Dress Up Games- Modern Day Paper Dolls

By Vlad Stivenson

You might wonder what there is about those Dress up Games that your daughter keeps talking about. You might dismiss them as mother versions of the old fashioned dress up games that you used to play with your mothers clothes. Its a bit like that, but dues to the nature of Internet, its become a world wide sensation.

Just what are those Dress Up Games? The best way to understand them is to remember the paper dolls that you used to like so much. They had a paper or carton base, with a girl or a doll in undergarments. There were several paper dresses and clothing that you had to cut out as well so that you could dress your doll. The most creative of girls would make their own paper clothing so that they would always have new outfits for their dolls.

With technology and Internet available, those paper dolls have become virtual dolls that require clicking and dragging rather than cutting and pasting. With people from all over the world creating new ones every day, the number of sites with dress up games has increased enormously. And with each site having at least a few dozen games, theres really not a limit to the number of dolls that your daughter can play with.

Virtual Dolls; the Descendents of Paper Dolls Although the game mechanic is the same, virtual dolls have a far wider range of clothing styles. While paper dolls came in a set that had only a few pieces of clothing, Virtual dolls pieces of clothing are limited to the imagination of the designer.

In addition, paper dolls clothing was rather conservative and conventional, with only a few variations of dresses, skirts and blouses that didnt really defy the imagination. Virtual dolls can become students, teachers, policewomen, astronauts, pirates, singers, actresses and pretty much anything your daughter wishes to be when she grows up.

Whats the point of Dress Up Games? The same as with paper dolls; just to have fun by dressing up a doll. Girls play them for the same reason that you played paper dolls in your childhood. However, because they are in their most basic of nature, digital information, you can save them and give them other uses.

Avatars An avatar is a representation of yourself in an online site that features social interaction. While a lot of people use pictures of themselves as avatars, this is not advisable, for safety reasons. Much less in the case of your own daughter! Saving a virtual doll as a picture and then loading the picture as an avatar will keep your daughter safer from strangers.

Illustrations for Stories Most of the girls that play dress up games have a lot of imagination and creativeness. Her virtual doll could be the main character for her first story. Having a visual image of a character will make it easier to develop a story. Friends and enemies of the character can be created through a dress up game as well.

About the Author:

Vlad Stivenson, creator of dress up game for girls

Here is a little bit of advice if you are planning on purchasing a new tuxedo.

By Victor M. Santerino

If purchasing a tuxedo is on your list of things to do, then you probably have noticed the many photographs and well as articles that appear in today's men's fashion magazines. If so, you probably have also been reading tons of advice adhering to the latest fashion trends as well as styles that are hot off the runway. However, alot of this information is contradicting to none other than itself.

With so many choices that are currently available you must first know what your intentions are with this tuxedo. Do you plan to wear it to attend informal events, or for business? Hence purchasing a beautiful pinstriped tuxedo might be okay for the office attire, but not so much for your social attire. However, purchasing a white tuxedo for a wedding will do you little to no good for work attire.

For the same reason the color is also very important. Black is always a very safe choice for both business use and a multitude of informal and social gatherings.

Next of your order of business while making your purchase, you should consider what style of jacket you would like. There are two choices, single breasted and double breasted. Double breasted jackets, however, have always been believed to have been worn more by much older people, as opposed to younger people. This has since changed, however, leaving the double breasted tuxedo to be considered a timeless classic which would be suitable for almost any occasion.

You should also decide if you can afford to have tuxedo made-to-measure. Whereas you may be considered average size and build, and can purchase a suit straight off the rail, there's no doubt whatsoever that a bespoke tux is far superior.

Pants and jackets come in a variety of different materials. If you're able to make the choice, wool should always be preferred over any other fabric. Despite its slightly higher cost the superior qualities of all make it a very worthwhile choice.

Next, you need to ensure that you accessorize you're tuxedo perfectly. Remember that you may wish to take off your jacket during the course of an evening which will expose your shirts.

Lastly when you are ready to head off to have your suit measured and made, it would be wise to take a friend along for a second opinion. If your partner is comfortable being critical, then he/she would be a wise choice. What you see in the mirror and consider to be perfect, may not always be what others consider the same. This is where that second opinion can be extremely crucial.

