensive lineman rely on their fas feet. This class of
2023
Footwork Freak is putting in the work to make coaches at every level excited
about the next generation of versatile talent.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to earn an award and be recognized by the New Orleans Saints, claim
your profile and submit your videos to their High School Showcase Series
Powered
By Sanderson Farms
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/17/new-orleans-saints-hs-recruiting-series-presented-by-sanderson-farms]

this offseason.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scotty Jenkins [https://gmtm.com/articles/author/scotty-jenkins] is a staff
writer for GMTM covering all kinds of events in sports. He grew up in Nebraska
in the midst of the Husker football dynasty of the '90s... and has been aging
rapidly ever since.

[https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/] [https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/]

Footwork Freaks: Three Recruits Who Made Moves In The Saints' High School Showcase

A crazy season that saw one of the greatest teams in college basketball histor
[https://gmtm.com/articles/gonzaga-bulldogs-march-madness-2021]y go down in epic
fashion proved just one thing: in the NCAA Tournament, any squad is a threat to
win it all.

Thanks to a recent decision by the NCAA
[https://www.si.com/college/2021/04/14/ncaa-transfers-rule-change-football-basketball] 
allowing any player a one-time transfer without having to sit out, the entire
blueprint of college basketball has changed seemingly overnight. Rather than
hoping to build up a program of young potential stars, coaches can now look
towards the transfer ranks for ready-made pieces that could be their 'missing
link'. 

Even though several coaches have expressed dismay at the sport's shifting
landscape, the reality is that the move gives players some much-needed agency.
Instead of hampering their ability to find the best situation for their
basketball careers, the NCAA has now allowed athletes to find the situation that
works best for them. Here are five newcomers who could shake up this year's
title race in a major way, due to both their ability and fit on the roster.

*Statistics courtesy of Sports Reference CBB
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Walker Kessler - Auburn
One of the most shocking moves of the 2021 transfer portal was Walker Kessler's
decision to leave North Carolina after just one year. His departure caught UNC
so off-guard that it was rumored to have played a role in the retirement of
longtime head coach Roy Williams
[https://247sports.com/Article/Roy-Williams-retirement-Walker-Kessler-transfer-North-Carolina-Tar-Heels-basketball--163471191/]
.

However, Kessler's move makes sense. The former five-star's talent is
undeniable, but he was trapped on the Tar Heels' depth chart behind more
experienced big men in returning senior Armando Bacot
[https://247sports.com/college/north-carolina/Article/Armando-Bacot-North-Carolina-Tar-Heels-Basketball-Coming-Back-NBA-Draft-Hubert-Davis-164869212/] 
and newly signed transfer and fifth-year senior Brady Manek. The Georgia native
averaged just 4.4 points per game and started in none of his 29 appearances in
2020-21. Still, there were obvious flashes of brilliance, such as his 
near-triple double
[https://www.tarheelblog.com/2021/3/11/22324461/unc-tar-heels-basketball-notre-dame-player-of-the-game-walker-kessler-blocks-acc-tournament] 
(with eight blocks) against Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament. 

Kessler now shifts to an Auburn Tigers group that will count on him to be an
integral part of their four-out, one-in offensive scheme
[https://auburn.rivals.com/news/inside-walker-kessler-s-decision-to-transfer-to-auburn]
. With incoming freshman five-star forward Jabari Smith, the Tigers will be able
to switch the two out depending on the situation. Kessler, who was unable to
display his shooting ability, can draw out slower big men to the three-point
arc, giving Smith room to operate inside the paint. It will be interesting to
see how Auburn coach Bruce Pearl uses Kessler, and how different his game may
look away from Chapel Hill.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Qudus Wahab - Maryland
During Georgetown's improbable run to a Big East championship, much of the focus
was (rightfully) placed on freshman phenom Dante Harris
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/dante-harris-1.html], who won the
Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. However, big man Qudus Wahab had a
terrific season, and tournament, in his own right. The lanky 6'11 center
averaged 12.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game during the regular
season and was named to the Big East Tournament team. 

Why leave the Hoyas you may be asking? Despite the helpful presence of legendary
center and current head coach Patrick Ewing, Georgetown's upcoming class of
recruits includes four-star Ryan Mutombo, son of Hall of Fame shot-blocker
Dikembe Mutombo. With minutes likely to be contested by the freshman phenom,
Wahab instead transfers to a Maryland Terrapins team in need of an inside
presence.

Maryland, coming off an NCAA appearance and Round of 64 win, enters the 2021-22
season with high expectations. Many analysts, such as NCAA.com's Andy Katz, are
high on the Terps in their preseason Big 10 predictions, with Katz going as far
to say that they are the favorites to win the conference
[https://247sports.com/college/maryland/Article/Big-Ten-Basketball-Rankings-Maryland-Terps-No-1-Andy-Katz-165361175/]
. Not only does Maryland add Wahab, but also talented former Rhode Island guard
Fats Russell, giving them much-needed depth at multiple positions. As far as
Wahab goes, his move to College Park should pay dividends for a group that was
the second-worst rebounding team in the Big 10
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/maryland/2021.html] last season.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Quincy Guerrier - Oregon
During the Syracuse's stellar run to the Sweet Sixteen, the smaller Orangemen
were often forced to use 6'7 forward Quincy Guerrier inside the paint, where he
had to do the 'dirty work' such as fighting for boards and setting screens to
get shooters open. While he did a good job in this role, it was clear that it
was not necessarily one that played to his strengths. 

Now, the All-ACC Team selection joins an Oregon crew on the rise. Unlike what
was  run by Jim Boeheim and Syracuse, Dana Altman's Ducks utilize a spread
offense
[https://www.mensbasketballhoopscoop.com/dana-altman-oregon-ducks-spread-offense/]
. In this scheme, big men are given the opportunity to make plays and shoot from
behind the arc. Guerrier has the talent to become a threat from outside of the
paint, but we have yet to see it on a consistent basis. At Syracuse, he shot
just .311 from three-point range. Regardless of if he is able to find his
shooting stroke as a Duck, Guerrier gives Oregon, the 310th ranked rebounding
team in the nation
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/oregon/2021.html], size and
toughness to compliment their talented guard rotation. 

Even though he was not a marksman by any means last season, the move to Eugene
makes sense for Guerrier. Versatility, ball handling, and perimeter shooting are
skills that NBA scouts are always looking for, especially with today's new breed
of big men. The Ducks are a legitimate title contender who are adding five-star
recruit Nate Bittle [https://247sports.com/player/nathan-bittle-46057583/] to
play center as well. The freshman's presence, along with Altman's offensive play
calling, should free up Guerrier on the outside while still maintaining a level
of size down low that Oregon has not possessed in years.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. James Akinjo - Baylor
Fresh off of a dominant NCAA Championship run
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZQCUsF825A&ab_channel=MarchMadness], the
Baylor Bears head into the 2021-22 season with some uncertainty. The departures
of Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, Davion Mitchell, and Mark Vital have forced Scott
Drew to look to the transfer portal for additional playmakers, something he has
relied on often during his 18-year head coaching tenure in Waco. This year, he
may have found a perfect fit in senior James Akinjo. 

Akinjo, a former student athlete at both Georgetown and Arizona, has the chance
to play major minutes right away at guard. With the aforementioned losses of
Butler, Teague, and Mitchell, the perimeter-centric formula that made Baylor so
dynamic on offense is in need of a tweak. Akinjo's game is similar in many ways
to the guards that left Baylor this offseason. He can drive to the rim, shoot
efficiently (40% on three-pointers last season), and plays solid defense.
Akinjo's experience in both the Big East and Pac-12 could also be a
difference-maker come NCAA Tourney time.

Does the addition of James Akinjo give Baylor the piece they need to make a
repeat run? It's hard to say. This is still a deep, versatile, and well-coached
roster. Returning players such as Adam Flagler and Flo Thamba should do well
with an increased role, while five-star forward Kendall Brown
[https://247sports.com/player/kendall-brown-46057211/] brings a mixture of
athleticism and versatility down low. However, this is not quite the juggernaut
of last season, with a roster that is somewhat lacking in experienced depth.
Despite the loss of some important pieces, bringing Akinjo into the fold should
keep Baylor firmly involved in both Big 12 and Final Four contention.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Remy Martin - Kansas
It was a tough season to be a Jayhawks fan. Following an outstanding 2019-20
campaign cut short by COVID-19, Kansas just seemed to have trouble getting into
a groove this year. Between a midseason covid outbreak, a first-weekend
elimination at the NCAA Tournament and watching Big 12 rival Baylor win the NCAA
Championship, few things went right for Bill Self and company.

