It’s springtime in the Smoky Mountains, and the weather is perfect for being outdoors. Not too cold, not too hot! During this time of year, there are wildflowers all throughout the mountains and creatures are coming out to explore. If you’re wanting to get out and see the beauty of nature this spring, you’ll definitely want to try out 4 of the best spring hikes in the Smoky Mountains. 1. Cove Hardwood Nature Trail
2. Schoolhouse GapBetween Townsend and Cades Cove, Schoolhouse Gap is a 3.8-mile roundtrip trail that is great for seeing all kinds of wildflowers. At first, you’ll come across Virginia bluebells, then beaked violets, golden aster, lyre-leaf sage, red clover, star grass, sun drops, and trillium. You’ll definitely want to stop and take pictures of all the flowers you see. Streams and creeks are also along this trail, and horses are allowed to walk on this trail. You should be careful since bears and other wildlife have been known to frequent this trail. It is also great for families since it’s fairly easy to walk. 3. Little River Trail
4. Porters Creek TrailThe Porters Creek Trail is a 7-mile trail that is moderately hiked and fairly moderate when it comes to difficulty. For the first mile, you’ll walk along a gravel trail where yellow trillium line the sides. You’ll also be able to see Porters Creek while you walk. After about a mile, there’s a split in the trail; the right side goes to an old farmstead where you can see an old cabin and cantilevered barn. When you go left at the split, you’ll be heading towards Fern Branch Falls, which is 60 feet tall. All along this trail, you’ll see all kinds of wildflowers, including baneberry, blue phlox, May apples, Jack-in-the-pulpits, violets, wild geranium, and woodland bluets. About Rocky Top Sports WorldWe are a sports facility that hosts a variety of tournaments, birthday parties, events, and more. With 7 outdoor fields and a 86,000-square-foot indoor facility, we can accommodate just about any event. We also host different kinds of camps for kids throughout the year. For more information about us, check out our about us page. The post 4 of the Best Spring Hikes in the Smoky Mountains appeared first on Rocky Top Sports World. from https://rockytopsportsworld.com/blog/best-spring-hikes-smoky-mountains/
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Are you a basketball player who wants to improve your skills or a coach who wants to change up your routine? Then the Breakthrough Basketball Camp in Gatlinburg is the program for you! The camp is broken into two sessions: one for younger players who need to improve on basic skills and older players who want to fine tune their skills. Read on to learn more about the Breakthrough Basketball Camp. The First SessionThe first session runs from June 25, 2019 through Thursday June 27, 2019. All three days, the camp starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Boys and girls in 7th to 12th grade can attend this session, and there are 60 slots. Coaches who want to watch and implement the strategies during the sessions may also attend. Don Kelbick, the camp director, has over 35 years of experience coaching high school, college, and professional basketball players. He’s conducted over 1,000 camps and clinics, helping players improve in all areas of the game. Kelbick has created an Attack and Counter Strategy that implements key skills, especially in footwork and mentality, two of the most important aspects. Skills and Topics Covered
Practicing the SkillsKelbick will demonstrate the new skill or drill in front of everyone and explain the reasons behind why the skill or drill is important. Once Kelbick has finished, players are split into groups and work with designated coaches to practice the new skill or drill. As a new skill is introduced, this “show and go” pattern is followed. To put these new skills to practice, players will do competitive breakdown drills, which are slightly different than the 5-on-5 practice games that are usually used. The Second SessionThe second session runs July 30, 2019 through August 1, 2019. Each day, the basketball camp in Gatlinburg is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This session is for 4th through 9th graders/ All of the kids will be split into groups based on skill level and age. Skills and Topics Covered
Practicing the SkillsOnce the kids go over these skills and drills, they will be able to apply them during a game setting. The way the games are set up, players get to utilize their new skills. Players can earn points for playing properly and lose points for little effort and execution. Additional InformationThe Breakthrough Basketball Camp is located at our state-of-the-art sports campus: Rocky Top Sports World Get more information on the Breakthrough Basketball Camp in Gatlinburg, then sign up today to reserve a spot. Don’t miss this great opportunity to hone your child’s skills! The post All You Need to Know About the Breakthrough Basketball Camp in Gatlinburg appeared first on Rocky Top Sports World. from https://rockytopsportsworld.com/blog/all-need-know-breakthrough-basketball-camp-in-gatlinburg/ After a big win, there is no better way to celebrate than by heading to one of the delicious restaurants in the Smoky Mountains! The Smokies are home to places to eat that are both kid friendly and great for groups. To help you decide where you should eat after your game, we’ve made a list of 5 of the best Smoky Mountain restaurants to celebrate a big win. 1. Big Daddy’s PizzeriaEveryone loves pizza! Big Daddy’s Pizzeria is voted the most kid friendly restaurant, so it’s a top choice for a place to eat with your youth sports team. All of the pizza at Big Daddy’s starts with handcrafted, homemade dough that is topped with one of their homemade sauces and fresh ingredients. Your team can choose from a variety of pizza options, from the classic cheese and pepperoni to specialty pies like Meatball Mania and The Great White. There is something for everyone to enjoy at Big Daddy’s Pizzeria! 2. CiCi’s Pizza
3. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is the perfect place to have your celebratory dinner after a big win! They are experts in great food and great fun. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. has both a tasty kid’s menu and adult menu, so no matter what age your team is, there is a delicious meal waiting for you. The menus include everything from popcorn shrimp, to baby back ribs, to sandwiches, to fish and chips! You will love enjoying a hearty meal with your team after a hard-fought win. 4. Bennett’s Pit Bar-B-Que
5. FlapJack’s Pancake CabinNo one can say no to pancakes! After your big win, head to Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin for the best pancakes you’ve ever tasted. This restaurant is one of the best in the area for groups, so you won’t have to worry about the team getting split up and can all celebrate the win together! If you’re not in the mood for pancakes, the restaurant serves all your favorite breakfast foods, like waffles and French toast, as well as a variety of sandwiches. Everyone on the team will love dining at FlapJack’s! About Rocky Top Sports WorldLocated just minutes from downtown Gatlinburg, Rocky Top Sports World is one of the best tournament destinations in the nation. With 7 fields, 6 basketball courts, 12 volleyball courts, team rooms, and an onsite grill, our 80-acre athletic complex has everything you need for a great sports event. Check out our Tournaments page to read about all the fun at Rocky Top Sports World in the upcoming months! The post 5 of the Best Smoky Mountain Restaurants to Celebrate a Big Win appeared first on Rocky Top Sports World. from https://rockytopsportsworld.com/blog/best-smoky-mountain-restaurants-celebrate/ When your child plays youth sports, we know you want to be the best parent you can be and make sure they’re set up for success! The most important thing to do is make sure your child is happy and having fun. It’s easy to get caught up in the game just like the players and coaches do, but you should always set a good example for your child. Check out these 8 tips for parents with kids who play youth sports: 1. Let them know having fun is the most important.One of the most important tips to keep in mind is to make sure your young athlete is having fun. Let them know that having fun should always come before anything else. Most kids go into a sport thinking that winning is the goal, and your job is to show them that the real goal is enjoying themselves. Win or lose, the only thing that matters is if they have a good time both during practice and during games. 2. Don’t live your dreams through your children.Another tip to keep in mind is to make sure you’re not living your dreams through your children. Don’t force them to play basketball just because you played basketball as a child, or because you missed an opportunity to become a young basketball star. If you find yourself caring more about how well your child plays than they do, it may be a sign to take a step back. Let your young athlete create their own path instead of following the path you have for them in your head. 3. Make sure your children are eating and drinking right.
4. Always be supportive.Win or lose, always be supportive of your young athlete. If they have a bad game and are feeling down on themselves, give them encouragement. Let them know that it’s not about winning or losing and more about focusing on fun. You should even make a point to cheer for all players on the team and not just your own child as a show of support for the team! 5. Be a positive role model.Make sure that you’re being a positive role model and setting a good example for your child. Treat the other players and the coach with respect, and your child will be more likely to do so. It’s also important to set a good example of being active. Get outside and play with each other! If they see you up and moving it’ll motivate them to get up too! 6. Let the coach do the coaching.
7. Volunteer to help the team.Volunteering to help the team isn’t required, but it’s never a bad idea! Youth sports largely depends on contributions from willing parents. The more people who are willing to help out, the easier it will be for everyone. Volunteering to help involves things like selling tickets, filling drink bottles, anything you can do to lend a hand! 8. Encourage positive life lessons.You should leave the coaching to the coach, but what you can do is encourage positive life lessons. Talk to them about the importance of commitment, and remind them of the commitments they’ve made to the team. You can also teach them about perseverance. Don’t let them get discouraged if they’re playing badly. Explain to them that it takes hard work and dedication to be good at something. About Rocky Top Sports World
The post 8 Tips for Parents with Kids Who Play Youth Sports appeared first on Rocky Top Sports World. from https://rockytopsportsworld.com/blog/tips-parents-with-kids-youth-sports/ When you hear the name Pat Summitt, one word comes to mind: legend. Pat Summitt was the head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols and is the all-time winningest coach in college basketball history for both men’s and women’s teams! She had 1,098 career wins and 8 NCAA championships during her 38 seasons with the Lady Vols. Throughout her coaching career, Summitt became known for her inspirational leadership. Here are some of her most inspirational quotes: 1. Goals“It’s harder to stay on top than it is to make the climb. Continue to seek new goals.”Whatever sport you play, it’s important to set new goals for yourself and always strive to be better. 2. Loyalty“The absolute heart of loyalty is to value those people who tell you the truth, not just those people who tell you what you want to hear. In fact, you should value them most. Because they have paid you the compliment of leveling with you and assuming you can handle it.”Loyalty is an important part of teamwork. You should value both your coach and your team members in order to build a strong relationship and work well together. 3. Attitude“Attitude is a choice. What you think you can do, whether positive or negative, confidence or scared, will most likely happen.”Attitude plays a big part in how you perform on the court. Go in to each practice and game with a positive and confident mindset, and you will perform better. 4. Commitment
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