About the Author:

Looking for a tuxedo or tuxedo shirt? Come to our website where you will learn about tuxedo brands and designers like the brioni, brooks brothers, alfani, zegna, and the versace tuxedo

Secrets for Formulation Outstanding Sample Resume of Job Seekers

By Joshua Workman

Are you thinking of creating a resume but don't know where to start? If you are then for sure you will be enthusiastic to discover secrets in creating a sample resume of high quality that can make employers nod and agree that you are the best one qualified for the vacant position. In the present situation, when each company would receive tons of applications even if there were only one or two positions vacant; the value of an effective resume is of great importance.

Nobody is perfect and even if you are a very intelligent person, there are instances when you are sometimes at a lost on where to start on some things. Considering that you are interested to land a job, sample resumes of high quality can serve as your guide in formulating the resume that will entice your employer's interest to get you on the next step of the application. Eventually, you will then end up getting the position that you have longed hope for.

When searching for options, you might think of searching for sample resumes to guide you in your pursuit to win that job application. If you are, then you really came up with a sensible idea. The le you can do is watch your odd resume take away your dream job into the waste basket.

When you search for sample resume formats online, you will come across with a lot of samples available. This makes it crucial to compare and come up with the best one for your ideals.

Of the essence, a good sample resume is one that focuses on a specific role. This one is better than one claiming that you are one "jack of all trades." Employers would preferably consider a potential employee that is skilled in a specific role compared to one that knows many things in minimal.

A sample resume should indicate the achievements accomplished by the applicant. This is far better than just simply indicating the previous tasks in the old jobs handle.

Stress out every detail of achievements. Do not dig much about relaying stories about past employment duties.

Your sample resume is your selling point - sell your achievements and best quality written in a very impressive manner.

Get Your FREE 5-Step Job Secrets Course at http://www.JobSecretsNow.com

About the Author:

Learn how to get 100% Guaranteed Job Offers with Sample Resume of outstanding quality

Free Online People Search

By Dana Goldberg

Ever wondered what happened to that old crush you had in high school? Trying to locate that guy who still owes you $10 in lunch money? Looking to hook up with the people who used to mean something in your life, or you've lost touch with? Here's a few methods describing how to find people for free, just a little effort on your part.

The first and most effective place to find people for free is one of the big social networking sites such as Facebook.com, MySpace and Friendster. If you're looking for ex-coworkers or people in a specialized field, job specific sites such as Linkedin.com could be more effective because they focus on professionals.

So how to search for your lost friend or former co-worker? You can start entering your friends name into the search box you can find on Myspace, Facebook, Friendster or Linkedin. You need to be aware that if you are looking for a woman, she might have be married and this is why she changed her last name. You can of course try to search only using the firs tname or nickname, but this will be a lot of work.

But you cannot only use social networkign sites to search for people. It is a good idea to create profiles yourself. Add as much data as possible and make sure to upload a photo. In this way in case someone is searching for you, he or she can find you easily.

If the social networking sites did not give you any results you might want to try a straight Google search. Go to Google, type the name of the person you are searching for into the searhc box and wait for the results. In case your lost friend or relative has a very common name, it is advised to include hometown or high school name in your search. Very often this will bring up class reunion results. Class reunion results are a great way to find old school mates.

The last method is checking phone listing sites, like whitepages.com. This can be best if you know first and last name as well as the city they're located in, but there will be little detail to go on to verify that you've got the right person. But it could give you clues to help you track the person down.

When you are looking for information on an old firend or lost relative alway be aware that there are scam sites out there. These site charge a fee for doing exactly what is described in this article. It is also not recommended to use dating sites for finding people. Why? People often use pseudonyms and you will have to pay to get access to profiles or to contact them. In addition there are many dating sites, so chances are not good finding the person you are looking for.

In case the methods described in this article to find people online for free did not give you results, I highly recommend joining a People Search service. These services cost around $20, however, you will get comprehensive results with some mouse clicks. Reports will include phone, address, previous addresses, marital status, criminal history and a lot more.

About the Author:

On my website you will get access to a listingof the best free and paid people search engines. Go to Free People Search Engines

Kids Need More Than Earth Day

By Lonnie Lorenz

April 22nd, 2010 will be the 40 year celebration of the first Earth Day here in America. Since then many rivers have been cleaned up and smog eliminated from our cities. Despite all that success, today our kids are suffering.

