samedi 10 février 2018

March Madness Final Four Prediction

The March Madness betting tournament for 2011 is literally two weeks away, and fans around the world are still trying to determine which teams will make the tournament. However, for today’s betting online on March Madness column, we will be looking at the four teams that will ultimately be battling in the semi-finals for a chance at National title supremacy. Here is our prediction for the final four.


This season’s March Madness final four will include the Texas Longhorns, Wisconsin Badgers, St. John’s Red Storm and the Duke Blue Devils. At first glance you all may be thinking we are crazy for adding Wisconsin and St. John’s, but consider that both of these teams have not only been upsetting top ranked teams but blowing them out all year long. For instance, the St. John’s Red Storm took on the Duke Blue Devils in the middle of January at Madison Square Garden’s and absolutely embarrassed them. The Red Storm would win the game by a score of 93 to 78.

Aside from that blowout victory over Duke, St. John’s has also knocked off such powerhouses as Connecticut, Pittsburgh and Villanova. Meaning to say, that despite a 19 and nine win loss record, and 13th overall ranking in the nation’s top 25 poll, St. John’s is a team fans should consider making a push to the final four. In our ideal scenario, the Red Storm would take on Duke in their final four matchup.

Meanwhile, the other final four matchup would see the Texas Longhorns taking on the Wisconsin Badgers. The 2010-11 college basketball seasons has appeared to be the year of the Longhorns, as the team is one of the best defensively and constantly ranked in the top five in the nation. On the other hand, the Wisconsin Badgers are a team on the rise. With a record of 22 and six and a 12th overall ranking, the Badgers were the first team to defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes this year. Led by John Leuer and Jordan Taylor, the Badgers have been in every game this season. Look for the Badgers to be the toughest opponent for the Longhorns yet, when they face off in the final four.

March Madness Betting – A Few Tournament Tips

March Madness betting players have been witnessing one of the wildest regular seasons in recent years in college hoops, and it’s going to be a fun, yet difficult, NCAA Tournament to handicap. Here are a few tips to help you out along the way.


Don’t Bet On The No.16 Seed

The fun of the NCAA Tournament is finding that year’s Cinderella, but strangely the biggest Cinderella of them all, the No.16 seed, has never won a game at the Big Dance. The No.16 seed is 0-104 against the No.1 seed at the NCAA Tournament, and only on five occasions has the No.16 seed come within five points of an upset. They usually jump out to a quick start due to adrenaline, but the class of the top seeds eventually comes out on top.

Look For The Dangerous 12 Seed

But the No.12 seed usually fills the role of Cinderella, for the first round at least, and they have the best winning percentage over the first two days of the actual Tournament among the bottom five seeds, taking 33.5% of their games. You can be sure that a No.12 seed will take down a No.5 seed in the first round, so do your research to make the right pick.

Cream Rises To The Top

As the Tournament goes on, the best teams eventually shine through. In each of the last four Tournaments, there have been at least two No.1 seeds in the Final Four. Expect that trend to continue, even though this year’s field could be very deep, before you head to your online sportsbook.

Games To Watch In The First Round

Yes, March Madness betting time is finally here, and brackets are being discussed all across the continent as people decide who they are going to select for the Big Dance. Getting off to a good start is imperative, and we're going to give you our list of the toughest games to call over the first two days of the NCAA Tournament, one from each region.

Xavier Marquette Betting - Friday, 7:27 PM ET (East)
Xavier is a No.6 seed, but only a 1-point favorite against the No.11 Golden Eagles, who will have a chance to prove they could have been a force in any other conference outside of the Big East. Marquette will be keeping an eye on Xavier star Tu Holloway.


Cincinnati Missouri Betting - Thursday, 9:50 PM ET (West)
In another 6-11 game, the Bearcats are the higher seed, but this game is a pick'em against the Big 12's Tigers, who are a very dangerous team despite a late-season slide. Mizzou's speed will give the Bearcats some problems.


