Fatherhood Factor

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Best Ways To Improve Your Golf Game in the Off-Season

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Just because the golf season is over doesn’t mean you can’t work on your game. The off-season is the perfect time to focus on improving your skills so that you can come back next season even better than before.

Not only will you be able to work on your swing without the pressure of playing in tournaments, but you’ll also have more time to focus on the mental and physical aspects of the game. These are some of the best ways to improve your golf game during the off-season.

Practice Your Swing

One of the best ways to improve your golf game is to practice your swing. This practice can be done indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather. If you have access to a golf simulator with a quality hitting mat, that’s great. But if not, you can still practice your swing by hitting balls into a net or even just swinging at an imaginary ball. The key is to focus on your form and make sure you’re making consistent contact with the ball.

Work on Your Short Game

Your short game includes everything from when your ball lands on the ground until it goes into the hole. This part of the game consists of chipping, pitching, and putting. While it’s important to have a good long game, being able to get up and down around the green is what will ultimately lower your scores.

Take some time during the off-season to work on chipping and putting. You can do this by using a practice green or rolling some balls across the carpet in your living room.

Get in Shape

Golf is a physical sport, so being in good shape will help your game. During the off-season, make sure you’re getting regular exercise and working on your flexibility. This exercise will not only help you play better golf when the season starts, but it will also help you avoid injuries out on the course.

Take Some Lessons

One of the best ways to improve your golf game is to take lessons from a professional. A good instructor can help you identify and correct any flaws in your swing. They can also teach you how to better manage your game and play smarter.

If you’re serious about taking your game to the next level, find a reputable golf instructor in your area and take a few lessons. You’ll be glad you did when the season starts up again.

The off-season is a great time for golfers to work on their game and improve their skills. By practicing their swing, working on their short game, getting in shape, and taking lessons, golfers can come back next season ready to take their game to the next level.

These are the best ways to improve your golf game during the off-season. Get out there and start practicing—your game will thank you for it!

4 Sports Young Children Should Try To Build Resilience

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As a parent, you want to see your child succeed. They are meant to fail, learn from their mistakes, and grow as a person. Participating in sports from a young age can help improve personal skills that your child will use later in life.

One of the most valuable skills a child can learn from sports is resilience. Resiliency arises when children set goals for themselves, learn from their mistakes, and work to overcome obstacles. Learning important problem-solving skills from a young age is the best way to ensure these skills stick into adulthood.

Continue reading this list of four sports young children should try to build resilience.

Bicycling

Teaching your child how to ride a bicycle is a fundamental part of childhood. Bike riding is a fun outdoor activity that can become a competitive sport in the future.

With your guidance as a parent or a coach, your children can learn self-discipline and resilience when bike riding. Many outdoor factors can affect bicycling, such as wind and hills. Your child will learn how to adapt to the environment and work hard to overcome challenges.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics is all about balance and flexibility. Starting gymnastics at a young age is the best way to develop a hobby for years to come. There are many benefits of gymnastics for young children, such as allowing them to work through any uneasiness that comes with trying a new skill.

Propelling your body into the air can be scary. No matter the skill your child learns, their coach will be right there beside them to help them learn and overcome their fears. Their resiliency and comfort will shine through in each gymnastics routine they perform.

Basketball

Maybe you’re looking to get your young child involved in a more team-oriented sport. Having a coach and teammates will push your child to work harder, and they’ll have a good support system on the court. As challenges arise, your child can build resilience by taking criticism from the coach and working to implement those adjustments to the game.

Swimming

Swimming is not just for summer pool parties. It’s a wonderful competitive sport that has many physical and mental benefits. While working in a team environment, it is up to your child to individually work to perfect their skills.

Young children are strong and tough. When they’re knocked down, they’ll jump right back up to try again. Children will develop valuable skills and build resilience by trying these sports.

Greatest Father-Son Combinations in Baseball History

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You know you are getting old when you’re seeing baseball players you grew up loving have sons as the number one pick in the draft or as a runner-up in MVP voting. There’s still time for current stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Jackson Holliday to become one of the greatest father-son combinations in baseball history. However, until they make more of an impression, these are the four pairs worth appreciating.

