Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Three Drills to Help Beginning Volleyball Players Improve Their Skills



A Canadian resident, Iftach Jacob served as sergeant of operations for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Israel. Iftach Jacob stays active with multiple hobbies, including playing volleyball.

Learning how to play volleyball takes time and practice. Here are a few drills that allow beginners to hone their skills:

* Pepper drill. One of the most common volleyball drills, this helps players perfect their ball control in addition to serve-and-receive techniques. In this drill, two players stand about six feet apart from each other. One player tosses the volleyball to the other, and this player passes the ball back using a volleyball technique. Both players continue the rally using volleyball-specific techniques.

* Dead fish drill. Two groups of players stand at opposite service lines. The first player serves the ball, and if the serve is successful, that player goes to the back of the line. If the server misses, he or she must go to the other side of the court and lie down in the field of play. The only way the player can go back is if a server hits the player with the ball.

* Shuffle drill. One player tosses the ball high into the air, at least 10 feet away from the other player, who must pass it back. The passer is supposed to shuffle step without crossing his or her feet.

Monday, August 13, 2018

Common Myths About CrossFit


Former sergeant of operations for the Israel Defense Forces, Iftach Jacob enjoys hobbies that include following sports such as soccer and the NBA. Beyond that, Iftach Jacob enjoys participating in physical activities such as Crossfit.

Most people have at least heard of CrossFit. Yet despite its widespread recognition, there are still many myths about the exercise style, including:

- It’s dangerous: There is a risk of injury with CrossFit, as with any workout. But the belief that CrossFit itself is dangerous is incorrect. What’s dangerous is not performing moves properly and either ignoring coaches or having bad coaches.

- It’s for fit people: While it’s true that many athletic people are drawn to CrossFit because of its ability to challenge practitioners, the exercise is not only for people who are already fit. CrossFit welcomes people of all fitness levels.

- It’s all you need: CrossFit is a great workout, but it’s rarely the only form of training needed. Rather than relying on CrossFit on its own, people must create unique training programs to attain their end goal.

- It’s not good for seniors: Older adults hoping to improve their mobility and range of motion can enjoy CrossFit just as much as younger adults. In fact, the workout has specific competitions and groups for people in varying age ranges.

Thursday, August 2, 2018

The Foo Fighters - Transforming Tragedy into Success


As a sergeant of operations for the Israel Defense Forces, Iftach Jacob oversaw over 20 soldiers. A fan of several bands and musical artists, Iftach Jacob counts the Foo Fighters among his favorite groups.

The former drummer of Nirvana, Dave Grohl created the Foo Fighters in the mid-1990s after the death of Kurt Cobain and the subsequent dissolution of Nirvana, the band for which he was the frontman. Leading up to this event, Grohl had been developing a collection of songs for which he handled most of the instruments and all of the vocals and that he released on the Foo Fighters’ debut album in 1995.

After the album’s release, Dave Grohl went on tour. To help him, he recruited bassist Nate Mendel and drummer William Goldsmith, each former members of Sunny Day Real Estate. He also invited Pat Smear, the guitarist who was on Nirvana’s final tour, to join the new band.

Unfortunately, this line-up didn’t last; in 1996, Goldsmith left the Foo Fighters while the band was recording The Colour and the Shape album, and while Grohl replaced him quickly with Taylor Hawkins, Smear left shortly after the album’s release. Although Franz Stahl replaced Smear, he left the band in 1999 after the release of There Is Nothing Left to Lose. Since Stahl’s replacement by Chris Shiflett, the band’s line-up has remained the same.

Once the line-up stabilized, the Foo Fighters began growing in popularity. The band’s sound reflects the heavy, loud-quiet-loud template that was popularized by Nirvana and the Pixies and turns out to be just the right mix of creative and commercial to appeal to today’s audiences.