November 20, 2008 -

Cosmogirl RIP: It’s the very last issue of CosmoGirl (tear) which becomes the fourth major teen mag to suspend publication this year after YM, Ellegirl and Teen People. CG, which was published ten times a year and reached approximately eight million readers before folding, will continue with it’s website but I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that the print version of the teen mag will be universially missed.

The Dec 08/Jan 09 issue featuring the lovely Taylor Swift on cover, takes a cue from Barbara Walters by doing their own spin on the most intriguing people of 2008.  Included are gymnasts Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson who are honored as girls who have the guts to follow their hearts rather than the crowd.

Uniqlo Try: To get the word out about their newly launched Bra Top, Japanese retailer Uniqlo recruited hundreds of women to participate in a video survey; questions ranged from “how comfortable is the top?” to “what’s your favorite magazine?” and the resulting videos were posted on a website called Uniqlo Try. Site visitors can opt to watch videos of women physically (age, height, size and build) similar to them. The website has gone viral, spreading to blogs and news sites, which apparently has contributed to a five-fold increase in sales of the Bra Top

Filed under: Beauty, Entertainment, Fashion, General, Gymnastics, Tips by jane
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Have a soccer tournament coming up? Are you in 4 events at your next swim meet? Playing a double-header in softball this weekend? Will you be bolting to basketball practice after your early-morning cross-country race? Here’s how to keep up:

1. EAT. When? Within 30 minutes of finishing your practice or competition. Don’t wait to get home. Don’t wait to find a place to stop. Be prepared with a nutrition bar or shake in your bag that you can grab immediately. You want to get some good carbs and protein, so a peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread works great and stays fresh. Or a nutrition bar with at least 200 calories, at least 10 grams of protein and between 15 and 20 grams of sugar. Any portable fruit, like apples or bananas, are easy to eat on the go–just bring a jar of peanut butter so you can get your protein. There are also lots of ready made protein shakes sold in grocery stores. Shakes like “Boost” and “Ensure” or other meal replacement drinks in the nutrition aisle or pharmacy section are healthy and well-balance with protein and carbs.

2. DRINK. When? Throughout practice or your competition, but also immediately after, when you’re eating (see #1). What? Water is great, but you also want to get some electrolytes in your system, so Gatorade, Propel, Powerade, or Vitamin Water will give you more of a boost. Don’t worry about the calories; you need them now!

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Filed under: General, Tips, Training by anngaff
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October 18, 2008 - For athletes, there’s always another competition right around the corner. Whether it’s a swim meet, a gymnastics meet, a soccer tourney, or a downhill comp, it’s best to be organized!  From our friend Char at Sports Girls Play, here’s a list of 10 essential things to take to any youth sporting event, from swim meets, gymnastics meets, track competitions, volleyball games, you name it!

1. UNIFORM - Every sport has a competition uniform of some sort. For a swimmer, it may be just a team suit. For a gymnast, it is her team leotard, warm ups, white socks, white tennis shoes and her gym bag. Whatever your sport, be sure you have the team uniform clean and ready to go a few days in advance.

2. INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT - These are the little extras you may need at a meet like gymnastics grips, or goggles and a cap for swimmers, tennis racquet for a tennis player, or spikes for a sprinter. Whatever it may be, make sure it is packed in advance and if you have spares, be sure to bring them. If you don’t, I highly recommend picking up an extra in case something is broken, misplaced or just doesn’t feel right on competition day.

3. EXTRA T-SHIRT or CHANGE OF CLOTHES - After each gymnastics meet, my daughter’s team likes to go out to eat. We always pack a spare set of clothes so I don’t have to stress at meal time about her getting ketchup on her $100 team jacket or leotard. Many competitions sell meet shirts or have a pro shop on hand in the event you forget, but unless you have specifically budgeted for that extra expense, it is better to pack a change ahead of time.

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Filed under: General, Parent/Coach, Student-Athlete, Tips, Training by admin
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Softball pitcher, Angela Tincher, 2008 National Collegiate Player of the Year, third on the NCAA all-time strikeout leader list, and National Professional Faspitch player, was kind enough to take a break from her busy softball schedule to answer questions for Pretty Tough. Six months ago, Angela Tincher led Virginia Tech University to a historical no hit, shut out win against Team USA. Today, Tincher shares some thoughts about pitching, drills, and what it was like to try out for the Olympic team. 

What is your strength as a pitcher? Definitely movement. 

What was your highest clocked speed? At the World Series, I was told I was clocked at 70 miles per hour. I would say, I tend to throw upper 60’s, but not consistently. I don’t worry about speed. 

Did your pitching style change in college? I saw a big difference moving from forty to forty-three feet. It gave me more distance to work on my movement. Instead of throwing the ball past batters, I had to move the ball around a lot more. My rise ball and my drop ball got a lot better in college. 

What is the most important thing you do to improve your pitching? Weight training is huge for me. It helped with nagging injuries and to stay healthy.