Cecil and Prince Fielder

Some duos compiled better numbers than Cecil and Prince Fielder, but they are nowhere near as entertaining as these first basemen. Cecil peaked when the 90s began, leading the league in home runs and RBI in consecutive seasons, including smacking 51 bombs in 1990.

Prince was a better hitter than his pops, finishing his career with a .887 OPS. But Prince’s career came to a screeching halt due to multiple neck surgeries. Prince’s best year was in 2007 when he hit 50 homers, making them the only father-son combo to hit 50 taters in a season. Even more miraculous is that both Fielders finished their careers with 319 round-trippers.

Felipe and Moises Alou

The most underrated father-son duo in baseball history is Felipe and Moises Alou. Felipe played during the time of Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, and Willie Mays, among others dominating the National League outfield, so he’s hardly in the conversation as one of the best outfielders in the 1960s. Yet, Felipe led the league in hits and runs in 1966 and hits during the year pitching dominant 1968 season.

Moises, whose claim to fame is flipping his gourd when Steve Bartman interfered with him during Game 6 of the NLCS for the Cubs, put together a remarkable career, compiling a career .303 batting average, 332 home runs, and 2134 hits.

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

Before Junior, Senior was a key component of Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine” in the mid-70s; Ken Griffey Sr. was a three-time All-Star, finishing his 19-year career with a .296 batting average. While that’s a wonderful career, it’s only a fraction of what Junior did.

Ken Griffey Jr. is the only Hall of Fame player on this list with the help of his 630 career home runs. He was a mainstay of the 90s and a fan favorite of any kid interested in the game. If you are a child of the 90s, there’s zero doubt you tried to turn on a fastball with Junior’s follow-through.

Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds

Even though Ken Griffey Jr. is the only Hall of Fame player on the list, there should be another player enshrined in Cooperstown. Barry Bonds, enhanced or not, compiled ludicrous numbers. Bonds is the career leader in home runs (762) and walks (2,558), and from 1992 through 2004, he never had a season under a 1.000 OPS.

Many might not realize that Barry’s father, Bobby Bonds, also had an incredible career. Bobby was a menace on the basepaths and at the plate, stealing 461 bags and hitting 332 home runs. When you combine their statistics, there’s zero doubt this pair leads the way.

Your aspirations of being an MLB player may have hit a snag. Thus, not making you and your kid one of the greatest father-son combinations in baseball history. But you can do everything in your power to keep their dreams alive as they progress in their lives.

Game Day Nutrition Tips for Your Hockey Kids

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A father tends to easily bond with their kids over sports. When it comes time to teach and train kids for their respected sport, many will focus on mechanics and physical abilities. In hockey, while this is an important aspect of the game, proper nutrition is of equal importance. Eating the proper meals and choosing the right snacks can be a challenge. A lot of energy is lost during the game and it is important that young hockey players get proper nutrients.

The following guide was created with input from NHL trainers and staff. It features a game day meal plan for hockey players. The information provided is sure to keep players going strong and is intended to help them before, during, and after the game.

Click the arrows in the bottom right hand corner to expand to full screen.

Hockey Nutrition Tips & Advice from Pro Stock Hockey, a company that offers Ice
Hockey Sticks

The Benefits of Letting Your Kids Play Multiple Sports

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In a generation where winning trophies and earning scholarships dominate youth athletics, children are being pushed to specialize in a single sport as early as their pre-teen years.

Kids as young as 7 and 8 years old are playing one sport year-round instead of participating in a variety of sports, and parents have one simple argument for this approach: By picking one sport and training at that sport exclusively, the young athlete would be more likely to excel at that sport.

But what if allowing your children to compete in multiple sports throughout the year proves to be safer and more beneficial to the child’s athletic success? Cisco Athletic created a slideshow (which can be viewed below) on the benefits of children playing multiple sports.

A Life Colored by Big Kicks, Handstands, and “The Dougie”

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As a kid who grew up in a small town, I found very few ways to express myself…outside of sports.

