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Encouraging Your Daughter to Love Sports
Many little girls are just as interested in learning about — and playing — sports as their brothers are. So if you want to raise your little girl with a love for sports, you can play a big role in encouraging such a fondness. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Get Playful at Home
There’s an entire philosophy of child-rearing called playful parenting, and the main point of it is to connect with your child while having fun. When you’re the parent of a son, this sometimes comes more easily. After all, it’s second nature to roughhouse with him or be more raucous and silly. Boys are seen as rough and tumble, with energy oozing from them at all times. So ideas for activities often include things like throwing a ball or playing your own version of water polo. But there’s no reason to count out the very same pastimes for your pint-sized princess. When given the chance, most girls will have a blast tossing a football with you or sharpening their ping-pong skills. Need extra ideas for play? Check out discount websites like Groupon to find affordable activities in your area, from miniature golf and rock climbing to bowling and beyond.
Consider Organized Sports
When you have a little girl, it’s often assumed that she’ll participate in dance classes or gymnastics. While these activities are great outlets for a young one, it’s important you don’t limit your daughter’s choices. She may never have asked if she could play basketball, but maybe that’s because she was never offered the option.
Whenever you and your spouse sit down to talk through decisions that impact your children, discuss the costs and logistics of all programs you’re considering. Once you’ve agreed upon which ones you can afford (and those that make sense as far as time commitments are concerned), have a chat with your young one. Tell her the five to 10 choices you would be happy to pay for (and drive her to and from), and ask her what interests her most. Be sure to include a varied list of activities, with organized sports in the mix. She may choose violin classes or a writing workshop, but she also may decide to try soccer. Giving her the ability to choose — and supporting her ultimate wishes — will make her feel empowered and will foster a potential love for that pursuit.
Take Her Out to the Ball Game
Sometimes there’s no better way to induce enthusiasm about sports than to take your daughter to a professional sports game. There’s something magical about stadiums, crowds, lights, food, camaraderie and competition that makes the whole experience larger than life to kids and adults alike. Now is the perfect time to catch an NFL game together, and down the road when other sports seasons pick up, you can make a date out of attending a basketball or baseball game. Make sure to get your tickets through a legitimate vendor, though, so you can be sure of authenticity. Then root, root, root for the home team! This type of activity will strengthen your bond and help your little one catch some of the excitement around professional sports.
As you aim to develop your daughter’s love of sports, make sure she’s getting plenty of exposure to all different types. Be playful at home, offer her the option to participate in organized athletics and take her to live events. She’s sure to catch at least a little bit of a sports fever and, if nothing else, you’ll have fun and make awesome new memories.
Thoughts On NFL Fantasy Football After Preseason Week 1
There is no better time than now for fans to draft players to their fantasy football teams. Sunday’s games have a lot to tell about the players and their value to their teams. Based on their performance, you can tell what player deserves to be on your team, and who is not worth the investment. Read on to get more insight on the NFL odds for week 1.
Could Robby Anderson be the New York Jets’ No. 1?
Anderson’s performance last season was nothing if not sterling, which is why he really ought to be a top priority for the Jets. With 14 receptions, 29 targets, 240 yards and 2 scores last week, he is well above most other players. He is a little over 6 feet tall, which makes him the tallest receiver. He might not weigh much at 190 lbs, but there is no denying that he is talented. Despite McCown’s attack on Saturday, Robby still deserves a place as one of the best New York Jets players.
The Patriots’ Backfield Uncertainty
There is little clarity on the status of the Patriots’ backfield. Dion Lewis seems to bear the bulk of the work after veteran player Mike Gilislee’s hamstring injury. Last season, Lewis did not get much time on the field due to injury, but this season seems more promising for him. According to many fantasy football enthusiasts, players like Rex Burkhead and James White seem invaluable, but the team’s coach Bill Belichick thinks that Lewis is just as important to the team.
Jameis Winston’s Astounding Performance
Winston beat Mike Evans with 7 targets and Cameron Brate with 19 and 8 yard gains, which is really not surprising. He remains a valuable player for his team, and one that you should consider drafting to your fantasy team. The case is different for rookie O.J Howard who despite showing great potential during the game remains a risky investment. Evan’s regression is a mere rumor, and since he has proven himself in other seasons, you might want to draft him into your team.
Is Kenny Galloday The Lions’ Star?
After two touchdowns, Lions’ rookie receiver enjoyed his well- earned time in the limelight. He has both flair and athletic ability, although this does not guarantee him a spot in the fantasy football community. This is because the Lions players rise through the ranks in a designated way. Currently, Marvin Jones, Eric Ebron and Theo Riddick are above Galloday in the pecking order. He might however be lucky since Ebron is prone to injury and Jones suffered huge statistical drop, so Galloday might still get his chance to shine.
Who will be the Dallas Backfield?
After Darren McFadden’s performance on Sunday, there is no doubt that he will be the Dallas backfield. He might be getting old and losing some of his exceptional flexibility as he turns thirty before the season kicks off, but he is still one of the team’s best players. Elliot’s pending suspension makes him a risky investment for your fantasy team. It is also hard to guess what a fair price for Zeke would be.
Colts Panic Due to Andrew Luck’s Absence
Luck has been missing in action for a while now after he suffered a shoulder injury that needed to be surgically repaired. This veteran quarterback’s absence from the field is unsettling to say the least. To make matters worse, his backup, Scott Tolzien, is not half as inspiring as Luck is. The team’s manager has not clearly stated that Luck won’t be joining the team, so there is still a glimmer of hope that he might return.