Enter Arizona State transfer Remy Martin. A three-time All Pac-12 Team
selection, Martin adds a much-needed lead guard and playmaker for Kansas. His
arrival was desperately needed; the Jayhawks' leading guard last season, Marcus
Garrett, declared for the 2021 NBA Draft
[http://www2.kusports.com/news/2021/apr/21/marcus-garrett-says-goodbye-kansas-declares-2021-n/]
. 

While Garrett was a productive player during his time in Lawrence, Martin is one
of the best players in the country. His offensive ability (averaged 19.1 points
per game the past two seasons
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/remy-martin-2.html]) includes an
ability to slash to the hoop almost at will. Respectable, if not phenomenal,
shooting ability will keep defenses honest and open up the paint for other
Jayhawks as well. Kansas of all teams should understand just how deadly Martin
is; his ASU teams upset the Jayhawks in both 2018 and 2019.

> “I expect to win, embrace the culture… and hopefully make them proud.” 👀
@KUHoops [https://twitter.com/KUHoops?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]' transfer Remy Martin
tells @TheAndyKatz [https://twitter.com/TheAndyKatz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] what he
hopes to bring to the Jayhawks if he decides to return to college. 
pic.twitter.com/j8dxHQ7T8C [https://t.co/j8dxHQ7T8C]

— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) May 27, 2021
[https://twitter.com/marchmadness/status/1398017602459508736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
With the Kansas offense seemingly revolving around Martin
[https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2021/5/17/22441394/jayhawks-land-asu-transfer-remi-martin-kansas-basketball-arizona-state]
, it is clear that Kansas' success will likely hinge on their new transfer star.
However, it remains to be seen how quickly such a ball-dominant guard (a high
29.0 usage rate
[https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/remy-martin-player-stats?category=advanced&seasonType=reg] 
in 2020-21) can adapt to a roster stocked with talent. 

Will Martin stick to the hero-ball style of play he often reverted to at ASU, or
can he play a more cohesive, team-oriented brand of basketball? Additionally,
there remains the possibility that he could declare for the 2021 NBA Draft
[https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2021/05/18/remy-martin-transfer-commit-kansas-nba-draft-process/5141960001/]
. If Martin does decide to stay in Lawrence, which still seems likely, he could
be the crown jewel of Kansas' already stellar offseason
[https://247sports.com/college/kansas/Season/2021-Basketball/Commits/].

College Basketball: Five Best Transfers and Recruits of 2021

Fifteen new events are set to make an appearance at the Summer Olympics in 2021,
many of which are versions of some of the world's most popular sports.

Some of which will be reflective of activities every kid will be doing during
their summer vacation.

In track-and-field and swimming, we'll be seeing exciting mixed-gender relay
races for the first time. Cycling will see the return of the "madison" relay
race around a track and Freestyle BMX will make it's Olympic debut, which fans
are more likely to associate with the X Games than with the Games of the 32nd
Olympiad.

But, among all of the new events being introduced at 'Tokyo 2020', one event is
sure to be one of the most intriguing for those who are looking for something to
watch after the NBA Finals. And that is Basketball 3x3.

While basketball in the Olympics is one of the most watched events every four
years, thanks in part to 'The Dream Team' and the explosion of talent in places
like Eastern Europe, Basketball 3x3 will be an entirely brand new game. Played
with three players per side and a clock that never stops, Basketball 3x3 is an
Olympic sport that came straight from the playground.



While this new version of the sport will introduce Olympic dreams to a whole new
crop of young talent all over the world, I do wonder how it earned a place in
history's most revered sporting event.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is Basketball 3x3 and how does it work?
Introduced to the world as FIBA 3x3, the Summer Olympic version, Basketball 3x3,
will make it's debut at the 202o Olympics in Tokyo - which will confusingly take
place a year later than the name suggests, in July and August of 2021.

Basketball 3x3 is branded as "an exciting new brand of basketball", but the
version you watch may remind you of the same game you played in your driveway as
a kid.

The game is played with two-teams of three players on half of a regulation
basketball court. The 'half-court' means that both teams are playing on the same
goal consecutively, a feature shared by no other sport in the Olympics.

Basketball 3x3 uses a unique ball, designed by FIBA to be used on the outdoor
courts.A game of 3x3 is won in two ways, either by the team that is the first to
score 21 points or whichever team has the highest scores after the time expires.

Each game includes only one 10-minute period, and a game can end in sudden death
when a team scores 21 points. If the 10-minute period ends in a tie, an overtime
period starts and the first team to score 2 points is the winner.

Points can be scored in a similar way to basketball, but the amount for each
shot differs. An arc, resembling a three-point line is on the court, but shots
made within the arc are worth 1 point and shots made outside of it are worth 2
points.

The dimensions of Basketball 3x3 are similar to the the size of an NBA or FIBA
half-court, but the point value are less from each part of the court.There are
no stoppages throughout a 3x3 game, so the 10-minute clock runs continuously.
When a team scores, they are immediately on defense. 

A 12-second shot clock is used, so the offensive team must attempt a shot within
that time. When a shot is made or the hits the rim, the 12-second shot clock
starts over.

Each team will also have a substitute, that sits on the bench off of the court.

Basketball 3x3 is usually played outside on a hard, concrete-like surface and
uses a unique ball designed by FIBA, for use specifically in international
competition.

Basketball 3x3: How The New Event In The Summer Olympics Works

Jarod Smith

The process of fat loss is a hotly discussed subject, and there is much
misinformation surrounding it. One area that I've seen a lot pf passionate
opinions and few facts is cold plunge therapy and how it bolsters the bodies
ability to shed fat.

Cold plunge therapy is a new-ish fad in the fitness and athlete community,
employed for a variety of reasons such as improving recovery after training,
accelerating fat loss, and improving sleep at night.And while there is evidence
to support those claims, many athletes try it out without a real understanding
of how cold temperatures affect the bodies natural cycles.

The truth is the results of cold plunge therapy can differ depending on which of
goal you are aiming for.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How Our Body Regulates Temperature 
For example, in the case of sleep, one key variable that affects how well you
sleep at night is body temperature. Your body temperature does not remain a
constant 98.6 degrees Fehrenheit as you might have learned in school, but
actually fluctuates within a range to inform your body when to release certain
hormones. Naturally, this fluctuation releases cortisol in the morning to wake
you up, and releases melatonin at night to help push the body into a sleep
state.

Though it is not a microscopic process like most in the body, triggered changes
in body temperatures are subtle.

Before falling asleep, our body temperature lowers without conscious action in
order to stimulate the release of melatonin into your blood stream. Conversely,
in the morning, just before you wake up, your body temperature starts to rise to
stimulate the release of cortisol.

Both of these processes are healthy and happen within every human being, so why
don't we try to draw more advantages from changing body temperatures?

Of course, it's tempting then to think, if I take a cold shower to lower my body
temperature before bed then I will fall asleep quicker and get rest sooner. But,
our bodies are smarter than that.

In an effort to keep you warm, the human body will actually work in the opposite
direction and raise your body temperature after the cold shower causing the
opposite of what you wanted. It is in fact better to take a hot shower before
bed which not only relaxes you, but also triggers your body to accelerate the
lowering of your body temperature to keep you cool.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With that in mind, what are the important details that actually help you promote
fat loss with cold plunge therapy?
It helps to know roughly how the fat loss process works. First things things
first, the metabolic research is well-supported, and you can not lose meaningful
amounts of fat unless you are in a caloric deficit.

However, many will also know that limiting caloric intake leads to losing some
muscle mass as well fat. The whole game then becomes: 'How do I lose as much fat
as possible and preserve as much muscle as possible throughout the process?'

This is where cold therapy comes into play as it can help in determining what
your body will use for energy.

Your body has three main stores of energy and three major processes to access
them. Your body will use whatever is most accessible to it at the time for
energy. In most cases, that means glucose or sugar stored in your liver, muscles
or floating in your blood stream. Fat loss is hard because there is so much
energy stored here to start with - as much as 800g of sugar or 3200 Calories in
some cases.

In order to lose fat we need to turn it into a fuel source and make it easier to
metabolize than the sugar floating around in your body.

This happens in two steps. The first is converting fat molecules into a form of
energy the body can use, and the second is oxidizing that energy or burning it
in the form of activity.

