**Closed** WIN A Trip To Paris With Intersport Elverys
This October might not be a bad time for a trip to Paris (especially if you’re Irish!)…
It’s not as if there is a bad time to visit France, but this autumn it’s definitely the place to be as thousands of enthusiastic Irish will be heading to the City of Lights. ☘️
INTERSPORT Elverys are giving two lucky people the chance to go on the trip of a lifetime to Paris. Included in this amazing prize will be your flights, transfers, and 4-star hotel accommodation.
As well as the main prize of a trip to France, each week in August, there will be tonnes of great rugby merchandise up for grabs. This will be everything from Irish Rugby match tickets at the AVIVA stadium to jerseys and from rugby balls to training gear.
Bookmark this blog to see updates on our weekly competitions in the lead up to The Big Rugby Giveaway!
Competition Winners
The Big Irish Rugby Giveaway and the winner of a Trip To Paris is Niamh Cronin – Kerry (with Niamh O’Malley Killarney Store Manager)
Sports, fun and summertime go hand-in-hand at Intersport Elverys and the benefits of all these for kids are humongous.
As well as sports being fun for your kids, it can also keep them active, allow them make new friends and learn important life skills.
But did you know that sports can also improve their physical and emotional health?
In this blog, we’ll look at some of the advantages of sports for children, such as how it can help them stay fit, healthy, and happy.
Physical Health Benefits of Sports for Kids
Regular physical activity is essential for kid’s health and development, and sports are an excellent method for them to obtain the exercise they require.
The following are some of the physical health benefits of sports for children:
Better Cardiovascular Health
Sporting activities can help children’s cardiovascular health by strengthening their heart and lungs.
This can help individuals increase their endurance, lower their risk of heart disease, and enhance their general fitness.
Improve coordination and motor skills
Sports require children to use multiple muscle groups while also developing coordination and motor skills.
This can assist children enhance their general physical ability, balance, and agility.
Sports provide kids with a variety of physical health benefits that can help them live happier, healthier lives.
Mental Health Benefits of Sports for Kids
Along with the physical, sports for kids can have huge benefits on their mental health too.
A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that participation in team sports can help improve kids self-esteem and positively impact both their mental health and social skills.
Here are some of the benefits:
Reduced stress and anxiety
Physical activity, such as sports, can help youngsters cope with stress and anxiety.
Endorphins are released during exercise, which can improve mood and reduce tension and anxiety.
Improve confidence
Participating in sports can help youngsters develop a sense of accomplishment while also improving their self-esteem and confidence.
This might boost their confidence in their abilities both on and off the field.
Better sleep
Regular activity, especially sports involvement, can help children sleep better.
This is significant since sleep is essential for both physical and mental wellbeing.
Better Attention span
Sports can help youngsters increase their focus and attention span, which can help them perform better in school.
Sporting activities provide children with a variety of mental health benefits that can improve their general well-being and happiness.
Sports can be a really effective and simple way of helping your kids develop all important life skills, such as social confidence, teamwork, communication and leadership.
It might also be one of the first times they get exposed to all these at once too.
Here we look into them a bit more.
Teamwork and leadership skills
Sporting activities need youngsters to operate as a team and learn how to lead and follow.
This can assist kids in developing key social skills and attributes of leadership that will serve them well in the future.
Sports can be an excellent method for youngsters to meet new people and develop new friends.
This can assist children in developing a sense of belonging and social skills, as well as having much more fun.
Learning to win and lose
Both are equally as important as the other.
Learning to handle triumph and failure with grace and sportsmanship: Sports can teach youngsters how to handle win and defeat with grace and sportsmanship.
This can aid in the development of crucial life skills and values, especially once they know that it is not all about winning.
Academic Benefits of Sports
As well as doing great in sports, it’s important that your kids academic side improves too.
And sports are a brilliant method of doing just that.
But don’t just take our word for it. We’ve pulled out of some great research to back up why sports and ‘the books’ go hand in hand.
Research published in the Journal of School Health discovered that middle school pupils who participated in sports performed better academically than those who did not.
According to a review of data published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, physical activity, especially sports involvement, can improve cognitive function and academic achievement in children and adolescents.
Conclusion
We hope at this stage you are beginning to see how beneficial sports can be for your little bundles of joy.
