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Police officers are expected to serve and protect while risking it all in the line of duty. Shooting reactive targets on the practice range is a far cry from the on-duty experiences that law enforcement faces on a daily basis. Over the past ten years there have been close to 60,000 physical assaults on members of the police, according to data from government sources. Last year, more than 65 police officers died as a result of criminal actions, and 62 of those were killed by a gunshot. The need for adequate protection for all police officers couldn?t be clearer.

Body armor clothing can play a significant role in saving the lives of those who have sworn to protect the public. In fact, over a 30 year span, more than 3,000 police lives have been spared as a result of bulletproof body armor and other forms of protective clothing. Shootings are the second leading cause of death for law enforcement officer, after car accidents, with gunshots making up more than 33% of all police officer deaths in the last decade.

In New York City alone body armor clothing has been responsible for saving the lives of 87 law enforcement officers in the period since 1978. Those who do not wear ballistic body armor are 3.4 times more likely to die from a gunshot wound than those who do wear police duty gear. No body armor is 100% effective against all types of ammunition, but most types of body armor can offer protection against certain bullet types, while other types offer resistance against other weapons such as knives. Although as much as 71% of all local police departments required that such body armor clothing is worn as of 2013 statistics, there are still many that don?t.

Ensuring that all police officers are afforded the opportunity to use this saving gear is vital to the continued effectiveness of the police force, yet falling police budgets make it difficult for all departments to do so. Law enforcement safety should be a priority to safeguard police so that they can continue to do their job. By lobbying local departments and government, the public can play a role in ensuring that police officers have the tools needed to do their jobs effectively and safely.

Have you thought about a travel soccer tour? It is essentially a trip to a destination, typically internationally, to watch a series of exciting soccer games. It includes tours of the country, to appreciate the unique cultural experience and how soccer fits into the culture of the country. If this sounds like the perfect trip for you, you are in good company! According to a survey done in 2012 by Sports Travel Magazine, 27% of all trips taken that year were for the sole purpose of attending an organized sporting event. Additionally, 90% of all trips in general included some sort of sports activity. That is a large percentage of people who appreciate sports! Let’s learn about some benefits you may not be aware of yet of an active sport such as soccer, facts about soccer around the world, and why you should consider travel soccer tours.

First, here are some health benefits of playing soccer. Soccer is mainly cardio; a professional soccer player runs 3.9 miles (48 kilometers) during a typical soccer game. The constant cardio helps a person to have a strong heart and lungs, as well as muscles and be fit in general. Because of the endorphins released during exercise, it also has emotional health benefits. In a recent survey of students, of those who only exercised zero to one day each week, 35.7% reported feeling sad for two weeks or more in the past 12 months. However, of those who exercised six to seven days a week, the number was reduced to 25.1% who felt sad for the same amount of time. Participating in an activity such as soccer can also have long term benefits. It has been found that young people who play sports at eight times more likely to have an active lifestyle at age 24 as their peers who did not play sports as an adolescent. Also, a survey of 400 female corporate executives showed that 94% played a sport; 61% of them say that has had a contribution to their career success. Promoting an active, healthy lifestyle in individuals when they are young definitely instills confidence and can contribute to success for the rest of their lives!

Next, here are some facts about soccer around the world that may help you determine where to go on a travel soccer tour. Organizes soccer has its roots in England; the rules of the game were drawn up in 1848 at Cambridge University. Now, English soccer (or football, as it is called there) leagues are organized in a hierarchical structure in which the 20 best teams play in a grouping called the Premier League. In Italy, their national soccer association formed in 1898 and is called Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, or FIGC. It is part of the Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA. The national team played their first game in 1910 and had a successful beginning by beating France 6 to 2. Additionally, soccer by far the most popular sport in Sweden. There are more than 240,000 licensed players, and 56,000 of them are women. Sweden currently boasts 45 national stadiums. Obviously, Europe has a big part to play on the international soccer stage; a traditional soccer ball has 32 panels, one for each country in Europe. A European travel soccer tour is guaranteed to be a great trip!

Soccer/football is also extremely popular in Central America. Costa Rica is definitely the most successful team there; they played their first game as a national team in 1921. Costa Rica has qualified for four World Cups since that year, which were hosted by the following countries: Italy (1990), South Korea and Japan (2002), Germany (2006), and Brazil (2014). Portugal has also played in six World Cups. Soccer is a large part of the culture of Central America; for example, even towns that have less than 200 residents in Costa Rica and Guatemala have soccer fields. Central America is another great destination for a travel soccer tour!