Cold plunges can help with the first step and fidgeting can help with the
second.

When you take a cold plunge your body will soon begin to shiver, and what has
been found in research is the shivering process activates a special chemical in
your body that triggers the enzymes responsible for breaking down the fat
molecules in the areas you don't want it. These enzymes convert your fat into a
molecule that can be more easily oxidized by the body and thus burned off in
activity.

Is it really that simple to lose unwanted fat? I just need to jump in a cold
shower before I go work out and I'll start seeing the results?

Well, sort of. 

What's important within this process is that it is specifically the shivering
process that activates these enzymes that help you burn fat. If you become cold
adapted and no longer shiver in the cold, cold plunge therapy will not trigger
the same effects.

The real way to optimize your body's ability to shed fat after a cold plunge is
understanding the amount of time you spend shivering. An easy way to do this is
to rapidly change your water temperature from a hot temperature to a cold
temperature.

This rapid temperature change will stimulate the shivering process the most,
similar to how taking a hot shower before bed will speed up the release of
melatonin.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How To Do A Cold Plunge That Gets Results
A simple set of steps you could follow is to start with hot water in your shower
for a few minutes, then quickly turn it to cold water and endure the shivering.
After a minute of cold water, turn the water to hot again.

Cycle a few times for a minute or so each, and you should have helped convert
some fat in your body into molecules ready to be burned for energy. After the
shower, it's time to fidget.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How Fidgeting Can Help To Burn Fat
Fidgeting or quick nervous movements have been found to increase the energy burn
of your body by a range of 800 to 2400 Calories when compared to people who
don't fidget.

Additionally, fidgeting was also found to stimulate the same enzymes as
shivering and help to break down fat.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wrapping up, you want to get yourself to shiver before periods of high caloric
burn to maximize fat loss because your body will use whatever energy is most
readily available to it. By default, this is the sugar or glucose in your blood
stream, muscles and liver.

If you don't do something to help the fat stored in your body convert into
energy, your body won't use it. After converting the fat in your body to
molecules that are easily metabolized, fidgeting can help burn it off because it
can help you get into a caloric deficit.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jarod Smith [https://gmtm.com/articles/author/jarod-smith] is a developer for
GMTM helping to build the essential social media platform for athletes. He
started weightlifting while stuck at home during the pandemic and has been
researching the science of it for almost a year.

How Shivering and Fidgeting Helps Promote Fat Loss

George P Thomas, III

In order to reach peak fitness, it's important to master five key principles to
your workout --  individualization, specificity, variation, overload and
reversibility. Understanding these basic concepts can help you increase your
gains in the gym and improve your performance on the field.

#1 - Individualization

It's important to tailor your workout program to your personal needs. This
requires that you thoroughly assess your current level of fitness, determine
your goals, and design a program that's specific to your needs. While some
workouts are meant for general fitness, others are designed to improve a
specific strength, such as muscular endurance or power.

#2 - Specificity

The principle of specificity states that you're more likely to improve if you
train using similar movements and motions as you'll use in the game or during
your sport. For example, if you play tennis, you should train with a tennis
racquet (or a similar device) to improve your strength and coordination for the
sport. If you're not training with equipment used in your sport, your workouts
may not be very specific.

#3 - Variation

It's also important to vary the exercises you do on a regular basis. Although
it's important for athletes to master certain exercises and perfect their
technique, it's also important to use different exercises from time to time.
This will help prevent boredom with your workouts and prevent overuse injuries
caused by repetitive practice of the same exercise or movement. It will also
help prevent injuries by allowing an opportunity for recovery between workouts.
And finally, it helps enhance the skills needed in competition by exposing the
body to a variety of different movements.

#4 - Overload

Overload means increasing the intensity of your workouts over time -- whether
this means lifting more weight, running faster or swimming longer each week.
Without increasing the intensity of your workouts, it's difficult to see
continuous improvement in your athletic performance. If you're lifting heavier
weights or running faster each week, it's a sign that you're successfully
applying this principle of training. However, if you're training harder but not
seeing any improvement over time, then it may be time to increase the intensity
of your workouts.

#5 - Reversibility

Reversibility is an important factor in training that makes sure that you've
completed sufficient recovery time before starting another strenuous workout. If
recovery is insufficiently addressed in an athlete's program, training will be
ineffective because the body will not be able to adapt physically and/or
psychologically to hard training loads. For example, if you run two miles one
day and four miles the next day without allowing adequate recovery (usually at
least 24 hours), then you'll be less likely to see improvement in endurance
performance after training because of inadequate recovery time between two hard
workouts back-to-back. Additionally, if you have less than adequate recovery
time between workouts (perhaps two hours rather than three), muscle damage and
soreness could become an issue as well as mental fatigue and burnout because of
too much stress placed on the body too quickly without sufficient recovery time
between workouts.

Meet the Five Key Principles of Athletic Training

Ask any successful person and they'll tell you that having strong mentorship was
key to their success. It could be a teacher, a parent, or a coach that showed
them the way and opened their eyes to new possibilities.

So what makes for good mentorship?

A good mentor opens up their wisdom and knowledge to a young person, builds
their confidence, gives them direction, and shows them how to make their dreams
come true. They are someone who believes in you and encourages you to step out
of your comfort zone, to push yourself, to be the best that you can be. The
person who will take the time to help you learn and grow, and will not give up
on you while you're learning. They will be there when you need them most, when
you're having a bad day. A mentor will be someone who nurtures you and lets you
know that they are there for you. They will encourage you to go out and take
risks, to set goals, and not to give up.

A good mentor teaches the importance of discipline, respect, teamwork,
sportsmanship, and how to deal with adversity and disappointment. They show them
that in the end it's not about winning or losing but about overcoming challenges
and gaining experience, working as a team and helping each other succeed. A good
mentor tells the young person that failure is a part of growing up, not
something to be ashamed of. A good mentor is someone who believes in you and
supports you. It's someone who encourages you to work hard for what you want
because anything is possible with hard work and determination. A good mentor is
not just about sports or business or any one particular field. They're mentors
with life skills that can teach the younger generation the importance of working
hard, being responsible, and setting goals.

A good mentor is someone who will take the time to listen to the young person,
ask questions and encourage them to develop their own answers. It's important
for a mentor to be able to speak positively and give positive feedback along
with constructive criticism, but also to be able to accept criticism as well,
and not to take things personally. A good mentor needs to be honest with
themselves and the mentee about what they're doing well, and what they need some
work on. They need to be able to offer them guidance, support and encouragement
while still allowing them to find their own path.

A good mentor needs to be someone who has a lot of patience, someone who won't
give up on you or your dreams. Someone who will push you beyond your limits,
teach you how to deal with adversity, how to overcome mistakes, how to deal with
disappointment, how to set goals and follow through with them. Someone who
doesn't just tell you what you want to hear but is honest and straightforward
with you because they know what it takes to get where you want to go. A good
mentor is someone who believes in you and supports you.

It's important to seek out a mentor because they can help you to grow, to
develop, and to reach your fullest potential.

Having a mentor not only helps you on the field or the court, but off the field
as well. Having a mentor can make life easier both in school and at home. They
can help you feel better about yourself and give positive encouragement. They
will be confident in your ability just like they were with themselves when they
were younger. This is why it's important to have a mentor because it can help us
succeed in life.

Here's a challenge for you. Make a list of 3 people in your life who could be
considered a great mentor. Why do you think these people are good mentors? What
characteristics of theirs do you think you could benefit from the most?

What Makes A Good Mentor?

Alex Rudloff

College sports in the United States is a lucrative, competitive and complicated 
system. Most sports recruits will recognize the NCAA, but what is the NAIA? What
is the NCJAA? Knowing the difference between the various athletic associations
is important sports trivia for both athletes and fans alike.

What is the NCAA?

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a non-profit organization that
regulates college sports at 1,268 different North American colleges. When people
think of college sports, chances are they're thinking of the NCAA. 

The NCAA consists of three divisions – Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3. 

What does Division 1 mean?

NCAA Division 1 schools are typically the largest schools competing at the the
highest, most competitive level of play. D1 teams typically play a national
schedule and they offer full scholarships for many if not all of their sports,
and have more rules from the NCAA to ensure that they remain at the highest
levels of competitive play. 

Ivy League schools are an exception in that they compete at the D1 level but do
not offer scholarships. The Ivy League consists of Brown, Columbia, Cornell,
Dartmouth, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale.