Are you looking to find the right pair of kids rugby boots for your child or children?
The new season is just upon us so knowing what to buy is important.
As Official Sports Retailer of the IRFU, we love our rugby, so that’s why we’ve created this guide to picking the right kids rugby boots for you.
We’ll discuss what features to look out for, sizing, some of the brands, tips on measuring feet and also answer ‘can kids wear soccer boots for rugby?’.
Kids Rugby Boots: Features
Making sure your kids rugby boots have some important features can really help your child, as well as saving you money.
Things to look out for:
Studs
Because of a lot of amateur rugby is played during the Autumn/Winter, the ground tends to be mucky and slippy.
So making sure your child has good traction is essential.
For soft ground, your child will need at least six metal studs, which help in transitions, scrums, breakdowns and more.
Rugby boots have a longer stud than soccer or football boots too, which is what sets them apart.
Mesh Lining
A mesh lining makes sure your little one’s feet can breathe while a one piece high scuff resistant PU upper provides essential durability and abrasion resistance to last then through a long rugby season.
Shock attenuating properties help to reduce strain to their lower limbs so they can always play at maximum power with less risk of injury.
Cushioning
There is a lot of potential for strain to ankles in rugby, so plenty of cushioning will provide ample protection.
It will also ensure maximum comfort for your child.
Style
There’s quite the different in requirements for backs and forwards in rugby, so their boots vary too.
For example, backs will prefer a lighter, more nimble boot to focus on speed and footwork.
Forwards will need a tougher, more secure boot with protection and grip in abundance.
Kids Rugby Boots: Sizing
Rugby boots should be as snug without contacting the toes as possible at the foot’s end.
Women’s sizing, on the other hand, differs from conventional shoe sizing and is roughly one and a half sizes smaller. For instance, a woman wearing a size 9 regular shoe should wear a size 7.5 rugby boot.
The size of the person’s feet will determine the boot size that is selected. But when purchasing rugby boots, a 1-inch space between the foot and the boot is excellent.
Rugby boots come in a variety of sizes, from junior to adult. Please compare the size charts provided with the specific items.
The same applies to kids.
Can kids wear football boots in rugby?
In a nutshell: yes.
Football boots are constructed with speed and agility in mind, whereas rugby boots are made with the need for power and stability in mind.
As a result, rugby boots are frequently bigger, have elevated heels, have more and larger studs, and have an ankle cut that is higher.
However, there are also a few more complex points to consider. Football boots are frequently worn by rugby backs players because their positions call for a lot of agility and kicking.
This explains why some rugby players favour football boots.
For rugby forwards, whose needs are extremely different, this is less true.
Consider the force and weight that a front row forward experiences when in a scrum.
It is crucial that they have a solid foundation from which to push, which is why they need bigger boots with more and larger studs than soccer boots.
How to measure kids feet?
If you’re not sure how to measure your kids’ feet at home, we can help.
Before we start with the equipment, it’s important to know the benefits of kids getting involved football training.
It’s amazing what it does for their development.
Health benefits
Like any other physically demanding sport, football is great for your kids health. It will keep them in good shape, boost their stamina and get them exercising regularly.
The Value of Teamwork
Communication skills are so important in football and your kid will learn how to cooperate and work with their teammates.
Encourage Mental Resilience
Your kid is not going to win every game, every race or every drill, no matter how talented they are. So learning to cope with defeat and disappointment, as well as success, is a great lesson for the future.
Better Social Skills
When training with a group, getting involved in a team, your kid will make new friends and meet new people, learning conversation and communication along the way.
Fun
Whether training on their own or with their team, kids love playing football and games. Whether it’s scoring a free kick in their back garden and pretending to be their favourite footballer, or doing it in front of their friends, the joy can be unrivalled.
Kids’ Football Training Equipment: Football Cones
One of the most simple but important pieces of kids football training equipment are cones.
Football cones are great to set up and let your kid work on their dribbling skills, mark out boxes or grids or some targets for their passing.
They are cheap, cheerful and easy to carry around.
Kids’ Football Training Equipment: Goalposts
Absolutely key for your kids to practice their shooting or goalkeeping.