Vanderbilt Richmond Betting - Thursday, 4:10 PM ET (Southwest)
Here is your 5-12 upset special; the Commodores are only a 1-point favorite against the Spiders, who have won 14 of their last 16 games. Vanderbilt has a big advantage in the post, but Richmond's defense hasn't allowed a team over 60 points in eight of their last nine games.


St. John's Gonzaga Betting - Thursday, 9:45 PM ET (Southeast)
The 6-11 matchup is a big one this year, and the Red Storm are a 2-point favorite over the Bulldogs, who had high preseason expectations, faltered until a tough non-conference slate, and have now won nine in a row. The Red Storm has to show they can win outside of New York, and Gonzaga should have more fans in Denver, so watch for them to post a sports betting upset.

Taking A Look At A Wacky Final Four

If you're a March Madness betting player, you will be witnessing history on Saturday as this will be the first time that no No.1 or No.2 seeds will get a chance to cut down the nets. Instead, we have a No.3 (Connecticut), a No.4 (Kentucky), a No.8 (Butler) and a No.11 (VCU) battling in Houston.


VCU Butler Betting - Saturday, 6:09 PM ET
The Bulldogs come into this matchup as a 2.5-point favorite against the Rams, who are in the Final Four for the first time in their program's history. You wouldn't know it by the way that VCU has been rolling over teams in the Southwest, but they're taking on a resilient Butler team that doesn't know how to give up. If there is one thing that is for sure, it's that Butler coach Brad Stevens and VCU counterpart Shaka Smart are going to be looked at by anyone with a coaching vacancy (we see you, Tennessee). Look for VCU's three-point shooting to be the difference in this one.


UConn Kentucky Betting - Sunday, 8:49 PM ET
The Wildcats are 2-point favorites against perhaps the most dangerous team in a tournament setting; UConn is 12-0 in tournaments in Maui and the Big East this season, and we have no idea where they are getting their stamina from. The Wildcats have finally learned how to win close games, something that hurt them all season, and they took down a couple of big teams in Ohio State and North Carolina. Kemba Walker will need Jeremy Lamb to continue his fine play because Kentucky has a number of active defenders on the perimeter, and we think the Wildcats have enough on that end to grind out a win in your sports betting book.

vendredi 9 février 2018

Can The UConn Huskies Repeat As National Champions?

college basketball betting season was filled with surprises, as several major schools were looked at as potential favorites for the National Championship ahead of the Connecticut Huskies. However, as luck would have it, the Huskies, thanks in large part to now NBA rookie Kemba Walker, were able to build up momentum throughout the tournament and defeat the Butler Bulldogs for the National Title.


Now in 2011 – 12, fans and media alike, have gone from taking the Connecticut Huskies as one of the top schools in the league, to wondering if they were just an anomaly that got lucky last season. The Huskies are making fans and online bookies software agents alike believe that they will not repeat as National Champions. Today, we’ll be looking at why it is only a matter of time before the Huskies come on again.


This summer was marred with Jim Calhoun rumors speculating if the legendary coach would go out on top, after winning the National Title. Instead, Calhoun decided to stay on for another year, to guide the likes of sophomore Jeremy Lamb and freshman center Andre Drummond, to National Title supremacy. Unfortunately, despite handing Harvard their first loss of the season last week, Connecticut still finds itself out of the top eight in the country, as they sit at ninth overall.


The aforementioned Lamb has filled in nicely since Walker departed for the NBA. Lamb is averaging 20 points a game, to lead the Huskies offensively. We think he’ll make it to the NBA no problem, but a National Title repeat may be out of the question. In essence, coming up to the quarter of the season mark, we expected the Huskies to have hit their stride by now, but as we enter Wednesday night’s action, the team still has yet to fully look comfortable with one another. Not something you would expect from the reigning champions.