For football, Division 1 breaks down into two subdivisions. FBS and FCS,
formerly known as Division 1a and Division 1aa. 

FBS vs FCS

FBS stands for "Football Bowl Subdivision" and FCS stands for "Football
Championship Division." The FBS level of college football consists of the
biggest, most well-known teams in college sports. As massive as this division
is, however, there is no formal NCAA champion declared. Instead championships
are determined via national poll rankings determined after annual bowl games are
played – hence the name "bowl" subdivision. The playoff at the FBS level of NCAA
football is actually a series of contracts with bowl games to mimic a
traditional NCAA playoff, but is not formally run or owned by the NCAA.

Conversely, FCS stands for the "Football Championship Division." This level of
NCAA D1 Football has a formal NCAA managed playoff that determines an NCAA
champion.

What does Division 2 mean?

Division 2 of the NCAA typically consists of smaller schools than Division 1.
While many play teams nationally, at the D2 level most competition happens
regionally. Partial athletic scholarships are more common at the D2 level.

The NCAA requirements for D2 are less than they are for D1. There are no minimum
fan attendance requirements, they can play an easier schedule, and they can
offer less sports (5 sports are required for D2 vs 6 for D1).

What does Division 3 mean?

While D3 is often considered the "smallest" of divisions, it's actually the
largest in overall membership. The biggest difference between D3 and the other
divisions is that there are no athletic scholarships available. It's important
to note, however, that there are plenty of financial scholarships and academic
scholarships available and offered to D3 athletes.

The emphasis at the D3 level is often on the value competing in sports at a high
level offers the individual. It's very much a "for the love of the game"
atmosphere that allows student athletes to contribute with perhaps less time
commitments than the other two "higher" divisions might require.  It's an
opportunity to compete at what is still considered an extremely high level,
while also earning an excellent degree from what usually is a smaller private
college.

What is the NAIA?

NAIA stands for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The NAIA
consists of smaller colleges and universities and is much smaller in total
membership than the NCAA. There are currently 249 organizations that compete
within the NAIA.

The NAIA consists of two divisions, with their Division 1 being similar to
Division 2 of the NCAA. The biggest difference with the NAIA overall is that it
offers a much more flexible set of rules for its member institutions. Schools
and individual leagues within the association can set their own rules and
budgets instead of conforming to the highly regulated existence of an NCAA
school.

Both the NCAA and NAIA exist to serve student athletes, and member institutions
in both leagues offer tremendous opportunities to athletes in all sports.

What is the NJCAA?

NJCAA stands for the National Junior College Athletic Association.  The NJCAA
consists of schools that are community colleges and junior colleges, meaning the
offer 2 year degrees. Transferring to a NCAA or NAIA institution to complete a 4
year education afterwards is common.

These "JuCo" schools often offer friendlier admission to athletes with lower
GPAs and test scores. Sometimes foreign players attend a JuCo to work on their
english skills before transferring to a NCAA or NAIA as well. Junior Colleges
also offer a great way to continue developing athletic talents before "stepping
up" to a more competitive level. 

Many NJCAA institutions are able to offer scholarships and assist with financial
requirements.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alex Rudloff [http://gmtm.com/articles/author/alex-rudloff] is the co-founder
and Chief Technology Officer of GMTM.com. He believes that UCF would have beaten
Alabama in 2017 and he'll die on that hill.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA - Know Your Associations

There are just sixteen schools left in this year's mens college baseball
bracket, and it is anyones guess as to who will take home the sport's ultimate
prize.

However, before making an appearance in Omaha for the College World Series
[https://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/article/2021-06-09/2021-college-world-series-schedule]
, teams must get past the Super Regionals round, held at four different
locations across the country. 

While watching this weekend (Super Regionals begin Friday afternoon), make sure
to pay extra attention to the following five student-athletes. Each one of these
stars have excelled during the regular season in the process of helping their
team reach the sport's sweet sixteen. However, things are guaranteed to get more
difficult as the competition gets tougher and the lights get brighter in the
Super Regionals. One thing is for certain: each of these players will be counted
on to continue their season-long success and carry their teams to the pinnacle
of college baseball.

*All statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/]

SP Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt has created one of the best professional talent pipelines in the
nation, and no two players represent this better than starting pitchers Jack
Leiter [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=leiter000jac] 
and Kumar Rocker (more on him later). The pair of dynamic hurlers are poised to
go as high as the top two picks in the upcoming MLB draft
[https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/jack-leiter-kumar-rocker-could-make-2021-mlb-draft-history/]
.

Leiter, the son of former MLB All Star Al Leiter
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leiteal01.shtml], has excelled in
2021, pitching to the tune of a 9-3 record and a 2.22 ERA. What attracts scouts
the most to Leiter's game is likely his elite stuff; he had a K/9 rate of 14.8
across 89 innings as a sophomore. A three-pitch repertoire that includes a nasty
curveball and stifling changeup made the sophomore arguably the most dominant
pitcher in the SEC this season. The highlight of the year for Leiter was a
dominant 16-strikeout no-hitter
[https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/jack-leiter-no-hitter-vanderbilt-rhp-strikes-out-16-against-south-carolina/] 
against South Carolina on March 20th.

> Jack Leiter now ranks third nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (3.94),
fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (14.76) and seventh in WHIP (0.87). 
pic.twitter.com/S0ml1tVqKS [https://t.co/S0ml1tVqKS]

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) June 7, 2021
[https://twitter.com/MrChadBishop/status/1401925663498584066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Now, the Commodores will need the New Jersey native to pitch lights-out against
a talented East Carolina team desperate for their first College World Series
appearance (in an NCAA-record 31 tries). While Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin
has yet to announce a starter for Game 1 between Leiter and Rocker, whoever
takes the mound will face off against another elite arm in ECU's Gavin Williams
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=willia001gav] and a
lineup headlined by All-American second baseman Connor Norby
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=norby-000con].

SP Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt

It's a testament to Vanderbilt's starting staff that the 2019 CWS Most
Outstanding Player may not even start his team's playoff series. Still, that's
no knock on Kumar Rocker
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rocker000kum], a
dazzling talent with a different but just as overpowering skill set. Rocker, now
a junior, turned heads for the 2019 National Champion Commodores. On top of his
Most Outstanding Player award, he became the first-ever pitcher to toss a
no-hitter in the Super Regionals, silencing Duke's bats in a history-making 19
strikeout performance
[https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2019/06/09/vanderbilt-duke-baseball-live-score-updates-ncaa-tournament-2019-super-regionals-game-2/1322538001/]
. This season, Rocker was phenomenal, pitching to a 12-3 record with an ERA of
2.65, an improvement from his freshman year. 

> ⚓️ 19 K 
⚓️ Complete game
⚓️ No-Hitter

Two years ago today, @KumarRocker
[https://twitter.com/KumarRocker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] threw the first no-hitter
in Super Regionals history 🔥 @VandyBoys
[https://twitter.com/VandyBoys?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] pic.twitter.com/ah8vDcM96M
[https://t.co/ah8vDcM96M]

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) June 8, 2021
[https://twitter.com/SECNetwork/status/1402268454636371975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
The fact that this year's iteration of Vandy has an even more outstanding Rocker
and a new ace in Leiter is a chilling thought for the rest of the NCAA
Tournament field. So far, Rocker's postseason excellence has continued; he threw
a seven-inning shutout against Presbyterian
[https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2021/06/04/kumar-rocker-dominant-start-key-vanderbilt-baseball-nashville-regional/7513304002/] 
in Vanderbilt's first game of the tournament. Unlike Leiter, who has limited
playoff experience, Rocker has proven himself on college baseball's biggest
stage numerous times. If he gets the chance to pitch in an elimination game,
baseball fans across the country could be in for a can't-miss performance.

2B Jace Jung, Texas Tech

Few, if any, hitters were as good as Jace Jung
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=jung--002jac] was
for Texas Tech this season. The slugger knocked in 20 home runs (tied for 
seventh best in all of Division I
[https://www.ncaa.com/stats/baseball/d1/current/individual/470]) and 67 RBIs to
accompany a .706 slugging percentage this season. To top it off, the sophomore
had an outstanding .342 batting average. Jung's dominance at the plate earned
him a slew of regular season honors, such as a spot on the All-American team
[https://www.vivathematadors.com/2021/6/3/22508505/jace-jung-and-cal-conley-named-to-all-american-squads-postseason-2021] 
and the Big 12 Player of the Year
[https://www.everythinglubbock.com/sports/red-raider-nation/jace-jung-named-big-12-player-of-the-year/#:~:text=LUBBOCK%2C%20Texas%20%E2%80%94%20Texas%20Tech%20second,national%20leaders%20in%20several%20categories.]
, something that no underclassman had previously been awarded.