Whether you choose to go to Europe or Central America for a travel soccer tour, you are guaranteed a wonderful time of soccer games, rich cultural experiences, and the opportunity to meet new people. It is an amazing international experience you don’t want to miss out on!

Are you looking for a new hobby or activity to do solo, with family or friends? If you would also like to be more physically active, you may be interested in exploring one or more outdoor sports activities.

Have you ever gone camping? In 2012, people that enjoy this outdoor living experience went camping about 5 times. Depending on where the campgrounds are located, possible activities include hiking, rock climbing, and fishing. Some campgrounds may offer classes where you can learn the proper rock climbing techniques.

Another fun activity that is common at campgrounds is archery. Were you aware that archery can develop almost all of your muscle groups? It’s also a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination.

Swimming, scuba diving, and paddle boarding are also fun activities. If you’d like to go scuba diving and aren’t certified, however, you’ll need to take a series of classes to receive your certification. In addition to learning scuba diving basics, and safety procedures, you’ll also learn how to use your scuba diving equipment.

While you’re in the process of becoming certified as a beginning scuba diver, you can go snorkeling and diving. Both of these activities are great ways to experience the wonders beneath the ocean.

If you live or are vacationing in an area that allows skating on sidewalks or has a skating park, you might be interested in taking up rollerblading. This sport, according to the American Heart Association, is an effective form of cardiovascular exercise.

In addition to being fun, these activities are also a great way to let off some stress. Furthermore, they also provide opportunities to spend quality time with friends and family.

Since many people believe travel is a meaningful activity, you may want to schedule a camping or other type of trip with friends. Most of the trips that people take, roughly 70%, are so they can spend time with their friends.

People in general tend to feel happier when they’re engaged in regular fun, physical activities. Include a bit of healthy competition, a meaningful experience, and the feel-good quotient might just increase exponentially.

The weather is finally getting nicer and it’s time for outdoor activities. Outdoor sports and hobbies are always fun and can give you something really exciting to look forward to each weekend. Here are a few outdoor activities to think about trying this year that will improve your relationship with nature.

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving, although you can’t do it whenever you want in your backyard, is still an amazing way to spend your time. Perhaps it’s best that you can’t scuba dive as much as other activities because it might lose some of its magic. But even going diving as much as you can this year, like every weekend or so, you’ll end up developing a lifelong love for scuba diving and the water.

Golfing

People who don’t golf don’t really understand why people who do golf actually love it so much. They might say it’s boring or too difficult or just not fun. Those people will also admit they are hypocrites as soon as they go golfing and begin to appreciate the sport and look forward to it every weekend. The keys to developing a love for golf, are: to golf with your friends and good company, practice as much as you can and not hate yourself when you aren’t doing well, and give yourself plenty of time while you’re playing to actually appreciate the outdoors and how much fun you’re having.

Hunting and Fishing

This might not be for everyone, but for those who are fans of these great outdoor sports will look forward to a nice fishing trip or a day of hunting more than anything else in their life. On average, the average hunter in the U.S. spends about $1,638 on hunting equipment at sporting goods stores.

It’s time to improve how you spend your free time. No more wasting your days away in front of the TV or ignoring the outside world. Get out there and have fun! If you need any fishing equipment, scuba gear, or anything else for your newfound outdoor hobbies, visit Bill Jackson’s sports store today!

People enjoy taking vacations with their friends and family. At least 37% of people say they are happier when they take vacations with their families. This is one of the main reasons people are made happy on vacation. When people are looking to book a vacation for their family or group, they often have a lot of options. More and more people are looking to short term rentals for their lodging rather than traditional hotels. There are a number of reasons for this shift. For at least 62% of the people who go for vacation rentals, the main reason is the cost but that is not the only reason getting a condo for rent may work better for a family or group vacation.