These pop up goals are lightweight and easy to
Plus, the amount of fun they will have simply kicking goals and points for hours on end is incredible.
Get two, and you will be able to hold fun games for your kids’ friends too.
If cardio is your thing but weight training not so much, check out our guide on How to Buy a Spin Bike.
How to Buy a Kettlebell Overview
Kettlebells, often known as ‘Russian hand weights’, have been around since the 1700s, although they have only recently acquired widespread media attention and appeal in the fitness industry.
While kettlebells have long been seen as a source of pride in Russia, they were not manufactured and used in North America until 1998.
In 1985, Russia designated kettlebell a sport with its own set of rules and regulations.
On a global scale, both men and women participate in power and strength endurance sports, both recreationally and competitively.
Types of Kettlebell
“Hi guys, firstly you got to remember that there are two different types when buying a kettlebell – vinyl coated kettlebells and cast iron kettlebells.
“The cast-iron kettlebell, sometimes known as the ‘original’ kettlebell, is constructed entirely of cast-iron.
“The material and design of the handle and weight are both consistent. The vinyl kettlebell is similar to the cast-iron kettlebell in appearance, but it has a vinyl coating that covers the weight and, in some cases, the grip.
“One thing to be conscious of is that if a kettlebell is covered n vinyl, it may not be the exact weight, while they can also be kore expensive due to manufacturing costs.
“Both are suitable for commercial and home gym use, but if you’re planning on doing double-handed exercises like kettlebell swings, cast iron kettlebells are what to buy.”
Benefits of Kettlebell Training
Low Impact Cardio
“Traditional cardiovascular activities such as running can be quite beneficial to strength athletes, they can also be extremely taxing on the body.
“If your recovery isn’t completely customized to that strategy, adding hours on the treadmill to your training might not be the most beneficial cardio option either.
“Kettlebell training means you won’t be putting the same repetitive strain on your joints and connective tissue as you would if you were jogging because your feet stay grounded during even the most powerful moves.”
Full Body Workout
“Kettlebells’ allure stems from the fact that they’re healthy for more than simply your heart and lungs.
“They can also help you increase your muscular strength and mass all over your body.
“Everything from swings to Turkish get-ups will make you a significantly stronger lifter because most kettlebell exercises stimulate muscles from head to toe.
“Working with kettlebells will give your entire body a major boost in strength, with a focus on your core.”
Better Mobility
“The good news is that you don’t need good coordination or mobility to begin kettlebell training.
“With workouts like Turkish get-ups and kettlebell windmills, you may start simple and gradually increase your overhead mobility, coordination, and stability.
“Deep kettlebell goblet squats, as well as precise kettlebell deadlifts and swings, will improve hip mobility and coordination.
“Your coordination and mobility will have greatly improved by the time you progress to the more challenging kettlebell moves.”
Practicality
“They are also a super quick way of shedding some pounds in a short space of time. Some studies find you can burn up to 400 calories in a 20 minute workout.
“So they will leave you feeling great both mentally and physically afterwards.
“They are also incredibly easy to store and carry around than other weights and won’t take up a lot of room in your home gym.”
How To Buy a Kettlebell Top Tips
Don’t Go Too Heavy
“It won’t benefit you if you go too heavily.
“You’ll do more harm than good by exercising your ego.
“You’re not ready for it just because you saw it on the internet.
“While it’s necessary to push yourself, if you’re sacrificing form in order to lift a given weight, the possible injury outweighs the potential benefit.
“As long as you keep within your capabilities, heavyweight is necessary for gaining strength.
“It’s easy to get carried away with a goal of pressing or swinging greater and heavier weights.
“Stop the set as soon as your form deteriorates, or even a set or two before that, if you’re utilizing a weight you can handle for a specific rep range.”
Simplify Your Training
“Nothing beats the simplicity of one or two bells and some fresh air if you’re in your home gym
“When it comes to gym equipment in traditional venues, it’s easy to get caught up in the ‘more is better’ approach.
“The list goes on and on with racks, dumbbells, cable machines, ab stations, and so on.
“With a few kettlebells, you may add dynamic moves to your calisthenics practice at home, simplifying it.
“A change of pace from in-depth, percentage-driven workouts can be refreshing.