> JACE JUNG TAKING IT BIG FLY AND ABSOLUTELY FIRING UP THE CROWD IN LUBBOCK WHILE
THE BULLPEN RIDES THE RIGHT FIELD FENCE INJECT ALL OF THIS INTO OUR VEINS 🔴⚫️ 
pic.twitter.com/pxc8cIzeCp [https://t.co/pxc8cIzeCp]

— 11Point7: The College Baseball Podcast 🎙 (@11point7) June 6, 2021
[https://twitter.com/11point7/status/1401348339422142464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
With so much talent on display at such a young age, there are few things Jung
hasn't done in his young collegiate career. However, this will be his first ever
appearance in the Super Regionals, since 2020's postseason tournament was
cancelled due to COVID-19. With the Red Raiders set to face off against a tough
Stanford Cardinals squad, it will be up to Jung, fellow All-American Cal Conley
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=conley000cal], and
the rest of the Tech bats to carry the team. Will the bright lights of the
postseason prove too challenging for Jung, or will this budding star continue to
rake as he did in the regular season?

RP Kevin Kopps, Arkansas

Heading into the tournament, Arkansas is the number one overall seed and
favorite to take home a National Championship for the first time in program
history. The school has been represented in Omaha nine times throughout its
history, but has yet to take home the ultimate prize. This year's group may be
their best ever, sitting with a stellar 49-11 record
[https://www.secsports.com/standings/baseball], an SEC title, and the #1 overall
ranking in the country.

While these Razorbacks are certainly a well-rounded attack, no player has been
more important than reliever Kevin Kopps
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kopps-000kev].
"Reliever" is simply a title, as Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn is quick to
bring his best arm into the game at any given notice. So far, Kopps has rewarded
his head coach's faith...and then some. The senior has pitched to a perfect 12-0
record, accompanied by an absurd 0.68 ERA across 79.2 innings pitched, easily
the best in the nation. Even more astounding may be Kopps' mix of quality
pitches (headlined by an unhittable cutter) and supreme command; his 8.00
strikeout-to-walk ratio is tops amongst Power 5 pitchers
[https://www.ncaa.com/stats/baseball/d1/current/individual/590]. 

> Hitters know Kevin Kopps’ cutter is coming.

But it simply doesn’t matter.@jjcoop36
[https://twitter.com/jjcoop36?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] has the numbers on how
opposing hitters have fared against the pitch this year and it’s....not pretty.
https://t.co/V99zOtafwG

(🎥 @PitchingNinja [https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw])
pic.twitter.com/j3lUVh2aeO [https://t.co/j3lUVh2aeO]

— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 9, 2021
[https://twitter.com/BaseballAmerica/status/1402673756544376842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Expectations are sky-high for both Kopps and Arkansas. As this season's breakout
player, Kopps may very well win the Golden Spikes award
[https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/kopps-named-golden-spikes-award-semifinalist/] 
for best player in the nation. While concerns about a ramped up postseason
workload have been mentioned, he's shown no signs of slowing down to start the
tournament, tossing 13.1 scoreless innings over three appearances out of the
bullpen. To capture the first title in school history, Arkansas will first need
Kopps to continue pitching at an elite level in the Super Regionals. Anything
less may lead to a massive upset in Fayetteville against the red-hot bats of NC
State.

OF Dylan Crews, LSU

Few players in college baseball possess the five-tool skillset of LSU's Dylan
Crews [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=crews-000dyl].
The freshman has been the best hitter on a good, if slightly underwhelming,
Tigers team, batting .361 to go along with 16 homers, 40 RBIs, an on-base
percentage of .455, and 12 stolen bases. At just 19 years of age, Crews has 
already earned himself All-American honors
[https://www.fox8live.com/2021/06/09/3-lsu-freshmen-earn-all-american-honors/],
and could be hitting just the tip of the iceberg as far as his potential. Crews'
fantastic play in the regional against Oregon bodes well for the rest of the
tournament:

> Dylan Crews, Eugene Regional, 4 games:

10 for 16 (.625)
3 HR
2 2B
1 3B
6 runs scored 
4 RBI
2 BB
24 total bases 
1.438 slugging 
0.667 on base percentage 
2.105 OPS #LSU [https://twitter.com/hashtag/LSU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
https://t.co/Su1gBhII4o

— Cody Worsham (@CodyWorsham) June 7, 2021
[https://twitter.com/CodyWorsham/status/1401900711177293828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
With all that being said, LSU faces a tall task in the Super Regionals against
Tennessee. The Vols have had their number all season, sweeping the season series
against the Tigers en route to an SEC East title. Legendary LSU head coach Paul
Mainieri called out the Tennessee crowd and players for "nasty" behavior
[https://247sports.com/Article/Tennessee-Vols-Baseball-Tony-Vitello-responds-to-LSUs-Paul-Mainieri-criticizing-Tennessee-fans-players-166345122/] 
following their three-game series in late March, remarks that should only rile
up the Knoxville crowd even further. Of all the Super Regional matchups this
weekend, this meeting of SEC rivals promises to be a nail-biter.

Given their struggles against Tennessee this year and LSU's somewhat
inconsistent inter-conference play (38-23 overall record but 13-17 against SEC
teams), it's hard to pick the Tigers to pull this one out. If they have any shot
at pulling off the road upset, chances are it will come from Crews, one of the
few hitters in the Super Regionals who can impact the game with both his bat and
his legs. Other members of a solid LSU lineup will also need to play their best
baseball of the season, such as Tre' Morgan
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=morgan002tre] and 
Gavin Dugas
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dugas-000gav].
Still, Tennessee's pitching game plan will likely focus on holding Crews in
check; a failure to do so could make things interesting.

College World Series: Five Players To Watch During Super Regionals

Goalkeepers are really the only ones on the field who you can't compete without. 

Don't have a superstar forward that can take a rip with either foot? No worries,
teams still score own goals on themselves all the time. Can't find a wing to
throw in a ball that went out of bounds? Eventually the other team will just
throw it back into play for you. You don't need midfielders either or a row
defenders in the back.

But, you do need a goalie. Your team could survive a whole season with only a
keeper doing the work. They would be setting records for saves and most likely
goals scored against, but the game would go on and you could still get a tie if
the goalkeeper was the last man standing.

So, keepers are important. It isn't the flashiest position or the one that get's
the most praise - in fact, usually goalies go unnoticed until they make a great
save or unfortuanately, when a zero isn't on the scoreboard anymore. But, they
are the one player who is allowed to hold the fate of the game in their hands.

And that is why I want to see more young soccer athletes give it a try. So, I'm
lining out the Four Most Important Skills Goalkeepers Need To Learn.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before I tell you the first one, I wanted to give you a bonus tip and that is
that every great goalie needs to lose their fear of failure. Being fearless and
playing with a short memory is the major key to playing soccer well.

If you let in a goal, bounce back. If you miss your mark on a goal kick, there
will be hundreds more to kick in your career. So, no matter what happens, play
without fear of what could go wrong and focus on everything that can go right.

Know you are the only player on the field who really controls the game. And play
free and have fun.

Alright. Now, blow the whistle and let's get this started.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) Be Willing To Sacrifice
 * Be Gritty, Risk Your Body, And Work Harder Than The Rest

You are the last line of defense, literally. So, what happens between the pipes
is going to stay there. There's no such thing as a beautiful save. There's just
beautiful shots that you keep out of the net.

Whether you catch a perfectly-bent set piece just before it nestles into the
upper-90 or crawl on all fours to chase down deflected ball that's rolling
toward the line, a save is a save. So, get over what you look like on the field
because a shut out will always look better.

Being a goalie means you are one of the craziest people on the field and you
love wreaking havoc on the ones who like to score. Your job is to keep the net
clean by whatever means necessary, even if you can't keep yourself clean.

Usually this means having to develop some grit. Goalkeepers most overlooked
attribute is their ability to endure a tough game. When the other team is hot,
you are going to see a lot of hard-kicked shots coming at all angles of the net.
The most important thing to do is to always get back up and be ready for the
next one.

