SpiekeKey Beach 2012

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For Players. By Players.

Reading the Wind

Mother and Athlete California’s Top Beach Volleyball Cities

FREE Bracelet Inside

Sponsorships 101

Surf & Turf

Workout

Letter from the Editor We’re proud to be part of the excitement surrounding beach volleyball in 2010 and to bring you the second edition of SpikeKey Beach. This new collection reaches the beaches at a fascinating moment in the history of beach/sand volleyball, a time when it feels like our sport is on the verge of very big things.

Just consider the recent developments we’ve seen: the AVP’s new television deal with ESPN and ABC; a new AVP title sponsor, NIVEA; a new AVP commissioner, Mike Dodd; new partnerships at the top of the beach volleyball rankings; and sand volleyball’s newfound recognition by the NCAA. That’s a lot of “news.” What’s more is that SpikeKey Beach now offers players, trainers, and beach culture authorities a medium of expression they’ve never had, a place to share their stories and knowledge in their own words, with fans, friends, colleagues, and competitors.

Whether a fan or a participant, what we know about the player looking at us from across the net, or the professional we see on TV is often limited to how they look in a bathing suit, statistics, or the shots they can and can’t hit.

It’s the aim of this second edition of SpikeKey Beach to elevate your understanding and relationship with our sport’s most famous professionals and weekend warriors to new levels. In the pages that follow, you’ll learn how the rigors and joys of motherhood affect the careers of several players. You’ll meet Lindsey, wife of

Greg Warner • Webmaster Greg@SpikeKey.com

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Contributing Photographers Marc Serota, Giovanni Lunardi, Tracy Genovese, Claire Felix-Davies, and Ed Chan.

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We hope you enjoy the 2010 beach volleyball season and this second edition of SpikeKey Beach! See you on the beach!

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With that said, a heartfelt “thank you” goes out to all the pros, trainers, and contributing authors who shared their time and talents to make this second edition of SpikeKey Beach possible. Without their help, SpikeKey Beach wouldn’t the entertaining, informative, and fun magazine you’ve come to expect.

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In addition, you’ll discover just how you can be a part of our booming sport by learning directly from trainers, players, and other professionals how to get your game and body in shape, the ins and outs of becoming a pro, California’s best beach volleyball hangouts, how to find and negotiate sponsorships, and much more. No matter what level you play at, or even if you’re a casual observer, you’ll be welcomed into the close community of friends that makes beach volleyball the incredible sport it is.

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Sue Smith • Ad Sales Sue@SpikeKey.com

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AVP pro Matt Olson, and hear her reflect on the highs and lows of a beach volleyball marriage. Also, superstar Angie Akers opens up about the role athletics played in her personal development.

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FEATURES

THE TOURS 3 Beach Volleyball Tours Primed for a Big 2010 Tours bring new sponsors to the beach.

Did you hear sideout volleyball is back?

SPIKEKEY BEACH SPOTLIGHT 17 Reading the Wind

Six tips for the windy match

25 Angie Akers

From the heartland to sandy shores

34 Mother and Athlete

Balancing the rigors of training and competing with the demands of pregnancy and motherhood

42 The Life of a Wife

Lindsey Olson shares the highs and lows of an AVP marriage

TRAVEL THE BEACH CIRCUIT 48 On Tour with David Fisher

A beach volleyball “tour,” in every sense of the word

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Tall is Beautiful

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52 California’s Top Beach Volleyball Cities

Exploring the hidden gems of beach volleyball’s Mecca

THE BEST BODY ON THE BEACH 64 A Bag of Sand a Day to Enhance Your Play Sandbag training is making waves

Sponsorships 101

68 More Game, Less Pain The connection between back pain and volleyball

INFUSE YOUR BODY AND MIND 78 Liquid Fuel

Drinks are quick and easy. But do they provide what an athlete needs?

83 Don’t Be a Drive Thru Investor

Slow and steady wins the investing race

BEAUTY AND STYLE 88 Tall is Beautiful

Ever heard “Do you play basketball”?

Or, “How tall are you”?

92 Tap into Your Beach Beauty

Play hard and look fabulous with easy hairstyles

95 Top Ten Beach Gear in 2010

Make the transition from seaside to tableside a breeze ON THE COVER

AVP Professional, Albert Hannemann Photographer, Marc Serota www.marcserota.com 2

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Sunday

May 9, 2010

Men’s & Women’s Open Men’s & Women’s AA, A, B Co-Ed AA, A, B Boys & Girls U20, U18, U16, U14, U12

Pier 60 Saturday Clearwater, FL June 12, 2010

Sunday

June 13, 2010

Men’s & Women’s Open Men’s & Women’s AA, A, B Co-Ed AA, A, B Boys & Girls U20, U18, U16, U14, U12

VENUE

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Men’s & Women’s Open Men’s & Women’s AA, A, B Co-Ed AA, A, B Boys & Girls U20, U18, U16, U14, U12

Pier 60 Saturday Clearwater, FL August 14, 2010

Sunday

August 15, 2010

DATES

Pier 60 Saturday Clearwater, FL July 31, 2010

Sunday

August 1, 2010

DATES

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Men’s & Women’s Open Men’s & Women’s AA, A, B Co-Ed AA, A, B Boys & Girls U20, U18, U16, U14, U12

www.ssova.com

The Art of Reading the Wind Six ways to approach a windy match

By Chara Harris Professional Beach Volleyball Player and Biology Teacher

One of the many elements of beach volleyball not present in indoor volleyball is wind. You can always tell who has recently transitioned from indoor to the beach by sticking them on a sand court with wind. They can barely serve the ball over the net, get aced frequently, and look like chickens running around with their heads cut off. Just as you can’t truly learn how to ride a bicycle until you get on the bicycle and try riding it, you can’t learn how to effectively play beach volleyball in the wind until you get out on a windy day and try it. You have to get your feet wet, or better yet, sandy. Here are some wind tips to assist you in this process of “wind mastery.”

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Determine from which direction the wind is coming in order to determine the “good” and “bad” side of the volleyball court. The “good” side of the court usually is the side of the court where the wind is in your face.

The “bad” side of the court is generally the side of the court where the wind is hitting your back. When serving or sending the ball over the net with the wind in your face, the ball will drop and move more than when you are serving the ball with the wind. This makes it more difficult for the opposing team to judge where the ball will go and react before the ball hits the sand.

Keep everything small. The higher you pass or set a ball, the more the wind will move the ball, which makes the ball more difficult to track and contact. Keeping everything small also results in less running around, which means you will conserve energy.

Stay patient. Playing in the wind can be very frustrating and make you want to quit the sport. Just as it takes time to learn how to play an instrument, it will take time to learn how to play the ball in wind. Since we cannot create wind at any time, it is difficult practicing to become a great wind player, so stay patient.

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Be observant. Watch other teams play in the wind in order to learn how to adjust your game in similar conditions. Why reinvent the wheel? Also, watch teams that have similar physical capabilities who enjoy success in the wind.

Force the opposing team to make the mistakes.

Contrary to how it may feel sometimes, every other team has to deal with the gusts too. Often in the wind, you try to do too much. If you just keep the ball in play, the other team is forced to make a mistake. Sometimes this means putting the ball over on one or two contacts instead of three.

Realize that the level of play evens out in the wind. It is the great equalizer. Height and power doesn’t matter as much as speed, agility, and ball control. So, make sure to stay fast, agile, and always work on your ball control in order to have the upper hand on windy days.

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SPIKEKEY BEACH SPOTLIGHT LISA RUTLEDGE Lisa’s Inside Scoop on Center Court:

Competing in the finals of an AVP event has always been a goal of mine, and in 2009, Brooke Hanson and I made it to our first AVP final.

Once you’re in the finals, it’s a whirlwind of emotions, interviews, and nerves. Television commentators interview you before the match, inquiring about how you feel and your strategic approach. Adding to the intensity and atmosphere is the fact that the commentators are often volleyball legends such as Sinjin Smith. As you’re introduced by the announcer and run onto the court, you hear your name chanted by fans, cheerleaders, and your fellow athletes. The nerves only last until the referee blows the whistle and the first serve clears the net. Then, it’s all business. The only person you hear is your partner, and the only faces you see are the athletes across the net.

Lisa’s Passion for Beach Volleyball:

• AVP Best Blocker 2009 • AVP Most Improved Player 2009 Hometown: Vista, CA Height: 6’2’’ Position: Blocker College: University of Arizona

Sponsors: Volleychick, RYGY Swimwear, FRS Energy Drink, and Nutrition Zone

It’s ironic. When I was in college, my coaches and teammates would ask me if I ever wanted to pursue a career in beach volleyball. I always said no because, as an indoor player, I didn’t want to be outside competing in the hot sand. Obviously, my attitude about beach volleyball changed, and the sandbox is now my office. I love beach volleyball because it presents a new challenge and demands an entirely different game strategy and skill set. In beach volleyball, as opposed to indoors, you need to focus on and become skilled in the entire game – setting, defense, transition, and sideout. Lastly, one of the added benefits of beach volleyball is that you always have a great tan!

JEN SYNDER “I love being outdoors! How many people can say that their office is the beach?”

Hometown: Glendale, AZ Height: 6’2’’ Position: Blocker

College: Arizona State/ Long Beach State Sponsors: Paul Mitchell

Jen on the Paul Mitchell Big Shot Contest:

Paul Mitchell held a competition during the 2009 beach volleyball season to choose one male and one female athlete to sponsor for the 2010 season. Paul Mitchell nominated eight men and eight women that had electric personalities both on and off the court. I was very fortunate to be selected as the 2010 Paul Mitchell female sponsored athlete from a group of other amazing athletes. During the 2010 season, I will participate in autograph sessions at every AVP Tour event. Make sure to stop in to say hello and pick up some awesome samples!

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SPIKEKEY BEACH SPOTLIGHT CHRISTINA HINDS Christina’s Transition to the Beach:

I first thought about pursuing beach volleyball while I was playing indoor at Pepperdine Univeristy. Because I lived in Malibu and was coached by Nina Matthies, a beach volleyball legend, it was inevitable that I would end up in the sand after college. In fact, the first person to invite me to an AVP Tour event was my club coach, and now the “Voice of the AVP”, Geeter McGee.

Christina’s Favorite Aspects of Beach Volleyball:

I love wearing a bikini to work and spending time in the sun and on the beach. There’s no better work environment. I also love the blend of individuality and teamwork that is present in beach volleyball. You need to take care of your individual responsibilities on the court, and at the same time you need to communicate with your partner effectively in order to succeed as a team.

Cristina’s Take on Younger Athletes and the Beach:

“My goal for the 2010 AVP season is to WIN and make my fans proud!”

Hometown: Beverly Hills, CA Height: 5’10’’ Position: Defender

College: Pepperdine University Sponsors: Roxy

Kids should be exposed to both indoor and beach volleyball. Indoor volleyball is a very social sport. Some of my strongest friendships came from bonds forged with girls on my indoor volleyball teams growing up. Indoor volleyball teaches commitment and discipline as a member of a team. In contrast beach volleyball provides an outlet for kids to let loose and have some fun outdoors in a natural surrounding while improving their athleticism. The beach atmosphere allows for a more relaxed, yet competitive environment.

Growing Up

Angie Akers may spend most of her time on the shores of California, but her journey to the top of the beach volleyball world started far from sandy coastlines. Born Angela Marie Harris, she remembers how her active parents and family activities as a child may have foreshadowed her future athletic successes, “We played sports all year around. We would play madeup, competitive games outside anytime of the year. Whether it was swimming in the summers, adventures in the woods behind our house, or simple running races, we were always busy, active, and having fun.”

The High School Years

Angie’s athletic upbringing propelled her to a high school athletic career that was primed for success. Even though she was an impressive athlete who received lots of attention, it wasn’t always easy for Angie. “I was the 5th tallest person in my entire high school as a freshman,” she remembers. “It made me very self-conscious. All I wanted was to fit in, but I was so much taller than everyone else that I really stuck out.”

Her early high school experiences made her feel most at home during athletic competition. “I didn’t have much self-confidence except for on the basketball and volleyball court,” Angie says. “I felt comfortable on the court because I was competing against girls just as big or bigger than me.” And that comfort became more and more apparent every year.

By her junior and senior years, she was receiving scholarship offers left and right to play basketball and volleyball at major universities all across the country.

Off to College

ANGIE AKERS Through the Years….

Angie decided that she wanted to focus on volleyball in college, and she committed to play just a couple hours away from home at the University of Notre Dame. As one of the most accomplished institutions in the nation both academically and athletically, freshman athletes are greeted by a level of responsibility they’ve never known. And, much like her early high school years, Notre Dame was a challenge for young Angie at the beginning.

“Classes were very difficult and www.spikekey.com

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“Live with no regrets”

required a lot of study time. I was really overwhelmed at first,” Angie admits.

But like high school, Angie got acquainted with her new surroundings and responsibilities and began to thrive. “Once I got the hang of managing my time, things became much easier,” Angie says.

She made the Freshman All-American team and began to leave her mark on the Notre Dame record books.

During her career she went on to lead the Fighting Irish to their highest national ranking to date of #6. Individually, she continued to break records, was named to the All-Big East Conference team, and eventually became an All-American. “I had an amazing college experience,” she recalls. “And if I had one piece of advice for how other student athletes can do the same, I would tell them to live with no regrets and not be afraid to fail.”

The Real World

After graduation, Angie moved to Switzerland to play volleyball professionally. She stayed for three months and realized that she needed a 26

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break. She then returned to the United States and took a job with Lehman Brothers in San Francisco as a Securities Representative. in 2000. Athletically, she began to concentrate on distance running, setting her sights on the Boston Marathon. In 2001, she qualified for the king of all marathons and achieved a personal best time of 3 hours and 24 minutes. It was an experience Akers will always treasure. She describes it saying, “I loved every single moment of the Boston Marathon. It is something I will never forget. I trained properly for it, so I never hit a wall or ran out of gas. I could have gone another 10 miles. It was so cool to run through all the colleges around Boston and hear the screaming fans the entire way! It still gives me chills thinking about it. If my knees are still in good shape when I retire from beach volleyball, I will definitely go back to running marathons.”

Beach Volleyball Comes Calling

The next year, in 2002, Angie caught the volleyball bug again and teamed up with Jenny Pavley to take on the AVP. The duo

notched two fifth-place finishes en route to qualifying for the eight-team invitational event at the end of the season, where they placed fifth. Her successes earned Angie the AVP Rookie of the Year honors and a ninth-place season ending ranking. All of those accomplishments are impressive on their own, but considering the fact that that Angie and Jenny had to qualify for the main draw three times makes the season even more remarkable. “The qualifier is a different kind of pressure. It’s single elimination, so there’s no room for a bad match,” Angie says. “You have to come prepared and ready to play, and then win.”

In the summer of 2003, Akers switched partners, joining forces with Sarah Straton. The pair finished fifth twice and again qualified for the season-ending invitational event. They finished ninth in the season ending rankings. Akers played 2004’s first three events with Straton, and then teamed up with Rachel Wacholder for the rest of the season. In their very first event together, the Akers-Wacholder team placed third at Huntington Beach.

They went on to have four fifth-place finishes that year.

AVP season, where the team reached three semifinals including her first final in Chicago. Angie remembers it fondly, “The final in Chicago was very special for me. Brooke and I had gone through a lot of ups and downs that year and had to fight for everything. Not to mention, it was the perfect place for it to happen because I could have so many friends and family there to support me. It was such a rush to run into that stadium!”

Dreaming of a Medal Collection

In 2008, Akers realized a dream when she partnered with beach volleyball royalty in Holly McPeak. Angie had this to say about playing with Holly for the first time, “I had long admired her for her honest love of the sport. Even while she was competing, she helped so many young players like Misty MayTraenor, Jen Kessy, and Nicole Branagh develop into powerhouses, and I knew she would make me better.” And she did. The pair finished 12 tournaments fifth or higher, including three semifinal appearances. Angie’s individual statistics were elevated, finishing as the 11th ranked player and ranking in the top ten in several statistical categories, including hitting percentage (.443), blocks per game (.74), and kills per game (6.79). “Holly is a great mentor and teacher, but more importantly, she’s a wonderful person and friend.”

After an exciting year playing with one of her heroes, Angie paired up with Tyra Turner in 2009. The team started off like gangbusters reaching the semis in their first two AVP events together. They also entered the international scene with a bang winning their first four matches in the Osaka FIVB event to reach the semis. The pair continued to roll internationally finishing well in their next FIVB event, the World Championships. They earned a fifth place finish, falling to the eventual champions. Moscow and Marseille were the next stops and also resulted in fifth place finishes for the duo.

“Set goals and dream big” An Era of Firsts

In 2005, Angie took aim at the international field for the first time. Before the season began, she spent a month playing professionally in Australia. She teamed up with Australian Olympian Kerri Pottharst, and they took the Australian tour by storm. They won two events in a matter of weeks. When she returned to the U.S. for the AVP season, Angie reunited with Pavley for her first three events, but finished the season with Nicole Branagh, managing a best tournament finish of seventh place.

In 2006, Akers again travelled to Australia to compete before the AVP season, this time with her AVP partner Nicole Branagh.

Upon her return to the AVP, Akers partnered with three different players throughout the season, including Heather Lowe and Brooke Hanson.

2007 would prove to be a big year for Akers, filled with firsts and impressive accomplishments. Partnering with Hanson, she represented the U.S. at the Pan-American Games in Brazil. They finished an impressive fifth. The momentum carried over to the

Despite their differences, Angie thinks the grueling AVP tournament format prepares athletes well for the FIVB format. “FIVB events are very different. You usually play two matches a day, with about four hours in between to recover and eat. We felt fresh the whole time. We could really take care of our bodies and prepare properly for each match,” Angie explains.