Richard Louv, child advocacy expert, directly blames the lack of nature in the lives on today's wired generation. He calls this phenomenon nature-deficit order and he links it to some of the most alarming trends for our kids. Including rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Kids in Nature

Summer camps since the early 1900 have been getting kids outdoors and informing children about the environment. Yet, when folks talk today about camp it could be a skateboard camp or a math camp at a college campus. Summer camp is a wonderful way to get your child to have greater appreciation for the environment. Swift Nature Camp is a place that can help you develop you child's joy in nature. .Environmental Camp

Swift Nature Camp is noncompetitive, Outdoors Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. The focus is to Appreciate nature while doing traditional camp activities. We make Nature Fun , here are a few camper comments

"I love all the activities. Especially Archery. But its on the walt there when I found a deer skull that was the best"

"Sometimes learning about nature take place on a walk to the archery range or walking to go for a swim. Its so cool to see the turtles come up and lay their eggs."

" the Nature Center has so many critters. I really like the Goat. ...I brought my hamster SAM ."

Listen, you can hear loads of birds especially in the morning. But its the loon at might that i really love."

Camp Director Lonnie says" It 's excitement that makes our Science Camp work." Our catch and relaease Frog hunts are most popular. Adventure trips like canoing and hiking really bring it all together."

For SNC camp is more than nature our small size allows us to promote each child's personal development by providing fun, friendship and leadership in a supportive and noncompetitive environment away from home. While children are home all year long, that's your time to plant the seeds and direct the thinking patterns which guide your child to how they should behave and socialize. But at summer camp children will have an opportunity to act on their own, be self-reliant and try things for themselves.

To put it in one word, summer camp provides independence, and that's a major part of growing up. When campers find adult friends called counselors, who model perseverance, listening, teamwork and appreciation of differences, campers set new and high standards for their own behavior. This in turn brings their new found independence more in line with your at-home teachings.

We see Swift Nature Camp as an opportunity for each child to come to a new place and try new things and make new friends. Summer camp is a new world. Who you were before has no bearing on who you want to be, because camp is a new beginning. Many of our campers return year after year saying that "Swift allows me to be my real self with real people" and we feel that's a good thing.

All this happens in the fun and sun of the north woods of Wisconsin. For staff and campers alike, Swift Nature Camp is more than just a place to be: it is their summer home. So why not join our Swift family this summer?

You can learn more about selecting a wonderful summer camp by visiting Summer Camp Advice Find a Summer Camp

About the Author:

About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the directors of Swift Nature Camp, is an overnight Summer Camp with a a non-competitive, traditional focus . Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals & science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in Teen Camp programs for the Teenage Campers as well as a First time Camper Program.

Learning To Speak Spanish

By Ken Tomlinson

Learning a new language will improve your memory and your linguistic skills as well. What better language to learn than Spanish, as it is spoken by millions of people in the world, especially in South American countries? Wouldn't it be cool to be able to understand those Spanish shows sans the cheesy English dubs?

One of the best ways to learn basic Spanish is by purchasing courses that look at the bases of words and help you to get to know the language. There are a variety of audio products like cassettes and tapes which can allow you do this. Such schemes work on the basis that if you know the endings of words and the rules for how the language works, from there you can use the rules you have learned to practice Spanish for real. In addition, this is a way to learn Spanish easily with no homework, writing or reading required.

A word of advice: practice is the key to success in learning Spanish. You can even try going online to learn Spanish, as there are now a lot of available sites that can link you to different radio stations that use Spanish as a medium. You can tune in to these radio stations to improve your Spanish vocabulary.

The Internet has grown to be a language-learner?s best friend. There are many different resources to use in your quest to learn Spanish. What's more, some websites have dedicated communities where you can converse with others who are learning Spanish. One popular course uses photographs and audio files to help you associate words with images, which help you when you put your language skills to practice.

If money is not a problem, then buy your plane ticket and live amongst the natives themselves. Choose which Spanish speaking country you would want to live in for a span of time so that you can fully assimilate with the culture and hear the normal way Spanish-speaking people use their beautiful language. Everyday conversations are different from conversations you read in books. Even if you arm yourself with numerous books, nothing beats living with the people to fully understand how normal everyday words are used.

