Ralph Blackburn CA, CMInstD’s Post

In Janelle Wells, Ph.D. class, we discussed the Olympic landscape and also some of the new sports we have seen in it. There has been a lot of discussion whether or not the sport of pickleball should be included in this global competition. Currently, it is not planned to join the games, but we may see this change in the near future. By looking at the top ten list of growing sports in the world, you can clearly see why surfing and skateboarding were recently added to the games.    1. Pickleball: 171.1%    2. Alpine touring: 115%    3. Winter fat biking: 69.4%    4. Off-course golf: 67.5%    5. Snowboard touring: 59.1%    6. Skateboarding: 38.8%    7. Trail running: 32.4%    8. Tennis: 32.3%    9. Surfing: 28.5%    10. Recreational kayaking: 23.1% However, the top growing sport is not an Olympic sport. I believe that in the next few years, we will see this be announced as a sport in the games. It would help provide increased viewership to the games while also continue to grow the sport of pickleball worldwide. #GlobalWells

If you're an experienced tennis coach and you want to become a good padel coach, the first step is understanding that it is a different sport! There are too many coaches out there that think “It's just like tennis, so I'm going to teach it just like tennis.” You wouldn't do that in squash though, would you? You wouldn't go from coaching tennis to coaching squash overnight, so you shouldn't do the same with padel. The first step is understanding that it's a different sport. The second is getting a good understanding of the sport; learn it, play competitions, try and improve your game and have coaching yourself in the sport, so that you can understand the technique and tactics of the game. Padel is very different from tennis, so understanding the tactical side of the game is going to be an important building block. Then, the next step is to have good coach education and to understand how to deliver group lessons, and then practice those lessons, but all the time learning the game because that process is going to take years, not just a weekend. Are you a tennis coach interested in coaching padel? Or have you already made the transition? What advice would you give to aspiring padel coaches? #Sport #Padel #PadelTennis #ThePadelSchool #PadelTips #PadelLessons #PaddleTennis #GBpadel #WorldPadelTour #PadelVideos #PadelFun #PremierPadel #CoachPadel #OnlineCoaching

The Paris Olympics organizers aim to make it the "People's Games," with affordable ticket availability sparking discussions in the lead-up to the event. While €24 tickets were offered for every sport, they were limited to early competition stages, requiring fans to pay significantly more for a glimpse of medal ceremonies at most events. There is a significant ticket price gap for the Olympics, with final tickets in Athletics, Swimming, and Basketball priced at €980 – over 40 times the cost of the cheapest options for each sport. On the flip side, some events max out at €24, mainly for outdoor events that can be viewed for free in public areas like roads, along the Seine, or in Tahiti at the renowned Teahupo’o wave. Criticism has arisen due to the steep prices of certain events; however, these high-cost tickets enable the availability of lower-priced tickets. The organizing committee highlights that out of the 10 million tickets, one million were priced at €24, while nearly half were €50 or less.

🌞 Question of the Week: How can I prepare my body for summer sports to avoid injuries? 🏐🏊♂️ Summer is the perfect time to dive into sports, but jumping in without prep can lead to injuries. Our tip? Start with a tailored warm-up routine to get your muscles ready for action. Want to know the best warm-up for your favorite summer sport? Drop us a message or comment below! 👟 Whether you're into beach volleyball, swimming, or running, at Sports Physical Therapy, we're here to ensure you're geared up and guarded against injuries. Let’s make this summer your most active yet! 📞 Need specific advice? Call us at

Did you know that it has been 57 years since Pickleball was invented? The game was originally played with ping-pong rackets on a badminton court with a tennis net. Now pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America. Learn more about the history of pickleball on #NationalPickleballDay! #Pickleball #EveryDayIsPickleballDay https://loom.ly/sMZvRKU

𝗛𝗲𝘆! 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸? 🏸 Something we hear more frequently in the office since we purchased multiple games to play during our breaks. Think of; Disc golfing ⛳️, Jeu de Boules 🪩, spike ball, badminton🏸 and table tennis 🎾. See, Laudermarke does it a bit differently. Where most companies have 1, maybe 2 breaks in the afternoon, we have 3 breaks spread over the day. 15 minutes at 10am, 30 minutes between 12-13pm and another 15 minutes at 3pm. We hear from new colleagues they really have to get used to it, but as time goes by, they absolutely love it. They experience the day goes much faster when it’s divided in 4 parts. You’re also not stuck behind your desk for more than max. 2.5 hours a day. Of course, it’s nice to chat with your colleagues during the breaks, but nothing is better than beating them in a fierce game of badminton 💪💪 #LaudermarkeGroup #team #sporty #breaks 