Over the last two years Angie has found the sweet spot of her career. “I love the relaxed, party atmosphere of the AVP and the fan interactions. At the same time, I love the longer tournaments of the FIVB which gives me recovery time. Playing on both tours is the perfect balance for me. I get the best of both worlds,” she says. Last summer’s achievements on the FIVB Tour reflect just how at ease Angie is: silver in Thailand, bronze in China, Co-Rookie of the Year honors, and a #5 ranking. “The entire summer was incredible,” according to Angie.

Angie thinks it’s just the beginning for the Akers-Turner team. “I see Tyra and me heading for podiums. Tyra and I have a great relationship. We are both easy going and we like to laugh. She is optimistic and can make the best of any situation that we are in.

It doesn’t matter where we are going. We know that we will have fun and make the most of it.” www.spikekey.com

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ANGIE Answers….

SKB: What do you consider the highlights of your career?

AA: The Boston Marathon, the AVP finals in Chicago in 2007 and our #5 world ranking in 2009.

SKB: Besides training, what do you do to stay in shape?

AA: Diet and genetics play more of a role than most people want to accept. I eat a disciplined diet, I work hard, and I’m blessed with good genes. Most everyone works hard but I really enjoy eating healthy because I actually like how the food tastes and it makes me feel good. I feel terrible if I don’t eat well, so I’m very particular about it.

SKB: Was there a moment when you realized you made it?

AA: Beach volleyball is an expensive sport if you really

want to be great. You have to pay for coaches, equipment, travel, etc. It must have been the first season I made enough prize money to cover my expenses and still had some money in my pocket when I realized I was indeed a pro.

SKB: What role has athletics played in your personal development?

AA: I’ve been an athlete my entire life, and it’s played a key role in who I am today. I’m highly motivated in all areas of my life because I’ve seen how hard work and determination can pay off.

SKB: What advice do you have for young players aspiring to play professional beach volleyball?

AA: Set goals and dream big.

Your dreams are yours and you can make them any way you want them! Never think that something is out of reach because the moment you think it, it is.

LOVE YOUR BODY AND BIKINI!

By Alicia Zamparelli

So how do you choose what’s best for you? Balance is the key word, not only in athletics but in bikini choice too…

No Waist, no worries. Create curves with a belted waistline, which will give the appearance of a more defined middle. Add some illusion at the hips with rings, ruffles, or bows. Avoid horizontal stripes.

Small Busted body types are lucky to have the shape to wear ruffled bikinis and tiny tri-tops. Take a risk with colors like bright pink or electric yellow. You can also get away with using thick fabrics like terry to add some fullness.

Busty Betty should stick to the halter-top bikini. Not only are they great for support, but they provide some sexy cleavage too. Look for styles that don’t have clasps, but instead longer ties so you can play and tighten them as the material loosens up. No tiny tri-tops with minimal coverage, it just gets to sloppy. Also, if your bottoms are too small, you can lose the balance.

Shorter Ladies, like me, should play up your figure by finding a bottom that is cut higher. This will make your legs look much longer.

During colder training days, I will rock a high cut one-piece with a plunging neck line. Absolutely NO boy shorts! That draws the eye downward, making you look shorter or giving you an Oompa Loompa look.

Long Bodies can go wild with swimwear embellishments at the hips and bust line. Try horizontal stripes and nappy fabrics like stretch terry and velvet. Boy shorts are just the thing for your slim hips. There is no need for vertical stripes when you choose a swimsuit.

Pear-shaped Players, when you are bigger on the bottom you want to draw people’s eyes up by wearing an eye-catching, detailed bikini top. Make sure that your bottom sits well on your hips and doesn’t cut into you. Avoid boy shorts and keep the bottom of your suit simple. You can try mixing and matching with a dark bottom and a flashy multi-color top.

Hourglass Figures have balanced shoulders and hips with a smaller waist. If this is you, you’re lucky. Just about any classic styled bathing suit should flatter your figure. A tiny, designer bikini looks good on so few people. You should consider it your solemn duty to beautify the beach and make a few heads turn.

When it comes to sports and your suit, you should ultimately be comfortable. So pick the right fit and work it. Use different twists to tie your top. Just because the bottom looks sporty doesn’t mean it won’t move, and remember, bigger is not always better. You should always do some jumps in your bikini before playing in it for the first time to make sure it stays put. I go for the Brazilian cut, but you can use this knowledge and get your own custom bikinis at www.breathefitnesswear.com

www.sunsetsinc.com

Alicia Zamparelli

Professional Beach Volleyball Player www.aliciazamparelli.com

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Off-Season = Busy Season

By Gretchen Duffner, Professional Beach Volleyball Player & Personal Training Expert Having an “off-season” can mean many different things to an athlete.

It can be a time to let injuries heal.

Off-season can be a time of reflection and goal setting. Often, it is when players get fat, dumb, and happy doing nothing at all. I believe the “off-season” should be an athlete’s busiest season. I’ll go so far as to pose this question: Is there really such a thing as off-season?

Society today is fast-paced and doesn’t allow for much down time.

Youth sports have turned into a year-round investment of time and money. Professional sports have next year’s season fully planned before the current one is even half over. So what happens (or should happen) to the athlete when the season is supposedly over? Three options are nearly universal to successful athletes, regardless of which sport they might play: recover, cross-train, or fine-tune.

Recover…

Dictionary says: “to regain the strength, composure, balance, or the like, of oneself.” Many times in a sports season injuries not only occur, but also seem to multiply and get worse. It’s important to take time off to let physical injuries heal, or if necessary, repair the injury through surgery. Surgery should be a last resort, especially in young athletes. When facing a potential surgery it’s important to investigate every option and have more than one opinion that agrees with the final decision. If surgery is not needed, then constructing a plan for rehabilitation is critical. An athlete only has so much time to heal before training starts for the next season. If an injury is serious, get help from a professional, either a physical therapist or a trainer, so you are fully recovered for the next season.

Cross-Train…

Dictionary says: “training activities other than your primary sport that enhance your performance in that sport.” Volleyball players often crosstrain by swimming for strength and endurance, working speed and agility drills for footwork, doing plyometrics or jumps for explosiveness, or practicing yoga to improve flexibility. When choosing the right sport or activity for crosstraining, it’s important to remember your goals for the next season. If you want to improve your vertical leap, you might not want to choose yoga for cross-training. My suggestion is to set your goals for the next season and then research different activities that will get you the desired results. If all else fails, ask questions. A local coach can help steer you in the right direction for your off-season plan. If you are on your own, go to a local fitness center and speak to a certified trainer that has expertise in that area.

Fine-Tune…

Dictionary says: “to make minor adjustments insofar as to produce stability, improvement, or the precise results desired.” The off-season is my favorite time of the year for fine-tuning. If you are injury free and have already attained your physical goals, you can focus on individual skills and your mental approach to the game. It’s the one time of the year you can focus on just you. This is when you can do hours of repetitions of setting, passing, serving, and working on a positive attitude. That’s right, I said building a positive attitude.

Volleyball is a momentum sport, and being both mentally and physically tough is a common quality of the top-performing teams. The more finely-tuned your skills and mental approach are, the better your team will perform.

Deciding what’s best for you is the most important choice you can make in the off-season. Take the time to decide what your mind, body, and heart need to be best prepared for next season. Write down an organized timeline and training schedule to ensure you are in the best shape possible and that you are confident in the steps you’ve taken. It doesn’t matter if you are recovering, cross-training, or fine-tuning, so long as it’s the right choice for you. There are so many paths you can take when it comes to the off-season, enjoy the process and work toward to success. www.spikekey.com

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ge: 36 • Height: 5’11 A University: UCLA Eleven Years on AVP Two Children (Mya, Victoria)

Davis Family

Mother Athlete...

&

The Best Professions in the World

ge: 40 • Height: 6’4 A University: University of Tennessee Nine Years on AVP Two Children (Avalon, Devon)

DeNechocea Family

ge: 36 • Height: 5’10 A University: UCLA Eleven Years on AVP Two Children (Jaylen, Kory)

Jordan Family

During the 2009 beach volleyball season something was missing.

Two somethings actually. For most of the AVP Tour events the women’s draw was without the talents of Kerri Walsh and Rachel Wacholder. Both had chosen to take on a new “career” of sorts: motherhood.

They are not the first, and certainly won’t be the last. In the top 32 teams of the AVP Tour there are eight players who balance the

By Saralyn Smith rigors of training and competing with the demands of pregnancy P rofessional Beach Volleyball Player and parenting. The other AVP Pro moms include Annett Davis, Diane DeNechocea, Barb Fontana, Jenny Johnson Jordan, Paula Roca, and Sarah Straton. Below you’ll find a sampling of their experiences, including personal insights into their pre-parenting fears, how motherhood has changed their games, and how long it took them to get their “bikini body” back.

Certainly, being professional athletes helped them recover physically from carrying and delivering a baby. Most were back in the gym within two months, and competing professionally in half a year. In their opinion it took about 6 to 9 months to get their pre-baby “bikini body” back. But what is even more surprising and inspiring is how motherhood improved their volleyball.

Answers were kept anonymous at the request of the players.

Straton Family

Did you have any fears about how having a baby would impact your volleyball career?

ge: 44 • Height: 5’6 A University: Stanford Eleven Years on AVP Two Children (Giovanni, Lucas)

• • • •

What was most challenging about volleyball after you became a mother?

•

Fontana Family ge: 39 • Height: 6’2 A University: Western Australia Eleven Years on AVP Two Children (Alex, Zack)

•

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Of course there was the concern of getting my body back. We do play in a bikini, remember?

I questioned if I could I be the same player after having a child.

I didn’t think I’d want to come back. I thought my career would be over.

Physically, I thought I could do it, but logistically and emotionally I didn’t know if I would be able to handle it.

• •

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Finding time to do all the training. I ended up just cutting back on everything and being okay with that. It’s possible to do all that’s required, but only if you have a great deal of support.

Traveling was hard at first. I cried the first time I left on a trip when my child was six months old, and I only had to leave for two days.

With the extra weight, my body took a while to adjust. My back hurt, my knees hurt, it was the hardest pre-season ever!

It becomes a great challenge to “flip the switch” from pro beach player back to mother. A volleyball player is innately selfish, and to be at the top you must always be thinking about how to be better prepared and focused for every practice, workout, and tournament. The mother role is naturally 100% giving and not selfish at all. Big difference.

How did your volleyball experience change after becoming a mother?

• • • •

Motherhood puts things into perspective. When you come off the court after a win or loss, your kids still feel the same way about you.

The first year after having my first baby was the best volleyball season of my career to that point.

Being a mother freed me up to not stress about results and focus more on playing my best ball.

I am more fulfilled as a person, and that reflects positively in every aspect of my life.

In what ways has your body permanently changed after having a baby?

• • • •

I haven’t really noticed any permanent changes.

I am leaner than I was before kids. I think I might be stronger too.

I don’t think my hips have ever come all the way back, but that is not something that limits me.

Stretch marks!

Their advice to other players considering having a family: • • • • •

Make sure you’re ready! When you have a family and play pro volleyball, you have two full-time jobs.

Give yourself some grace and be careful not to push so hard that you injure yourself. I have seen people try to do too much too fast, and get hurt.

I would say to take at least six months off. Enjoy life with your baby, even if it means missing another season. You’ll never get that time back with your baby.

You need to have the whole family on board and committed to making it work.

Having a family is the best thing you could do with your life. Better than the Olympics!

Why

Beach Volleyball Is Not

Sexy

By Sean Griffin

In high school I was taught that when writing an argumentative piece, the paragraph or two following the introduction worked to establish the opposition’s argument. This sounds unconventional on the surface, sure, but the rest of the paper would completely debunk that argument and support the author’s. It’s actually pretty powerful. But I digress. If the picture to the left didn’t give it away, the title was in jest, I’m not writing to argue that beach volleyball isn’t sexy.

That would be an exercise in futility. I am, however, willing to suggest that the sport may be the sexiest of all for reasons other than the obvious.

The obvious, the elephant on the beach if you will, being that girls in bikinis and dudes in boardshorts are sexy. Add tanned athleticism sweating in the sun, and it’s pretty primal, really.

The sexiness of beach volleyball stops just short of punching you in the jaw with its unashamed appeal. But “sexy” isn’t just a physical attribute. Sure physicality is a fundamental part of sexiness, but there’s a reason that we aren’t running around like animals going to any length to fire up relationships with only the most ridiculously attractive people on the planet. There’s more to it.

There are other characteristics of the “more to it” that makes beach volleyball the sexiest sport in the world.

Confidence

Emotion

Unmatched access and spectator-friendly events make the sport and its athletes easy to connect with. The emotion we see and feel when watching a competitive match is an experience not only for the player, but for the spectator as well. We see the players’ joy and sorrow up close, which humanizes the players, something very different and much more connective than other sports. It’s this emotional connection that allows fans and casual observers alike to grow even more fond of players.

Mystery

There is an element of mystery and intrigue that makes beach volleyball players sexy. The professional players’ lives aren’t necessarily an open book.

But, in many cases, the top professionals, lead very common lives away from the sand. Admirers of beach volleyball find themselves asking questions: What are they like? Does their Monday-to-Friday life bring out the same personality they display on the court? What’s the story of how they got here? The possibility that the answers to these questions reflect the fan’s own life is exciting, and as with emotion, humanizing.

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The beach isn’t always the most comfortable place, especially if the bathroom scale doesn’t read what it should on that particular day. Volleyball players, on the other hand, are in their element and exude an air of extreme confidence in the sand. They walk around like they own the beach, and cheers to that. People thrive when they are in the place and with the people who they are most comfortable. It allows them to be confident and sure of themselves.

Regardless of where you encounter them, people with this level of confidence are super attractive. It just so happens that for the volleyball player, they are in a bathing suit on the beach; a deadly combination.

Success

Running, jumping, diving, and hitting a ball in a pre-determined direction, these, the very simplest of volleyball skills, are the kind of things the average Joe struggles to do. Beach volleyball players do it with ease and recieve widespread acclaim because of it. Very simply, success is sexy, and even more so when it’s achieved doing something as challenging and demanding as beach volleyball. If you’re a player reading this, believe it or not, the typical beachgoer is in a certain level of awe at what you do. If you’re not a player, the fact that you’re reading this magazine shows me you’re picking up what I’m throwing down here.

Pheromones

Back to the “primal” thing to wrap things up, there’s more than just the cocoanut scent of sunscreens wafting through the air. There’s the physiological “Cupid’s arrow” called pheromones. Pheromones are chemicals we release, mostly in sweat, capable of acting outside your body to impact the social behavior of another individual. There aren’t many environments that foster a more robust release of these chemicals than an athletic activity, without many clothes, at a hot and sunny beach.

As if the characteristics already mentioned in this article weren’t enough, there are biological microbes working as a multiplier behind the scenes.

Sure, the big sports have fancy, tricked out arenas and stadiums. They have huge network contracts exposing their athletes to the masses on a daily basis (beach volleyball is catching up with the help of the AVP’s new contract with ABC/ESPN).

Their stars have sponsorship deals with huge multinational corporations and you can buy their jerseys in any Wal-Mart, K-mart, or Kwik-E-Mart across the country.

BUT, you can’t play in the fancy arenas, or even walk in the door without paying a hefty price. While you can watch these sports from the comfort of your couch, you can’t watch with sand between your toes. You probably won’t meet an NFL or NBA star unless you wait in line for an hour or stalk them. And, for reasons that are obvious enough to knock you for a loop, and many others more subtle, no other sport is nearly as sexy.

Matt Olson’s Career Highlights

(According to Lindsey)

• F inally being able to say Matt was “on the tour.” It was a few years after he had been playing in the tournaments. In his mind he needed to be in the top half for me to fairly tell people he was “on the tour.”

• M att’s first Sunday, i.e., the first time he finished in the money.

• M att’s first final in Hermosa! He was playing with Jason Ring and ended up beating Kevin Wong and Karch to make it to the semis, and then Stein and Lambo to make it to the final. It was unbelievable— the energy that fills the stadium and your soul when you are watching someone you care about make it to the point you’ve been dreaming of, hoping for, and knowing would come some day.

• T he weekend of Belmar, NJ. The crew decided last minute to fly in when we found out he had the top seed. It was worth it. Matt and Kevin Wong beat Sean Scott and Nick Lucena in the finals.

• W atching Matt finally beat Casey Jennings in the “San Diego” tournament.

Casey is a great player and top defender. Beating him was one of those chips on Matt’s shoulder, and to see him finally overcome the mental block of beating Casey was a huge step for him professionally.

• M ost recently, when Matt and Kevin played Rosie and Gibb in the finals of the Manhattan Beach Open. Every time he plays Manhattan we take a walk on the pier like every volleyball player does. Matt’s first flex-down celebration was there after he six-packed Rosie. I was so surprised when I saw it.

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The

Life

of a

Wife

Lindsey Olson, wife of AVP star Matt Olson, shares the highs and lows of an AVP marriage in this candid interview with SpikeKey Beach…

Lindsey Olson

Profession: High School Biology Teacher College: University of Arizona Volleyball Career: Finished 9th at club volleyball nationals and in the top 20 other years

Lindsey on meeting Matt...

Matt and his younger brother Trevor were asked by the women’s Volleyball Club president to coach the B-team of the University of Arizona Volleyball Club. Realizing they would be in a gym with 30 girls in spandex, they accepted. A majority of the girls were starry-eyed over the “Olson twins.” My friend Heather and I were the lucky ones who ended up with them for the long haul. Matt and Geeter tell the story better.

Look it up in the KFC Grill Zone on the AVP website.

On the travel…

The nice thing about being a teacher is that beginning at the end of June and running through the end of August my schedule is pretty open. If it’s a California tournament, I’m there. The same goes for Arizona.