1. You get more value for your money. As was noted, one of the main reasons people look into short term rentals is the cost. When you have a larger group, you need more hotel or motel rooms, which can get pricy very quickly. By contrast, when you price it out as cost per person, the cost goes down quite a bit when you look at house and condo rentals. If you are going for a beach vacation, you will get an oceanfront rental for a lot less than you would pay at the hotel for the same view or distance from the water.
2. You will get more space for everyone. Unless you spring for a set of suites, when you get a hotel room, everyone has just the space of the room to relax in. It can be hard for people to have their own space. It does not always seem like a big deal but people are naturally more stressed out when they have to share their space with other people. When you look at beachfront vacation rentals, you can get enough space so everyone can spread out and have their own part of the house or condo, this can make your trip a lot more relaxing.
3. You get more privacy. When you stay in even the best hotel, your neighbors are really close to you. Typically, they are just on the other side of a wall. They can hear everything you do and you can hear everything they are doing. Whenever you come or go, whether is to the pool or out on the town, you need to pass through a lobby with lots of other people. By contrast, when you opt for short term rentals, your neighbors are not on top of you. You can come and go without everyone knowing what you are up to all of the time. You really only have to deal with your neighbors if you want to.
4. You save money on meals and laundry. Most of the time, short term rentals come with a full kitchen. This means you can make many of your meals at the unit vs. going out for everything you and your family want to eat. It also means you can have relaxing dinners together at the beach home rental. Your meals will be healthier and a whole lot more affordable. Most of these units also come with clothes washers and dryers. This can be really helpful for people who are traveling with young children. You can get away with bringing less stuff when you know you can wash everything in your unit rather than sending it out to the hotel laundry. Plus, you do not have to worry when your kids are playing outside about how dirty they are getting.
5. You can have more relaxation time. After a long day at the beach or sightseeing, you may just want to hang out with your group. That is easier when you have rented a condo or house. When everyone is in their separate hotel rooms, it is not as easy to do. With short term rentals, you have a lot of the amenities from home. If you want to hang out, you can do that easier in a condo or house.

Taking the family or a group of friends on vacation can be a lot of fun. Renting a home for that time can make it even better.

Want to enjoy the great outdoors, but don’t know what to do? Well, there are many different activities that involve the great outdoors. If you and your friends, or maybe even your family, are interested in trying an outdoor activity, there are many that could fill your adventure’s heart. In fact, below is a list of seven activities that could excite you and rebuild your connection with mother nature.

1. Archery
   One great activity to try is archery. If you are thinking about doing something that’ll challenge your skills then archery is the one for you. It’s tough when you start, but after you grab some archery equipment and start shooting at the target you’ll find that time will fly. In fact, it’ll fly faster then those arrows you’ll be shooting!
2. Hiking
   Another great activity to look into is hiking. As long you make sure that you prepare beforehand with proper equipment, mapping, and maybe a guide, you’ll find hiking to be a worthwhile adventure. Take the time to enjoy the beauty of nature as you walk around among it. Breathe in the fresh air and reacquainted yourself with life outside of the heated action that is human society. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the hiker’s life.
3. Hunting
   Another powerful expereince is to go hunting for the first. This will truly build your connection back with nature as you reclaim your role in the cycle of life. Just make sure to get all the proper papers together and to shop for guns for hunting. Once you’ve got your guns for hunting and have picked a spot to hunt go at it. As you go, remember your role in the world as a simple hunter in the midst of the wilderness. Practice your skills and hone yourself into the hunter your father could be proud of.
4. Rock Climbing
   Or, perhaps you’d be more interested in rock climbing. Are you afraid of heights? Is that a yes? Than this activity might not be for you. If it’s a no, then get ready for an adrenaline thrill. Just like when buying guns for hunting or archery supplies, you’ve got to make sure you get your climbing gear. After that, get ready for a great athletic challenge as you climb your way up.
   
   Another wonder of rock climbing is its nature as a sort of puzzle. You must wrap your brain around finding out how to climb up. Which rock should you grab? Which one should you stand on? You must figure all these rock climbing techniques out in order to reach the top and your destination.
5. Fishing

If you’re thinking more about being on the water there are many activities for you and your buddies to do. For instance, there’s fishing. Much like hunting, you can experience the cycle of life. Be warned, the experience of hunting and fishing, besides including a lot of prep work like baiting, buying guns for hunting, and so on, incorporates a lot of waiting. You must be patient as animals won’t jump to be hunted or reeled in by you. You have to wait for your moment to strike. Soon enough you’ll experience the bliss of pulling a fish out of the water.

6. Swimming and Scuba Diving
   If you want to actually get into the water, you have plenty of options to do so. Always make sure that the water is safe to enter first. You don’t want to be pulled by the current or cohabiting with any dangerous water life. That said, if the water’s good then you are free to swim away and enjoy yourself. Use this as a great time for exercise and swim to build muscle. Or, perhaps you’d like to sight see by putting on a mask and breathing aid before swimming down the the water’s floor. Both of these activities provide a great way to refresh yourself and enjoy the great aquatic world around you.

No matter which activity you eventually decide to pursue, what’s important is that you get out your seat and go try something. Enjoy the great outdoors by going out and actively being a part of it. On top of being socially freeing and athletically challenging, it’s also mentally and emotionally healing. So, give one of these activities a try and start living.