“Simple complexes and movements can help you keep going on your strength journey without missing a beat and without the need for a ton of equipment and weight.”
Stay within your Ability
“Just because you desire to accomplish something doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to do it.
“The talent is more vital than the will.
“If you’re new to the kettlebell world, social media may be a dangerous area. Juggling, aggressive motions, and high-volume routines may appear appealing, but if you’re not ready, take a step back.
“We’ve got some great workout ideas below.”
Kettlebell Training Workouts
“There is loads of brilliant kettlebell workouts you can find online and do at home.
For active people, your sports bra is one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll own – so this sports bra size guide is sure to help you.
Especially if you’re entering the 2023 VHI Women’s Mini Marathon, whom Intersport Elverys are proud sponsors for 19 years now.
Even if you’re not entering it and are just a casual or serious sports person, this should be seen as an important investment in comfort and support.
Look at the care and precision we put into choosing our running shoes; the same level of scrutiny and detail should be put into the choice of sports bra.
Just like you do with your leggings too, which we have prepared this Leggings Size Guide BLOG for.
It’s estimated that 80% of women are wearing the wrong type/size of sports bras which can result in breast pain, soft tissue damage, chafing among other issues.
Choosing the right sports bra is essential for women of any size, shape or activity level. It’s important to make sure you have adequate support so you can lead an active lifestyle without unnecessary discomfort.
Read below or find our latest blog on this topic HERE
SUPPORT
Low
Medium
High
Activity
Walking
Road Cycling
Running
Yoga
Hiking
Aerobics
Light gym work
Active gym work
Contact sports
Sports Bra Size Guide: Support
Light Support Bras
Usually, low energy activities will consist of little sweat.
Activities such as walking, yoga, or stretching would be considered low energy. For these workouts, you won’t need as much support as high energy exercises.
Choose lightweight sports bras with narrower straps and bands. An adjustable strap is not necessary for support during low energy workouts.
Medium Support Bras
These workout activities will be in between low and high energy, like gym sessions or cycling.
Unlike low-energy workouts, you’ll need a wider strap, and since you’ll be breaking a sweat, you need a bra that restricts breast movement more than low-support bras.
High Support Bras
Any high intensity activity, like running, will require a high support sports bra, as your body will constantly be in motion and you’ll need to make sure everything stays comfortably in place.
Find high support sports bras with wide bands and adjustable shoulder straps to adjust while you’re working out or after.
What size should I choose?
You should stick to the size that you wear in a standard bra (once you’re confident you have been fitted/measured properly). Various brands will offer size conversions either on in-store signage or on the product packaging.
Sports Bra Size Guide: Features
Band
The main source of support comes from the band, which forms the foundation of a sports bra. The band should be snug around your rib cage, but comfortable. If it feels too tight, it is.
If you can fit two fingers between your body and the band (but not more) that’s the sign of a good fit.
Shoulder straps should feel secure and provide minimal stretch to reduce up-and-down movement.
Straps that fit properly should not slip, and they should also not dig into your skin.
Adjustable straps allow you to fully customise the fit of your bra.
Closure
Some bras are pulled on over your head, some have a back closure with hooks.
Bras with back closure are easier to get on and off, and gives another option to further adjust/customise the fit.
Underwire
The benefit of underwire in a sports bra is that it supports each breast individually and can help to minimize movement.
Wicking fabrics move moisture away from your skin and keep you comfortable.
The more supportive a sports bra is, the less effective it will be at wicking away moisture because of its sturdier fabric and construction. Look out for moisture-wicking technologies.
Strap Types
Please note, thin straps are generally easier to hide, however wider straps offer more/better support.
Tank top: This style is most similar to a “normal” bra. The straps are often adjustable so you can customise the fit.
Criss-cross: These straps cross over each other and usually provide good support. The straps are often adjustable so you customise the fit.
Racerback: Sports bras with a racerback have shoulder straps that come together between your shoulder blades to create a Y-shape. This style is more suited for medium- to high-impact activities, but they are typically not adjustable.
Conclusion
It’s recommended that you re-assess/update your sports bra every 6 months to 12 months as over time the fibers, elastic and other components weaken, which compromises support.
More even more content that could benefit the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon in 2022, check out our Running Shoe Size Guide.