My family would disown me if I didn’t come home to visit. In the end, I go to as many tournaments as our pocketbooks will allow, especially if it’s an appealing location.

I’ve enjoyed Miami Beach, Chicago, Boulder, and Brooklyn in past years, and I look forward to making my way to some of the new and renewed stops in 2010. I hope Matt wants to play some FIVB events this year so I can finally make my way to Europe.

On fans having a crush on Matt…

I actually have an admiration for Matt’s fans and love seeing them cheer and clamor for the chance to talk to him, get autographs, and take pictures. I’ve even been known to give some shy or star struck fans a nudge in his direction.

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Volleyball is unique in that the spectators and athletes are in such close proximity to each other. The fans are truly the key to keeping this sport alive. I love that Matt has the chance to interact with the fans and serve as a role model or inspiration.

Despite the recent trend of athletes and celebrities like Tiger, I don’t even consider the possibility of my Matt doing anything like that. I know where his heart lies, and our level of trust is insurmountable. We both know if either of us strayed, we would lose everything. Besides, Matt’s fan base seems to be young kids or 40+ women—not that there’s anything wrong with that. He’s just not as say, “desirable,” to the girls in their 20s or 30s since he’s got a ring on his finger that says “I’m taken.”

On the value her volleyball and athletic experience has in the marriage…

I truly believe that if I wasn’t an athlete, we wouldn’t have lasted. The emotional roller coaster that can come from training, tournaments, partner switches, and the uncertainty of the tour, etc. can wreak havoc on an individual and a marriage. Understanding the passionate perfectionist that Matt is makes it easier to cope with the many hours he spends on the game, even if it means he’s away from me. The thrill of competition and drive to succeed are things that any athlete understands, and even though I’m not playing as much as I have in the past, Matt’s participation brings out the best in both of us.

Also, as a volleyball player myself, Matt can bounce ideas off of me. Having a sounding board who is not offended, is honest, and can offer a player’s perspective is valuable. Not to mention, it gives us something to do together, and he’s got one heck of a pepper partner!

On the relationship with other wives and girlfriends on tour…

Since most of the guys and their significant others live in the Los Angeles area and we are in San Diego, it’s more of a seasonal relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad that I have come to know the women and also the boyfriends/ husbands of the female pros over the years.

They are a great bunch of people, and I have some very close and dear friends as a result.

Susan Morrison (Mike Morrison’s wife – Matt’s 2010 partner to start the season) is a close friend and we have spent many a happy hour or wine night together while at tournaments.

week. Matt didn’t “love” volleyball until his junior or senior year of high school, but something clicked and you can’t separate the two now. If he’s not on a court, he’s thinking about it.

To be honest, there are times I wonder what’s more important to Matt, me or volleyball. But when I step back and think about it, I know that all his time and effort is ultimately for us. I want him to be playing the sport he loves, the sport that’s a part of his soul. Life is too short to have any regrets and he has an incredible opportunity now. I passionately support his career and that’s what makes it work.

Also, Matt’s family has been big in the volleyball scene in San Diego, and one of his close family friends who qualified for the AVP on a number of occasions actually married AVP pro Paige Davis in March. As a result, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to get to know her.

I do spend periods of time alone while he’s traveling. I’ve grown accustomed to being a third or fifth wheel, whatever, but it’s all worth it when he comes home and we get to share the ups and downs. It makes him, his game, and us stronger.

On the role of pro beach volleyball in the marriage…

Advice for other women dating professional athletes…

My mother-in-law says it best, “Volleyball has been the mistress of her life for over 30 years.” She introduced my father-in-law to volleyball when they first met. My father-in-law fell in love with the game, and even today at the age of 60, he plays at least twice a

Be ready for highs, lows, and in-betweens. You will experience them all, and you need to, or else it’s not worth it. You can’t be jealous, and if you don’t have a foundation of trust that’s nearly impossible.

The Perks of being married to a pro beach player Tournaments – You get to hang out with some of the most interesting people: fans, sponsors, the AVP staff and crew, players, and DJ Rouche. Sometimes the voice of the AVP mentions you as your husband runs out onto stadium court. And dropping Matt’s name with a smile can usually get me into the tournament’s VIP area.

Products – I love the sponsors and their willingness to supply the players with their products. I think this past month was the first time we actually paid for a bottle of sunscreen. Oh how I miss Banana Boat. The representative for his clothing sponsor, Oakley, is a doll and she’ll inevitably add in clothes, bags, swimsuits, and glasses for me. I sometimes think the goodie bags are more fun for me than Matt! Plus, Barefoot Wine, Malibu, and Bud Light provide a nice way to ease the nerves, drown the sorrows, and celebrate victories.

About Matt…

Birthday: January 2, 1980 Height: 6’2

Sponsors – Matt’s been lucky enough to have some sponsors that help him out with travel and clothes so we have some extra funds for me to travel to tournaments.

Travel – We spent three of our first five months as a married couple traveling around Australia while Matt and Hans Stolfus played on the Vodafone Australia National Tour. The tournaments were in various cities around Australia— Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Surfer’s Paradise. We either stayed with people associated with the tour or packed up a rental car with the tent and made our way to the next site. It was three of the best months of my life. We topped the trip off with a week-long stay in Fiji. I’m ready to go back any time!

Other exotic stops along the way have included Baja Mexico and the Turks & Caicos.

Hometown: Cardiff, CA Resides: Carlsbad, CA

2010 Partner: Mark Morrison

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The Surf & Turf Workout Not all successful beach volleyball players have to live in the gym. As a top 10 AVP beach volleyball player myself, I take pride in doing the majority of my training at the beach. After all, if you want to improve at beach volleyball, why not do your training at the beach?

Matt Olson

Since you are training to be a beach volleyball player, why not get in the sand to help your toes, feet, legs, and body adjusted to the uneven surface that you play on. Practice makes perfect, and if you can successfully run, jump,

and cut side to side on this surface, adding a ball to the mix shouldn’t be too much trouble.

The uneven sand surface is what causes the most trouble for indoor players trying to transition to the beach game. I have played beach volleyball all my life and actually learned to play in the sand. After 25 years, I still feel that sand reps are a must.

Since you’re already at the beach, why not take advantage of the opportunities the water provides too? In addition to beach workouts and beach training, I am an avid surfer. I was fortunate enough to learn to surf at an early age, which is easier than picking up the sport as an adult. Regardless of your ability, the benefits of surfing are invaluable to any beach volleyball player.

The primary physical benefits of the sport can directly improve your volleyball game. Paddling in the ocean’s waves will quickly build your arm strength. This will help to speed up your armswing during spiking. Then there’s staying on the board. This cranks up your core strength, which helps create balance and a strong base for successful defense and passing. Let’s break down some of these surf and turf exercises.

Work in the Surf Arm Strengthening: Obviously, while you paddle out to the lineup and into the waves

you are strengthening multiple arm and back muscles. What is not so obvious is that one of the primary arm muscles being worked are the triceps, which directly relate to arm speed while spiking. Arm-speed, or “snap”, is valuable when attempting to hit the ball around a big blocker or down quickly in front of a good defender. The simple motion of paddling on a board is essentially the same as tricep-pulldowns in the gym and a huge developer of arm-speed.

Core Strengthening: In addition to getting a good arm workout, the act of paddling also strengthens your core muscles. You will be activating your stomach muscles not only by paddling, but also when you are surfing and standing on your board. When you are up and riding the face of the wave, your core is tight and every move you make activates core muscles and helps improve your balance. This core strength and balance will help you stay healthy through some of those crazy diving positions we get into as beach volleyball players.

Work on the Turf Warm-up (8-10 minutes): A typical offseason

training session begins with a warm-up jog around the courts of Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, CA, followed by some dynamic stretching. After the initial jog, I do—and recommend—side-shuffles (hip warm-up/strength), karaoke’s (loosen up your lower back), Frankenstein kicks (hamstring stretch), and end-line agility jumps (speed ladder exercises to help increase foot speed).

Getting Down to It (10 minutes): After the warm-up is complete I head to the hill for some sprints and jumps. During the winter months, there is a 15-20 foot hill constructed near the shoreline at Moonlight Beach to save the little sand we have. This hill is perfect for sprints, single, and double legged hops, and different variations of relay style exercises with friends. Sand is ideal for your hill training but a street hill, or mountain for that matter, will give you the same end result. The hill increases quad strength, which is ideal for increasing your jump as well as your speed. I like the intensity a hill provides, and the quick movements of a sprint are perfect for practicing and training our bodies to perform the quick defensive moves required of us on the court.

I do spend some time in the gym, but that time is heavily outweighed by my time in the sand and surf.

The beach and the waves are free and can only help you improve your BEACH volleyball game. Get into the great lifestyle of this sport and use the beach for multiple aspects of your training this year and future years. Good luck and have fun!

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It’s a Bird...

It’s a Plane…

No, It’s a Volleyball Player Just like Superman needed his alter ego Clark Kent to fight evil, so must pro beach volleyball players have their own alter ego to conquer the beach. The fact of the matter is that the small number of tournaments and their payouts just don’t provide players enough resources to cover the travel and time needed to be successful in the sport we love. Another source of income, whether it’s a 9-to-5 job, teaching, or coaching, is usually necessary.

And, despite the dedication and sacrifice pro players need to succeed in their sport, many have the drive and determination to achieve great things in their other professions as well. SpikeKey Beach would like to introduce you to two prime examples: Bonnie Levin and Bill Strickland.

surroundings. I need to be able to adapt to what’s around me quickly. It’s a mindset that translates directly to the court.

Bonnie Levin College: Nova Southeastern, St. Thomas School of Law Profession(s): Federal Agent - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Pro-Bono Attorney Height: 5’10” First Year on the AVP: 1993 Sponsors: KGC (Kentucky Grilled Chicken), PowerBalance When did you first start competing? In my 20s Coolest place you’ve competed: Israel Coolest place you’ve traveled to work (not as an athlete): Guam What came first, wanting to be a professional athlete or an attorney? Professional athlete.

Do you feel that your professions complement each other? Definitely, my law education taught me to focus on the issues and avoid distractions, which comes in handy during the excitement of tournament matches.

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Do you think you would have entered your other profession if you hadn’t participated in athletics? I remember when my family and “friends” told me that I wouldn’t pass the Bar Exam or couldn’t be a Special Agent.

I proved them all wrong. Participating, competing, and enjoying success in athletics helped to engrain in me the sense of confidence and “can do” attitude I needed. The bottom line is, I’m not sure if I would have been able to pass the Bar Exam on the first try or become a Special Agent without my athletic experiences.

What advice would you give to young athletes who want to compete in professional sports?

Have fun! It’s ok to make a mistake, and you are only as strong as your weakness.

What role has athletics played in your development? I had a tough childhood, and I believe that my lifelong passion for athletics gave me an option to always do the right thing and achieve success in different areas of my life.

A quote Bonnie lives by: “Say ‘yes’ to every opportunity and live your dream.”

College: Stanford Profession(s): Lawyer – Sports and Entertainment Law Height: 6’9” Years on the AVP: 3 Sponsors: www.beloquartz.com How old were you when you started playing/ competing in your sport?

Indoor – 9 Beach – 22 Coolest place you’ve competed: Dominican Republic What came first, wanting to be a professional athlete or an attorney?

Professional athlete for sure.

Bill Strickland Do you feel that your professions complement each other? Yes, each helps me succeed in the other. The legal training has taught me to take a more analytical approach to learning the game of volleyball, while the volleyball training keeps me living a balanced life.

What advice would you give to young athletes who want to compete in professional sports? My advice is to become a “student of the game.”

Immerse yourself in the sport and do your best to improve each day. Try to find someone who knows what they are talking about, befriend them, and do your best to absorb everything you can from that person.

I would also suggest trying to stop yourself from ever thinking that you have “arrived” in your sport. This is when you get in trouble. The players who are succeeding in volleyball are in a constant state of development. The players I grew up with who were most concerned with having “respect” usually failed to keep progressing.

What role has athletics played in your development as a person?

I have dedicated a huge chunk of my life to playing this game.

The countless competitions have developed drive and will power. Further, the sport has introduced me to numerous friends and has shaped those friendships for the better in ways that only a sport can. It has taught me how to prepare for a performance, deal with pressure situations, and press on through failures.

A quote Bill lives by: “He not busy being born is busy dying.”

-Bob Dylan

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On Tour with David Fisher David Fischer, Jack Quinn, and the Volley Trolley Pit Crew take their show on the road. Aspiring athletes in the big three sports (football, basketball, and baseball) hope to make the league. Tennis, golf, and beach volleyball players hope to make the tour. Going “on tour” sounds great, but what does it really mean for beach volleyball players?

The international tour, the FIVB (Federation Interuationale de Volleyball), is truly a worldwide party, but only a few teams from each country are invited. For Americans, the big dance is the AVP Tour, but how much of a tour is it? From the top-seeded Olympians to the hopeful qualifiers, players fly to events every Thursday, only to return home after a few days of competition. It is fantastic fun from my experience, but it is really more commute than a tour.

Six years ago, Jack Quinn and I set out to put the “tour” back in the professional tour. We bought a classic Airstream motorhome, combed the internet for tournaments with prize money all over the U.S., and launched “Jack and Dave’s Volleyball Tour.” We planned a season of volleyball throughout the country without messing around with airfares, hotel bills, or rental cars. It seemed like a winning proposition to us.

Since then, we and a handful of other athletes have combined our childhood dreams with those of a retiree – we are professional athletes who compete each summer across the fruited plains, from sea to shinning sea taking in the sights along the way. And unlike athletes in other team sports, we have complete control over our own training and competitive schedule. In our travels, we met volleyball players (and mechanics) from Atlanta to Austin, Milwaukee to Boston. We saw the sights from Yellowstone to Carlsbad Caverns. We parked the Volley Trolley for weeks at a stretch to travel and compete in Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean,

and New Zealand. It has not been terrible.

How do we make it work? I mean, we are pretty good at volleyball, but we know how many Americans are ranked ahead of us. But we have also figured out that we are the 5th best team in the Ukraine and Czech Republic, the 3rd best team in Slovakia and New Zealand, the 2nd best team in England, and we dominate in Ireland.

We often win some prize money at AVP Tour events, and a little more prize money at smaller regional tournaments. Prize money covers the basics like gas which is significate, considering the 10,000 plus miles we travel in a single summer.

Just as important, we were lucky to find great business partners who helped us along the way in return for signage, samples, clinics, and appearances. Jose Cuervo, HeadBlade, Spikevolleyball.com, and too many others to mention kept us traveling in style.

In the summer of 2010, we are rolling in our new-to-us, more environmentally-friendly, yet still classic, Airstream. It runs on biodiesel and gets 15 miles per gallon, a nice improvement over our last one, which only got double-digit miles per gallon with a strong tailwind.

The following are a smattering of entries we posted about our adventures on VolleyTrolley.com. We hope you enjoy them, and we hope to see you “on tour”!

June, 2008…Team Cuervo

The month started off with an unexpected phone call. I was asked to become a member of 2008 Team Cuervo. Getting the news was exciting, and I frankly think the rolling home looks better in our new yellow duds and decals. But I’m just starting to understand the privileges that come with this level of sponsorship.

A few weeks ago I mentioned to my Cuervo representative, Jim Sias, that Jack Quinn and I were headed to Guadalajara to represent the U.S. in a NORCECA tournament. “You know that’s the headquarters of Jose Cuervo, right?” I did not. He asked whether my traveling group and I wanted a VIP tour of La Rojeña. We did.

Our entourage of seven players was driven first through the outskirts of Guadalajara, and then through the dusty but quaint town of Tequila, after which we were dropped off on what looked like a putting green in the middle of a cactus farm. Mark, our tour guide, gave us the rundown on the technically not-a-cactus Blue Agave plant, the “heart” and soul of tequila. He described how the tips are whacked off by machete-swinging jimadors (the guys who harvest the Blue Agave plants). But doing is more educational than hearing, so each of us took a turn hacking up a poor Blue Agave plant with a serious machete.

Mark had the third-generation jimador show him how to knock off the remaining plant leaves with a coa, revealing the heavy agave root, which was then cut in half. When Jack learned the hearts can weigh as much as 200 pounds, he asked if he could try picking one up. The jimador, who slightly resembled Burt Reynolds, said nothing. Taking this as permission, Jack bare-armed the freshly-shorn Blue Agave heart off the ground and posed for a picture.

At this point, the jimador pulled a bull’s horn from his utility belt and offered Jack some of the cream stored inside. As it turns out, brushing up against a Blue Agave causes serious itching. While the cream took the itch away, Jack had a full-on rash the next day, including on his arms – the things he uses to pass a volleyball. He played the entire tournament, which included top teams from Central America and the Caribbean, with his arms wrapped in bandages to keep them from stinging too much. Experiential lesson learned: when handling a Blue Agave, use gloves.

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July, 2007…Beach Volleyball in Nashville

Years ago, a Nashvillian (double-check to make sure this is what they’re called!) had a silly idea: his plot of woodlands located 20 minutes outside of downtown Nashville had room for a sand volleyball court, so he put one in. He built a home for himself and his wife out of leftover materials from his various construction jobs. Not one to think small, he added two more sand courts, a swimming pool, outdoor shower, and Koi and trout ponds. Other additions included a barbecue grill and refrigerator under a tiki hut. At the end of these renovations, Roman Reese had turned his plot of woods into the Nashville Beach Volleyball Club.

But a home in the woods with volleyball courts does not earn naming rights on its own. He and his wife, Janice, have a website, ball-caps, and t-shirts. AVP and other volleyball memorabilia decorate the place. But most striking of all, the Nashville Beach Volleyball Club is not in Nashville. It is not even in the U.S. Roman, who spends months each winter sailing around the Caribbean, brought the Caribbean home with him. Thatched roofs, lush green surroundings, Latin and African beat-infused playlist on the surrounding speakers, and an undeniable international vibe. Toto, no estamos en Tennessee todavia.

