What’s the new craze Zumba® that everybody’s talking about?

Contributed by Nicola Sanders.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

Zumba® is an exhilarating, exciting, easy to follow dance inspired fitness workout that incorporates Latin and salsa dance moves to international pop music; it’s guaranteed to blow you away!

Zumba® has exploded onto the adult fitness scene since its inception in 2001 and has quickly become the world’s most successful and addictive dance-fitness program. Combining music and dance seems to invigorate those of all shapes, sizes, ages and cultures. Zumba® combines fast and slow rhythms with cardio dance moves to ensure that the class is both fun and effective for every participant.

An Introduction to SNAG Golf

Contributed by Chris Abbott.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

SNAG stands for ‘Starting New At Golf’. It’s a really cool and fun game that allows children to learn golf easily in a safe, controlled and fun environment.

All of the elements of golf are included in SNAG, but in a modified form. It has all the fun of mini golf, but implements the use of all the golf shots; chipping, pitching, and putting.

SNAG golf enables the children to develop golfing ability instantly, this keeps the children motivated, and with this instant success naturally comes enjoyment, and a desire to continue playing golf.

To succeed in team sports, keep your head up!

Have you ever watched a beginner soccer or basketball player dribble a ball? Typically, this young player is constantly looking down at the ball, especially when closely defended. This behavior is understandable as the player has not yet developed the skills and confidence necessary to dribble the ball without looking at it.

Unfortunately, more advanced players often demonstrate the same behavior. When under pressure (or trying to score) they turn their head downward, exerting all of their concentration and effort on advancing the ball or puck past their defenders.

Read more » Inside Youth Sports: To Succeed in Team Sports, Keep Your Head Up!

The 2012 London Olympics in Numbers

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

With only 100 days to go until the XXX Olympiad opening ceremony, let’s have a rundown of the key numbers in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

2,000,000,000,000

The cost of staging the Games in British Pounds (£2 billion!).

4,700

The number of medals being produced for the Olympic and Paralympic games by the Royal Mint.

2012 Wisden Cricketers of the Year

Contributed by Emma Booth.
Regional Director, USA Sport Group.

Wisden is the leading cricket publication in the world and every year since 1889 the editor chooses five players who make it onto the 'Cricketers of the Year' list. A prestigious award, which you can earn only once in your lifetime. This year, four Englishmen and one Sri Lankan have made it onto the 2012 list.

Alastair Cook (Middlesex & England)

Cook has been the backbone of English test cricket last year scoring four hundreds, including a whopping 294 runs versus India. His one day performances have also come on leaps and bounds and Cook has asserted himself as one of the best batsman in the world.

Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire & England)

Tim Bresnan is a typical Yorkshire all-rounder. Hard hitting as a batsman and consistent as a bowler, his performance in the test match against India at Trent Bridge propelled him into international cricket stardom.