Start Sport

There was a time when sports outdoors meant running off to the nearest playing field with friends for a game of footie, or to the local cricket club for matches with neighbouring clubs in the long and lazy summer months. 

Sadly, over the years many playing fields have been swallowed up by the need for housing. 

It is now a government priority to encourage and increase participation in sport by providing both indoor and outdoor sports facilities that are accessible to more and more people.  Local authorities, as well as schools can apply for funding to add to or upgrade their sports facilities. 

And what an amazing range of sports equipment and facilities is there to choose from.

With the aim to providing an all-weather facility for year round use, popular choices for outdoor sports surfaces include synthetic grass, bitumen macadam and polymeric surfaces.  Such surfaces are particularly suited for Multi Use Games Areas where a variety of sports such as tennis, netball, basketball, 5-a-side football, and hockey etc can be played.  Artificial or synthetic surfaces are available in a choice of colours and allow court markings to be made in different colours for different sports on the same pitch.  MUGAs also require a protective fencing as well as floodlights so that they can be used in poor light conditions. 

Of all the outdoor sports, hockey in particular, is suited to the use of synthetic grass.  As a result the game has changed and become faster.  Synthetic hockey pitches have traditionally been water based with its own irrigation system.  However latest products include sand dressed synthetic pitches, which are more eco-friendly.

‘Third generation’ synthetic grass has been developed to the exacting standards of the Football Association and has been found to be safe and suitable for sports such as football and rugby at training as well as championship levels.  

Similarly, complete synthetic cricket pitches are available for practice or training purposes that closely resemble the playing characteristics of natural turf. These may be of the permanent kind, that are resistant to damage by the elements, or the roll-up, roll out variety that may also be used indoors.  Such wickets are popular with cricket clubs, schools and colleges, allowing greater use with minimum of maintenance.

Many British suppliers provide a range of sports equipment too, such as fixed or movable tennis posts and nets, basketball and netball goals, hockey goals, as well the protective netting and floodlights.  Care should be taken to choose equipment and materials that conform to British Standards.

Now UK residents and overseas visitors can take advantage of the geographical, topographical, climatic and social variations throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with peace of mind. For adventurers, these differences mean a vast range of outdoor activities. Tailored Adventure Holiday Insurance With everything from winter skiing in Scottish Highlands to surfing in the coastal areas of Wales, the UK offers the gamut of adventure sports and activities.

Land, air and water sports are extremely popular in the UK and enjoyed by a large number of organisations including private clubs and local groups as well as larger facilitators. These groups can help you in the pursuit of outdoor activities, with tailor-made trips to suit your needs.

Travel companies specialising in holidays based around outdoor and adventure sports are commonly found, making it easy for complete novices to try their hand at something new or for those already initiated to appreciate an entire vacation dedicated to their favourite pastime.

Among the activities you could expect to find available on a typical organized adventure holiday are mountaineering, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, abseiling, mountain biking and fell walking. Adventure holiday companies provide both equipment and the necessary knowledge and experience to make sure trips run smoothly and without incident.

Alongside those activities that are considered staples of the outdoor activity scene in the UK are some new additions. These new sports tend to attract a younger crowd and are often organised for social functions such as stag and hen parties as well as company get-togethers. Paint-balling is one of the most popular in this category with pursuits such as go-karting and bungee jumping also ranking highly.

Danger is an inherent aspect of many outdoor sports and activities. Insurance for Extreme Sports Enthusiasts While some people pursue adventure sports for this very reason, other participants do their best to minimise their exposure to any risks. Independent precautions should be taken, as should precautions by the outdoor sport company you are using.

Despite some of the tightest safety standards in the world, certain aspects of outdoor sports can cause accidents and individuals can be left injured and in need of medical attention. Whether pursuing an outdoor sport independently or under the expertise of a certified company, it’s a sensible course of action to arrange comprehensive insurance cover prior to beginning any sporting activity.

A good travel insurance policy will reimburse you for any expenses incurred for medical treatment as well as for the replacement of any lost or damaged pieces of equipment.

If you’ve previously dismissed taking out travel insurance on the basis that it is too expensive, we recommend you take a look at www.travel-insurance-discounts.com/adventure_travel_insurance.htm, where you’ll get a good idea of just how cheaply and easily you can protect yourself with complete coverage against incidents resulting from outdoor pursuits.

Alternatively, www.vayago.com offers similar policies with an emphasis on adventure holidaymakers. With policies offering as little as a day’s cover right up to year-long protection, you’ll see it makes good sense to provide yourself with this essential safety net.

Are you thinking of taking up climbing as a sport? It can be an exhilarating and rewarding sport. Like most, you probably think that falling is the biggest danger especially if you’ve never climbed before. With all of the modern climbing equipment, falling is actually one of the least likely accidents. Falling is a risk but there are many other injuries that are more common. You should be aware of these risks and how to prevent them before you get involved in mountain or rock climbing.

Gravity is something that our bodies are used to in normal day-to-day living but when you climb you’re fighting gravity even harder. You use your fingers, hands, feet and limbs to fight the forces of gravity. To add to this, you are usually climbing in extreme temperatures and in jagged terrain.

Our bones are connected by thick tissues called ligaments. They’re not as elastic as our muscles so when they’re stretched and put under strain they can tear or come away from the bone. This type of injury is called collateral ligament strain and for climbers it is most typically in the fingers. It is caused by repeatedly pulling your body up with just a few fingers. Even mild cases result in pain in the fingers and limited function.

Tendons attach muscles to bones and are also not very elastic so they are prone to strain and damage. A medical condition called Lateral Epicondylitis afflicts many climbers in the forearm and elbow. Repetitive use of grabbing and pulling with the arms creates strain in these tendons and can lead to damage.

Physical injuries from continued strain are not the only common injuries. Debris and rocks can be loosened and fall on you and other climbers. There is also the threat of large scale hazards, including avalanches. They are most likely to occur in the changes of seasons from winter to spring. While this kind of danger is rare, you should be aware of the hazards.

As stated before, falls are not the most common occurrence for climbers but they can happen and proper precautions need to be taken. Falls are more likely when you are tired, dehydrated and exposed to extreme temperatures. In these situations your coordination is bad, your muscles are more fatigued and your judgement is poor.

Mountain and rock climbing can be an exhilarating and rewarding sport and make for a great outdoor vacation. Any sport has risks involved, though climbing risks can lead to more serious injuries. All of these risks should be considered before you take up climbing so you know how to avoid these injuries and dangers.