The Club hosts tournaments every other Sunday, and we were there, not uncoincidentally, on a Sunday. Jack and I served Dana Camacho rather than error-free Brad Stephens in pool play and got the victory. In the semis, we faced local 80s music pole-dancing, karate-fighting, and volleyball legend Keith Jones. He was playing with 6’6” Ivan Mercer from Manhattan Beach. Knowing better than to serve Keith on his home sand, we went after Ivan. The final was uneventful other than Jack bouncing the ball down the line and over the ten-foot-high fence about 12 times. We took the title and returned there twice more during the week for training, hanging out, and enjoying more Brent Doble barbecue.

About a dozen other AVP players found out about the place and were around all week. The place is fun, relaxing, and as mentioned, not like anywhere in the U.S. Though Jack and I did not travel internationally this summer, after our experience at the Nashville Beach Volleyball Club, we felt our passports deserved a stamp.

June 25, 2006…Houston, We May Have a Problem

It is an unorthodox practice, but the extreme heat and humidity make a good argument for starting tournaments mid-afternoon in Houston.

Beginning the final at 3 a.m. is the logical conclusion, but seems comical when it’s announced at 2:50 in the morning. Jack, as we deduced later, was getting more serves than I was. Occasional hits on two lightened the load slightly, but with his Monday-Wednesday-Friday 7 a.m. workouts, Jack was conditioned for just such an occasion. Up comfortably 13-7 in the third game of the semis, we (okay, I) dug a ball twenty yards backwards. Jack sprinted and one-armed the ball from within inches of the chain link fence surrounding the complex. This bothered our opponents who managed to end the rally by hitting the ball twenty feet out.

In the final, we faced the Oklahoman team that put us in the losers’ bracket nine hours earlier. We learned to not serve the long-haired one. We learned this by: (a) serving him, and (b) seeing his muscle-bound, tattooed partner kick a ball into the parking lot after hitting a cut shot into the net during our previous encounter.

We beat them something like 21-13 in the first game, during which the big one kept holding his back like he had just been kicked by a horse, complaining loudly of muscle spasms. They bounced back in the second game and took leads of 15-11, and later, 19-17. We made some plays and got ahead 20-19 and had a serve to win the tournament. To change momentum, they called a timeout. To change it back, we called a timeout. That’s when the general mayhem set in. People are kinda tired and of unsound judgment at 3:45 in the morning...

July, 2004…Volleyball in the Midwest

Being from California, it might seem that Milwaukee and Kansas City are somewhat close, but they’re really not. After 11 hours of driving through flat heartland, we arrived at the event site – an unbelievable facility. Here in the middle of the country is perhaps the nicest sand volleyball complex in America: restaurant, bar, eighteen (yes, 18) sand courts, lights, and a ballpark-quality P.A. system with speakers on each court. On this Friday night, all 18 courts (and the restaurant, bar, lights, P.A., and speakers) were getting dumped on with rain and lit up by the kind of lightning Southern California hasn’t seen since the 1970s. “Did we look at a weather forecast?” Jack asked.

Somehow, the skies and the courts dried out by Saturday at 10 a.m., and the event at Shawnee Mission Beach went on as scheduled. With a hiccup in our second round not to be further described in our travel diary, we ventured through the losers’ bracket to the final against a good Chicago team: a former FIVB player from Poland and his protégé.

The final began in sunlight and ended in darkness (or the reverse, depending on your perspective). Things looked grim after we dropped the first game and were down and serving 15-17 in the second. It still looked bad at 19-20 with us serving. To save the match, I dug a ball, but not well enough to get a decent set. Jack cleverly bumped it to the back half-inch of their base line, playing off their false hopes it might go out. The crowd was into it. After an hour and several swings for the game later, we were switching sides at 25-all in the third…

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Creating engaging consumer experiences to leave your brand’s footprint in the sand

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Beach volleyball is widely known for its beach party atmosphere and for being the ultimate social sport.

Indeed, social interaction is a large part of beach volleyball, along with the complementary elements of athleticism, music, and fashion. Together, these components form the beach volleyball culture and lifestyle.

Additionally, the nature of beach volleyball allows enthusiasts to compete and live the beach volleyball lifestyle from their early teens well into their fifties. Essentially, beach volleyball brings together a diverse group of consumers that are extraordinarily engaged in the culture and lifestyle, so much so that many structure the remainder of their lives around the sport.

“

-Megan Wallin Publisher

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SPIKEKEY BEACH SpikeKey Beach is an annual publication covering all aspects of beach volleyball and the beach lifestyle, and SpikeKey Beach helps fans, athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts stay connected with the beach volleyball world. SpikeKey Beach is devoted to the entertainment, travel, activities, and fashion that make up the beach lifestyle, and is a resource with sharp, current perspectives on everything from money, music, and travel, to fashion, business and more. SpikeKey Beach is proud to be supported by a loyal audience of affluent and energetic subscribers and sponsors. Visit www.SpikeKey. com to order your copy.

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By Players.

For Players.

Reading the Wind

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Mother and Athl California’s Top Beach Volleyball Cities

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Sponsorships

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SPIKEKEY. COM SpikeKey.com offers advertisers high impact and comprehensive advertising solutions whether your marketing goal is to launch a new product or service, drive in-store or online traffic, or build brand awareness. As the authoritative source for everything beach volleyball, consumers seek out SpikeKey.com for entertaining content and valuable information.

SPIKEKEY BEACH SPORTS MANAGEMENT SpikeKey Beach Sports Management designs experiential marketing programs that allow advertisers to leverage the equity of the SpikeKey Beach brand and generate engaging consumer experiences. Using athlete sponsorships, SpikeKey Beach Sports Management has the ability to create and forge consumer-brand connections that are memorable, interactive, and emotional. In particular, SpikeKey Beach Sports Management designs athlete sponsorship programs and facilitates the pairing of sponsors and advertisers with professional beach volleyball athletes.

SpikeKey Sports Management’s athletes and marketing activities compliment and reinforce the advertising and marketing in SpikeKey Beach, results in a symbiotic relationship between the athlete, SpikeKey Beach, and the sponsor. www.spikekey.com

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CALIFORNIA’S Top Beach Volleyball Cities 101…102…103….REASONS

By Cindie Valeriano-Boosin

The reasons California is the Mecca of beach volleyball are obvious and many: perfect weather, deep sand, volleyball net-laden beaches, and gorgeous views. There’s also the exciting possibility of catching a glimpse of the top beach players in the world who train on the shores seven days a week. The towns boast a charm and character unique to California, with countless great restaurants, bars, and shops. Here are five cities that best embody the classic California beach spot, with some insider tips for the sand player.

HERMOSA BEACH • A party city, perfect for anyone looking for a thunderous time Train Here: Second Street, Eighth Street (home to Rosie’s Raiders), or action packed Pier Avenue. You can play on a court right next to the pros or watch from the Strand, your restaurant table, or your hotel room balcony. AVP pro Angie Akers says, “It is rare to have fans approach us during training. I think most people are so used to seeing us down there everyday that we just fit into the scene.”

Top Coaches: Danalee and Brian Corso, who are veterans of the sport and successful coaches at all levels. E-mail: alohaballclub@gmail.com Eat Here: Good Stuff and Martha’s are great for casual dining right on the beach. Mediterraneo and Buona Vita are more formal and still within walking distance of the sand. If you want dinner and a show, check out The Comedy and Magic Club. A calendar of performances can be found at www.comedyandmagicclub.com.

Drink Here: Hennessey’s Tavern has a great happy hour and the happiest drink specials. Sharkeez is known for fantastic margaritas and discount menu items every day of the week. If you want to drink and ride a mechanical bull, pay a visit to Union Cattle Company.

Dance Here: Sangria, especially if you can catch DJ Roueche. Zen Lounge has great Wednesday night Salsa dancing; lessons are available.

The Shore is perfect for drinking and dancing, just make sure you get there after dinner hours.

Stay Here: Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites where the balconies overlook the Hermosa Beach Pier.

Don’t Miss Out: The AVP Hermosa Beach Open, the farmer’s market every Friday, and Fiesta Hermosa, a hugely entertaining street fair every September.

HUNTINGTON BEACH • Notorious for its morning surfing, afternoon excursion, and entertaining evenings Train Here: South of the Huntington Beach Pier, where Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh are regulars. Any court you choose has great access to parking, public restrooms, and a large variety of restaurants and shops.

Get a fantastic view of the courts from the Huntington Beach Pier. And, don’t forget to check out the waves—Huntington Beach is considered the surf capital of the nation.

Top Coach: Mike Rangel, coach and trainer to Karch Kiraly and creator of the PlyoCity Youth Development program. Visit www.thevolleyballacademy.com for more information.

Eat Here: According to pro and Huntington Beach local Ryan Mariano, Tuna Town, Dukes, and Lugatti’s are essential stops on the food tour.

Drink Here: Visit Harvey’s Steakhouse where Mondays are all-day happy

hour and every day has discount appetizers and live music. Beachfront, Hurricanes, and Blue Cafe are all fun choices within walking distance of the beach.

Dance Here: Catch a DJ, live band, or karaoke night at Centerfield Nightclub. Arriba Baja Cantina has a full sports bar, live bands, DJs, and daily drink specials. Perq’s Nightclub is steps from the beach and features some of the best new CA bands on Friday and Saturday nights.

Stay Here: The Shorebreak Hotel and Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort are both beautiful choices.

Don’t Miss Out: The AVP Huntington Beach Open, Club Canes Dance Party every Friday, May thru December, and the farmer’s market every Friday held in Pier Plaza.

MANHATTAN BEACH • Quaint, with lovely parks and gorgeous views, a perfect retreat for families and couples Train Here: South of the Manhattan Beach Pier. You will find everyone from the average weekend warrior to the greatest volleyball legends like Holly McPeak. Kinda Good star Dan Madden says, “MB is the best place to play volleyball ever. It’s where everybody wants to play. The strand and hill create great stadium seating for outdoor courts. The pier has the most famous names in beach volleyball on it, and Manhattan Beach Boulevard. has all the food and sights you need for a beach town.” For local tournament information visit www.CBVA.com and www.greatamericanvolleyball.com.

Top Coaches: Heather Lowe and Jen Pavley are a must see. Both are currently on tour and have been for 6+ years. E-mail: hlolo06@aol.com Eat Here: Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Becker’s Bakery, Mr. Cecil’s BBQ, all have excellent food, great prices, and are within walking distance of the Manhattan Beach Pier. Holly McPeak, a MB local, enjoys Petros for 52

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Greek, Darren’s for fine dining, and El Sombrero for Mexican. AVP pros Jen Pavley and Heather Lowe both love the North End Café.

Drink Here: The Hangar Inn for great beer, wine, and burgers. Shellback Tavern is a place to mingle over happy hour specials. If you want something more sophisticated, check out TWELVE+HIGHLAND. The atmosphere is fresh and relaxing, and the martinis are delicious.

Dance Here: Beaches offers dancing with an ocean view.

Stay Here: Shade Luxury Boutique Hotel is expensive but definitely worth exploring, especially the lounge.

Don’t miss out: The AVP Manhattan Beach Open, farmer’s market every Tuesday, the infamous 6-man tournament every July, and according to AVP pro Angie Akers, “Wine tasting Friday night at Whole Foods! We are regulars there!”

CALI FACTS Nickname: Golden State Bird: CaliforniaValley Quail Flower: Golden Poppy Capital: Sacramento Famous Californians: John Steinbeck Author, Salinas Mark McGwire Baseball player, Pomona Robert Frost Poet, San Fancisco Arnold Schwarzenegger Govenor of California Ronald Regan President of the United States

SANTA MONICA • A colorful city with fabulous dining, terrific shopping, and engaging street performers Train Here: Will Rogers State Beach is where the courts are plentiful and legends like Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos are regulars. There are also a few courts immediately South of the Santa Monica Pier. There is accessible parking and a great opportunity to play in the shadow of the famous Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel.

Top Coaches: Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos run a volleyball camp on Will Rogers State Beach. For information check out www.beachvolleyballcamps.com.

Eat Here: Visit Lobster for fine dining, beautiful views, and fantastic seafood. Enjoy a $10 quick lunch at Border Grill, with great modern Mexican food and perfect margaritas. Bay Cities Italian Deli offers casual comfort foods, and Bar Pintxo boasts a variety of original tapas and Spanish wines.

Drink Here: Father’s Office is famous for its massive beer selection and dynamite burgers. Finn McCool’s Irish Pub has great happy hour deals, live music, trivia, and sports and is just steps from the Pier.

Dance Here: The Hideout has DJs and dancing Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Try Zanzibar for a wide musical variety and refreshing original atmosphere.

Stay Here: Hotel Oceania overlooks the beach from the cliffs above, while Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel has direct access to the beach with beautiful ocean views.

Don’t miss out: The aquarium, amusement park, and trapeze school are all located on the Santa Monica Pier. Also, walking and shopping the Third Street Promenade is always a treat.

PLAYA DEL REY • Secluded, with a beautiful harbor and a bike path through the sand Train Here: Choose a court between Surf Street and 62nd Avenue. The Pacific Ocean is to the West and Lagoon Park to the East. This is a quiet, secluded beach with easy parking and great facilities.

Top Coach: Liz Masakayan, the former coach of AVP team Branagh/ Youngs. E-mail her at masakayan@yahoo.com.

Eat Here: Try Catalini’s Salerno Beach Restaurant for romantic Italian cuisine and live music on Sunday nights. Bistro Du Soleil is a French restaurant perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Outlaws Bar and Grill has a wide variety of burgers, ribs, steaks, and seafood, and is also open breakfast through dinner.

Drink Here: Try Prince O’ Whales for indoor/outdoor bar seating, live music, and plenty of HD flatscreens to catch your favorite sports. Locals love Mo’s Place, a sports bar with great drink deals, pool tables, darts, and sports on the TV screens.

Dance Here: If you like anything from swing dancing to a live band, The Rhythm Club is your place.

Stay Here: Pamper yourself at the Inn at Playa del Rey. It’s within walking distance of the marina and the gorgeous bike path through the beach.

Don’t miss out: Check out Fisherman’s Village where you’ll find a lighthouse, free outdoor concerts, and plenty of restaurants and shops.

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This story begins with a bunch of professional volleyball players sitting around a table at the Conch Shack in the Turks and Caicos trading stories, and generally discussing the rigors of playing volleyball in the heat. “I heard a crazy rumor that drinking beer gets rid of cramps,” said one of the professionals. “That’s ridiculous!” I exclaimed. As an anesthesiologist who practices real-world physiology every day, with a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. I couldn’t (as much as I really wanted to) believe that there was any truth to the rumor.

Beer:

Nevertheless, I decided to investigate. Are there any ingredients in beer that could possibly treat cramps? While beer does contain magnesium, which in large doses can cause muscle weakness or relaxation, there isn’t enough magnesium in a typical beer (or several beers) to result in a noticable effect. There is no clinical evidence that alcohol itself is a muscle relaxant, even though one does feel mighty relaxed after a few drinks. Furthermore, negative effects from the alcohol in beer would easily overwhelm any benefit that beer or its other ingredients could offer.

The Cure for

Cramping?

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By Dr. Heathe Dozier

Digging deeper and researching the cause of muscle cramps yields more questions than answers. This is due to the fact that scientists don’t really know what causes muscle cramps in the first place. There are several types of cramps due to many different factors, such as neurological disorders, muscular disorders, and medication side effects, to name a few. For all intensive purposes, beach volleyball players are concerned with cramps associated with strenuous physical activity, exercise, and sport.

There are two main theories regarding the cause of this type of cramps. The classic explanation attributes these muscle cramps to a loss of sodium and other electrolytes. Newer studies discount this first theory and suggest that the cramping comes from muscle overuse and fatigue of the part of the nervous system that controls muscle tone. Both theories raise valid concerns, and the prudent approach is to take preventative measures to treat both causes of cramps.

To prevent electrolyte loss, you should hydrate before and during competition. To treat muscle cramping due to overuse, stop, rest, and do some passive stretching. Passive stretching involves stretching the cramped muscle and holding the stretch using another body part, a trainer, or some apparatus. Meanwhile, drink something with electrolytes and carbohydrates (i.e., sugar). Glucose, a carbohydrate, helps your body

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cramps and to optimize hydration. There isn’t any one perfect answer. Water is an option, but a better course of action would be to supplement your water intake with something that contains salt and glucose. Supplement drops in your water, such as Biogenix Optimal Hydration, are one option, as well as adding intake of foods like pretzels and fruit.

Paige Davis absorb sodium, and therefore helps your body absorb water.

As one would anticipate, scientific studies conclude that dehydration can have major adverse effects on athletic performance. A small amount of dehydration (less than 2%) is well tolerated, but any more than that can impair performance. If you combine dehydration with overheating, the problem worsens. The key is the physiology of dehydration, specifically the viscosity (thickness) of blood, and the heart’s ability to pump blood to where it’s needed. Heat has also been blamed for a decrease in muscle performance and recovery.

Signs of serious dehydration include fatigue, dizziness (especially after standing or sitting up), cramping, rapid heartbeat, and a dry mouth or eyes. Other signs of dehydration are flat or hard to see veins that are normally plump, as well as tenting of the skin on the back of your hand when you pinch it. Seek immediate medical attention for serious signs of dehydration such as mental status changes (loss of consciousness, seizures, agitation, and confusion), cold clammy skin, nausea, vomiting, or belly cramps.

Now for the unfortunate news. Alcohol is particularly dehydrating, and based on the above, not a good idea for optimal performance. Even alcohol consumption from the night before makes dehydration difficult to recover from. We’re all aware of the consequences of alcohol while we’re on the court. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a game of Ace, but if optimal performance is your goal, alcohol (beer included) should not be part of your hydration plans. In moderate quantities alcohol is a depressant, and it affects the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls motor function, balance, and coordination. As a result, motor skill precision and reaction times are negatively affected. Finally, the brain is less inhibited and judgment is also adversely affected.