I went to school, helped out with our livestock, and played baseball.

It wasn’t a bad life, but as I’ve gotten older there are so many things that I wish I’d found early on.

My passion in the written word for instance. Maybe a hidden talent for playing guitar or a knack for creating visual art.

You see, although I could hold my own on the ball field, I was never going to clear the bases at Fenway. Our high school field gave me all the trouble I could handle in that respect.

Unfortunately, in order to tap in to your “sweet spot” as a kid (pardon the baseball analogy), you need a lot of guidance from those around you.

The type of guidance that a stellar single mom would find difficult handle alone.

However, there is something beautiful that takes place when your discoveries happen later in life. And it happens with the birth of that first child.

Turning the Page…Dad Style

Aside from teaching…and performing the occasional wet-willie, dads have the heavy task of becoming master observers.

We’re akin to a good guard dog that’s constantly watching…assessing…understanding our surroundings.

With diligence we notice that one of our kid’s is constantly performing, while the other immediately starts to move to the beat of the song on the radio.

A kind of investigator that can pick out our kids’ passions and abilities.

Practically speaking, it means that I need to pay attention to my girls and their activities. Without this, I wouldn’t have noticed the strong kicks in the pool, the enthusiasm and power in gymnastics, or the pure joy and passion for dance.

I can now take notice of the things that captivate them…help them assess their ability in them…and then stand behind them and cheer until my voice gives out.

Living with Them, not Through Them

There is a real danger in parenting from a place of regret however.

We could very easily begin to live life through our kids instead of living life with them.

By all means, assess your experiences and make changes as you see fit. But the point is to give your kid’s an opportunity that you didn’t have, not to relive your youth.

You want them to find their “thing” not be forced to succeed in yours.

The fact that you may be discovering some things late in life might actually be an awesome learning experience for them.

Who better to show them how important perseverance is?

Invest, don’t Reinvent

These tactics are really common sense. They simply require an investment of time and energy.

Other than some focus, and a little attention to detail, dads need not reinvent themselves to succeed here.

Just remember your struggles and frustrations…then help your kids navigate through them.

You can be assured that their lives will be enriched in the process…and so will yours!

Dove® Men+Care and NCAA® March Madness Giveaway

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I probably don’t have to tell you basketball fans, but NCAA® March Madness is almost upon us!

In the spirit of this sacred time of year, I wanted to tell you about some interesting things that are going to be happening on the blog until March 20.

I was approached by a shopper engagement agency called Lunchbox, to take part in the promotion of Dove® Men+Care.  Being an official sponsor of the NCAA®, the company has put on an engaging campaign that could have some amazing results for some of you.

The Details

Through this campaign, you will have access to print and fill out your bracket…putting your expertise to the test.  And, while your at it, you can enter for a chance to win tickets to the 2012 NCAA® Men’s Final Four®!  You never know, you and three friends could experience the trip of a lifetime.

You will also get a little Dove® Men+Care bonus!  Get a $1 off Dove® Men+Care personal wash and deodorant.  Plus, get a free sample of Dove® Men+Care products (the samples go live on March 15).

So, do yourself a favor and go to the official site right now and fill out your bracket, enter the contest, and get your free coupon and product!

Blog Giveaway

In addition to the great offer available on the official Walmart Dove® Men+Care site, we have a specific giveaway opportunity for the friends of Fatherhood Factor.

What are we giving away? How about $200 worth of NCAA® merchandise! ->

All you need to do is become a friend of our Facebook fan page by clicking the “Like” button!

That’s It!

The giveaway will officially end on Sunday, March 20, at 8pm EST.  At the close, we will randomly select the winner…so make sure to keep an eye on your email to find out if you are the one drawn!

Some Legal Ease

Please keep in mind that:

“This promotion is solely sponsored by Fatherhood Factor and has not been endorsed or approved by Lunchbox or its subsidiaries or affiliates.  By entering, you agree to look solely to Fatherhood Factor for any claims in connections therewith, and not to Lunchbox, or its subsidiaries or affiliates.”

Good luck and “Happy March Madness!”

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