Bouncing up from the ground and getting back to position is tough to do for
90-plus minutes, so naturally, goalkeepers have to work harder than everybody
else. Your practice looks different than all of your teammates, but when the
whistle blows to run at the end of the day, you'll be right there, continuing to
push yourself and your teammates.

To be a great goalie, you have to love the sacrifice. You have to come into
every situation, whether it's a late-season shootout or a Saturday morning
practice, with the same intensity, always willing to lay out and get your kit
dirty.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Adapt With Every Save You Make
 * Know Your Competition So You Can Predict Everything

Just because you're spending the match in your own box, doesn't mean you aren't
responsible for everything on the field.

As a goalie, you have one of the best views on the field and you have to look at
the game with the same mindset as a coach. For example:

 * If the other team is doubling your center-mid, you have to know that and
   start distributing the ball beyond them to the forwards or to either of the
   wings.
 * If your opponent has a forward who can create space and put pace on a shot
   with both feet, you need to be ready for that.
 * If your back row isn't paying attention to a wing making an attack up the
   opposite side, it's up to you to yell and tell them to find them.

All over the field, there are things happening that only you can see. Find out
who the strongest players are and help your team create mismatches. Distribute
the ball from goal kicks or overhead throws in order to exploit holes you see.
Goalkeepers are able to play chess, while their teammates can only see checkers.

Additionally, keepers need to adapt with every attack the other team makes. Ask
yourself questions throughout the game and know what the other team is trying to
do.

Who is making the runs? How is the center-mid distributing to the forwards? What
foot is each attacker most comfortable on? How deep is your back row and is the
opposition taking advantage?

Seeing and analyzing each scenario not only helps your team win, but it helps
you conserve energy, distribute better balls to your attackers, and stop more
shots from even getting off your opponents' feet.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) Get The Strongest Leg Around
* Build Strength and Learn The Importance Of Field Position 

The first thing a coach or a manager is going to do when looking for goalkeeper
prospects is ask them to showcase their leg. Whether it's a goal kick or a set
piece from outside the 18, coaches need to know how strong your leg is before
they can trust you in the net.

This is because soccer is a game of field position. You can have great hands or
be able to cover the entire net, but if you can't distribute the ball deep into
the opponent's field from your own box, you're out of luck.

Being able to get the ball from your net to your center mid and forwards is
essential. It helps your team gain possession quickly and make only a few
passes
upfield before they can look to score. And most importantly, booting the ball
deep out of your own end makes it a lot more difficult for the other team to
regain possession on your side, and that means you can have a little time to
relax.

To develop a stronger leg, focus on you mechanics and raw strength. Running,
squatting, and jumping is the simplest way to build leg muscles and the more
strength you have, the more powerful your leg will become.

When it comes to mechanics, ensure you have a solid core and repeatable routine
that gives you momentum as you step up to the ball. A goal kick, set piece, or
a
boot from your own box should be something you can do the same way thousand of
times. Knowing what your service balls look like helps your team to field them
and makes a one-touch move to get the ball upfield.

If you don't have the strongest leg, don't get discouraged. While having a boot
that can put the ball anywhere on the field, accuracy and consistency are also
valuable traits. If you can't get it all the way to your forwards, practice
delivering the most accurate ball you can to the wings or to the center mid. If
you can hit a certain spot on the field every time, your coach will help find
someone who can field it routinely and help your team start the attack.

Also, another way to become a great asset as a distributer is practicing your
overhead throws and drop-kicks. These are two unique ways to get the ball deep
down field that involve different movements you may be more comfortable with.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) Learn To Be The Leader
* Be The Loudest And Most Positive Teammate No Matter What

Soccer is a game of movement. Each player moves into and out of their zones,
with outside backs running the entire length of the field to join the attack.

Goalies, on the other hand, remain in one space - between the posts. You may
run
to the corner flags to defend an errant pass by the other team or sprint to
midfield to clear a ball after your team's shot is cleared from the opponent's
goal, but a majority of the 90 minutes is spent in your box.

For your team, that means they will always look to you for on-field coaching.
You have to be loud. You have to tell the midfielders when they are out of
positions or when they are crowding one side. You have to tell the back row
where the holes are and be loud enough to get them back to their spot. A coach
can't see that from the sideline. But a goalie is always checking on the
spacing
and effort of his ten teammates.

Additionally, because you occupy your team's goal the entire game, you have to
be positive. Teammates look to you to affect the momentum of the game. A
goalkeeper has the ability to keep their team in the game by keeping the net
empty, but you can also affect the game by having high energy and inspiring the
rest of your team on the field.

You have a positive mindset! When you make many saves in a row you can’t get
too
cocky. Then when you let some balls into the net, you can’t get down on
yourself
and quit. No one is perfect. It is impossible to save every shot. You win some
and you lose some, but you will continue to improve as long as you stay
positive
and focused. From a goalie position you can see the game from a whole different
perspective. You must be there for your team and be supportive and encouraging.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scotty Jenkins [https://gmtm.com/articles/author/scotty-jenkins] is a staff
writer for GMTM covering all kinds of events in sports. He grew up in Nebraska
in the midst of the Husker football dynasty of the '90s... and has been aging
rapidly ever since.

[https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/] [https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/]

Four Of The Most Important Skills Every Soccer Goalkeeper Has To Develop

Nisshanth Perumalsamy

With over 30 Virtual Events happening live on GMTM right now, athletes from all
over the world are leveraging their talent and finding opportunities easier than
ever.

From volleyball to bobsledding and every sport in between, athletes young and
old are finding new opportunities when they add content to their GMTM profiles.

Here are a few of the athletes making an impression on coaches this week!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cruz Herrera [https://gmtm.com/athletes/1327742], Elite 11's Digital Combine
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/3]
Cruz is a class of 2022 quarterback who is looking to be a part of this year's
elite 11 class. He is 6 foot 1 and currently runs 4.93 second 40 time at 190
pounds.

In his 2 seasons at St. Mary's High School, he has put up 1,960 yards alongside
25 touchdowns. View his profile here
[https://gmtm.com/athletes/1327742/cruz-herrera].

> Junior Season Highlights @Greg_Panelli
[https://twitter.com/Greg_Panelli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] @CoachDanny10
[https://twitter.com/CoachDanny10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] https://t.co/g4k6RMNTFl

— Cruz Herrera (@herrera_cruz10) April 28, 2021
[https://twitter.com/herrera_cruz10/status/1387237221674061824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan Radik [https://gmtm.com/athletes/1330595], USA Bobsled and Skeleton
Digital Combine: Season 2 [https://gmtm.com/virtuals/4]
Logan Radik is a former top 10 division 2 college wrestler, who is now trying to
transfer those skills into bobsled. He is a freak athlete who can power clean
360 pounds and squat 485 pounds with ease.

He also has a broad jump of 3.08 yards and weighs 235 pounds. View his profile 
here [https://gmtm.com/athletes/1330595].


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryan Schadler [https://gmtm.com/athletes/1332789], USA Bobsled and Skeleton
Digital Combine: Season 2 [https://gmtm.com/virtuals/4]
Ryan is an athlete from Wichita, Kansas, where he played basketball, football,
and track at an all-state level in high school. He then went onto run track for
Wichita State University and eventually transfer to the University of Kansas,
where he was the all-big 12 kick of returner twice.

Now, his next athletic challenge is to be one of the best bobsledders possible!
View his profile here [https://gmtm.com/athletes/1332789/ryan-schadler].


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Micaela Pekarek [https://gmtm.com/athletes/1328741/micaela-pekarek], USA
Bobsled
and Skeleton Digital Combine: Season 2 [https://gmtm.com/virtuals/4]
Micaela is a 25-year-old nutrition coach from Chanhassen, Minnesota. In high
school, she played lacrosse and even coached lacrosse for a few years.

Now, she is a CrossFit athlete who loves to travel and trying to be a part of
the Team USA Bobsled and Skeleton Team! View her profile here
[https://gmtm.com/athletes/1328741/micaela-pekarek].


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meryl Gibbs [https://gmtm.com/athletes/1333028], USA Team Handball – Women’s
National Team Virtual Tryout [https://gmtm.com/virtuals/64]
Meryl is a multi-sport athlete who was the captain of the MIT varsity volleyball
team throughout college. After college, she was missing the competition, so she
got into handball and landed a spot on the DC Diplomats, where she played left
wing and left-back.

Her goal is to not only make the team USA handball team, but also be a part of
the handball revolution. View her profile here
[https://gmtm.com/athletes/1333028/meryl-gibbs].