So we are left with the question of what one should be drinking to prevent

You have to be careful in treating dehydration with water only. It is entirely possible to drink too much water. Remember the woman who died in a water drinking radio station contest? It’s called water toxicity, otherwise known as hyponatremia. It causes the brain to swell, and if uncorrected, seizures and death can follow.

How do you know if you’re drinking too much water? It’s not easy to determine, but the easiest method is to weigh yourself (with minimal clothing) before and after competition. Make sure you’re not wearing your sweat-soaked workout clothes, since it will throw the measurement off. Weight gain is a fairly accurate sign that you’re over-hydrated. Another clue may be that you feel bloated and heavy, or notice rings around your ankles where your socks are. If you experience or see anyone experiencing any of hyponatremia’s serious symptoms, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, mental status changes (confusion, agitation, and disorientation), seizures, or wheezing, seek medical attention right away. Unfortunately, some of these symptoms can be similar to those of dehydration. Again, tenting of the skin, flat veins, and fast heart rate help distinguish dehydration from over-hydration.

While sports drinks can help slow the loss of sodium associated with exercise, they will not protect you from getting water toxicity. The Boston marathoner who died from exercise-induced hyponatremia was reportedly drinking sports drinks. Pedialyte can’t be much better than sports drinks, as it’s pretty dilute (low sodium concentration).

Pickle juice has tons of sodium in it, but contains no sugar, which is important for fuel and absorption of sodium. That being said, pickle juice, in combination with carbohydrates or sugar to fuel your muscles during competition, has some potential to be a good replacement drink.

In conclusion, use common sense: hydrate well before playing and know the symptoms of heat illness. Beware of over-hydrating, which can be more dangerous than dehydration. Sports drinks are fine, but don’t assume they will protect you from water toxicity. Water or Pedialyte combined with food containing salt is probably a good choice. Finally, and sadly, beer probably doesn’t treat cramps very well, if at all.

It’s Better at the Beach

Cindy Phillips | Professional Beach Volleyball Player & Director of Club Beach Dig Beach volleyball is here to stay! If the first three seasons of Club Beach Dig are any indication, the future of beach volleyball in Florida and across the nation couldn’t be brighter.

In three short summers, junior’s beach volleyball in Florida has grown at an unbelievable rate. Where there was once five to ten junior’s teams competing on the weekends, there are now over 100 junior’s teams at every Dig The Beach event throughout the summer.

Club Beach Dig was created to fill the ever-increasing demand of juniors wanting to learn and play beach volleyball. Over the past three years, my business of coaching beach volleyball to both children and adults has grown beyond my wildest expectations.

Starting with just 40 kids in Deerfield Beach Florida, Club Beach Dig has now grown to over 200 players and expanded across Florida and into other states. Also, sand volleyball becoming an official NCAA sport has only fueled this growth.

It’s incredibly exciting to watch the growth, recognition, and appreciation of such an amazing sport and realize what this means for our future indoor and beach volleyball superstars. Club Beach Dig has helped bring exposure to some star players that excel on the beach. Now, there is a new

venue of competition for volleyball athletes in college and beyond.

Moreover, it seems that the perception that beach and indoor volleyball don’t compliment each other has mostly disappeared. More and more indoor coaches are realizing and believing in the benefits of playing and training on the beach during the summer. Many coaches are actually encouraging their kids to hit the beach to improve their skills, speed, agility, vertical jump, and ball control.

Juniors will return to the hard court as stronger and more well-rounded athletes because they are competing and training in matches where there were once six people on the court and now there are only two.

That means more running, more jumping, more serving, more passing, more setting, and more hitting. This makes for better allaround volleyball players.

With the recognition and noteriety of beach volleyball Olympic gold medalists Misty, Kerri, Phil, and Todd, and its newfound status as an official NCAA sport, this is great time for beach volleyball.

For more information on junior’s beach volleyball programs in your state, visit www.beachdig.com.

“I didn’t think I would ever find a passion greater than actually competing in this amazing sport. But, that was before I started coaching juniors and saw the potential and the future of our sport in their wide, eager eyes.”

-Cindy Phillips

Cindy Phillips with athletes Lauren Miko and Macie Tendrich at the 2009 U14 Series Championships

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Meet Jevin Albuquerque: Professional Beach Soccer Player Talk about your path to becoming a professional beach soccer player.

I grew up in Santa Cruz, California where my uncle put on the first beach soccer tournament in the United States. The San Jose Earthquakes of the NASL (North American Soccer League) used to come down and play exhibitions on the beach.

There would be local tournaments in conjunction with the exhibitions and there was always a really good buzz around the event. I was a little kid playing in these tournaments, and growing up in Santa Cruz, I always trained in the sand by default.

Soccer athletes are known for their strong legs. Talk about the strength and conditioning you do in the sand to stay on top of your game.

I do a lot of sprints on the beach at different lengths. I do lots of bursts, alternating jogging and sprinting in the sand. For the technical side of beach soccer, “footvolley” is the best teacher. We play over the volleyball net with the same rules as volleyball; you just can’t use your hands. We play with the national team, 2-on-2 and 1-on-1. We learned the game in Brazil by watching their players, and it explained a lot about why their team was so good technically.

What are the biggest differences between competing on the soccer field versus the beach?

There’s definitely an adjustment. You use different muscles and you have to adapt to running in the deep sand. Physically, your body is forced to work harder to balance and move in the sand. Technically, you have to be able to play the ball in the air which requires really good touch. It’s a big difference from outdoor soccer where you generally try to get the ball down to the ground as quickly as possible.

What’s memorable moment of your professional career so far?

Definitely it was beating Brazil. That was always the dream when I first started beach soccer. We arrived at a tournament in Malaysia. We didn’t have a coach, and things weren’t going that well for the organization. We were kind of a ragtag group, but had a very balanced team.

There were no egos, and we put in a lot of hard work and we beat Brazil.

College: UCLA Sports played growing up: Soccer and Baseball Age you started playing or competing in your sport: I started playing for the Beach Soccer National Team in 1997 and I’ve played soccer for as long as I can remember.

Coolest place you’ve competed: Rio de Janeiro—there is so much life in the city and so much going on around the tournament.

Favorite healthy snack: Tiger Milk Bar Words of Wisdom: The best advice I received was from a good friend of mine who said “Be the first to training and the last to leave.”

What role has athletics played in your development as a person?

In sports you face a lot of obstacles. You set a goal and go after it, and the character building is everything you encounter and overcome in between. Through soccer you can learn a lot of life lessons. Being a little older, I have a soccer school here in Santa Cruz and the sport is a great vehicle for teaching kids and helping people to go after what they want.

Can you talk a little more about your school and the programs you have for kids?

I run Cross-Training Soccer Academy here in Santa Cruz. We do futsal (a version of indoor soccer), beach soccer, and also conditioning and technical work. I train different teams and also do small group and 1-on-1 training. An interesting part of teaching kids has been enabling them to learn things that I learned in my 20’s or late in my career. Helping them to maximize their capabilities has been the most rewarding part for me.

A Brief History of Beach Soccer Born on the beaches in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, beach soccer has long since been played informally on sandy shorelines around the world.

The game was codified in 1992 by a group in Los Angeles, and one year later the first professional beach soccer competition was held at Miami Beach, with the USA hosting Brazil, Argentina, and Italy.

In 1994, the first World Championship was held in Rio de Janeiro. The US team has had modest success in the World Championships, with a second-place finish in 1995 and a third-place finish in 1997. FIFA recognized beach soccer beginning in 2005, and has staged four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups. The first tournaments were hosted on the beaches of Rio in Brazil. In 2008, the tournament moved to Marseille, France, with the 2009 edition gracing the beaches of Dubai.

Basic Rules of the Game Beach Soccer is played on a field that is approximately 36 meters long and 27 meters wide. The game is played on sand that is a minimum of 40 centimeters deep and players must be barefoot. Five players, including a goalkeeper, are on the field at one time and play three, 12-minute periods.

There are five substitutes on the bench, and like futsal, there are unlimited substitutions. Games cannot end in ties, and are decided by a three-minute overtime and then kicks from the penalty spot, which is an imaginary mark nine meters from the goal.

After a ball goes out of bounds, it can be thrown or kicked back into play. Goalkeepers can pick up the first back pass from a teammate per possession. Players taking a free kick can make a small mound of sand to place the ball on. www.spikekey.com

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Sponsorships By: Matt Brockway

D

uring the 2009 AVP season, the average winnings among the AVP’s top 100 women were around $16,500. The more telling statistic, however, is that the median winnings for the same group was approximately $5,000. In other words, the vast majority of the winnings were made by the very top players, and only a select few athletes are able to support themselves as professional athletes on their winnings alone. It’s no surprise that most athletes have “real jobs” in order to make ends meet and support their careers as professional beach volleyball players.

However, apart from tournament winnings and a nine-to-five job, there is another source of income that is often overlooked: sponsorships. Sponsorships are a major force in the sports world, benefiting athletes and advertisers alike in the form of income, publicity, and goodwill. For professional athletes, sponsorships are a good way to supplement prize money income, and it is not uncommon for sponsorship deals to exceed an athlete’s salary or winnings.

At the same time, the sponsor reaps the benefits of its association with a particular athlete, realizing increased goodwill and brand recognition, and enjoying stronger consumer brand impressions.

While six-figure sponsorship contracts are the exception, rather than the rule, sponsorships can help aspiring professional athletes make ends meet and finance their beach volleyball lifestyle, all while providing valuable exposure for the sponsor.

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Rules and Regulations Even before researching and identifying potential sponsors, it is absolutely imperative for the athlete to review and understand any applicable rules, agreements, or other restrictions on sponsorships for the specific sport and league. Generally, league rules limit the types of sponsorships and endorsements available to athletes and may require participation in league marketing efforts. Rules related to conflicts of interest between league sponsors and individual athlete sponsors are of particular import and often cause unexpected problems, as do rules addressing sponsorship or advertising violations. Specific to beach volleyball, the AVP requires all athletes participating in AVP Tour events to sign the AVP Players Contract, and these athletes must abide by its terms and conditions. Again, it is the responsibility of the athlete or their attorney to be intimately familiar with any rules pertaining to sponsorships and endorsements.

Attracting a Sponsor After navigating and becoming familiar with the sponsorship rules and regulations, and after identifying potential sponsors, the next step is to contact these potential sponsors and negotiate a sponsorship contract. Contacting and attracting the interest of sponsors is by far the most difficult step in the process.

The value of sponsorships arise from the public’s perception of the athlete as an individual. The public’s perception, in turn, is based in large part on the athlete’s personal story, accomplishments, and charisma. These attributes are useful tools in attracting the interest of sponsors.

Generally, sponsors aim to associate with athletes that share a common philosophy and work ethic, and the prospect of becoming part of an athlete’s success story is extremely attractive to sponsors. In addition to attracting the initial interest of sponsors, a compelling personal story can be used to leverage an athlete’s position when negotiating the details of a sponsorship contract. Each athlete presents a unique sponsorship opportunity.

It is up to the athlete to “sell” their story and highlight the different attributes and features they offer.

Cindie Valeriano-Boosin

Types of Sponsorships

Term of Contract

Sponsorships essentially involve advertising, and there are several common types of sponsorship arrangements. Some sponsorships involve monetary compensation, while other arrangements utilize “in kind” compensation. That is, the sponsor compensates the athlete by providing goods or services, most commonly the goods or services that the sponsor is in the business of supplying. For example, in an apparel sponsorship, the sponsor would provide the athlete with free clothing in return for the athlete wearing the sponsor’s apparel. This is also common in sponsorships for hard goods, such as the athlete’s equipment, including volleyballs, nets, lines, and sunglasses, etc.

Often, the most contentious negotiation point is also the most important contractual provision: the length of the sponsorship deal. Essentially, an athlete’s position depends on the current stage of their career. If the athlete is young with a long career ahead, it is typically beneficial to negotiate a shorter term for the sponsorship contract. The reasoning behind this position is that the athlete’s ability, ranking, and notoriety will improve over the course of their career. As a result of these improvements, the athlete will be able to command larger sponsorships, and short term sponsorship deals can be renegotiated to more lucrative terms without being locked into a longterm contract that undercompensates the athlete. The inverse also holds true. If the athlete is nearing the end of their career, they should negotiate for the longest contract with the most guaranteed compensation.

Another type of sponsorship is a non-marking sponsorship. Non-marking sponsorships are used by corporate supporters that desire to have a partnership with an athlete, but do not want to include any advertising rights on the athlete’s person. Instead, the company utilizes the athlete’s persona in their own advertisements and marketing campaigns, which may include autograph sessions, speaking engagements, and personal appearances. An athlete’s persona may include their name, nickname, image, likeness, portrait, performance, biographical facts, or symbolic representation.

Negotiating a Sponsorship Contract The real work begins in negotiating the terms of the sponsorship deal. Negotiating a sponsorship contract, whether for apparel, hard goods, headgear, or other type of arrangement is a complex and multifaceted process requiring a comprehensive strategy to accomplish the athlete’s objectives, as well as knowledge of contract, intellectual property, and other areas of law. In typical sponsorship negotiations, the major terms are initially agreed upon, and the contract goes back and forth between the sponsor and the athlete with proposed changes until both sides agree on the final terms of the contract.

Many factors and issues must be considered when negotiating a sponsorship contract, and it is highly advisable that athletes involve an attorney in the negotiation process, even in seemingly straightforward and simple sponsorship deals. Involving a knowledgeable and experienced attorney at the outset of a sponsorship deal can potentially avoid giant headaches and costly disputes in the future.

Go to www.spikekey.com to learn more...

Endorsed Products Necessary for all sponsorship contracts is a provision that identifies the particular goods or services that the athlete is endorsing. If this term is left undefined, or vaguely defined, the sponsor will advocate a broad interpretation of the scope of endorsed products, so as to potentially foreclose the athlete from seeking additional sponsorships in related categories of goods or services. For example, if a particular sponsor wants the athlete to endorse an energy drink, the sponsor may seek to identify and define the endorsed products as “beverages” in the contract. This broad definition is unfavorable to the athlete because it would potentially bar the athlete from soliciting or accepting sponsorships from other companies for products such as bottled water, milk, sports drinks, coffee, or any other consumable liquid product that could be characterized as a “beverage.” Thus, it is in the athlete’s best interest to define the endorsed products as narrowly as possible, while the inverse holds true for sponsors. www.spikekey.com

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Athlete Approval

Termination

Additionally, for the benefit of the athlete, as well as the sponsor, the sponsorship contract should require the sponsor to submit all advertising and promotional materials to the athlete or their attorney for review and approval prior to their release to the public.

Including such a provision in the sponsorship contract may seem unnecessary or excessive, but it can save the athlete and the sponsor large amounts of time and effort spent resolving a dispute over the content of promotional materials after they are released.

As with other types of contracts, sponsorship contracts can be breached intentionally or unintentionally by either the athlete or the sponsor. For example, the sponsor could breach the contract by nonpayment or otherwise failing to compensate the athlete in the manner set forth in the contract. Likewise, an athlete might breach the sponsorship contract by entering into a conflicting sponsorship agreement. Therefore, under certain circumstances, both the athlete and the sponsor should be able to terminate the sponsorship contract, and specific provisions should establish the procedure for doing so and set forth each party’s rights upon termination.

Appearances Sponsors and advertisers commonly expect athletes to make personal appearances as part of the sponsorship package.

These appearances may include photograph sessions, autograph sessions, or presentations to the sponsor’s employees about the time, training, and dedication involved in a career as a professional athlete. A certain number of appearances is reasonable, but an athlete should specifically limit the number and duration of appearances in the sponsorship contract. The contract should also require the sponsor to pay for all necessary travel, lodging, and meal expenses incurred by the athlete in making the personal appearances.

Jason Wight

Conclusion As an athlete, locating a potential sponsor and closing the deal is a challenging, yet extremely rewarding experience, both financially and in other respects. For sponsors, establishing and protecting an athletic brand is a key to unlocking the very lucrative consumer demographic associated with athletics and the active lifestyle.

Athlete sponsorships play a vital role in doing so. Importantly, a sponsorship deals present a multitude of pitfalls involving contract, intellectual property, and employment law. As such, sponsorship contracts should be reviewed by an attorney experienced in such matters.

Nevertheless, if executed properly, an athletic sponsorship is a valuable asset to the athlete, the sponsor, and the sport.

Matt Brockway is an attorney

with the law firm of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, P.A. in Sarasota, Florida. His practice focuses primarily on intellectual property litigation, asset management, and licensing.

For more information, please visit www.icardmerrill.com.

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A Bag of Sand a Day to Enhance Your Play

By Josh Henkin, NCSA, CSCS, Henkin Fitness Systems

Upon becoming an Olympic sport, beach volleyball instantly gained respect and credibility from the mainstream community. Most of this respect was due to the athletes’ combination of power, grace, and endurance; qualities that had gone unnoticed for years outside the beach volleyball community. Likewise, only recently has beach volleyball attracted interest from the broader sports conditioning community.

Sandbag

T

raining h by wres as long b tlers an een used d martia of its ve l artists rsatility a n m d any diff capabilit because Beach volleyball athletes are subject to demands unique to the sport and the erent m y to train o E v x e m e rcises u ents of sand playing surface. The majority of volleyball injuries come from overuse, s the bod e d in s perfect y. accounting for between 50-80% of all injuries. Patellar tendonitis (jumper’s for beac andbag training are h because volleyba knee) accounts for about 80% of these overuse injuries. In addition to ll athlet they eff es ectively traditio overuse, about 60% of volleyball injuries are attributable to jumping. combine nal weig h t e r o x o p m exerc losive m Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are one major injury that can be ovement ises with workout s. The r caused by jumping. Non-contact ACL tears usually occur when the player with hig esult is h a e results. r intens lands with the knee hyperextended.