Walking into a gun shop for the first time can be an intimidating experience for anybody. You may have an image of gun shops run by old-timers or firearm snobs who look down on beginners — but in reality, that’s hardly ever the case. Remember that the staff there has a vested interest in helping you make the right purchase. After all, a good experience can turn a first-timer into a life-long customer. Hunters, for example, take an average of 21 trips every year — compared to just 4.97 trips for campers in 2012 — so owners want to keep you coming back for supplies, ammo, maintenance, and more.

At the same time, there are some basic etiquette rules everyone should follow when shopping for guns. Whether you’re in the hunting gear section of a sporting goods store or a mom-and-pop shop in the countryside, follow these rules and you’ll be a welcome customer anywhere.

1. Treat every gun as if it’s loaded. This is an important firearm safety rule no matter where you go. The clerk should show you that the gun is empty before handing it over to you, but you should always check again yourself. As you test the configuration, never point the muzzle at anyone or anything. Some gun shops will have a wall target to aim at; if not, use the ceiling or floor — or ask for an appropriate direction to point.
2. Always ask permission before testing the trigger. This goes along with treating every weapon as if it’s loaded, but there’s more to it than that. Of course, you will want to test the feel of a trigger before you purchase a gun, but dry-firing can actually cause damage to some models. Ask the clerk before pulling on the trigger, and most of the time they will say yes.
3. Have some idea of what you want. Newcomers to guns are often surprised at just how many types there are out there. It’s worthwhile to do some online research before you walk into a store, and to be clear about why you want a gun: personal protection, big-game hunting, target practice, etc. The more you can tell the clerk, the better they’ll be able to help you make the right decision.

You’ll find that most gun shops are staffed with friendly, knowledgeable workers who are eager to assist you. But purchasing a gun is not a decision to be taken lightly. Show the staff the respect they deserve, and they will do the same for you.

Destination vacations.
Environmental vacations.
Rock climbing vacations.
International soccer vacations?
You read that right. Today’s vacation industry is both varied and specific. For many Americans, in fact, vacations for certain sporting events can have a major appeal. For instance, Brazil soccer tours combine the opportunity to visit a beautiful country with the chance to watch a favorite sport in a country served as one of the early locations for what the locales like to call football.
The game my be the same, but the experience of watching with the large crowds on a Brazil soccer tours adventure. Rather than watching a game on a television set at home, those who take trips like Brazil soccer tours find themselves among some of the most energetic crowds in the world.
Where Will Your Next Family Vacation Adventure Take You?
In the past, vacations may have meant long, relaxing days trying to spent time regenerating for the work days back home. Today, however, more and more families are making their vacations anything but relaxing. In fact, some families intentionally search out sporting events, outdoor adventures, and other memorable events. And while some families might seek out a specific events like Brazil soccer tours, other families look toward vacations that allow them to check off all of the states in America or all of the continents on the planet.
A sport like soccer can provide vacationers an opportunity to see many countries and venues while watching events that they love. For instance, while many people may think of Central and South America as the countries that soccer centers, even the country of Sweden has a current total of 45 national stadiums. In fact, a trip to see soccer in a number of venues around the world would give a family an amazingly thorough view of the world. Internationally, statistics indicate that as many as 25 million children play soccer or ?football? every year. When you realize that even Costa Rican and Guatemalan towns with fewer than 200 people have soccer fields, you begin to get a feel for the impact that soccer has.
If your family is not interested in a specific sport, you may be the kind of family that simply wants to experience the local outdoor adventures available in various locations. For instance, snow skiing or tubing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado are favorite winter and spring break vacations. In a more warm setting, outdoor adventure seekers can find a great vacation opportunity in the rain forests of Costa Rica. Zip lining and volcano park tours, in fact, are popular stops for individuals as well as group tours in Costa Rica.
What Are You Doing to Budget for the Opportunity to Take a Big Vacation?
Obviously, traveling to Brazil for a soccer match or Costa Rica to go zip lining is not cheap. Many families, however, have made major shifts in their family lifestyles to allow them to take the trips that others only dream of. It is not, in fact, only the wealthiest families that get to take some of the best trips. Even families with middle range incomes, for instance, can take trips if they readjust their spending habits. Pooling all money for birthday, anniversary, and Christmas gifts into a fund for a family trip can help all of the members of your family understand the benefit. A family that completely commits to eating at home instead of out at expensive restaurants can also find funds for some pretty great trips.
When families do travel they can also take many cost saving steps to make sure that their travel budgets make it further. Staying in non-traditonal locations like homes for rent by owners instead of expensive hotels can help many people save money when they travel, whether these locations are in this country or somewhere else around the world. The decision to stay in a home setting also allows families to cook local cuisine instead of paying the high tourist prices eating out.
Is your family willing to trade another video gaming system for a well priced airline ticket? Is your family on their way to adjusting your budget and spending so that you can take the trip of a lifetime?