What’s the best pitching drill? I always spin with either a spinner or a ball with a line on it. I focus a lot on that and it’s helped me with my movement a lot.

Describe what it was like to tryout for the Olympics. I attended the invitational tryout held at the Olympic training center in California last September. They invited thirty to forty players. I’ve attended big tryouts before, but this one was the best of the best. I was sharing the field with Jennie Finch and Jessica Mendoza. The first day they went through some drills and they watched us. But, the next day we were split into teams and we scrimmaged for the rest of the time. The pitchers rotated through. So we had a chance to throw for and against everyone at least once, including Crystal Bustos.

Check out Part 1: The Beginning here. Next Tuesday, Tincher lists her favorite things.

Filed under: Profiles, Softball, Tips, Training by keri mikulski
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September 12, 2008 - I don’t know if it’s the change of season or the fact that a new school year is underway but I always reassess my goals around this time of year. A friend that I work out with recently shared her list of goals with me and one big thing stood out  when I heard them — not the goals themselves, but how she started her sentences:

I will do this.
I will do that.

I was amazed that the way she phrased her goals had such a big impact on me. The thing is, I have certain goals I’ve set for myself — but many of my goals start with I’d like to or I want to.

That’s when it clicked for me.

Saying I will is way scarier than saying I want to but there’s far more force behind it. It’s a real commitment.

Then I realized that goals have to be specific. Another friend has an index card taped next to her bed with her list of goals:

• Make Varsity
• Get Good Grades
• Get License

At first I was impressed with the list but then I realized that without specifics, the goals were meaningless. Does she want to make Varsity as a freshman or senior? What qualifies as good grades? A’s? B’s? Does she want to get her license at age 16 or by the time she graduates? I reminded her that eventually she’d get her license (even if she failed the test the first five times) so maybe she should redefine her goal to reflect what she “really” wants.

As a hard-working student and female athlete I have a lot of goals so I did some research and here’s what I learned:

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Filed under: General, Student-Athlete, Tips, Training by maddy
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Did you ever dig in and wonder if your batting stance is correct? Some batters squat low, some batters stand straight. So, how low should you go?

Here’s a rule to remember when it comes to hitting. But, keep in mind, this is a basic technique and everyone has their own unique hitting stance, so check with a coach before implementing anything. With your feet a little more than hip distance apart, lower yourself down like you’re sitting on a stool, make sure your knees are bent, and you are balanced. A great way to check for balance is to get into your stance and ask your teammate to give you a gentle push. If your stance is solid, you won’t move. If your stance is shaky, you’ll lose balance immediately.  Try it out. Is your stance solid? Do you have a unique hitting stance?   

Filed under: Softball, Tips, Training by keri mikulski
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Trouble following through when you’re up to bat? Well, hips don’t lie.  Here’s a fastpitch hitting drill to help you master this movement. 

1. Grab your bat and a partner. 
2. Place the bat horizontally across the small of your back. Make sure if you’re a right handed batter, the knob of the bat is to the left. If you are a lefty, the knob is to the right. 
3. Hook your elbows around both ends of the bat behind you.
4. Face your partner like she’s the pitcher.
5. Use your feet and legs to assume regular batting stance.  
6. When your partner tosses the ball turn your hips like a follow through and hit the ball with the barrel portion of the bat.  

Author Keri Mikulski is a softball coach in South New Jersey.

Filed under: 101-Basics, Softball, Tips, Training by keri mikulski
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If you’ve ever heard the expression “You throw like a girl,” it means your throw kinda sucks.

The “girl throw” refers to a wimpy style a lot of girls seem to have. Girls often face the target with their forearm cocked back and the ball in their upturned palm. Then they throw with just the arm (rather than the whole body). The action is usually limited to a quick extension of the forearm. Essentially, girls tend to “push” the ball rather than hurl it.

Well, before we go any further - let’s get one thing straight. Girls can throw. In fact, many girls can throw harder and faster than a lot of guys. Softball players like Jennie Finch can pitch a ball close to 90 miles per hour.

Some people think the reason for the “girl throw” is based on physical differences between guys and girls. Not. If you ask an orthopedist, an anatomist, or a coach of a women’s softball team, they’ll tell you that there is no anatomical reason why boys and girls throw differently.

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Filed under: 101-Basics, Baseball, Softball, Tips, Training by Pretty Tough
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Filed under: 101-Basics, Soccer, Tips, Training by admin
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Cheri Kempf, owner/instructor of Worth Club K, author, and National Pro Fastpitch commissioner, developed the Spin-Right Spinner to teach fielders overhand throws and pitchers the basic motion and the rotation of the drop, rise, and curve.

Many colleges use this spinner as it supplies the player with instant feedback. An owner of one myself, the Spin-Right Spinner is a must have for instruction, practice, and perfect spins. Check it out at: http://www.clubkstore.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=455445126437667056 Anyone own one or use one? What do you think? 

Filed under: Softball, Tips, Training by keri mikulski
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