Incorpo rating sa ity and enhance into a tr d ndbag e aining pr xerc og the bod Injury avoidance and performance optimization are complimentary y to with ram can help co ises ndition sta jumping elements of preparation for competing on the sand. This is where a well and sprin nd the high imp ac t As an ad ing of a designed strength and conditioning program comes into play. Most volleyba t ded ben ll e fi match. e t x , multi-p beach volleyball athletes are wary of spending long hours off the sand ercises lanar sa e ndbag shoulder ngage the core and in the gym. However, targeting part of your workout routine on muscles s, , body wo and lower body building strength and power can provide great returns in terms of rkout su for a to t it al e complex d for be improved performance and reduced injury occurrences. Recently, moveme ach volle nts. yball’s coaches and trainers have sought out and found innovative and effective training tools that can be easily transported and used on the beach. One such tool is the sandbag.

ON MODEL

Under Armour Shirt Quiksilver Boardshorts

www.sandbagfitnesssystems.com Rotational Lunging Lunging is a great exercise for beach volleyball because it strengthens all the muscles integral to jumping. It is also a great exercise for injury prevention.

Adding torso rotation to lunges increases the intensity of the exercise and engages the core to resist lateral forces in addition to the basic lunging movement.

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Shouldering Strength coaches in many sports love to include the Olympic lifts into a training program. These lifts produce great power and are particularly suited to sports that involve jumping.

However, Olympic lifts are not suited for all athletes because of their technical nature and the need for precision to avoid injury. Incorporating a shouldering exercise with a sandbag provides similar benefits without the high risk of injury.

Step one

Step two

Clean and Press Training multiple muscle groups through complex movements should be the focus of every beach volleyball strength and conditioning program.

The clean and press does precisely that, incorporating every major muscle group from head to toe.

Step one

Step two

Around the Worlds Building a strong core is integral to beach volleyball training. A strong core is equally able to produce and resist force. “Around the Worlds� focus on both of these components in the same exercise and incorporate the entire core. This is an ideal drill for injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Step thre e

Step four

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n i a P s s e L , e m a G e

Mor

Back Pain and Volleyball

Pop Quiz...

What is “the core”?

Textbook answer: The major muscles of the core are the pelvic floor, transversus abdominus, multifidus, internal and external obliques, rectus abdominus, erector spinae, and the diaphragm.

Normal person answer: Basically, if you cut off your arms and legs, most everything remaining has something to do with your core.

The reality is that the muscles of the trunk and torso, which is the essence of the core, are needed to stabilize the spine all the way from the pelvis to the neck and shoulders.

Strengthening these muscles will help prevent back pain and injuries.

The first recommendation for volleyball players is to begin a regular Pilates program that consists of exercises focused on the entire abdominal region, the lumbo-pelvic region, the thoracic region, and since we’re talking volleyball here, the shoulder girdle.

Just taking a class once a week or buying a couple of inexpensive Pilates workout DVDs can be a big help. You can even download workouts to your iPod.

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www.jillbrownfitness.com

Back injuries account for about 14% of all volleyball Injuries according to volleyball.com. Think of all those moves you make: jumping, reaching, crash landing, back bending, and twisting…I just felt a sympathy twinge in my back typing all those commas! When you put those types of stresses on your back over and over again, it’s no wonder your back hurts. Volleyball injuries are generally due either to overuse (a chronic injury), or sudden trauma (an acute injury), when just one wrong move takes you out of the game. The most common causes of chronic or acute lower back pain are: -SI (sacroiliac joint) dysfunction -Herniated discs - Strains and sprains of the soft tissue that run along the spine Although you may be a highly conditioned, competitive athlete, with a rockin’ bod that makes heads turn every time you whip off your shirt, in reality you have more in common with the average desk jockey than you may realize. Four out of five adults will experience significant lower back pain sometime during their life.

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The best thing you can do prevent back pain, whether you’re under 18 or over 45, is to improve your core strength, postural alignment, and spinal flexibility.

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By: Jill Brow

If you’ve never done Pilates, particularly on a Reformer (see if you have access to Reformer classes at your gym), you’ll soon realize that many of the exercises target the areas you’ll most want to strengthen, including the stabilizers of the shoulder, which every volleyball player needs. Even the breathing done in Pilates is designed to strengthen your abdominals, specifically the transversus abdominus, one of the most important muscles of the core.

Jill Brown Fitness Instructor

Here’s how to do Pilates breathing: Put your hands around your rib cage with your fingers and thumbs in the front and the heels of your hands on your sides. Take a deep breath filling your lungs about two-thirds of the way up from the bottom. When you get the inhale right, you will feel your ribs expanding outwards to your sides—into the palms and heels of your hands—and not just popping forward into your fingers.

As you exhale, blow the air out forcefully through pursed lips—you should be able to hear it! This will force you to contract your diaphragm and transversus. Remember to breathe like this for all your exercises and you will be doing double duty for your core.

If you prefer the grounding mind-chill of yoga, and I overheard Ty Loomis on a recent Volleyball Vacation say he swears by it, then by all means, keep it up. But be sure to pick a class that does plenty of chaturangas, plank, locust, cat, bridge, and boat poses.

Also, integrate exercises such as leg lifts, v-poses, and abdominal twists into your workout. If you go to a regular class, tell your instructor what you are trying to accomplish, and typically an experienced instructor will be able to give you modifications or alternatives to meet your specific needs.

Strengthen Your Core! #

1 Dead Bug

Lie face up on the floor, legs in tabletop position (90-degree bend) and arms perpendicular to the floor.

Begin in a neutral spine (pelvis neither tipped nor tucked) by engaging your core muscles. Focus on the connection of your transversus abdominus to stabilize your lower back and pelvis by drawing in your belly button and your upper abdominals to your spine and imagining you’re wearing a corset that is tightening around your ribs (in Pilates lingo, this is referred to as “knitting your ribs together”).

On an exhale, slowly lower your right arm and left foot (maintaining the 90-degree bend in your leg) to the floor.

Then inhale and return to starting position. Repeat with your left arm and right leg. Continue this alternating pattern for 16 – 20 repetitions.

#

2 Pilates Roll Up

Lie face up on the floor, legs extended out and in a neutral spine (pelvis neither tipped nor tucked).

Knit your ribs to stabilize your ribcage and engage your transversus abdominus.

On an inhale, reach your arms up back behind you until they are next to your ears, but not on the floor. On an exhale, raise your arms to perpendicular, tuck your chin so your head lifts off the floor and you feel a stretch behind the neck. Then slowly peel your spine off the floor one vertebrae at a time. Make sure you exhale most forcefully at the point where you feel you may get stuck.

Continue curling your body in one smooth motion keeping your belly button drawn in until your arms are parallel to your legs and your chest is over your thighs.

Inhale in place, then exhale as your slowly peel back down, one vertebrae at a time, back to the starting position. Go slowly in both directions. The goal is to do this movement smoothly without lurching the body or kicking your legs. Repeat 6 – 8 times.

If you can’t stop your legs from kicking as you roll up, perform this exercise with bent knees, keeping your feet on the floor, until you develop enough strength to do it with straight legs. Don’t get frustrated! This is an essential Pilates exercise and may take you a few tries before you master it.

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#

3 Planks

Prone Plank: Lie face down on floor or mat resting on your forearms, palms flat on the floor.

Raise up onto your toes, keeping your shoulders directly above your elbows. Position your back so that it is flat and making a straight line from your head to your heels. Tilt your pelvis under and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat three times.

Side plank: Lie on your right side resting on your right forearm, palm flat on the floor. Stagger your legs so your top leg is forward and your bottom leg is slightly back from your midline (for more advanced: keep top leg directly above the lower leg making the entire body a straight line from head to feet).

If you have a nagging, chronic or acute pain, you should consult an expert for diagnosis and to determine whether physical therapy is recommended.

Raise up onto the sides of your feet so the right side of your body leaves the floor except for the forearm. Make sure your neck is not being crunched and that your right elbow is directly under the shoulder. Hold this for several seconds. Then begin to slowly lower your right hip (tap it on the floor if possible) and raise it back up to plank position. Repeat on left side. Do three sets of 8 – 15 repetitions per side.

oss

iss Cr # 4 Pilates Cr

Lie face up on a mat. Bring your knees into tabletop position with your shins parallel to the floor.

Place your hands behind your head to lightly support the neck. Keep your elbows wide. Exhale as pull your abs into a deep scoop, leaving the lower spine in a neutral position (not tucked or tipped). Tuck your chin and peel your shoulders off the mat up to the tips of your shoulder blades.

On an inhale, your upper body is in a full curve, your abs are pulling your bellybutton down to your spine, and your legs are in table-top position. Exhale as you extend your left leg out and rotate your torso toward the bent right knee, keeping your elbows wide. Then, inhale as you return to starting table-top position.

Exhale as you repeat with right leg extending out and rotating your torso toward the bent left knee.

Inhale as you return to the starting position. Be careful to keep the spine stable by using your core muscles. You should not be losing your balance or rocking from side to side.

Complete this pattern 12 – 20 times for 3 sets.

Did You Know?

Strengthening the core is especially key for athletic performance because all powerful movements begin in the center of the body. The core allows that power to transfer out through the limbs. The more stable the muscles are along the spine, trunk, and torso, the more power you can generate out of your extremities.

Jill Brown is a Los Angeles based certified fitness instructor and trainer specializing in core training, boot camps, Pilates,0 and Spinning. She is also a freelance writer.

“

Although you may be a highly conditioned, competitive athlete, with a rockin’ bod that makes heads turn every time you whip off your shirt, in reality you have more in common with the average desk jockey than you may realize.

“

Jill Brown Fitness Instructor

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Vern Gambetta Gambetta Sports Training Systems www.gambetta.com

Where have all the athletes gone? At first that may seem like a naïve question, but lets examine it further and look beyond the numbers. Sure, we have better performances than we have ever had, but there are more injuries and fewer athletes able to sustain high performance levels for an extended career. How did we get here? What is missing? The answer is true athleticism. We know it when we see it, we talk about it, but do we know how to develop it? What is it? Lets begin by defining the term. Given its widespread use in the world of sports performance, I was surprised that I was unable to find an acceptable definition of athleticism, so I came up with my own. Athleticism is the ability to execute athletic movements at optimum speed with precision, style, and grace. This is not a very complicated definition, and it is easy to see when someone has it.

My observation is that we have increased specialization and sacrificed overall athleticism. This is the downside of the emphasis on specificity in training and early specialization.

Sometimes we are lead to believe it is an either-or proposition. Produce a better overall athlete, or produce a better shot putter or high jumper with refined specific skills. Ultimately, the goal should be to produce the best possible athlete who does a particular event. In this case, not only will performance be enhanced, but also injuries will be reduced.

The downside is the apparent conflict in terms of time and effort. With the same amount of training time available, is it possible to train to improve athleticism without sacrificing specific skill training?

First of all we need to eliminate the distinction. The two are not mutually exclusive. They are codependent and intertwined, one enhances the other. There is time within the existing training structure to include athleticism training components. It just needs to be made a priority.

There is a saying that goes “You don’t need to see different things, but rather to see things differently.”

Sometimes we overlook the obvious. In the incessant search to improve sport performance we have gotten away from the essence of it all. The foundation is athleticism. The foundations for athleticism are basic coordinative abilities. According to Drabik (Children & Sports Training) the coordinative abilities are: • B alance – Maintenance of the center gravity over the base of support; it is both a static and a dynamic quality

• K inesthetic Differentiation – Ability to feel tension in movement to achieve the desired motion

• Spatial Orientation – The control of the body in space • Reaction to Signals – The ability to respond quickly to auditory, visual, and kinesthetic cues

• Sense of Rhythm – The ability to match movement to time

• Synchronization of Movements in Time – Unrelated limb movements done in a synchronized manner

• Movement Adequacy – Ability to choose movements appropriate to the task The coordinative abilities never work in isolation. They are all closely related and are the underlying foundation and prerequisite for technical skills. Once the coordinative abilities are developed, better athleticism is sure to follow. It is imperative to look for opportunities to incorporate elements of athleticism in all aspects of training. Specific sport skills are a combination of patterns of complex motor programs. They are patterns that can be

reproduced when we tap into the wisdom of the body.

Though experiencing all different patterns of movement

we learn to let things happen. We learn to let the motor program run. We cue an action that will result in a “chain reaction” of efficient movement. We need to emphasize a free play approach that results in fluidity

and improvisational skills.

Should we try to teach every movement and then coach it? Or should we allow the athlete the joy of discovery through exploration. There seems to be a worry about them getting it wrong! My answer to that is: What is wrong? There must be a spontaneity and anticipation, not a robotic programmed approach. It has been my experience working with athletes at all levels in a wide variety of sports, that athletes will find their own best way of doing something if they are put in a position where they have to adapt. Athletes, by nature, are very adaptable. We need to encourage an extemporaneous approach much like the improvization of a great jazz musician.

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What has caused this decline in athleticism?

Early specialization in one event is a serious problem that has contributed to the decline in athleticism. The broader range of motor skills developed through free play and exposure to many varied motor programs is a big limiting factor. The choice is to produce better athletes or produce highly specialized athletes with a skill ranges very specific to their sport. Ultimately, the goal should be to produce the best athletes who participate in various sports.

One sided training with an emphasis on one or two components of performance rather than a blend. The components of performance and training are: speed, strength, stamina, suppleness, skill, and recovery. There is a synergistic relationship between all components, and therefore all components must be trained during all phases of the year in varying combinations.

It is always easy and convenient to look to the “good old days” as being better.

The simple fact is that before the advent of specialization, athletes at the high school level and even at the college level participated in several sports. It was not unusual to see a high school athlete play football, basketball, and track.

This was not so bad. The athlete may not have been as good early, but once they did chose to specialize they had a broader base of motor skills to draw upon to enhance their specific sport skill.

Sometimes it is good to look back to gain perspective in order to move ahead. We cannot go backward, but we must look for ways to enhance athleticism that has been lost due to early specialization.

Training must have a purpose that will transfer to the event. With a base of athleticism, specific training will be even more purposeful. The basis of training

Monkey See – Monkey Do Syndrome. Just because an athlete has been successful with a particular training method does not mean that the method is the best or should be copied by others.

It is my experience that many athletes are successful in spite of, not because of their training. Make sure that what you are doing is based on sound training principles and a good progression.

“Nobody gets hurt, but nobody gets better.” Training that is so conservative or narrow that the athlete is never challenged will not produce results. The justification for many machine oriented strength training programs is that they are “safe.” In fact, because they fail to challenge the athleticism of the athlete they might actually predispose the athlete to injury.

athleticism is rooted in running, jumping, and throwing, which encompass the whole spectrum of human movement.

The body is a link system, sometimes referred to as a kinetic chain. Athleticism training is all about linkage – it is all about how all the parts of the chain work together in harmony to produce smooth efficient patterns of movement. The brain does not recognize individual muscles. It recognizes patterns of movement, which consist of the individual muscles working in harmony to produce movement.

The fact that we live, work, and play in a gravitationally enriched environment cannot be denied. Over-reliance on machines will give us a false sense of security because they negate some of the effects of gravity. Gravity and its effect must be a prime consideration when designing and implementing a functional training program, or we are not preparing

the body for the forces that it must overcome. We cannot ignore gravity; it is essential for movement. It helps us to load the system. Therefore we must learn to overcome its effects, cheat, and even defeat it occasionally.

Understanding and training athleticism is a challenging process. It demands creativity and imagination. It is often contrary to conventional wisdom as represented in current mainstream sport science and research that emphasizes specificity and measurable outcomes. Do not be limited by conventional wisdom.

Use it as a staring point and move forward while thinking and acting outside the box. You and your athletes will enjoy the day-to-day challenges of training with the resulting higher, injury free performance level.

Optimal Vertical...Who’s Fueling Your Game?

The explosive sport of volleyball demands opponent-crushing performance all day long. The many quick powerful movements, coupled with the long, exhausting day require a performance optimization supplement system that offers proper cellular mineralization, water usage, and energy generation. Enter the BioGenix supplement called the Optimal Vertical System. Add this three-part liquid performance supplement to your water to promote optimal hydration, electrolyte balance, and power output.

Optimal Hydration Water in the right place equals optimal volleyball performance. Water ultimately allows access to the energy that fuels efficiently powerful muscle contraction. It is key in the expulsion of metabolic wastes, like lactic acid, which hamper sports performance. Optimal Hydration opens the door for water to be in the right place at the right time, promoting a decrease in the tendency to injury, increasing joint mobility, and optimizing muscle contraction efficiency. This product helps to store and then release muscle energy, driving your volleyball performance to new heights. For each gram of glycogen stored in the muscle 2.7 grams of water is needed to release that stored energy. Optimal Hydration opens water pathways, creating an environment that for optimal volleyball performance.

Optimal Mineral/Electrolytes inerals in the right form and concentration are paramount for the M production of energy to fuel efficient sports performance. They are important for the regulation of cellular nutrition and the expulsion of waste products, without which your game suffers. BioGenix Optimal Minerals offers all this. It will make your game electric.

Optimal Power 80% of volleyball’s energy demands come from the anaerobic power systems of the body. Whether it is a quick dive to recover a ball played off the net or a 40 inch leap to crush the ball down on your opponents, this product promotes the confidence and power needed to effectively optimize your performance again and again. BioGenix Optimal Power provides the support necessary for those power movements.

Volleyball demands excellence in every move, power in every jump, confidence in every serve, and quick recovery after every side out. Your team deserves the benefits of the BioGenix Optimal Vertical System in its bid for an exceptional volleyball experience. Successfully used by professional volleyball players worldwide.

