This is why we play travel ball

By Marie Walker

It has been said that travel ball for young kids is ridiculous, that participating in such a thing is stealing away their youth.  It has been said that it puts too much pressure on kids and that all travel ball is, is simply parents desperately clinging onto a memory from their youth and living vicariously through their children.  Finally, it has been said that the coaches are not in it for the kids at all but are only coaching for self glorification and gratification.

I am here to say that if this is what you have heard or if this is what you have said, then you are WRONG!  Very wrong!

I have personally experienced something remarkable over the past few months that will put any travel ball myth to shame.  I have seen individual boys with some talent become a TEAM with extraordinary skill and drive.  I have seen boys that are capable of turning double and triple plays with all the seriousness of the Major League still play in the dirt and become captivated by helicopters flying overhead.  I have seen boys tune out the screams from the stands and the taunting from the opposing dug out and fixate on the calls from their coaches and then look to each other for reassurance.  I have experienced families, coaches, and parents spend countless hours at practice, games, and tournaments and I have watched them drive hundreds of miles, sacrifice time and money, and stand up and stand in for one another all for the love of their boys.

Lastly, I have seen the passion of the coaches, with only absolute love for their team, teach them, guide them, correct them, and build them up to be strong, confident, and respectable young men.  I have seen the coaches make so many sacrifices not for their own glory but for the glory of the team.

I have seen passion, determination, and true grit from the field and I have seen a random group of boys become brothers.  And that is why we play travel ball!

Let the memories continue...and play on...

How to Install Football Pant Pads

Are you ready for some football?  More importantly, are you ready to gear up your football player?  We know that getting a young football player ready for practice can be a frustrating experience, especially if you are new to the game.  No worries.  We have created a short video to demonstrate how to properly install football pant pads. Just one more way Almega Sports has football season COVERED!

TIP:  Use a fine tip marker to mark the pant pads and the corresponding position in the pants.  For example, on the right knee pad simply mark the pad "R Knee" or use and arrow to indicate which way the pad should be installed.  This may alleviate some frustration when getting ready to hit the field.

Almega Sports has everything you need to get your players ready for the football field.  We are the only full line football store in Panama City, Florida with a wide selection of helmets, shoulder pads, cleats, and practice attire.  We also special order custom equipment such as helmet, shoulder pads, and the full line of McDavid Sports Medicine athletic braces. 

Almega Sports has you covered! 



Football Safety Part Two: What is Football Personal Protection Equipment

Part two of our football blog series will dive into personal protection equipment.  We have compiled a list of protective equipment for football players as well as the part of the body it protects, injuries it may prevent, common brands to look for, and the proper fit for the equipment.  Remember, the key to proper fit for you player is to actually take the player with you and try on the equipment.

1. Helmet
• Protection:  Head, brain, neck, and spine
• Prevention:  Concussions, neck, and spinal cord injury  
• Brands:  Xenith, Schutt, All Star, Adams, Rawlings, Riddell      
• Fit:  Football helmet fit is crucial and must fit properly to avoid serious or fatal injury.
          *see our how to video on properly fitting youth football helmets.
2. Neck Rolls
• Protection:  Neck and spine 
• Prevention:  Spinal cord injury 
• Brands:  McDavid (Cowboy Collar), Schutt, and Adams     
• Fit:  Allow one of our football specialist to assist you with fitting neck rolls on your player 
3. Mouth Guards
• Protection:  Teeth, tongue, and jaw
• Prevention:  Tooth, tongue injury and jaw concussion                
• Brands:  Sock Doctor, Adams, Tap Out, and Under Armour
• Fit:  Mouth guards will vary in price and composition.  Fit will vary.
4. Rib and Back Protection
• Protection:  Ribs and Spine
• Prevention:  Rib fractures and spinal cord injury
• Brands:  Nike Pro Combat, McDavid Hexalite, and All Star
• Fit:  Rib protection equipment should fit snugly against the ribs and stay in position.   Back protection can be independent of the shoulder pads or connected to the should pads.  Both types attempt to provide protection from direct impact to the spine. 
5. Shoulder Pads
• Protection:  Direct impact to the shoulders, chest, and upper back
• Prevention:  Fractures, separated shoulders, and spinal cord injury
• Brands:  Schutt, Adams, and All Star
• Fit:  Shoulder pads should fit snugly about the chest and shoulders while still offering the player mobility.
6. Arm and Elbow Pads
• Protection:  Hands, forearms, and elbows
• Prevention:  Contusions and fractures to the hands, forearms, and elbows
• Brands:  Nike, McDavid, and Adams
7. Pant Pads
• Protection:  Spine, pelvis, legs, and  knees
• Prevention:  The seven pads that make up the "pant pads" have similar duties. 
  

  The tail or spine pad is designed to prevent injury to the tailbone.  The hip pads protect damage to the pelvis.  The thigh pads offer protection to the muscles and bones in the upper leg or femur.  Last but certainly not least are the knee pads that protect the most frequently injured part of the body.
• Brands:  Schutt, Adams, and All Star
8. Cleats
• Protection:  Ankles and feet
• Prevention:  Protects the ankle against rolling preventing ankle sprain and fracture.
• Brands:  Nike, Rawlings, and Under Armour
• Fit:  Mid cleats are designed for athletes that have a history of ankle injury.  Low cleats offer more mobility.  The cleat should fit the player properly and not be too big or too tight.

Don't allow the multitude of accessories, brands, and variations overwhelm you on your quest to outfit your player.  Almega Sports has you covered and has trained staff members to help you properly fit your player for the field.  We have the brands, equipment, and accessories you want at prices that will keep your budget in bounds. 

                                                                         
                     

Do You Know the Signs of a Concussion?

There has been much media attention about concussions in the NFL.  The same is true in youth football programs.  Estimates are that 85% of concussions in youth programs go undiagnosed and untreated.  Much of the reason for the high statistic is due to the lack of funding for athletic trainers on the fields to identify the issue. 

So what is a concussion?  A concussion is any injury that forces the brain to shake violently against the inside of the skull causing injury.  The injury is dangerous and there is much research on the long term effects on chronic brain injury.  The bottom line with any head injury is that if a player is knocked unconscious the damage can be serious.  Even a minor hit may take a long time to recover. 

The signs of a concussion:  loss of consciousness or drowsiness, dizzy feeling, confusion, headache, ringing in ears, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, slurred speech, and loss of memory of events regarding the injury.

*The player does not have to demonstrate all of these symptoms to have a concussion.

The signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and may not be immediately apparent. Symptoms can last for days, weeks, or even longer.

Do you need further information on prevention of serious injury on the field?  Almega Sports has you covered and will continue with our blog series on football protection equipment.

Almega Sports takes player protection up a notch and provides everything you will need to get your football player ready for the season.  We are your local sporting goods store specializing in all the major brands such as Schutt, McDavid, Adams, Rawlings, All Star and more at prices that will keep you on the field.