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GMTM Athletes Of The Week - June 2nd, 2021

Rebekah Morris

Whether you are a defensive specialist, a setter, or an attacker, increasing
your vertical and jump height will help you in your volleyball skills.

While playing the game over and over through practice will help fundamental
skills, putting time in at the gym or track will increase your strength, speed,
core, and vertical. 

As a volleyball player, increasing your vertical can improve numerous volleyball
skills including attacking, blocking, serving, and even defense.

Here are ten tips and workouts to increase your vertical, and a lot of them will
contain what it takes to get that vertical up: jumping. Some people will already
have a high vertical, and for others more work can be put in to create a higher
jump.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) Know Where You're Starting
The first tip to increase your vertical is to have a gauge of it. You need to
know what your vertical is in order to increase it.

To do this, you can start off by standing next to a tall wall with a Post-It in
your hand. Jump as high as you can and try to stick the Post-It at the highest
point your hand can reach. Retest every two weeks or whatever increment you like
and see if your vertical has increased.

There are many ways to test your vertical but having a number to start with will
give you motivation to increase it and it will be a good test week by week to
see how your jump is increasing.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Use A Jump Rope Often
While jumping rope isn't as fun as playing volleyball or doing fun challenges
like 'box jumps', it is an effective way to increase your calf muscles while
also working on cardio.

Jumping rope also increases your ankle and foot muscles, preventing the chance
of sprain or injuries in the future as well. Constantly jumping will help get
your body in the rhythm that it means to be jumping all the time, which is what
front row players do in volleyball.

Watch the video above to learn about different ways to jump rope to increase
your vertical jump.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) Increase Explosiveness With Plyometrics
Increasing your explosiveness is key when trying to increase your vertical
because explosiveness is all about exerting as much force as possible, very
quickly. A routine of quick, forceful jumping movements called plyometrics is
designed to increase your explosiveness, which will increase the height of your
jump. 

Plyometrics, a form of 'jump training', can include:

 * Lateral Jumps (pushing off each leg as you jump from side to side)
 * Single-Leg Bounds (jumping upwards with one leg)
 * Squat Jumps
 * Tuck Jumps
 * Depth Jumps
 * Split-Squat Jumps
 * Broad Jumps
 * Box Jumps
 * Attack Jumps
 * And a few others...

These jumping movements will, in time, create an explosiveness that will enable
you to literally reach above your opponents. The more and more you jump, the
higher you will be reaching.

Here is great workout from NBC Camps
[https://www.vertimax.com/blog/increase-vertical-jump] that volleyball players
can use to build leg muscles and increase their vertical reach.It is also
important to note that a volleyball approach jump is different than a block
jump. Plyometrics can help you develop both of these skills as they are slightly
different jumps in how you start and finish.

Continue to change up your jumps and routines to gain full reach, while also
developing unique muscles to increase your longevity on the court.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) Don't Forget To Bulk Up Your Lower Body 
Plyometrics are not the only exercise needed to increase your vertical jump.
Strength training, weightlifting, and resistance training are also invaluable
ways to develop your leg muscles.

Gaining muscle in your lower body will enable you to be more powerful, move
quicker across the court, and increase your endurance as you jump and shift for
five sets.

Strength exercises like dead lifts and squats are controlled movements that will
build power in your legs. To really add inches to your vertical, you will need
to have a good balance of different types of training for the entirety of your
volleyball career.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) Fall In Love With Burpees
Even though they have one of the worst reputations, Burpees are another great
way to help increase your vertical leap. 

Long considered one of the most demanding resistance exercises, Burpees are
among the most natural ways to teach athletes how to get into a position and
explode into a leap using one swift motion. A favorite of Crossfit athletes who
make them an essential part of most WODs, Burpees will also increase your
endurance and help develop your upper body and core.

Working on all of these muscle groups will help your explosiveness and increase
your vertical, while also helping you get more comfortable with other
plyometric
exercises.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6) Never. Ever. Forget To Stretch.
Exercise and strength training are not the only way to increase your vertical
jump. Another great way to add some inches to your jumps is increasing your
flexibility.

Flexibility does play a role in your vertical jump, and by becoming more
limber,
you'll be able to reach your highest range every time.

Three easy stretches you can do in every gymnasium are the: 

Seated Hamstring Stretch
Sit on the floor with both legs stretch flat against the surface. Tuck one foot
into the inside knee of the other leg, while keeping that leg straight. Keep
your toes flexed backward, aiming them at your torso. Hold the pose and reach
both hands toward your foot and feel the burn.

Stair Calf Stretch
Find a step on the bleachers or somewhere outside of the court, place the ball
of one or both of your feet on the edge so the rest of your foot is hanging in
the air. Release your ankles towards the floor and you'll feel the stretch in
your calves and the back of your thighs. 

If you're stretching only one leg, lightly rest the other on the surface of the
same step for balance, or rest it on the calf you are stretching as you bend
your knee.

Seated Cross Stretch
Take one foot and cross it on top of the opposite leg, resting your ankle just
above the knee.With the leg still firmly on the ground, start lowering your
butt
slowly towards the floor. As you sit down, you’ll feel your glutes expanding
and
relief in your IT band.

Stretching muscles that become tight and tense enables your muscles to avoid
become restricted, and will help you to avoid cramps before, during, and after
a
long match on the sand or an indoor court.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7) A Solid Core Isn't Just For Beach Players
Other sports sometimes have a focus on the physical look of athletes due to
physical contact being involved in the sport. Many people think height is the
only metric college coaches look for in recruiting, but shorter hitters can
make
huge impacts if they have a great vertical reach after leaving the ground.

Because volleyball is not a contact sport, there is an even higher emphasis on
what athletes can do in the open area. Like what you feel when you do Burpees,
jumping and stability starts in your abdomens and your core.

Strengthening your core with ab workouts, planks, sit-ups, v-ups, and others
will increase your stability and also help to increase your vertical.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get jumping! The higher your vertical gets, the easier it will be to hit around
or over the opponent's blockers, to block other hitters, to hit the ball
downwards and achieve kills, and impact serves and back row attack capabilities.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rebekah Morris [https://gmtm.com/articles/author/rebekah-morris] is a
contributing writer and former D-III volleyball player at Minnesota-Morris,
with
over a decade of experience at the club, high school, and collegiate levels.
She
currently serves as head coach at her former high school in Grand Rapids,
Minnesota.





[https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/]

Seven Tips Every Volleyball Player Needs To Increase Their Vertical Jump

Few colleges in the nation have the rich history and tradition of Notre Dame.
Located in South Bend, Indiana, the university was founded by French-born priest
Edward F. Sorin, who sought to build a "great Catholic university in America".

During Notre Dame's century-long success in college football, questions about
the link between athletics and religion have always been present as well. Does
the school only recruit Catholic athletes, or are players from all faiths
welcome to play football?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Catholicism and Football's History
As previously mentioned, Notre Dame and Catholicism are inseparable from each
other. The university is possibly the most famous Catholic institution in
America, but to many, the school is most synonymous with gridiron glory. 

For American Catholics, the football team's winning ways represented something
bigger than national titles, even for those who weren't even alums. The team
gave a religious minority that was often socially outcast a sense of pride and
honor
[https://religionunplugged.com/news/2019/11/21/why-notre-dame-football-matters-to-american-catholics]
. During the mid-20th century, so-called "Subway Alums" began to pop up in
cities such as New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago. These fans had never
graduated or attended Notre Dame, let alone stepped foot on campus, but rallied
behind the university's religious identity.

On the field, recruiters for Notre Dame have long looked towards Catholic high
schools for the next wave of Fighting Irish talent. Many of the university's
legendary players, such as Alan Page, Paul Hornung, and Dave Casper, came from
Catholic high schools. However, other stars have been recruited from the public
school ranks, including Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis, Rocket Ismail, and Tim
Brown. 

Finding talented players from every corner of the country, in spite of high
academic standards, is something the Irish pride themselves on. This is not
defined solely by location, but faith as well. With rigid guidelines in place
as
far as grade point average and personal conduct, Notre Dame's football
recruiters value character, not personal beliefs. 

> We are very proud of the tremendous job our student-athletes did in the
classroom this spring. Amidst all the uncertainty of the pandemic, they
achieved
a record setting team GPA. 