Please visit www.optimalvertical.com or email info@optimalvertical.com.

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Liquid Fuel No one expects to go into a full-body cramp and be rushed to the hospital during the AVP Chicago Open, or to be soaked to the bone and freezing cold in Panama City during Spring Break! Ever tried drinking a hot Red Bull? Well, I went straight Cayley Thurlby for the hot Totty during the AVP Ocean City Open. Unconventional I know, but who wants to get sick in June? I might be the only player that learned the hard way NOT to drink a strong cup of joe before playing a 9 a.m. match (talk about the jitters!), but I doubt it. I’m thinking there are more java heads out there. Sure, Polly’s Coffee in

Long Beach, CA makes a delicious cup, but I don’t recommend it before tourneys. I would bet there are players out there that drink the coffee plus five Red Bulls and pop Emergen-C packets like pop rocks (and yes, I mean without water). Is that being prepared? My point is that after experiencing weather all over the radar during the 2009 AVP season, I think most players will agree that you can never know what to expect. It’s one of the reasons staying energized and healthy is a top priority for everyone on tour. But at what cost should we do this? Is it just plain crazy to think our sport can be so tiresome that we need stimulant on top of stimulant? Yeah, it may be just a tad crazy, but to say that we don’t need the proper fuel to give us that edge is even crazier. While doing some research I found some very interesting facts about the drinks my fellow beach players drink to achieve this edge. Here’s what I found.

in the mix

According to Better Body Journal, FRS was originally developed to help cancer patients fight fatigue. It’s a strong source of energy that goes so far as to speed up your metabolism. The key ingredient is quercetin, an antioxidant from fruits like apples and blueberries. But FRS is more than just the ingredients in the container, it’s how the ingredients are put into the container.

The vitamins are mixed to allow the body to absorb all the main ingredients in a way that increases focus.

drink and burn

You may have also heard of Celsius. Its makers cite several studies suggesting that the energy boost is so powerful that it raises your metabolism over a three-hour period, resulting in the burning of 100 calories. It’s packed with powerful ingredients like green tea with EGCG, ginger, calcium, chromium, B vitamins, and vitamin C. Similar to FRS, it’s not just the ingredients, but how they work together that’s critical. It’s also said to enhance the effects of any workout.

Loco for Coco

Coconut water is the latest craze amongst yoga enthusiasts and athletes. Studs like Cole Hamels and Kelly Slater are opting for this natural way to stay hydrated and cramp free. There are several different brands out there: ZICO, Vita CoCo, and O.N.E. Coconut Water. Most contain more potassium than one banana and 15 times more than most sports drinks, perfect for beach players in need of a speedy recovery after a long day in the sun. Talk about a natural way to stay in the game! In ZICO there is no fat, no added sugars, and only 60 calories. ZICO offers flavors like passion fruit, orange peel, mango, and natural. Vita CoCo offers flavors like pineapple, acai and pomegranate, tangerine, and natural.

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The Pop Stars

One of the more noteworthy ingredients in big name energy drinks is sugar. Many, like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, have very high levels. When trying to find the energy drink for you, be sure to venture to the back of the can to the dreaded nutrition facts and double check what you are pumping into your body. Be leery of consuming too much sugar and caffeine. Red Bull, for example, has 80 milligrams of caffeine in an 8 oz serving. Talk about having a racing heart and high blood pressure. I hope I don’t sound like Debbie Downer, but don’t overdose on high sugar energy drinks with an empty stomach or during late nights. Red Bull managed to sell more than four billion cans worldwide in 2008. They’ve built a brand and product with a taste that consumers keep coming back for. Cheers to them for that.

Sean Rosenthal

Pocket Sized and Versatile

Emergen-C started dominating former market leader Airborne when it stuffed1,000 mg of vitamin C along with other B vitamins into a tiny package that fits into your pocket.

It didn’t hurt that you could buy a box of 36 at places like Trader Joe’s for just $9.99. Mix into four to six ounces of water and you will be on your way to fighting any approaching cold and being energized all day long! I once witnessed AVP pro Rosa Masler expedite her vitamin C intake by emptying an entire packet of Emergen-C right into her mouth. “It tastes just like Pop Rocks!” she said. Well folks, you can try it Rosa’s way, or maybe grab a swig of water as a chaser! I recently watched my mother perform her own mixology with a packet of strawberry and lemon lime. She doubled her dose into a mug of hot water to fight a cold.

The Old Guard

Thanks to the likes of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods we all know what Gatorade is, and most of us grew up with it as our choice drink during little league or soccer. Gatorade is the scientific answer to rejuvenating electrolytes that keep our muscles pumping with sodium and potassium. Scientists at the University of Florida designed and tested the drink so that it would stimulate thirst and athletes would crave fluids, thus, keeping them hydrated. Gatorade was in the process of designing Focus (Gatorade Tiger) but since November 2009 has decided to discontinue the product line. Maybe we can convince them to bring it back under the name Focus (Gatorade Misty).

Misty May-Treanor

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Your Game-Day Diet Checkup

By: Angela Morley, R.D.

As part of a highly competitive volleyball program at Michigan State University, I was given everything I needed to succeed: state of the art facilities, highly knowledgeable coaches, helpful trainers, top-of-the-line equipment, and comfortable accommodations while traveling. Come to think about it, traveling was one of the highlights of the season for me. A typical travel day included the following activities: eat, fly, practice, eat, play, eat, and sleep…let’s just say there was a lot of eating going on.

Although Michigan State provided for all of my physical needs on the road, the university and coaching staff weren’t always looking over my shoulder when I made food selections on game day. With regard to pre and post-game meals, food was always abundant, as were poor dietary decisions on my part, especially early on in my career. I wish I knew that consuming large amounts of white bread and butter was going to result in me feeling lethargic, sluggish, and heavy on the day of a big match. By my senior year (after changing my major to “Dietetics”), I figured it out, but it took me a long time to realize the significance of poor food choices, particularly on the road.

As a Registered Dietitian (R.D.), I understand that the foods you eat can actually give you a competitive edge. So for those of you who are looking to maximize your efforts on your next road trip, whether it’s out of state or just down the road, hopefully these strategies can help. I understand life is busy and it’s difficult to prepare, but if you take a few minutes to simplify your game plan, and pack your “nutritional bag” for the road, you can enhance your performance.

Meal-Planning Eat frequently and don’t skip meals. Be aware of large portion sizes.

Choose nutrient-dense foods. Foods packed with adequate amounts of energy and nutrients will provide you the best opportunity to reach peak performance and recover quickly. Carbohydrates are the preferred fuel source, and lean protein should also be part of each meal. Carbohydrate-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, grains (including breads and cereals), beans and legumes, and some dairy products, milk and yogurt in particular.

Fluids Stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol and all other caffeinated beverages including coffee, tea, and soda. Dehydration is counterproductive to enhancing athletic performance.

Minor dehydration impairs concentration, coordination, reaction time, and reduces stamina. In order to keep yourself from becoming dehydrated, drink plenty of fluids (ideally water) before, during, and after strenuous activity. Sports drinks are only beneficial one hour after competing and/or playing in extreme environments (hot, humid).

Remember, once you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

Dining Out Choose to eat small portions and stick to foods that your body is accustomed to. Skip the mayo, butters, gravies, and sauces, and avoid fried foods.

Stay away from appetizers, desserts, and alcoholic beverages. Look for heart-healthy selections. Many menus carry an icon to indicate healthier choices. Go prepared—many restaurants post their menus online along with nutritional facts.

Nutritional Bag for the Road I choose these foods because they are healthy, simple, cheap, quick, and easy to pack. Experiment and find out what works best for you. Along with these foods, remember to keep yourself adequately hydrated with appropriate fluids.

• P eanut butter on whole grain bread or crackers • Whole wheat bagel with raisins or other fruit

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• A pple or banana with peanut butter • S ports bar (Balance, Luna, or Clif Bar) • T rail mix consisting of dried fruit, nuts, seeds, and cereal

Hitting Up

Pilates

By Sheri L. Myers Owner and Instructor, Fokus Pilates Studio, Corona del Mar, CA

For a Safer & Stronger Swing

Joseph Pilates, the creator of Pilates, called the very large group of muscles in the center of the body, made up of the abdomen, lower back, hips, and buttocks “the powerhouse.” All energy for Pilates exercises is said to begin from this powerhouse and flow outward to the limbs. All athletic activities require a certain level of strength and coordination that links the limbs and the core of the body. The most common error made by athletes, in my opinion, is the blatant disassociation of those limbs and extremities from the core.

Volleyball is a perfect example. When a player has imperfections in their swing, a coach will often work with them to correct the range of motion of the swing, but not necessarily the source of the movement or strength. Oftentimes when a hitter goes up to hit a ball, they begin their swing with the very limb that is engaging in the movement, the arm, or more specifically, the origin of the arm, the shoulder. Unfortunately, the shoulder is a vulnerable part of the body that when misused can result in severe injuries that are often irreparable or require invasive surgery to restore normal function.

The benefit of Pilates with respect to volleyball, is that Pilates strengthens the core or “powerhouse”, which will in turn, correct the alignment and posture of the body, creating an optimal platform for executing explosive volleyball movements, such as spiking the ball. When a player initiates their swing from their core they not only keep their shoulder in a safer position, but also have a larger source of power to draw from. The end result of core strengthening through Pilates is a better, more powerful swing, with less potential for injury.

The Hundred Prep This movement strengthens the abdominal muscles, shoulder stabilizers, and creates awareness of shoulder positioning.

STEP 1: Position yourself on your back with legs in a 90-degree angle and arms straight up over the shoulders. Shoulder blades should remain in a depressed and retracted position (as if you are squeezing a ping pong ball between them).

STEP 2: Inhale through your nose to prepare, and while exhaling through your mouth, lower your arms to about two inches above the ground while lifting your upper body and straightening your legs. This should be done while simultaneously drawing your belly button toward the spine. Return to the original position while inhaling through your nose, and repeat. Start with five reps and work up to ten.

Modifications: For a sore lower back, keep your legs in 90 degree angle for the entire movement. For a sore neck, support your head with both hands throughout the movement.

Criss Cross Abs

This movement strengthens the abdominal muscles (including the obliques), stretches the hip flexors and creates awareness of shoulder stabilization and positioning.

STEP 1: Position yourself on your back with legs in a 90-degree angle with your upper body raised, and your hands supporting your head and neck.

STEP 2: Inhale through your nose to prepare, and while exhaling through your mouth, twist your upper body to the right while straightening your left leg. Make sure that the distance between your elbows does not change and that the twist is done from the waist and not the shoulders. Inhale when returning to the center, and repeat the exhale while twisting to the left and straightening your right leg. The movement should be made while simultaneously drawing your belly button toward your spine. Keep your upper body raised for the entire set. Start with 10 reps (five each side), and work up to 16 (eight each side).

Modification: For a sore lower back, keep the angle of the legs higher. www.spikekey.com

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Don’t Be a Drive-Thru Investor

By Cory Marlow

What do you mean it’s going to be a fiveminute wait for my cheeseburger?

You’re telling me that I can’t pay my bill online because your website is down?

There is no way that it should take you ten minutes to make my venti chai latte. Let’s face it, we live in an era of instant gratification.

Whether it’s the long line at the grocery store, or the Facebook mobile application being down, we, as a society, simply have no patience anymore. For the little things in life, this is not a big deal, even if we occasionally make it one. Admit it, your overall well-being and happiness isn’t going to suffer if you don’t know the score of the game the second it ends. Likewise, when it comes to your investment portfolio, instant gratification is not something you should be in the habit of expecting or demanding. In fact, you should take the opposite approach when investing. Doing otherwise could just have a severe effect on your happiness and well-being.

You know what has happened over the last year and a half in the financial markets. One day the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 200 points, and the next day it was down 180; a constant cycle of rollercoaster movements that made Busch Gardens look like a child’s ride. Now imagine if you went to your broker at any random time throughout that cycle and decided to buy some mutual funds. Would you have been buying at the right time? Sure, you might be able to tell now, but it’s months too late. The fact of the matter is that it really doesn’t matter. We simply can’t time the markets.

So why try and fulfill yourself immediately only to realize six months down the road that you made an enormous mistake that could have lasting repercussions? Is it possible that you could time the market correctly? Sure it is. Should you take that chance? Absolutely not! You would be better off going to the track. At least then you could enjoy a few beers while your money disappears. Instead, the best course of action when investing your money would be to use a technique called Dollar Cost Averaging.

The Dollar Cost Averaging technique was designed to reduce market risk through the systematic purchase of securities at predetermined intervals and set quantities. In layman’s terms, instead of throwing a large lump sum of money into a portfolio at any given time, the investor establishes a position by slowly buying smaller quantities over a longer period of time. This, in turn, spreads the average cost of the securities over several years, providing protection against short-term fluctuations in market price.

There are a few things you need to consider before you begin with this strategy. First and foremost, you need to settle on a comfortable amount to invest that you can afford without breaking the bank or putting yourself in financial bind. Keep this dollar amount fixed and consistent in order to employ this strategy most effectively. Next, you need to figure out what it is exactly that you are going to be investing in. Consult with your broker to determine the best mix of diversified investments that are suitable for your age, income, risk posture, and current diversification. Lastly, you need to figure out exactly when you are going to invest. Is it going to be weekly? Biweekly? Monthly?

The bottom line is that as long as you stick to a consistent plan and invest at regular intervals, you’ll have a strong grasp of your investments, what they cost, what they earn, and when to cash out. You’ll be able to rest a little easier, even if it takes a little longer to reach your investment goals.

There is nothing wrong with getting frustrated for having to wait ten minutes at the bank drive-up window. Similarly, there’s nothing wrong with yelling at the car in front of you because he’s holding up traffic. However, there is something fundamentally wrong with demanding fast returns from your investment portfolio. Take the safe and systematic approach of Dollar Cost Averaging. It will be worth your precious time.

Cory Marlow is a Relationship Manager for Key Investment Services in South Bend, IN. He currently specializes in retirement planning and investment solutions for clients of all ages. Cory is a 2004 graduate of Valparaiso University and received a Professional M.B.A from Northern Illinois University in 2007.

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Dare to Dream...

Name: Maria Gaudiel Age: 27 Age started skating: 8 Sport/Company: Feld Entertainment’s Disney on Ice Height: 5’5” Favorite tour stop: Disney on Ice has taken me all over the world, from Southeast Asia and Australia, to Europe and South America, and all over North America. If I was forced to pick my favorite stop, I would have to say Thailand.

Dream Big I am not your typical “athlete”, and I never considered myself a typical athlete growing up in Florida as a figure skater. I did have big dreams, but I never thought that my sport would help me achieve them. I loved skating, but never had ambitions of competing internationally, even though one of my passions has always been (and always will be) traveling.

Growing up, I had the typical life of a young athlete: practicing anywhere from two to four hours a day, six or seven days a week; traveling to compete all over the U.S.; and packing skates on every vacation. It was difficult for me going to a large high school (about 2,300 students) and being one of only four people who figure skated competitively.

Skating is such an individual sport, and during my high school years, I wanted to become more involved with school activities and hang out with friends. But I still managed to balance academics, a social life, and skating. When I was about to graduate from high school, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. Thankfully, I had figure skating. I auditioned to tour with Disney on Ice, and now I can use my talent as a figure skater to help fulfill my passion for traveling!

Starting Young Critics often say that children are starting to skate competitively at too young of an age, but it’s never too early to start skating for fun. However, if a child wants to compete or perform, I would encourage them to pursue their dreams. I would NEVER encourage or condone a parent pushing their child into a competative atmosphere. The world of figure skating is intensely competitive, and has been characterized as ruthless. My parents were very supportive of all of our skating (my brother and sister also skate). My siblings and I participated in a variety of other sports growing up. Then we went skating one day and all of us fell in love with the sport. I wasn’t very young when I started skating, as compared to today’s competitive skaters. I view my “late” start as an advantage because when figure skaters start too young, they often get burned out and lose their desire and love for the sport.

Career Visions My skating “career” didn’t begin until after high school. I was never really a great competitor. Yes, I was very competitive, but not a great competitor. During competitions I was a bundle of nerves, and no one thought I would be able to do shows in front of

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thousands of people. They were wrong! Not only did I have a blast performing, but I performed professionally for six years and it lead to my current job.

I will never forget my first “professional” performance; the people clapping and cheering, the music and lights, and the huge set. It’s an amazing feeling. The adrenaline of performing in front of thousands of people in arenas all over the world is always exciting and never becomes routine. But again, the most amazing thing about being part of the show is traveling the world, performing in different languages, and bringing excitement and figure skating to new audiences.

Figure skating brought me some of the most amazing experiences, relationships, and memories of my life. I retired from performing two years ago and currently work in the wardrobe department of the ice show. Even so, I am still able to travel and stay connected to the sport and people I love. I will always enjoy performing and skating because it has been such a huge part of my life for so long and shaped the person I am today.

Name: Kyle Cook Age: 26 Age started playing football: 13 Height: 6’4” College: Michigan State University Sport/Team: National Football League/Cincinnati Bengals Sponsors: Nike, NFL Equipment

Have Your Stroy Told No matter what happens in life, no matter what anyone tells you, if you have a dream, a real passion, no one can stop you from achieving it. Every day you hear amazing stories about how some professional athletes got to where they are now. Let it be your amazing story they tell someday. Never give up and your dreams can come true.

Perseverance After college, I was an undrafted free agent and signed with the Minnesota Vikings. I was released during the final cuts after spring training camp and the fall preseason. Four days later, I signed with the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad. Eventually, I made the active roster and started during my third season with the team. During this three-year journey, many people told me that I couldn’t make it. But with enough drive and determination and the right mindset, I knew that I could achieve my dream and that my hard work would pay off in the end.