Being bilingual is not without its benefits. It can actually help you get ahead at work. Bilingual individuals make better salaries than those who only know one language. You can even be a part-time freelance translator to earn money on the side.

Reading Spanish will help you greatly. Not only will you learn spellings which will help with your writing, but you can gather the style of writing and how the language works. Newspapers are a fantastic way to read because the topics vary and you get a comprehensive grasp of the vocabulary.

Writing Spanish is the difficult bit and you should always have a dictionary at the ready. You can learn new vocabulary and learn the fundamental rules in how to write in your chosen language. Translation will be a key skill in your new hobby, so be sure to practice translating letters, articles... anything you can get your hands on.

Learning Spanish can be an incredibly rewarding thing to do. Not only will you grasp the culture of the language quickly, but the respect you will obtain from native speakers will amaze you.

About the Author:

Author Ken Tomlinson can help you learn basic spanish. To get help learning spanish online, visit his website.

Home Schooling and its Effects on the Family

By Colin Jones

If a survey by the National Center For Education Statistics is to be believed, roughly 1.1 million children took home schooling in 2005 alone. That's a lot of children. Not so long ago, homeschooling used to be a radical statement - something like a declaration of independence.

It was the (right-wing|conservative Christians who pushed for homeschooling in the '80s and legalized it in every State. But the typical homeschooler of today is not religiously motivated.

Later surveys show that parents are quite fed up with the public school system where much of the learning is superficial and compulsory. They are also concerned about the negative environment in school, which ranges from drugs and abuse to negative peer pressure.

Because of this, we have a surprising mix of people who make up the homeschooling world of today. They cut across all religious creeds and all regional borders. Their main aim is providing meaningful and productive learning through a method that strengthens the bond between the various members of the family.

All these families have one main thing in common - a long enduring commitment to the sanctity of childhood. The children in these families are accorded a primary position. Many believe, and, I think, rightly so, that home schooling allows parents to bring up their kids in a more natural and caring environment.

Public schools can make a child anxious, subservient and thoroughly nasty. Children who get their education at home are protected from these damaging, negative influences until they reach an age where they can deal with them.

Home-schooling draws the whole family into the almost religious task of teaching. Everyone is put to work. The parents together form a bond with the children. Any experience can be turned into an educational experience. Both the parents are aware of exactly what is going into their child's education.

Parents also have a greater control over the type of religious and moral values that the child is learning. Even watching a film together can become an educational experience. Trips to the libraries, zoos, museums and other places become educational as well as recreational.

A home-schooling family is primarily dependent on the income of one earning member. That means that quite often outgoings have to be curtailed and proper planning of expenditure is necessary. This helps to bring the family members together and everybody becomes involved in the process of saving money.

Merely having a parent at home to supervise, to nurture and to care for the children brings with it a lot of love and caring. Even the husband chips in and there is just no room for complacency.

Yes, problems still do occur, and there will be many misgivings in your mind, but when you know that your children can always count on you, and your kids know it too, then homeschooling becomes a richly rewarding experience.

About the Author:

If you are practicing home schooling then please visit our site at http://home-schooling.the-real-way.com

Earn Cash Online Survey

By Sherrigerten Chee

To get found on the internet, you need good placement in the search engines. Let us take the case of selling online survey information. Keyword phrases like "Surveys For Free Make Money", "Online Survey Websites", and "Get Paid For Taking Online Surveys" are phrases you want to be on page one for.

For each visit, you see the referring URL, which is the last URL your client visited before going to your Web site. Google even ties together the requests that came from these links so that you might see the income each visit. This gives you a notion of how priceless a new client could be - so you know how much to invest to get that new client to return.

You could construct connections with your clients in lots of ways. The current of an online business is that you might grasp your clients straight away, one by one, rather than depending on a network of distributors, middleman, and stores to connect a item with a client.

You need persistence and tolerance to quarrel such objections, and you won't triumph them all. Still, you might recoup some losses, making your time spent beneficial. If you suspect a complication or maybe a truthful blunder, hail your client straight away to work it out.

Every time they check out a second page, a new entry is developed in the client log. You could open your log and see all your client exercise. The internet server log file is a text file that your Web site provider effortlessly builds and sustains for you.

Advert-ware: This phenomenon commenced out as irritating pop-up windows that disturbed your pc perusing with unwanted adverts. Now, advert-ware is large business. Somebody makes money every time this promoting programs exhibits adverts for you to view.