Congratulations to the entire group!☘️#GraduatingChampions
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/GraduatingChampions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] 
pic.twitter.com/suWxW5jPXp [https://t.co/suWxW5jPXp]

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) June 15, 2020
[https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1272582875335008258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Faith On and Off the Field
While Notre Dame admits students of all faiths and varying backgrounds, just 
18%
identify as something other than Catholic
[https://admissions.nd.edu/visit-engage/stories-news/a-christian-at-a-catholic-university/]
. Although all faiths are welcome on campus, the university does not shy away
from its roots, as most school administrators in and outside of athletics
identify as Catholics. While current head coach Brian Kelly is a practicing
Catholic, this does not mean that the football team forces its players to
follow
a certain religion over others.

Before every game, Notre Dame conducts a mass overseen by two Catholic priests
on Friday evening
[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324374004578219850217704718].
While this congregation is obviously steeped in the beliefs of one faith, it is
seen more as a school ritual rather than a religious one. Many of the football
team's captains have willingly led the team in Catholic religious chants such
as
the Hail Mary. For 2002 team captain and Southern Baptist George Sapp, the
prayer was simply "one tradition in a school rich with tradition", according to
the Wall Street Journal
[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324374004578219850217704718].

Plenty of Notre Dame's best players have found comfort in the school's
Catholic-influenced structure, even if they don't follow the religion
themselves. Former ND linebacker and Heisman finalist Mant'i Teo is a devout
Mormon, yet chose to come to South Bend, where he found an opening community
that accepted him and his beliefs. Then-Athletic Director John Heisler
[https://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/27/mormon-linebacker-helps-lead-catholic-notre-dame-to-national-championship-game/comment-page-4/]

stated in 2012 (Teo's senior year) that the "emphasis here is that this is a
place of faith and it really doesn’t matter what your faith is".

Joining Notre Dame is not a decision for everybody. While it is still one of
the
premier football colleges in America, it is fair to say that some of the allure
the school's program once had has been diminished by a thirty-three year
national title drought. Still, this is a place that has not only produced
quality teams in recent memory, but NFL-ready players as well. 

Although non-Catholics are a clear minority on campus, this does not mean that
they feel excluded
[https://admissions.nd.edu/visit-engage/stories-news/a-christian-at-a-catholic-university/]
. While some may be wary of the university's unabashedly Catholic culture, part
of what attracts many non-Catholics to Notre Dame is the school's openness to
other ideas and perspectives. Simply put, this is a college and football team
that strives for excellence, and looks to recruit young men who are committed
to
being the best they can be. 

As a school rooted in tradition, Notre Dame may feel like a living museum to
college football's past. However, their sustained, if not exceptional, success
in modern times (A .723 winning percentage
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/brian-kelly-2.html] during
Kelly's
11 seasons as head coach) would not be possible without the contributions of
every player, regardless of their religion. Notre Dame does not shy away from
its Catholic tenets, but it is also a place that has made people of all beliefs
feel welcome on campus, especially those who choose to wear the gold and blue.

[https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/] [https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/]

Does Notre Dame Only Recruit Catholic Athletes?

Before GMTM helped USA Team Handball host their Women’s National Team Virtual
Tryout [https://gmtm.com/virtuals/64/usa-team-handball] this, I only knew three
things about the sport:

 * It was easily the most entertaining sport I've seen in past Olympic Games.
 * It is extremely popular among European countries.
 * Every athlete starts watching it, then immediately says they could start
   playing it and eventually win an Olympic medal.

While these few points are about the same ones every other American has drawn
from the sport, they do raise a couple intriguing questions.

So, using these very shallow, but seemingly accurate assumptions about Team
Handball as a guide, I am going to explain the rules and the reasons why this
sport may be more difficult than you think.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The Most Entertaining Sport In The Olympic Games"
While it only shows up on my radar once every four years, Team Handball is a
sport that I can't stop watching each time the Olympics are on. The speed of the
game, the very straightforward rules, and the sheer size and athleticism of the
athletes are a combination that's hard to find in any of the more popular
American sport. 

Not to mention the unwavering intensity and patriotism of the fans, coaches, and
athletes that swirls above the court throughout the tournament.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Handball Has A Lot Of Similarities To Other Sports
Handball, to me, is especially interesting because it draws similarities to
multiple different sports. For instance:

Similar to basketball, handball athletes wear no protective equipment, the ball
is moved by passing and dribbling, and kicking the ball is illegal, except for
the goalie.

A similarity that team handball has to basketball and soccer, another popular
European sport, is a form of free kick or 'free throws'.

A 'free throw' in handball, like in basketball, is given when the defending team
commits a rules infraction. And similar to soccer, when this happens, play is
stopped by the ref and the attacking player (offense) gets a free shot at the
goal from the spot of the violation or from a line near the outside the goal
area.

More similarities to soccer include the basic objective they share. The goal of
team handball is to put the ball in the back of the opponent's net. But,
handball players, as the name suggests, more often throw the ball past the
goalie rather than use their feet or head like in soccer.

Goalies in handball are also very similar to goalkeepers in soccer. They wear a
different colored jersey than the rest of their team and can use any part of
their body to block or catch a shot from the opposing team.

Throw-ins are a part of handball that is similar to most sports with out of
bounds lines like rugby, soccer, and basketball.

When the ball, goes out of bounds, the team that touched the ball last loses
possession and the other team is awarded a sideline throw. A sideline throw,
like in basketball, must be passed in and no shots can be taken from out of
bounds.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olympic Sports Explained: What is Team Handball?

Joseph Grant

As an Athlete, I’ve always looked to find meaning in my workouts. Usually this
motivation comes internally - working to get better or be the best I can for my
personal or team goals. 

With Memorial Day coming up this Monday, May 31st, I wanted to shed some light
on a more widely known workout that has a great depth of meaning to our lost
veterans. This specific workout is known in the tactical fitness community as a
“Hero WOD”(Workout Of the Day). 

That workout is 'The Murph Challenge' - found here on GMTM
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/53/navy-fit-challenge/tasks/624/the-murph-challenge]. 

The Murph Challenge is an homage to medal of honor recipient and Navy SEAL -
Michael Murphy. Murphy passed away tragically when taking enemy fire, while
heroically moving to an exposed position to gain reception to call in assistance
for his SEAL team.

A short recap of Murphy’s actions, according to the Navy as reported in
Men’sHealth “unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his own life moved
into the open, where he could gain a better position to transmit a call to get
help for his men.

This deliberate and heroic act deprived him of cover and made him a target for
the enemy. He was shot in the back, causing him to drop the transmitter. Murphy
picked it back up, completed the call and continued firing at the enemy who was
closing in.”

The result of this mission was the unfortunate loss of Murphy and his teammates
Petty Officers Danny Dietz, Matthew Axelson, and a helicopter of 16 Special
Forces members. The 4th teammate on the mission, Marcus Luttrell, did in fact
espace and the account is remembered in the motion picture film “Lone
Survivor”.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What 'The Murph Challenge'
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/53/navy-fit-challenge/tasks/624/the-murph-challenge]

Consists Of
In 2007, local crossfit gyms across the nation began honoring this mission in
the only way CrossFit gyms know how - they made it a workout.

The Murph Challenge was born. This is a difficult workout for Athletes of all
ages and skill levels. 

The workout consists of:
* Run 1 mile
* 100 Pullups
* 200 Pushups
* 300 Squats
* Run 1 mile


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Athletes can take different strategies to accomplish this workout, but we
recommend finding a steady pace and taking your time through completion.
Guidelines from wodtimecalculator.com [http://wodtimecalculator.com] show time
expectancy for your relative skill level as follows:


* Elite Athletes - Under 30 minutes
* Advanced Athletes - Under 45 minutes
* Beginners - A good milestone is 60 mins to completion


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why GMTM Wants Every Athlete To Try The Challenge
We’ve partnered with the US Navy to help spread awareness of their initiatives
and could not be more excited to have the official Murph Challenge
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/53/navy-fit-challenge/tasks/624/the-murph-challenge],
hosted on GMTM.

To participate in the Murph Challenge on GMTM, we recommend videoing the most
challenging portion of your workout and why your motivation is carrying you
through the challenge.

Stay hydrated and happy competing!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joseph Grant [https://gmtm.com/articles/author/joseph-grant] founded GMTM in
2019 to help connect athletes to more opporunities in sports. In his own
athletic career, Joey played college football at UCF, won the Fiesta Bowl in
2014, and served as a Recruiting Assistant to Scott Frost before the Knights'
perfect season in 2017.

[https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/]

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