College Hoops AOPR System

College basketball betting is the home of over 1000 different betting systems, all providing handicappers with the opportunity to turn a profit. In reality, we would say that less than 100 of these systems actually allow you to turn a profit. Today, the system we’ll be looking at is called the AOPR system. Here is a online bookie software guide to using the AOPR system.

Long before the NCAA came out with the AP 25 ranking system, which set the stronger teams at the top of the pack and the weaker ones in the middle or near the bottom, good handicappers were using their own systems to determine the level of competition. The AOPR system, standing for average opponent power rating system, requires that the bettor look at the win loss record of the two teams in competition, as well as who is on each roster. This system simply looks at how your favorite team has fared when facing stronger competition.

For example, the Michigan Wolverines went 12 and one this season, but nine and four last season. The reason for the turn around is that the Wolverines were playing teams this season with a significantly lower AOPR score then they did a year ago in college football. As this example relates to the Michigan Wolverines basketball team, consider, that the Wolverines started the season out 14 and two. However, since playing in conference action, the Wolverines have gone one and five, because the competition has a higher AOPR ranking then the earlier competition.

But how do you determine the AOPR of your team based on their competition? Well, if the Wolverines play three games, then you would take the opponents scores add them then divide them by three. For instance, Duke owns a 92, Purdue an 83, and Arkansas an 89. The system would then require, that we combine Duke, Purdue and Arkansas AOPR’s and divide them by three, which would give us Michigan’s AOPR of 88.  This tells us that Michigan is better then Purdue, as good as Arkansas but not as good as Duke.

jeudi 8 février 2018

US Lacrosse Membership

US Lacrosse is dedicated to offering people everywhere the opportunity to discover, learn, participate in, enjoy, and ultimately embrace the shared passion of the lacrosse experience. Support from our more than 153,000 members makes this vision possible.

MEMBERSHIP FACTS
US Lacrosse is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and was founded, January 1, 1998 as the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse.
Anyone can become a member of US Lacrosse, which serves one of the fastest growing sports in America.
Multiple membership combinations are offered to better serve members.
There are over 153,000 members across the United States.

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

US Lacrosse offers a variety of memberships for players, coaches, officials and supporters of the game.

Youth Player - $18. For players under the age of 15 but not in high school. They receive all benefits except only four issues of Lacrosse Magazine.

Youth Player upgrade - $15 (in addition to youth membership fee). For recently renewed or new youth members who would like to receive all 8 issues of Lacrosse Magazine.

High School Player - $32. For players 18 and younger who are in high school.

Adult Player - $45. For members 18 and over who are out of high school.

Assistant/Youth/Club Coach - $35. For individuals who are an assistant or club coach on any level or are a youth coach.

Head Coach - $50. For individuals who are the head coach of a varsity program.

Officials - $50. Any men’s official or any women’s official who has been rated and trained by a local board. All officials have set expire dates. Men's officials expire 10/31 each year and women's officials expire 12/31 each year. New officials to the women's game must join through their local board.

Cross Participant - $45. For any person 18 (still in high school) and younger who participates in more then one activity. A combination of playing, coaching and/or officiating. If officiating the women's game, new officials must join through their local board.

Cross Participant - $65. For any person 18 (no longer in high school) and older who participates in more then one activity. A combination of playing, coaching and/or officiating. If officiating the women's game, new officials must join through their local board.

Fan - $40. For any person, library, corporation or business that would like to support the game. Members receive Lacrosse Magazine and all other benefits with the exception of insurance.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

US Lacrosse is committed to improving and expanding our services to members. All members receive access to a variety of programs and services, discounts on books, videos, educational materials and National Team merchandise; Lacrosse Magazine, comprehensive lacrosse insurance; membership in their local chapter, free admission to the Lacrosse Museum and Hall of Fame; access to national partnerships such as MBNA credit cards and Hertz car rentals.


