Sports: Page 27

An important part of softball involves proper backhand catching. In this sports how-to video Farmington (MN) HS head softball coach Heather Ballstadt demonstrates a backhand fielding drill. Follow along and learn how simple it is to do. The fielder needs to do one crossover step and lock up the ball entirely into the glove, pick it up and toss it back.

When practicing hitting drills for softball it is important to work with smaller bats. Doing do helps with bat accuracy, which involves good solid contact of the bat with the ball. Farmington (MN) HS head softball coach Heather Ballstadt demonstrates a bat drill for hitting. Follow along in this sports how-to video to learn how to practice a bat drill for hitting in softball.

Farmington (MN) HS head softball coach Heather Ballstadt demonstrates a drill for hitting, with a flat volleyball. Follow along for some essential hitting skills in softball. This flat volleyball drill is very easy to do. It allows for a strong follow through after you make contact with the ball. Try doing this hitting drill with a flat volleyball at home.

Farmington (MN) HS head softball coach Heather Ballstadt demonstrates a full arm drill to warmup for throwing. Throwing and catching a ball is an essential part of softball. Follow along in this sports how-to video to learn how to catch with two hand and over your throwing shoulder. Catching over your throwing shoulder is a good strategy as it allows for a good setup to be in position when playing catch.

What's a football game without a touchdown? And what's a cheer without the right touchdown move? Learn 3 moves that will have you bringing the crowds to their feet! Follow along and learn how-to do t's, touchdowns, and diagonals for cheerleading.

Who Are You Yelling For? We can't hear you! Get the bleachers shaking with this chanting cheer and dance that's great for any pep rally. Learn alongside Coach Lauren and the ATV cheerleaders as they demonstrate all the right moves. Follow along with this cheerleading how-to video to learn the "Who R U Yelling For" cheer.

The back crawl is different to most strokes because you cannot see where you are going. It is a good idea to count how many strokes it takes you to swim a length so you will know when you are getting close to the end of the pool. Try and swim with all of your body close to the surface of the water, almost like you are lying on your back in bed with your head on a pillow. Follow along with this swimming how-to video and learn how to do the backstroke if you are a beginner.

Front crawl is the fastest stroke and gives you the feeling of being powerful in the water. It is often hard to get the hang of at first because fitting in the breathing can be difficult. Follow along in this swimming how-to video to learn the basics of the front crawl.

Most top swimmers use the grab start to get their race under way. This gets you moving off the blocks quickly and into the water smoothly. The starter will not begin the race until everybody is ready and still. This is really important because you can be disqualified if you fall in before the start or if you are slow getting ready. Follow along in this how-to animation to learn the best method to power off the blocks in swimming.

This quick how-to animation demonstrates how to do a tumble turn in swimming. Follow along and see how easy it is to do tumble turns. The main purpose of the tumble turn is to finish one length and begin the next as fast as possible. In freestyle races, you do not have to touch the wall with your hands. Any part of your body is fine, and using the feet gets a much faster turn.

This how-to animations shows you the basic turns for breast and butterfly strokes in swimming. Watch and see how easy it is to improve your swimming techniques with these steps. The same type of turn is used for both butterfly and breaststroke. The laws say that you must touch the wall with two hands, so a touch and pivot turn is used. The main thing to remember is that you don't need to hang on to the wall. The quicker you touch it and pull your hands away the better.

James Gibson, the former 50m world champion demonstrates a competitive level breaststroke. The breaststroke is a mixture of fast leg kicks and smooth arm and hand movements. It's key to have proper technique in the up and down movement as well as moving forward. Follow along with this swimming how-to video to learn how to do and advanced breaststroke with James Gibson.

Cheering is all about the right moves. Cheer along with Coach Lauren as she shows you the basic hand motions used in almost any cheer! Follow along in this cheerleading how-to video and learn how to do blades and fists hand formations.

Are you a first time cheerleader? Then "Gimme an A" is a great cheer to start with. You can personalize this cheer by changing the letters to spell out the name of your favorite team. Follow along with this cheerleading how-to video to learn the "Gimme an A" cheer.

So cool, so cool, you are so cool! Try out this Totally Cool cheer with Coach Lauren and the A-TV squad. There's a lot of clapping in this cheer, so get ready to make some noise! Follow along with this cheerleading how-to video to learn the Totally Cool cheer.