If the reason of your site is to vend manufactured goods, then the more items, the more superior. If you're just advertising your label, commencing with a tinier portion of items may work fine. Or you may be restricted in the number of items that your browsing cart design permits (without spending more money in a browsing cart)

Once you set up and gather your input, you have to monitor the exercise levels to see swings and demeanor so that you have a touchstone for comparison while you're set to make some changes. In any case, if you don't know the normal conduct of your Web site, you don't know where it has room for advancement. While you research visitors and usage sequences for a longer period, look for some large changes in the input.

Privacy: You're eligible to exhibit a privacy close on your site if you meet strict guidelines. You typically have to develop and post a privacy protocol and stick to those protocols, in conjunction with other industry normal suggestions. The organization supplying the close is in all likelihood to conduct a security and privacy evaluation on your site before giving you the close.

Mirror sites are sites that encompass equivalent content, although have completely variant URLs Don't verify. Submit URLs that encompass only exclusive content as other sites you might have. Sites with replica content are not beneficial to users in the index.

Understanding how to benefit from natural searches is a key strategy in online marketing. When you want customers for online surveys, try to get traffic from a phrase like "Make Money Online Surveys". "Get Paid Taking Surveys" would also be good.

About the Author:

The peril is that he is so passionate, that he can lose his money and inspiration before he has comprehended just anything. Surveys Make Money A fleet of taxi services is additionally obtainable to visitors for moving around the city relaxingly. I could affirm that the inscribing ability is a elementary necessity of every victorious advertiser of online business notions.

Are You Interested In Learning To Speaking Spanish?

By Madison Jones

Always remember, if you are not interested in learning a particular language it will be much more difficult. Irrespective of the fact that it might be easy to learn the language, but never take an easy-going attitude, or else you would not land anywhere. One of the most popular language courses taken is that to learn how to speak Spanish as it is often considered the most useful after English. In case age is not on your side and you would not like to attend classes with a group of teenagers, then the best option for you is to go for their language programs. To help further, most schools and colleges also organise courses during the summer breaks which can be easier for some people keen to learn quickly.

To make you able to speak Spanish, some companies also offer crash courses in the language where you could also get a job, as soon as you finish your learning. In case you do not have any time, many bookshops sell dictionaries, which can also help you learn the language. You could also avail several self-help books, which contain Spanish phrases and sentences with simultaneous English translations written at the bottom.

Learning a language not only involves speaking and reading all by your self, though speaking Spanish is comparatively easier since it is more phonetic. Thanks to the Internet, today web casts and pod casts can offer great help to you to listen to the language, and some sites are gracious enough to allow you to download it, so all you need to do is type and there you are!

But, it is much easier to learn if you really listen, don't just go with the books as there are songs and movies and telenovelas you can always listen or watch. Pictures are a great help since when you learn a Spanish word, you remember it better when you know what it appears like. If money and time permits, take off and visit the land where the language is spoken by every one. Be familiar with their habitat and culture and in no time, you would be speaking Spanish.

Do not tax your self too much while learning, as the more tensed you are the more frustrated you would get. Remember not just say the words when you are speaking Spanish but to use an accent as well - it will improve the sound. It's a big no-no and you will just sound funny if you do that but do not be afraid of making mistakes because when you are a beginner, what do you expect? Never stop your learning process just because you made some mistakes, as this is the only way one learns, so go ahead, learn and have good fun while doing so and best of luck.

About the Author:

Docent Learning Management System is important and for more information on Scorm Compliant Learning Management.

Writing Your Own Poetry

By Dynal Thompson

Current, the 'free verse' style of poetry is the most popular. In the late 19th century, Walt Whitman is credited with originating the form. Before his time, poetry was restricted to certain rhyming schemes and forms.

Patterns are common to formal poetry. Scansion is the analyzing of rhyme and meter. A letter is commonly places at the end of each line beginning with the first letter of the alphabet A for the first rhyme, and B for the second, etc.

Using letter to signify the rhymes is a great way to determine the pattern. If line one and two rhyme, an A would be placed beside them. If line three and four rhyme with each other but not one and two, we would place B's beside them. The pattern would be AABB. If line 5 rhymes with either, an A or B would be used. If it does not phyme, we would use a C.

