Helping students get the books they need

As you are no doubt aware, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure students buy their own books. Human Kinetics has devised a scheme which actively encourages students to buy and own their textbook.

Most students are more than familiar with online purchasing but may not be aware that we offer an online discount of 15% – regardless of the type of books being ordered, or the quantity purchased.

Sports stars suffer effects of concussion years later

Sports stars who suffer concussion during their careers can expect to suffer a mental decline years later, a survey shows.
Athletes who had been knocked out declined in their attention spans and recorded a slowing of some of their movements thirty years on compared with athletes who had no concussion.

New evidence, published in the neurology journal Brain, could prompt fears over the safety of the most physical contact sports, such as boxing.

Cardinals stay loose despite Super Bowl defeat

The Arizona Cardinals suffered Super Bowl heartbreak despite having one leg up on the Steelers–literally. Most of the Cardinals’ starting line-up employed a unique flexibility programme performed by local Arizona flexibility specialists Ann and Chris Frederick that lengthens fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds muscles and joints.

With just 3 minutes to go, the Cardinals led by 3 having overturned a 20 – 7 defecit, but with just 35 seconds left on the clock Santonio Holmes crossed the line to give victory to the Steelers and continue the Cardinals’ 61-year title drought.

Freeze on extra UK student numbers

Universities face a limit on increasing student numbers for the next two years, with the threat of financial penalties for “over recruiting”.

In a letter to the higher education funding body, Universities’ Secretary John Denham signalled a tough line on cash for extra students. The limit on expansion comes as student numbers have risen to record levels.

A good night’s sleep puts colds to bed

Getting a good night’s sleep may be one of the best ways to prevent the common cold. A new study shows that people who sleep less than seven hours per night are three times more likely than those who sleep at least eight hours to catch a common cold after being exposed to a cold-causing virus.

Real and fake acupuncture ‘can effectively relieve the pain of headaches’

The effects of acupuncture could be mostly in the mind scientists have revealed after finding that placing needles close to the surface of the skin, but away from traditional pressure points, is almost as successful as genuine acupuncture and drugs in relieving the pain of headaches.

Real and fake acupuncture ‘can effectively relieve the pain of headaches’. The genuine alternative therapy was just as good as painkillers at stopping the misery associated with a headache or migraine, a review of 33 trials involving 6,736 patients found.

Motor Skill Learning May Be Enhanced By Mild Brain Stimulation

People who received a mild electrical current to a motor control area of the brain were significantly better able to learn and perform a complex motor task than those in control groups.

The study is presented in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences, and was conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health.

The research team from NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) worked in collaboration with investigators at Columbia University in New York City and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Introduction to Kinesiology

The third edition of this popular, all-inclusive approach to sport and exercise science incorporates several important new features. Firstly it the first Human Kinetics’ title to be offered with an e-book option and is one of the first text books to be offered in this format by any publisher.

The e-book is available as part of this unique package where it is combined with the printed version and the new online study guide or it can be ordered separately at a reduced price.

Any colour you want as long as its red

February is National Heart Month and is your chance to take a stand against the UK’s biggest killer.

The British Heart Foundation is encouraging people to hold events throughout the month and has assembled a free Fundraising Kit containing posters, games, advice and ideas to help you organise and promote your event.

The theme of the event can take any form your imagination can conjure up – a wear red day, a red wine party, a red scarf knitathon, a red faces event …anything goes as long as it’s red!

To get more information or request a Fundraising Kit contact the British Heart Foundation.

Outdoor pursuits in extreme temperatures

Many individuals try to exercise regularly and many have neither the opportunity nor inclination to exercise indoors. Therefore, they must deal with changes in climatic conditions that can range from very hot to very cold. To safely tolerate these extremes in temperature, it is important to understand the physiological adjustments that occur with temperature.

Humans are classified as Homeotherms, or organisms that are able to maintain a constant core (internal) temperature despite wide fluctuations in ambient (environmental) temperatures. Humans maintain a core temperature at approximately 37 degrees Celsius. At rest, each cell in the body produces metabolic heat that totals approximately one Calorie/min. In essence we can think of the body as a “furnace” that is constantly producing heat.

A lifetime of motor development

Life Span Motor Development, Fifth Edition, is the only introductory textbook to use the model of constraints (or dynamical systems) approach in discussing reasons for changes in movement throughout the life span.

This fully updated edition encourages students to observe and examine how the interactions of the individual, environment and task affect changes in a person’s movements. The principles of motor development are presented in a clear and accessible manner so that even readers with minimal movement science background will comprehend the material. Life Span Motor Development, Fifth Edition, will give readers the foundation for continued study and real-world practice.

Change of roles within UK Sport

John Steele, Chief Executive UK Sport

Chief Executive, John Steele, has announced role changes within UK Sport

Liz Nicholl has been appointed Chief Operating Officer at UK Sport, whilst Peter Keen becomes the Performance Director. The changes have been brought about by a Strategic Review looking to ensure the organisation is fully focused on its performance ambitions and priorities and using existing resources to maximum effect.

Source: UK Sport
Read the full article

Packing a punch: the hottest fitness trends for 2009

Tired of the treadmill? Here is a round up of some of the unlikely alternative workouts coming to a boxing ring, gym or park near you.

Chessboxing
Sporting bedfellows don’t come any stranger than chess and boxing. Participants box for two minutes and then play chess ringside for four minutes, alternating between the two activities over 11 rounds until a winner is decided by checkmate or knockout.
It sounds mind-bogglingly bizarre, but then, chessboxing did originate in a comic strip by Enki Bilal, a cult Serbian writer. In 2003, it was brought to life by Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh who spent three years promoting the sport. Six months after its launch here, the UK Chessboxing Club now boasts 51 members.

BodyWeb
Think Spiderman without the costume and you’ll get an idea of what’s in store at BodyWeb classes, which launch this year in the UK.
The workout uses suspension training devices – adjustable straps and stirrups that allow you to hang in any position, including upside down. Attach them to a wall or pole and you can perform more than 300 moves, including push-ups and knee tucks while you’re partially suspended.

The coach and the recession

Peter Farrell, Coach Development Officer, Tennis Ireland

As we all know, 2009 is set to be one of economic uncertainty on a global scale. This of course will effect spending on all goods and services and especially discretionary spending, into which category tennis coaching certainly falls.

But it is not all doom and gloom. One thing most tennis coaches have in their favour is that the majority of their work is with junior rather than adult players. While people will look for areas where they can cut expense, parents will always be reluctant to force their children to cut back on any positive activity. And tennis lessons at the local Club (or provincially or nationally) is on many levels one of the best things a young person can be involved in.

Sports Colleges Conference 2009

Sports Colleges Conference 2009
Leading the Change
Wednesday 11 – Thursday 12 February 2009
The International Centre, Telford

The annual Sports Colleges Conference has an exciting new look for 2009 with more choice than ever before! There will be a new-look programme incorporating a host of fantastic keynote and mini keynote speakers, more workshops than ever before and influential networking and development opportunities!

The conference – aimed at representatives from Sports Colleges, Academies with a specialism in sport, and Local Education Authorities – will bring together key post-holders working in and around Sports Colleges with a focus on headteachers, directors of specialism and subject leaders.

This year’s theme is ‘Leading the Change’ and will focus on the skills and techniques needed to drive the ongoing development of the education and sporting landscape. The varied programme will explore how to motivate successful change through engaging and empowering others and determining a destination.

More information