Realizing Your Dream During my first year with the Bengals, and during a typical day of practice, I realized the position I was in was something I had always dreamed of.

Personal Development Hard work, determination, responsibilities, and attitude: these are just a few qualities every professional athlete possesses that you should incorporate into your daily life, no matter what the situation.

The

Anatomy of a Tailgate

By Sean Griffin

Many would argue that a proper tailgate is just as important to the gameday experience as the game itself. I would have a hard time debating that. Other than an occasional adrenaline-driven high five or half-understood yell amidst crowd noise, the game or event itself often demands too much to be a place for social interaction.

The tailgate, on the other hand, is where a cheer or opinion is heard loud and clear, and the high five celebrates your own miraculous catch or perfectly cooked burger. Sure, an event or team can be the foundation for an afternoon-long friendship, but a few hours drinking beer, cooking meat, and tossing the ball around can build and help to sustain lifelong friendships.

My dad has friends who he graduated with more than 50 years ago, and his only reunions with them happen over brats behind a truck. Now, living thousands of miles apart, my cousin Mark and I have spent more time together at tailgates than anywhere else over the last few years. My good friend Cory even met his beautiful wife, Ashley, at our tailgate before a Notre Dame-Navy game. The tailgate is more than great fun, it’s an important part of the sport-spectator experience.

As a proud alumnus of Valparaiso University and the son of a Notre Dame graduate, I have most often practiced the art of the tailgate on the campus of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. I’ve learned a thing or two, sometimes the hard way, about how to get the most out of a gameday. I’ll use my own mistakes and triumphs to illustrate. Build your gameday experience using these tips, and who knows, maybe you’ll find your future husband or wife at your next tailgate.

Your tailgate will be what you prepare for

In most cases, the excitement of the big day spills into the evening before, digging into prep time. Personally, I enjoy the thrill of putting together a great time with limited resources and preparation. It makes things exciting and unpredictable. Plus it’s cheaper. Other side of the coin, I’ve been to tailgates with chefs, bartenders, couches and recliners, satellite TV, and every other bell and whistle. Most people enjoy an outing somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. Find where you fit and prepare accordingly.

Set an alarm and wake up when it rings

This is crucial, considering the typical evening-before routine that one can fall into. In my case, the sounding alarm signaled a dreadfully procrastinated WalMart run, which was replaced with an 8am gas station run for things like beer, charcoal, lighter fluid, meat, and garbage bags for raincoats. Failure to set an alarm or wake up on time can have severe consequences. Running late can force you to hurriedly forgo any plans and grab whatever you can get your hands on, like pizza from your freezer. While not terrible, there are clearly better options available waking up when the alarm sounds.

Organize appropriate transportation

This is a cautionary tale about what can happen when transportation isn’t organized. Travelling via the North Shore train to Soldier Field in Chicago, all my friends and I could carry was a pack of frozen pork chops and a bottle of whisky.

We wandered the parking lots looking for an inviting grillmaster to offer some space on his gridiron. It turned out all right in the end. We were even interviewed by a roving Chicago Tribune reporter. The bottom line is that without organized and appropriate transportation, many of the tailgate necessities like your own grill, or even cups can’t be taken for granted.

Establish a spot

It’s great to have a favorite place to park or meet. A little pink house where the owner transformed her yard into a parking lot was our Notre Dame spot. It got to the point where we were able to call in advance, let her know we were coming to a particular game, and there would be a spot waiting for my jeep. It’s especially useful if friends are coming from other places. After a couple trips everyone will know where to meet, how to get there, and how long it will take.

It’s also an integral part to establishing tradition in your tailgate. Other things to consider are the space available to toss or throw balls, beanbags, or horseshoes, and how difficult it may be to exit.

Play your own game

This really gets you in the mood for the day’s game or match. It’s simple.

My traditional tailgate games included monkey-in-the-middle, 500, and triangleof-catch. Other games like cornhole, horseshoes, and beer pong require just a bit more planning and gear. Remember to always be aware of your surroundings: traffic, children, other revelers’ food and drink.

Interact with fellow tailgaters

one of my favorite traditions of Notre Dame football. I’ve also done enough planning to have the time to fill a plastic bag with beverages and take a leisurely stroll before entering the stadium. Knowing how long it takes to get from the tailgate to the event will give you the chance to take in the sights, people watch, and generally soak up the revelry.

It’s rare that people gather on a large scale impassioned by one thing, especially something that’s all in good fun. Everyone is open to a friendly comment or a toss or bump of a ball.

The more the merrier. I also get a kick out of haggling with people who are selling tickets, especially when I already have my own. No pressure that way, and it’s good practice. Beware however, there are professionals that won’t let you get away without a first-class hounding.

I say “event” because tailgating can partner with any kind of goings on. Tailgates, large and small, can accompany everything from football games, kickball games, polo matches, concerts, golf tournaments, movies, and of course, volleyball tournaments. A wise man once said, “your best tailgate is wherever you happen to be on that particular weekend.” Don’t limit yourself.

Understand your surroundings

Don’t rule out the after party

Know how far you are from the event and how long it will take you to get there. I’ve been on both sides of this story. After getting caught up in the tailgate fun, I’ve had to sprint to the flag-raising ceremony,

Enjoy the event

If you’re invested in the match or a fan of a particular team, the afterparty can vary widely in excitement based on the outcome of the game. The most somber post game tailgate is none at all. You

jump in the car and fight traffic to get as far away as fast as you can, usually after your team is taken behind the woodshed.

Somewhere in the middle is the tamed hang out around the car polishing off the last beer in the cooler. This usually results from an expected win or loss. The most exuberant afterparty consists of stops at several tailgates on the way to your spot, raising glasses with strangers, and dominating multiple games of beer pong. A big victory may even lead to the proverbial rinse-wash-repeat of the foregoing celebratory activities.

So ends the day of the tailgate. Get some rest, you’ll probably be whipped. But after all is said and done, it will have been well worth it.

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TALL is beautiful Brooke Langston Believe it or not, I was “normal” in 7th grade. I know “normalcy” is completely in the eye of the beholder, but really, I was normal…5’7” and scrawny just like all my little friends. It was in the summer between 7th and 8th grade when I shot up to an awe-inspiring 6’0”. As I continued growing, I began to pride myself in the perfect delivery of the retort to “Gee, you’re huge!” “Do you play basketball?” “Where do you come from?” “Do you know you’re tall?” and so on. After assuring the inquiring minds that the weather is just fine up here, I proceed to ask if they enjoy being a Smurf and/or whether they play miniature golf. I usually get the desired response, which is a look confirming that, not only am I tall, but I also have a few screws loose.

conversation, but the joy that we “gigantors” receive out of the “short” interaction usually allows us to walk away holding our heads even higher in the clouds.

There are also those people who try to be less offensive, but still feel compelled to comment on the rarity of my height and perhaps offer job suggestions “Why are you not a model?!?”

I suppose they are convinced that the New York fashion industry needs more behemoths walking the catwalk. I was in New York City the summer before my senior year of high school shopping in H&M, when suddenly a man grabbed my arm! “Are you signed yet?” he asked excitedly. I, in my ignorant sport-driven world, belt out, “Not yet, but I have official visits scheduled for Michigan State, Florida State, and UNC, but I haven’t committed yet!”

Once again, I got “that look” that I have become so accustomed to seeing. The man shook his head, seemingly trying to shake my entire comment out of his mind before he continued with, “Ummmm, NO! Signed with a modeling agency.” The ensuing 10 seconds may have been the “girliest” moments of my life.

Sticking out my ribs (I would say chest, but at that point my rib cage did more toward looking like a chest) and fluffing my curls, I begin speaking with who, in my eyes, was my “future

There truly is an art to delivering the perfect response to such blatantly obvious comments from the vertically challenged community. You have to measure your audience (no pun intended) before unleashing a response to “Do you play basketball?”

I say with all seriousness, “You know what, I don’t, but I AM a professional jockey and gymnast.” That usually does wonders for eliciting that dazed and confused look. It doesn’t do much for continued 88

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agent.” I arrived for an interview the following morning at the Ford Modeling Agency. Well, to make a short story longer than it should be, the assistant asked me my height. In my eyes this was the one place where being a “gigantor” was a plus. So I proudly and enthusiastically stated, “ 6’1’’ in my flat feet.” He gave me the once over and with a holier-than-though attitude and responded, “Are you sure? We don’t take anyone over 6’0’’ at Ford.” So, being the smart giant that I am, when it came time for the unveiling of my true height in front of the American Idol-esque panel of Ford Model agents, I compacted myself, as best I could, as I heard a confident and assured “6 foot even” come flying out of my lips. Needless to say, they said they liked my brother more anyways and asked him back for a second audition. So, thank you to all those sweet people out there who are attempting to turn their, “Hey, you’re tall,” comment into a compliment. The answer is, “No, I am indeed TOO tall to be a model!”

Are you wondering how you stack up? According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average height of American men is 5 feet, 9 inches, and the average height of American women is 5 feet, 4 inches.

There are many reasons for us tall girls to hold your heads high, such as getting cans off the top shelf at the grocery, tracking down our short friends in large crowds, changing light bulbs, and being typecast as the giraffe in the school play!! As you mumble, “I just don’t want to be taller than my prom date!” while slipping on your flats and perfecting your “one hip lean” in the mirror, remember, your height pays off…literally! We live in a society where it pays to be tall. According to Steven Landsburg in the article “Short Changed” for Slate, “If you’re 6 feet tall, you probably earn about $6,000 more than the equally qualified 5-foot-6-inch shrimp down the hall. Height matters not just for wages but for ascension to leadership roles.” To make things worse for the vertically challenged, height is not only linked to larger paychecks and greater selfconfidence, but also to higher intelligence! In a new study, two scientists from Princeton University found that tall people earn more because they’re smarter, on average. Add our increased level of intelligence and higher earnings to the fact that the majority of tall people are innately hilarious (my statistic), and it’s no wonder why “the sky’s the limit” for us!

So embrace those awkward high school years when all the guys are shorter than you, because, as soon as you are unleashed into society, sporting those 4” heels you’ve always dreamed of, you’ll be able to handpick your 6’5’’ stud of a boyfriend out of a throng of men that just can’t get enough of your height! You can’t help what people say, but you can control your response to them. Work on mastering that perfect comeback. Once you learn this simple truth, your ability to take all comments lightly will skyrocket! Last year on tour, while walking off my court after a match, someone asked me if I enjoyed being tall. I took a second, looking around at the paradise that that surrounded me, and chirped, “The beach is my office! And I only have my height to thank for that. So YES, I LOVE being tall!!!!”

Photography by Tracy Genovese | Apparel & shoes provided by Alloy, Long Elegant Legs, Vertical Athletics, and Payless Shoes.

Lather Up!

UV damage causes age spots, wrinkles, and skin cancer.

Sun safety might be one of the last things on an athlete’s mind, but overexposure to the sun practically “schedules” a person for skin cancer at one point in life or another.

Today, athletes all around the world are battling harmful UV rays through the use of sunscreen and sunblock. Preventing skin damage is key to avoiding more dangerous health complications.

-Tara R aven Medical skin care specialist

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“Hula” Hooper, Various sizes and weights of hoopz offer different levels of difficulty- making hooping fun and beneficial for every body! For more information on these stylish hoopz, please visit www.BekaWilder.com.

“DryCASE” is a flexible, crystal clear waterproof/ sandproof bag for cell phones (iPhone, Blackberry, and many more), iPods, MP3s, and cameras. www.drycase.com

SCAPE SPF 50+ Face Stick

Paul Mitchell Color Protect Locking Spray

Superior waterproof and sweatproof technology. It’s compact and portable packaging allows for easy application on the go. www.scapelabs.com

Protects – Sunflower extract protects the structure of the hair, provides UVA and UVB protection and helps prevent hair color fade Extends – Silicone and panthenol help lock in and extend the life of hair color Moisturizes and Adds Shine – A powerful combination of conditioning agents and extracts provides ample moisture and intensified shine www.paulmitchell.com

Colby Organic Day Cream Pamper your skin with Colby Organic highly organic and all natural ingredientmoisturizing day cream. www.colbyorganic.com

Satin Care’s Lavender Kiss is designed to be the perfect shaving companion to Venus® Embrace™, the superior performing 5-blade female shaving system with a Protective Ribbon of Moisture, to leave legs feeling as soft and smooth as satin. www.satincare.com

Venus® Embrace®, Venus’ most technologically advanced razor, introduces a new version to help women experience touchable, smooth skin. www.gillettevenus.com

Quench Advanced Healing Body Lotion Intensive moisture from Olay quenches dry skin and helps prevent it from coming back. www.olay.com

SHISEIDO Sun protection for face, eyes, and body. www.shiseido.com www.spikekey.com

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Hairdos Hair Style: Half-Front Crown Braid How to do? Start with a far side part.

Section out two inches of hair from the front hairline on the heavy side towards the back of the ear. Take the rest of the hair and pull it back into a ponytail.

Then, French braid the two-inch section until you pass the ear. Cross bobby pin for stability and add to the ponytail.

Hair Style: Messy Active Updo

How to do? Loosly twist back the sides and bobby pin in place. Take the left over hair from the back and loosely ponytail, not pulling it through all the way, giving the effect of a messy bun. Finish with an active headband.

For a night out, you can use a fancy headband.

Hair Style: Ponytail with Half-Visible Braid

How to do? Find a natural or desired part.

Braid back the heavy side, cross bobby pin, and pull the rest into a tight ponytail.

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Hair Style: Double Twist Ponytail

How to do? Part the hair naturally or as desired.

Begin twisting on the heavy side, continuing the twist on each side until they meet in the center-back. Add clips for stability and as fun embellishments.

Hair Style: Simple Side Twist

Hair Style: Two-Sided Invisible Braids

How to do? Find the desired part of the hair. Section the hair into two sides straight down the back. Clip back one side as you French braid the opposite side to the end of the strand. Then French braid the other side. Add clips for fun!

How to do? Find natural or desired part line in the hair. Begin twisting on the heavy side toward the center-back or where a ponytail will be placed. Just pull back the opposite side.

Products you should use: Use Moroccan oil prior to styling for shine and manageability. Also try Vavoom Matrix hairspray for volume.

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Peppers Pit Boss Polarized Sunglasses www.peppersusa.com

Cooperative for Urban Outfitters Knit Stripe Romper www.urbanoutfitters.com

BEACH

GEAR

The sun is shining and it’s time to hit the beach! This season’s beachwear is sexy and surf inspired, featuring pops of juicy color, playful patterns, and bold accessories. A serious sunscreen and a beautiful bronzer completes the look.

Here are our top ten favorites for when sandy shores and blue skies beckon, and you want to make the transition from seaside by day to tableside by night with ease.

Claire V Jane Beach Tote www.clairev.com

Gemma Redux Cluster Necklace www.gemmaredux.com Guerilan Terracotta Light Bronzer www.guerlain.com

Bearpaw Wisteria Sandals www.bearpawshoes.com

C&C California Tie-dye Maxi Dress www.candccalifornia.com

Cynthia Vincent for Target Hot Pink Studded Sandals www.target.com Tibi Sky Blue Dress www.tibi.com

Tasha & Co. Acai Detox Face Scrub www.tashaandco.com www.spikekey.com

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INJURY PREVENTION

By Debbie Leslie-Minier, M.S., R.C.E.P., L.M.T.

During their careers, many runners will suffer an injury that will cause them to take time off from running.

Fortunately, running does not produce the traumatic kinds of injuries that might occur in other sports. Many running-related injuries are chronic soft tissue inflammations. The onset of these injuries usually follows a history of neglect. These injuries do not “just happen,” and they are a result of changes in training volume or intensity.

Stages of Running injuries

There are different types of running injuries.

One type is pain, discomfort, or tightness noticed only after exercise. Another type would be injuries that are described as pain felt during exercise. The Last type is those injuries that cause severe pain and prevent you from running. Depending on the injury, it can take two days to six weeks to recover, or longer. This doesn’t mean you can’t exercise or run. You need to stop the aggravating activities and apply the ICE principle: Ice, Compression, Elevation, and in some instances, massage or use anti-inflammatories. Rather than exercising in pain and denial or fearing the loss of fitness, you need to adopt a defensive posture that treats potential injuries at an early stage.

Prevention

One of the most important things you can do is listening to your body. You should develop an appropriate training schedule.

This should be done with input from a coach or trainer. Alternating hard and easy days and calculating your training threshold is important. Your training threshold is the point where additional effort results in a decrease in performance and can cause injury. You should plan for hard weeks and easy weeks (maybe one out of every three weeks is an easy week).

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Also, taking one or even two days off each week is a good idea and allows your body to rest, recover, and rebuild. Rest is a key element to improving performance.

Applying the principle of progression is very important for you to realize improvement in your performance. With progression, you change the frequency, duration and/or intensity of the exercise.

However, you should only increase one of these components in a week.

Cross-training is also a great way to prevent injury. Strengthening all the muscles of your body and having balance throughout the body is important, as is maintaining a log or diary of your exercise.

Your log should include how you feel during exercise, how much sleep you get, and the type of surface you are running on. This way you can look back and trace a possible injury. Strength training can help overcome some of the overworked muscles from running. Having your posture and your gait checked for any overuse areas. In addition, stretching will help maintain your flexibility and remedy tightness that could lead to an injury.

Recovery

In the event you feel an injury coming on, keeping water frozen in paper cups for ice massages and having ice packs available is crutial. It is important to realize that if you want a long-term fix for your injury, you must identify and treat the causeof the injury, not just the symptoms. When returning to running after an injury one must use caution. If you interrupt your training for ten days, it may take ten days or more to return to your previous level of fitness. Don’t try to jump back in where you left off.

Wishing all happy and healthy training!

Bee Beautiful... www.colbyorganic.com

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