Next, we are concerned with meter. Each line contains a set number of beats, usually two or three syllables. The most common beat is 'Iambic pentameter'. The individual beats consist of a short and a strong pulse. This beat is present in words such as 'arrest, domain, forsooth'. The accent is on the second syllable.

Time for the fun stuff! When you tell stories or write letters, how do you start? Is it maybe something you overheard, or read about? Or maybe something you witnessed? Start with something that is comfortable to you.

What kind of poem are you going to write? Would you like to do a character study or a story? The best thing to do is go through some examples. This will give you some ideas. Don't worry if you get a "writer's block." The best way to get past it is to take a break and come back the next day. Keep a pen and paper with you, something may come to you if your out.

Work on your poem for many weeks and take the last line of one of your poem and carry on from there, ignoring entirely what you drafted before. You will be surprised at what you are able to accomplish. Get writing!

About the Author:

Check out dashboardarticles for more articles on creating poetry

Walden University Online Psychology Degrees - Online Degrees

By Mrs. H Jones

With the kind of hectic life we all are leading today, the tension associated with our work seems to be mounting, leading to frustrations and depressions at the end of it. Hence, psychologists and counselors in the field are more in demand today than ever, and it could be in any stage in man's life. In US alone, the demand for psychologists is expected to increase considerably in the next five years. A person can met and join in the university to avail the course wanted and can help solve some certain problems.

To be a full-time psychologist, you need a graduate degree, either master's or doctorate. A master's degree will allow you to work in organizational purview and the license will permit you to work in conjunction with a PhD in the field. If you have a PhD, you can work as an independent consultant anywhere you like. Their contribution is useful in various researches too. If you plan to pursue an online course in psychology, make sure the college or the university you have been enrolled to, enjoys a certification from the American Psychological Association (APA). There are dozens of jobs in the mental health field. If you are seeking opportunities where you're

rewarded for assisting humanity, first advanced skills is necessary. One institution to explore is Walden University online. Walden University is a fully accredited online university. The school's goal is to provide high quality training to students interested in focused jobs that are truly relevant to the world we live in today. Walden University has stayed true to its mission: serving the higher learning needs of professionals who strive for positive social change. The school's programs can assist students achieve their goals of personal enrichment and career advancement.

Explore walden university phd in psychology info to see what it has. A doctorate in Psychology enables you to work as

an independent consultant or within a health care framework. Almost 40% of the present number of psychologists in America happens to be self-employed. Professional salaries are usually $42,000 - $58,000. After you have registered, you may choose to specialize in a domain such as clinical counseling, educational psychology, rehabilitation or sports psychology. Go on the net and choose the college of your choice befitting your affordability and timing. Get info on online psychology doctoral easily online. With online psychology phd programs, you will reap high benefits tomorrow.

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Get Ahead! Find walden university online phd in psychology and walden university online phd in psychology info now.

Soccer Psychology, What's In The Head Is More Important Than What Is On The Feet

By Steve Miles

What goes on inside a players head is more important than what the player does with the ball with their feet. Players who play with and use soccer psychology play at a higher level, play more confidently and as a general rule, have an advantage over their opponent during a match. The ability to gain a psychological advantage over an opponent is often what separates good players from mediocre ones.

Players on the pitch must bring their best game to the match. This includes being physically fit, capable of performing at the level they are playing at and mentally prepared to play the match. During a match, mistakes are going to happen, shots and passes will go awry, tackles will be missed. It is up to the player to put the mistakes behind them and continue on with play as if nothing has happened. This ability that enables the player to minimize the mistakes made during a match is what separates mediocre players from good players.

Every player who walks out onto the pitch for a match knows what their strong points are and their weak points. The player must play in a manner that emphasizes the strong points and hides the weak ones. If a player dwells upon mistakes made, the player will attempt to play harder and try to make up for the mistakes made. This causes the player to attempt to play beyond their capabilities and consequently exposes more of the weak areas of their play. This "trying to play harder" results in a reduced level of play by both the individual player and the team.

Many parents and players who are new to soccer have the idea that soccer is a "non contact" sport. It is true that soccer players only wear shin guards and some goalkeepers a leather cap, but soccer is a full contact sport. A referee team controls the physical play on the field. This physical play can be either fair or foul. The referee will decide what is fair or foul within the rules of the game. The player must accept the fact that they are going to be bumped into, pushed, kicked or tripped during the course of the match. The acceptance of this physical play without getting angry or retaliating allows the player to continue to play at their highest level.