Constructing a homemade ice rink is possible even if there is no pond on the property. In addition, having a backyard skating rink puts a whole new spin on quality time spent with family. Statistics show that of teenagers asked in the United States, 67% would really enjoy spending more time with their parents, and ice skating is a great way to spend hours together not only having fun, but exercising and building strength as well.

There are several steps to building a backyard ice rink. The size of the rink will, of course, depend upon the size of the yard as well as how big the homeowner wants to go. Constructing a backyard skating rink is not difficult; however, there will be ongoing maintenance involved, a fact which will need to be kept in the forefront. There are, in fact, different ideas about how to make a homemade ice rink. No one way is right and no one way is wrong. A lot depends on the surface the rink will sit on and on the supplies that will be used.

After deciding how large the homemade ice rink should be, the perimeter should be measured out. A small gutter will be dug, just deep enough to fit the piping that needs to line the perimeter. Once the piping is cut to size, it is inserted in the gutters, and joined at the corners with extra piping held out for just that reason. After placing the piping around the perimeter, it should be staked to the ground. The next step is to place a tarp over the piping and secure it with some kind of weight, such as bricks or cinder blocks. Ice rink tarps can be a tarp used for any purpose as long as it is durable and made for all types of weather. The space should not be filled with water until the first deep freeze, simply because that kind of freezing cold will enable the homemade ice rink to freeze from the bottom. Freezing from the bottom will give the rink a solid foundation which will keep the water in check just in case of any leaks. Four to six inches of water is the norm for filling a backyard ice rink. When the water is frozen, it is time to skate.

A backyard ice rink is a perfect way to provide kids with a lot of fun activities throughout the winter months. Whether or not children and teens participate in organized sports, almost everyone loves to ice skate. There are an unlimited number of games and activities that can be safely played on the ice; not to mention that ice skating is a great way for kids to get together with friends and stay busy for hours. Many young people who participate in some kind of sports, about 71%, have admitted that they would not care if there was no score kept during their games. What they are interested in is having fun and spending time with their friends and family doing something they love to do. Another study has concluded that 65% of teens actually do participate in sports activities in order to spend the time with friends.

As mentioned earlier, homemade ice rinks require ongoing maintenance for the life of the rink, which, if outdoors, will only be throughout the coldest winter months. The ice must be swept and kept free of anything that would interrupt smooth skating. The more it is used, the rougher the ice will become. Removing ice chips and snow from the ice is also important to avoid any unnecessary injury.

Constructing a backyard ice hockey rink is not much different than building an ice skating rink for other activities. Because a backyard is not typically as large as a regulation rink used for ice hockey, the perimeters of the rink can only be as big as the yard allows it to be. Decisions will need to be made about whether or not to uproot trees and bushes or to forget about the patio or deck that may have been in the works as well!

Almost everyone learned how to ride a bike as a kid. First, you started with tricycle, then training wheels, and finally, moved onto two wheels. You might have used that bike to get to school, hang out with your friends, and go on adventures. But now that you’re an adult, what kind of bike are you supposed to have. If you go to any bike shop, you’ll find that there are a multitude of bikes available for purchase. That being said, the question stands: what kind of bike is right for YOU? Well luckily, you don’t have to worry, because we’re here to help.

Questions, questions
Many bike shops have helpful personnel waiting to assist you as soon as you walk in the door. However, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions in order to figure out what you want:

• Who do you ride with?
• What kind of bike do they ride?
• What have you ridden in the past? Did you enjoy it?
• What would you like to do with your new bike?

If you’re looking to buy a bike for social reasons, buy the same bike that your friends have so you can keep up with them. However, if you’re looking to get away on your own in nature, you might want to consider a mountain bike. But if you enjoyed three-speed bikes when you were a kid, you can ride this bike again as an adult. The possibilities are endless and depend on what you need.

Road Bikes
Road bikes are lightweight models that are designed to go fast on smooth pavement. They are used for road racing.

Hybrid Bike
This is a road bike with more durable tires that can be ridden on grass and gravel. These bikes can also go relatively fast.

Mountain Bikes
These bikes are designed specifically for riding on off-road trails. They have a low gear range that helps them pedal up steep trails. Mountain bikes also have shock absorbers that enable them to withstand bumpy rides.

Triathlon Bikes
These bikes are specialized road bikes that are created in order to maximize their aerodynamic nature.

What kind of bike is right for you? Let us know in the comments below.