A-W-E-S-O-M-E, this cheer has certainly earned its name! Coach Lauren will break down the steps for this pep rally cheer, so you and your friends can get the party started! Follow along in this cheerleading how-to video to learn how to do the Awesome cheer.

An all time football favorite, this cheer will have the crowds spelling out the words right along with you. From your family room to the football field you can lift everyone's spirits with this cheer! Follow along with this cheerleading how-to video to learn the "Be Aggressive" cheer for football games.

Get ready for this exciting pep rally dance that will get the crowd on their feet in no time. Watch this cheerleading how-to video as Coach Lauren teaches you the fancy channtilly lace footwork that will make you the star of your squad.

The way you place your hands on the golf club will have a direct relationship to the flight of your ball, as demonstrated in this how-to video. If your grip is too weak, the clubface angle at impact will be off line, which will cause the ball to curve. The bottom edge of the clubface needs to be straight to the target line in order for the ball to fly straight toward the target. A good golf grip would be considered neutral, that is, neither weak nor strong. A neutral grip will allow your hands...

Before starting a boxing training session it is important to wrap hands properly. A boxer's hands are useless if not properly cared for. Learn how to wrap hands in this boxing video tutorial.

The speed bag helps the boxer work on his eye-hand coordination. While not intended for power, the speed bag is an important aspect of the boxer's training. Learn how to hit a speed bag in this boxing video tutorial.

Volleyball has numerous unique rules. For example, volleyball is one of the only sports that does not allow throwing or catching the ball. Learn the rules of volleyball in this video tutorial.

The underhand serve is a passive and slower volleyball serve designed to only get the ball over the net and, as you will see in this sports video, is very easy to return. Learn how to serve underhand in this volleyball video tutorial.

Advanced defensive techniques are important in getting to balls that are hit into difficult positions. Whether the ball is hit low, to the side or high, the volleyball player must be prepared. Learn how to do advanced defensive techniques in this volleyball video tutorial.

The jump serve is an aggressive overhand volleyball serve designed to score quickly and, as you will see in this sports video, is very difficult to return. Learn how to jump serve in this volleyball video tutorial.

Serve receiving in volleyball depends upon a proper beginning posture and correct footwork. Learn how to receive serves in this volleyball video tutorial.

The volleyball middle hitter attacks from both in front of the setter and sliding behind the setter. Learn how to be a middle hitter in this volleyball video tutorial.

Perfect body position allows the volleyball player to execute effective techniques on both offense and defense. Learn how to get into perfect body position in this volleyball video tutorial.

The volleyball defensive priority is to contact the ball in the body's midline. Maintaining perfect body position is essential to good volleyball defense. Learn how to play defense in this volleyball video tutorial.

Beat the Clock is a great wrestling drill. Learn from a wrestling coach how this drill can improve wrestling skills in this video tutorial.

A super set of combination jumping jacks and crunches is a great warm-up for conditioning exercises. Learn how to perform jumping jacks with crunches from a professional trainer in this workout video tutorial.

In bar routine work refers to high bar exercises that are close to the hips. Learn how to perform in bar routines from a professional coach in this gymnastics video tutorial.

Of the eleven players on the team, field hockey goalies have restrictions unique to their position, and it is probably the most complicated position on the field to master. Learn how to play goalie in field hockey in this video tutorial.

A field hockey team will not win if the offense does not score points, so they must work together with the rest of the team to be successful. Learn how to play offense in field hockey in this video tutorial.

Tackling in field hockey is essential to having a strong defense, and there are subtleties that a defender must know when attempting to tackle without being penalized. Learn how to tackle in field hockey in this video tutorial.

For a field hockey offense to score, their attacking must be better than the defense's tackling. Speed and accuracy are essential for an effective field hockey attack. Learn how to attack in field hockey in this video tutorial.

The three man weave is a staple basketball strategy that every player must master. Learn basketball skills and strategies in this video basketball lesson.

Defense is essential to playing basketball well. Learn basketball skills and strategies in this video basketball lesson which will show you how to guard your yard.

The sidestroke may be used recreationally and in rescue situations. Therefore, proper sidestroke form is especially important. Get expert tips and advice in this swimming video tutorial.

The doggie paddle is a stroke that is useful for beginners. The doggie paddle is a natural starting stroke for children. Get expert tips and advice in this swimming video tutorial.