A high school state tournament match produced a bracket with two high scoring teams. On the blue team was a player who averaged two goals per match. The opposing white team had no individual defensive player who could match this player's speed and skill. Prior to the match one defender came up to the coach and stated "Don't worry coach, I've got him". The coach was skeptical about the player's statement but accepted it. The blue team elected to kick off the first half of the match in possession of the ball. The blue defensive player lined up on the center circle. As soon as the offensive star received the ball the blue player took him down with a hard tackle. The referee blowing his whistle and issuing a caution to the white player called the foul. The white player helped the blue player up saying "Hi, we'll see a lot of each other tonight". Throughout the match the blue player was totally ineffective. The white player with one single tackle had caused the blue player to loose his concentration and instead of playing his game was wondering when the white defender would tackle him again. The white player had in one action; won the psychological part of the game and consequently the white team won the match.

While soccer psychology works for the individual player, the entire team is affected by using soccer psychology. The players must buy into the concept that they are members of a team and individual play is part of the team effort. This team effort and the utilization of all every player on the pitch will provide team success as a whole. This team concept insures that the "stud" players do not need feel pressure to win every game by themselves. The stud player when confronted by a number of opponents must know they have the ability to release the ball to another team mate who has no opponents nearby and can help contribute to the team. Soccer psychology is utilized to both create and reinforce the team concept. This team concept provides any team the opportunity to succeed on the pitch.

Soccer, much like basketball or ice hockey is free flowing. The free flowing aspect of the game requires the involvement of all of the players on the pitch. As in any human endeavor, mistakes are going to be made. The soccer psychology requires that the players accept the mistakes and do not allow them to affect their play. The team concept insures that should one player make a mistake that their teammates will assist in rectifying that mistake. Since all of the players make mistakes there should be no accusations of ineptitude and no finger pointing at the player who made the mistake. The team concept insures that all of the players take the responsibility to help each other and make sure that the mistakes that are made on the pitch do not affect the outcome of the match.

Soccer psychology is an important part of the game. The team must know that they can play at their optimum level and that mistakes can be made. This confidence emanates from the team and can either consciously or subconsciously affect the other team, both individually and as a whole. The ability to apply aspects of soccer psychology to the opponents will cause the opponents to play at less than their optimum level thus insuring success for the team applying the soccer psychology.

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Green Cards and Environmental Responsibility

By John Pilmer

Nearly twelve years ago, my parents bought and took over the family business, a forty room hotel in our hometown. They made quite a few changes to the hotel, one of which was adding an environmental policy to their business practices and philosophies. One tool they started using were "green cards", or what my mom calls her contribution to Green PR.

These cards describe the hotel's environmentally friendly practices, including doing their part to reduce water waste, as well as the large amounts of detergent dumped into the water system by hotels. Customers who are staying more than one night can place this card on the unmade bed in the morning, to alert the housekeeping crew not to wash the sheets and towels. They also describe how every day in hotels, thousands of gallons of detergent and millions of gallons of water are used to wash towels and sheets that have only been used once. These cards allow customers to do something good for the environment, and has resources at the bottom for other ways to help the planet while traveling.

Items like green cards fall into the category of Green PR, which is a term used to describe something that is used to spark changes in environmental policy. The definition wikipedia gives is: "...a sub-field of public relations that communicates an organization's...environmentally friendly practices to the public." Green cards are one of several tools used in this category of public relations. Other tools include placing news articles, winning awards, and communicating with environmental groups.

My parents didn't stop at using green cards either. When they wanted to further communicate their environmentally safe practices, they wrote about them in the various advertising articles they submit to tourism advertising magazines. They also took their Green PR to the local lodging association, which they are members of, with the goal of helping other businesses change their environmental policies, or in some cases, develop them. They presented the other lodging owners with the green cards and their philosophy of protecting the environment, and helping customers do the same. My parents are just one example of how a company is using this type of PR to inspire change in environmental policy in their type of business.

Thousands of other companies have done the same thing, moving the entire field of companies the provide products and services, toward greater environmental responsibility.

About the Author:

John Pilmer specializes in green pr and public relations