Lacrosse Magazine
Receive eight action-packed issues of Lacrosse Magazine, the sport's premier feature magazine loaded with news, features, game highlights, photographs and lacrosse information from coast to coast and abroad.

Insurance Coverage
Players, coaches and officials have the protection of a comprehensive lacrosse insurance program for a full year. Detailed insurance information can be found on the sports betting website, including claim forms, optional insurance and risk management information. Please call 1.800.350.8005 for more details on this extensive insurance protection, which is included in your membership dues.

Membership in a Local Chapter
A portion of your membership dues is given to your local chapter to help develop lacrosse at the grass-roots level. 50 active chapters assist growth and long-term development on all levels of men's and women's lacrosse. To date, almost half a million dollars have been donated through our chapter rebate program. Your dollars do count!

US Lacrosse E-News Monthly E-Mail Newletter
Each month, receive the detailed US Lacrosse E-News, highlighting the wide range of US Lacrosse initiatives. You'll gain a greater perspective on the scope and depth of activity your membership support helps us to achieve. Viewable PDF files of archived editions of US Lacrosse E-News are now available: January, March (no February edition), April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November.

Managing Volunteers Well - Benefits for All

by Dr Alistair Boag, University of Queensland, 1998

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any sports betting organisation. Without volunteers to take responsibility and carry out the tasks, the organisation will not operate. It is vital, then, that an organisation is able to attract and hold willing and able volunteers

Develop a systematic approach to volunteers

Appoint a Volunteer Officer who will be responsible
Recruiting, Training, Servicing, Retraining

Volunteer Officers must know what they are doing and must be organised

1) RECRUITING

Plan well - Well ahead
· Successful recruiting means doing your homework before you approach .
· Make sure you know what is needed and have set out a comprehensive plan.
· Plans should be completed well ahead of time

Prepare a booklet which includes:
· Job descriptions for various positions
· Fixtures
· Rules
· Guides for tasks
· Guides for players/participants

Identify likely candidates for positions and prepare to approach them
· Interested
· Capable
Matching the volunteer to a job is vital. Avoid putting a square peg in a round hole and remember, enthusiasm isn't everything.

Make your approach positive:
· Contact prospect in person (not by letter or phone)
· Arrange to speak with prospect at a time when you are certain you won't be distracted
· Explain benefits they will gain from their involvement. What can you offer in return for their help?
       - meet new and interesting friends
       - learn new skills
       - receive greater personal satisfaction
       - be part of a successful team
· Don't promise anything you won't be able to provide.
· Know exactly what you want the person to do.
· Be specific in your request, not just "we need a hand"
· Outline the club and its plan.
· Job description
· Lines of responsibility
· Make clear how much time is involved and over what period
· Never underestimate the complexity of the job or the time required
· Give some time for the prospect to make a decision. Set a date.
· Leave your phone number in case there are questions.
· Follow up initial request on set date - don't wait for them to contract you.

2) TRAINING

Take plenty of time to introduce the volunteer to the task
· Encourage talks with predecessors.
· Be specific with job description .
· Make sure they understand the club and it's goals

Have a social event to introduce the volunteer to the task
· The Club and it's goals
· The job- outline of duties
· Each other

3) SERVICING

Continue helping them throughout their office
· Volunteers should feel they are being supported and not being spied upon
· Send them to courses.
· Provide reference publications.
· Continually evaluate throughout season.
       - to make sure they are happy .
       - to ensure they are doing what is wanted
       - this shows the club is anxious to help.

4) RETAINING

Show appreciation - thank them
       Letters
       Club newsletters
       News releases and articles
       Awards
       Naming events or trophies after them

SUMMARY

1. Recruit early
2. Identify prospect
3. Personal approach
4. Be specific about job
5. Use effective training methods
6. Provide support
7. Continually evaluate
8. Use imaginative ways of showing appreciation
9. Emphasise the benefits they can gain
       - new friends
       - new skills
       - satisfaction

How Coaches Behavior Impacts Athletes Motivation

How much does our behavior as coaches really impact our players? If we constantly correct our players and dictate their every move, rather than point out what they do well and let them play a role in leading the team, what sort of results can we expect?


