"Come on. Get over it. Move on. It's just a game!" Most sports lovers have, at some stage of their sporting lives, experienced what they perceived to be a significant sporting injustice and had their complaints answered with just such a response. But is it "just a game?" Do injustices within the sporting realm have the potential to do real damage to individuals and to … [Read more...]
“Talk it up!” – Nup, says Socrates. “If you’ve got nuthin’ useful to say, then shut up!”
Of all the dumb things that get yelled to members of a sports team from the sideline the most excruciatingly brain free is “come on… talk it up!” When did “talk among yourselves” become a thing? This is particularly so in soccer. Oh, soccer coaches have an array of stupid things that they bellow throughout a match (such as “give her an option” or “come on… let’s win those … [Read more...]
The secret to sublime soccer – great players see and create “Ma”
One of the most unheralded and beautiful elements of sport… well, of good sport, anyway… is the thing that the Japanese call Ma. Ma, or negative space, as it is sometimes called, is well-known in the spheres of art, design, architecture, drama, dance and music but, when used properly, is also one of the most powerful tools available to an athlete or sports team. This is … [Read more...]
Nothing better than a “hit up”… but
In recent weeks I have noticed that some of the more flamboyant National Rugby League teams have been breaking the unwritten rule that, when in possession deep in their own half of the field, big forwards must make “hit ups” to gain field position. Teams like Parramatta and Eastern Suburbs have occasionally taken the riskier option of making a few passes to get the ball away … [Read more...]
Olympics Rugby Teams – Who are the greatest?
U.S.A. Olympic Rugby Champions The mighty United States of America hold the record, of course! The Seppos won the gold medal in the 1920 (Antwerp, Belgium) games and the 1924 (Paris, France) games meaning that they are the only country to win the Rugby Olympic gold medal twice. Other gold medalists are France and Australasia (Wallabies) who have won the gold once … [Read more...]