A common question I'm asked is about whether tennis coaches should delve deeper into padel before coaching in the sport 🤔 We've got some incredible tennis coaches making their mark in padel, and while good tennis players can pick up padel skills fast, it is really important that they too train padel to improve their playing level. All good tennis coaches should give padel a shot—not just for their own game improvement but to level up their grasp of the sport and consequently, their coaching. To push padel into new territories, we need experienced coaches from various backgrounds to bring their expertise to the court, however, I strongly encourage tennis coaches to embrace padel training to elevate their coaching game. The deeper you dive into padel, the more apparent its differences from tennis become 🙌 When you started padel, did you realise it would be so different to tennis? 💭 #Sport #Padel #PadelTennis #LTA #ThePadelSchool #PadelTips #PadelLessons #PaddleTennis #PadelExercise #Leisure #RacketSport #Pickleball #GBpadel #WorldPadelTour #PadelVideos #PadelFun

Badminton Horse Trials 2024, loading! We’re just three weeks away from Badminton Horse Trials and I can’t wait to drive through those gates. I’ve been doing sun dances every day in the hope that we can enjoy blue skies and warm weather, Kyle’s putting the finishing touches to his driving sim, and I have lots of drinks, snacks and goodies in stock. If you’re heading to Badminton, here are all the reasons why you should come and visit us at 172 Swangrove Street: ●    For answers to all your tech questions, no matter how small or silly you think they are. Not sure where to start getting a new website? We can help! No idea how to get emails for your business that don’t end with @hotmail.com. We got you! Worried about data security, well we can help with that too! ●    To win a website! We’re giving away a bespoke WordPress website to one lucky person. If you know that a website would take your business to a whole new level, you know what to do! Come to the stand, scan the QR code, enter and keep everything crossed that you win! ●    The chance to show off your driving skills! After two years of bringing the VR headset to Badminton, we’re changing it up for a driving simulator. Kyle is VERY excited about this, and we hope you enjoy it! ●    Have a go on our new online quiz, the marquee will have 3 ipads set up for you to have a try on our simple 7 question quiz - prizes to be won if you get all the questions right! We always see so many friendly faces at Badminton, including past and current customers, and it’s the perfect chance to stop in for a catch up. #peoplebuyfrompeople #techinperson #equinebusiness #badmintonhorsetrials2024 #countdown #visitus #technology #website

I am often asked whether the transition to padel coaching is smoother for those coming from squash or tennis coaching backgrounds 🤔 In many cases, individuals who excel as coaches in other sports can make a remarkable shift to padel coaching. Once they acquire a solid understanding of padel and how players approach the game, and after mastering effective techniques, they often prove to be exceptional padel coaches. We've witnessed this transition with coaches from the worlds of tennis and squash, individuals who already possess strong coaching skills in their respective areas 🎾 At The Padel School, we emphasise taking an already proficient coach, one who is organised, communicates effectively, and maintains a professional approach, and teaching them the nuances of padel. This approach allows us to harness their coaching abilities rather than attempting to transform a proficient padel player into a coach, a transformation that might not come naturally to them. #Sport #Padel #PadelTennis #LTA #ThePadelSchool #PadelTips #PadelLessons #PaddleTennis #PadelExercise #Leisure #RacketSport #Pickleball #GBpadel #WorldPadelTour #PadelVideos #PadelFun

The Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event held every four years, where thousands of athletes from around the world gather to compete in various sports. The Olympics promote unity, friendship, and fair play, while celebrating human achievement and excellence. The modern Olympic Games were founded in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin, but their origins date back to ancient Greece, where the first recorded Olympic Games took place in 776 BC. The Games were held every four years for over 1,000 years until they were banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in 393 AD. The Olympic Games feature summer and winter sports, with the summer Games typically attracting more participants and spectators. Sports include track and field, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, soccer, and many others. The Winter Olympics feature sports like alpine skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, and snowboarding. The Olympics have grown to become a global event, with over 200 countries participating. The Games promote international understanding, athletic achievement, and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinking #designthinker