Rookies prove themselves
2017 seems like the year for rookie running backs to prove themselves. These include such players as Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara. It is somewhat reminiscent of the year 2014 where rookies like Odell Beckham Jr., Kelvin Benjamin and Mike Evans proved to be talented wide outs. Some rookie quarterbacks to watch out for include Deshaune Watson, Mitchell Trubisky and Deshone Kizer. Although it is clear that these rookies have immense talent, it is best to first observe them before drafting them for your team.
Fantasy Football: Don’t Buy Into The Hype of the Rookie Runners
Who knew that fantasy football could be so complicated? Up to thirty running backs selected in the 2017 NFL Draft season are expected to make a noticeable impact in fantasy football in the immediate future, and you can only imagine what that will do for the NFL betting picks for the 2018 season.
Rookies like Christian McCaffrey, Leonard Fournette, and Joe Mixon were selected in the first fifteen rounds of the ten-team NFL.Com draft. If that wasn’t enough, there is no end to the level of hype analysts are raising over Jamaal Williams, Kareem Hunt and Joe Williams.
It is hardly surprising that everyone expects depth charts to be dominated by these youngsters and more. And you would be hard-pressed to make a solid argument suggesting that this hype isn’t warranted.
Then again, does it make sense to overvalue players that haven’t even run a lap on an NFL gridiron? And it isn’t like this sort of hype has produced notable results in the past. Prognostications about rookies, especially the optimistic kind, rarely end well. Just look at DeMarco Murray. Everyone thought that his time with the Tennessee Titans was over after Derrick Henry, a Heisman winner was drafted. Murray went on to dominate that season.
If that sounds like it could be an isolated case, consider this; of all the rookie runners that have risen in the last decade, only two dozen have appeared in the top 25 in fantasy points. If those numbers do not make sense to you, that means only three rookie runners a year ranked in the top 25.
Whenever the draft season comes around and the hype surrounding rookies begins to rise, analysts and fans like to throw out names like Matt Forte, Chris Johnson and Jonathan Stewart from 2008. Those guys made it to the top 10 and it was a big deal. But one cannot ignore the fact that Rashard Mendenhall, Jamaal Charles and other high profile runners performed well below expectations.
Looking at the 2012 class, you can point to Doug Martin, Trent Richardson, and Alfred Morris as standouts. However, anyone who is anyone knows that 2012 didn’t have many talented options. The point is this: every rule has a few exceptions, and it seems a like a lot of analysts and fans in fantasy football are making their picks based on the exceptions instead of the rule.
Think about this. There have been 108 running backs in the NFL that have been selected in the first four rounds of the football draft over the previous decade. And among those running backs, only twenty-one have ever finished in the top 10.
Think about how demoralizing that figure should be, and then ask why rookie running backs are still being overvalued today.
Some rationale should be applied during the draft. And do not use the anxiety spreading online about rookie runners as an excuse to avoid rookie runners. That isn’t the take away here. The point here is this: be smart. Do not overreach for rookies. There are picks like Mixon that, while clearly impressive, should be saved for the third and the fourth rounds rather than the second. You do not want to miss on a player in the top fifty.
So, be smart.
Four Amazing Win-Loss Total OVER Wagers for NFL 2017
With training camp and the NFL preseason just a few weeks away surely you’re already gearing up to root for your favorite team.
It’s also more than likely that you’re certain of your team’s win-loss record for the season.
You’re not alone. Most sportsbooks have released their futures odds for NFL football betting and as expected there are some clear favorites.
But, which team will make it to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, Minnesota?
Will the Falcons or Patriots make it back to the big game? Or is there another team that will surprise?
To be certain, it’s impossible to predict the future. And, these predictions will likely be more wrong than right.
But, that doesn’t mean we can’t count on a few relevant factors:
It’s likely the Patriots, Steelers and Packers will all have at least 12 wins this season. It’d be hard to argue that these organizations are among the best in the league and they’ll likely do well in their weak divisions.
The Chiefs, Cowboys, Giants, and Raiders might also have at least 12 wins, but because the NFC East plays the AFC West this year it means they’ll be locking horns throughout the entire season and that has to be taxing.
As far as the AFC South and NFC South teams are concerned, they’re pretty much even and might have some surprises in store for us all.
Anyhow, here are some predictions for the 2017 NFL season:
New England Patriots OVER 12.5
The Patriots have lost just about three times per season in their last seven years. That’s including three trips to the big game and two championship rings.
So long as nothing happens to Brady, fans can count they’ll be good for at least 12 wins. They have a difficult test in Week 10 against the Broncos and then the following week against the Raiders in Mexico City, but if they can get past those two games they’ll be fine.
Pittsburgh Steelers OVER 10.5
The Steelers offense is among the best in the league with their deadly trio of Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown.
If Bell can stay healthy all season, they should breeze through the first five games. Their big test comes in Week 15 when they face the Patriots, but by that time they should have already accrued many more wins than the line is at right now.
Oakland Raiders OVER 9.5
Should Derek Carr heal well from his leg injury, the Raiders should be good for at least 11 wins. Three of their first four games are on the road, which will be difficult for them to win, but they should pull through with at least two wins. They also have a difficult game against the Chiefs in Week 7, but if Carr plays well they’ll get through it.
Denver Broncos OVER 8.5
If Trevor Siemian can be consistent, the Broncos are good for at least 11. But, if he plays as he did in the second half of last year’s season it’ll be a short year for the Broncos. They have a trap game in Week 9 versus the Eagles, with a game against Kansas City the previous week and one against the Patriots in the following week. But they’ll pull through.