In 1998 Dr. James L. Meyer completed a study, Leadership Perceptions and Achievement Motivation in Sport, and found that “The impact of appropriate coaching behaviors on motivation and athletic performance cannot be overemphasized. The involvement of athletes and their subsequent success in athletics is often determined by their interactions with their coach.”

Previous research in this area found that athletes respond not only to informational content given by coaches, but also to messages coaches may unknowingly communicate through the manner or timing of instruction.


Meyer’s study included 332 alpine ski racers and 345 coaches. He compared athletes’ perceptions of their coaches’ behavior to the coaches’ perceptions of their own behavior. Meyer found that “alpine skiing coaches perceived themselves as providing more positive feedback than alpine skiing athletes perceive them to provide.” In other words, the coaches felt they were being more positive with their athletes than the athletes felt they were being.


Meyer also examined whether or not there is a relationship between athletes’ type of achievement motivation (in PCA speak—either “mastery” or “scoreboard” orientation) and their perceptions of their coaches’ leadership behavior. Meyer found that the single behavior found to enhance mastery orientation among alpine ski racers is Democratic Behavior, and the single coach leadership behavior found to enhance scoreboard orientation among alpine ski racers is Autocratic Behavior.


At PCA, we often talk about getting our players to shift their focus from the scoreboard to the ELM tree (focusing on Effort, Learning, and remembering that Mistakes are an inevitable part of the learning process). The ELM Tree is our short-hand memory aid for mastery orientation. What Meyer’s study shows is that when coaches give their athletes more of a voice in team leadership, rather than taking an autocratic approach, the athletes tend to focus more on constant learning and improvement, and they are not focused on winning alone. In this mastery-oriented environment, athletes consistently strive for improvement, and this is their primary goal.


From the coaching perspective, I certainly like the idea of my players continually pushing themselves to improve. Can you think of games where your team came out ahead on the scoreboard, but did not play to its potential, or perhaps other games where you came out on the losing end, but thought you played your best game of the season? Looking at how you and your team respond in cases like these can tell you if you are leaning more toward a mastery or scoreboard approach.


Meyer concludes, “The quality and integrity of a properly managed and coached sports program begins with the proper education of its leadership. This leadership, when properly applied in a sports betting, can teach many lifelong lessons that will help this nation’s children grow physically, mentally, and emotionally.” As youth sport coaches, we must work hard to give our players a voice and leadership roles within our teams. This will likely move our players toward the mastery approach to learning, which will help them both on and off the field.


Take-Aways
• Look for ways to include your athletes in contributing to the team’s direction. Treat team meetings as “conversations” in which athletes have a say in decisions affecting the team. In a setting where the athletes feel they have a voice, they will be better motivated to focus on giving maximum effort, continuously learning and improving, and not letting fear of mistakes hinder their performance or their enjoyment of the game (ELM).

• Remember that the timing of your feedback (not just the content) and your body language speak strongly to your athletes. During practice and games take a second to check your body language and expressions. When your team makes a mistake, does your hand fly to your forehead? Make sure your body language reinforces the fact that you think mistakes are OK.

• As youth sport coaches, we can take this finding as a strong reminder that we need to work hard to keep up a 5:1 praise/criticism ratio with our players. Even when we feel we are being exceptionally positive, it is likely that our athletes aren’t feeling an identical level of positivity. They hear our corrections louder than we speak them, and they often remember these corrections much longer than our praise. Remember that all of these six pieces of feedback (five pluses and one minus) are coaching! When I first started coaching, I thought my main job was to correct my players mistakes, and I now realize that an extremely important part of my job is to reinforce what my players are doing well. They don’t always know what they are doing well, and when I highlight these positives with praise, I am more likely to see these good things happen again!