If you like to read and want a novel with a sports theme, check out one of these well-written, often-humorous YA books that deal with real-life issues (sports and other topics in parentheses):

Ball Don’t Lie by Matt de la Pena (basketball, being a foster kid and social outcast)
Black and White by Paul Volpe (basketball, friendship, racial tension)
Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (football, girl playing)
Gym Candy by Carl Deuker (football, steroids)
Heart of a Champion by Carl Deuker (baseball, peer pressure, friendship)
Ironman by Chris Crutcher (triathlon, father-son relationships, training for the event)
Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen (football, gymnastics, bullying, friendship)
Open Ice by Pat Hughes (ice hockey, concussions, family dynamics)
Under the Baseball Moon by John H. Ritter (softball, dreams)
Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher (swimming, team bonding, adoption)

My favorites? I really enjoyed all of them, but if I had to choose . . .
1. Leverage was so intense, I couldn’t put it down.
2. Dairy Queen had me laughing out loud.
3. Open Ice deals with the very real possibility of suffering a career-ending injury.

What is the difference between the words farther and further? Good question.

Farther is used to discuss physical distance. For example,
    How much farther do we have to drive?
    The farthest she has run at one time is 26.2 miles.

Further is used to discuss figurative or metaphorical distance. For example,
    That couldn't be any further from the truth!
    Send me an email if you want to discuss this further.

Here's an easy way to remember the difference: the word farther contains the word far, which also related to physical distance.

Playing competitive sports requires mental as well as physical training. When it comes to taking a game-winning penalty shot or making a last-second basket, you need to be calm, confident, and focused. Even if you're just playing recreational softball or volleyball, you can't let past failures or nervousness or intimidation take control. In order to enjoy your sport and perform at your best, you need to be mentally tough.
    Dr. David Yukelson, coordinator for sports psychology at Penn State University, defines mental toughness as having the psychological edge that enables you to "be more consistent and better than your opponents in remaining determined, focused, resilient, and in control under pressure." This psychological edge comes naturally to some people, but many athletes have to work at it. The good news is that you can train your mind to be tough.
    Here are a few tips (for more details, see chapter 3 of Sports: The Ultimate Teen Guide):

1. Always give 100%. Mentally tough athletes are confident in a I’ve-worked-my-butt-off-and-I-know-I-can-do-this kind of way. If you give 100% at every practice, in every drill, in every race, you will be confident in your ability to perform as needed when it really counts.

2. Set goals. Mentally tough athletes set specific, measurable goals and then work hard to meet them. They don’t need someone pushing them to train harder; they just do it. Setting goals can add to your confidence because once you achieve a goal, you have concrete proof that you can do it when the pressure’s on, whatever it is.

3. Visualize success. Mentally tough athletes know how to picture themselves succeeding in the midst of competition, whether that means nailing the penalty shot or hitting the ball with bases loaded or landing the perfect dismount from the balance beam.

4. Focus on what’s important. Mentally tough athletes can control their point of focus and block everything else out. They can ignore the screaming fans when taking a free throw; they can forget about the go-ahead runner on second base and pitch a third strike to the player at the plate.

5. Learn from your mistakes. This might be the most important point: mentally tough athletes know how to rebound from failure. If you keep dwelling on your mistakes, you’re not going to perform at your potential.
    Think of England’s Laura Bassett in the World Cup semifinal match. She was heartbroken after kicking the ball into her own net, enabling Japan to advance to the finals. But she didn’t quit, and her coaches didn’t give up on her. Bassett started the next match and played well against Germany, helping England grab third place and beat Germany for the first time ever.
    Everyone makes mistakes; mentally tough athletes know how learn from them and move on. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps once said, “It’s actually more helpful for me to lose a race. . . . After having a bad race or if I lose, I work even harder to get back so that doesn’t happen again.”

    Are you a mentally tough athlete? What have you done to train your mind and keep yourself calm and focused under pressure?

I've finally done it: I started a blog! My posts will cover grammar and writing tips, sports/fitness info, and updates from my adventures in words . . . and anything else that strikes me as blog-worthy. Happy reading!