How to pump up a basketball at home. How to pump up a soccer ball

Almost every ball - football, volleyball, children's, basketball, gymnastics - is suitable for use only when it is properly inflated with air. Therefore, a special pump, a needle, and sometimes even silicone grease are often sold with it. But imagine that all this is simply not at hand. How to pump up a ball without a needle? We have selected for you several effective folk methods.

Method number 1: compressor

How to pump up a ball without a needle? Contact any of the car services in your locality - workers will help you for free or for a nominal amount. Do not ignore tire shops: there will definitely be powerful compressors for pumping car tires. One thing: there is a risk of pumping the product with air, which will lead to its damage or even explosion.

Compressor - equipment from which air is released under pressure. Therefore, this is a perfect answer to the question: "How to inflate a ball without a needle and a pump?" If possible, it is recommended to carry out the procedure together: one person will turn the compressor on and off, and the second person will hold the ball and press the cord, controlling the process of air intake. The hose with the nozzle is pressed tightly against the valve, after which the device turns on at full power. It must be deactivated immediately as soon as the surface of the ball becomes hard. That's all!

We also draw your attention to the fact that many models of car compressors have special nozzles for pumping balls with air.

Method number 2: electrical tape, syringe needle, bicycle pump

The tools here are some of the most accessible: Bicycle Pump there is in almost every home, you can easily buy electrical tape in a manufactured goods store, hypermarket, and a syringe in a pharmacy. How to pump up a ball without a needle in this way? As easy as pie:

1. Take a needle from a syringe - the first step is to grind its sharp tip on asphalt, brick, stone, curb or with a special knife. Too sharp, it will easily pierce the nipple, which will make the ball unusable. The best will be a needle for blood transfusion systems - it is thick, durable, does not bend.
2. In the second stage, you make a kind of adapter from electrical tape - 10-12 layers of it are enough. They need to be wound tightly so that the air does not come out when pumping back.
3. How to pump up a ball without a needle? Attach the invention to a bicycle pump and proceed with the procedure.

Method number 3: syringe

How to pump up a ball without a needle - volleyball, basketball, football? Use a large medical syringe! This is in the most extreme case, because the method is quite exhausting - you will spend about 2 hours on the procedure.

As with the second method, you will need to blunt the needle or you will damage the nipple and the ball will deflate all the time. Which syringe to choose? The bigger, the better:

• It’s really possible to pump up the ball with 20-cubic meters in 30-40 minutes.
• A ten cc syringe will have you poring over the ball from an hour to two.

Before starting the procedure, we recommend that you treat the nipple with silicone grease - this will protect it from damage by an imperfect needle from a syringe. It is simple to act: insert the needle into the hole, pressing the lever of the syringe, release the air. Then remove the tool, return the lever to its original position and repeat the procedure.

Method number 4: there is a needle, but no pump

We figured out how to pump up a ball without a needle (basketball, volleyball, football, etc.) But what if you have one (or you made the needle yourself), but there is no pump? We offer the following instructions:

1. The pump will be replaced by an ordinary plastic bottle from a carbonated drink. As a last resort - a dense plastic bag without holes.
2. Now you need to screw the needle into the cork of the container or solder it. This will be the switch. Check that it does not let air through.
3. Then you need to lubricate the nipple of the ball with silicone grease.
4. But now you need to pump air with your hands (or, if it’s convenient for you, with your feet) into our homemade pump, from where it will enter the ball through the needle.

other methods

Here are some more tips for you:

• If you have not found a medical syringe, then its needle can be replaced with an empty rod from a regular ballpoint pen.
• If you managed to only slightly pump up the ball, then you can restore its hardness and elasticity like this: just hold it for a while in hot water. From this, the air inside the product will heat up, which will expand, which will complement the effect of jumping.
• Silicone grease for processing the nipple can be replaced with machine oil.
• Needle to cork plastic bottle for a homemade pump, you can attach it with a glue gun.
• Instead of a compressor, a bicycle pump, a bag or a bottle, you can also use an ordinary rubber medical bulb.
• A compressed air tank, car spare tire, or trash bag can also act as a pump.

So we sorted out all the available ways to pump any ball with an air valve, if there was no pump and a special needle nearby. Contact a car repair shop, wield a medical syringe, build your own tool - choose what is most suitable for you.

Instruction

In order to avoid unnecessary problems with inflating the ball, it is recommended to check it more carefully when buying. serviceable good ball should also be elastic. Otherwise, there is a risk of a defective ball.

Quality test - throw it to a height of about 180 cm. If the rebound height corresponds to 120-140 cm, then the ball can be bought. It is even easier to do the same from head height, while the rebound should reach the height of the belt.

It will be useful to check the nipple. The owners do this usually by applying saliva to it. There will be no air bubbles on a working nipple. In order not to get a ball with a surface defect, you need to throw it up and look at its rebound. If the ball bounces after being hit different sides- the ball is defective.

To inflate the ball, use a car pump, which should include a plastic nozzle designed to blow dust out of hard-to-reach places. By attaching the plastic tip to the nipple, you can start inflating the ball.

If the ball is not, you should not kick it and sit on it, as it will lose its original shape. If a needle is used for pumping, then first apply a couple of drops of special oil to the opening of the nipple, and then insert the needle there.

The ball is inflated to the value indicated next to the nipple. The oil in this case protects the valve and the walls of the nipple from possible damage by the needle, gives it elasticity and protects it from drying out. If there is no oil on hand, you can use saliva.

When pumping, it is forbidden to use lubricants that are not intended for this, as they can lead to the destruction of the nipple. The needle itself must be perfectly flat surface. In order not to pump the ball, it is recommended to control its internal pressure with a pressure gauge.

Learn to hit ball quite simple - we all know how to do it from childhood. But how to hit ball so that it flies in a certain direction? Someone writes entire scientific treatises about this, someone shoots educational television films, and someone tries to calculate the trajectory of the ball using probability theory. In fact, it all depends on training, the more of them, the more accurate the blows are.

Instruction

Hits on ball two types: or from the summer. To improve the impact from the ground, i.e. along the motionless ball, you need to keep balance, and also remember the correct setting of the supporting leg and the position of the kicker. The height of the kick depends on the position of the supporting leg: if it is on the same line with the ball, the kick will come out with a low flight path, but if the leg is behind the ball, the ball will fly high. In order for the impact force to be maximum, it is necessary to monitor the position of the knee of the kicking leg. If at the moment before touching the ball the knee is above the ball or on the same line with it, the impact force will be maximum. After the impact, it is desirable to continue moving towards the target, and not stop. When the body deviates back, the trajectory of the ball increases, when tilted forward, the blow becomes stronger, but the ball flies lower. When hitting ball while in the air, balance and all of the above leg positions are also important. However, in this case it is also important to calculate the distance to the ball. In no case should a volley be thrown if the ball is too far or too close, as in these cases the hit will be blurry.

Strikes are also divided according to the methods of application, i.e. according to which part of the foot strikes. So a toe strike is usually applied to a stationary ball in its lower sector, in this case the ball departure angle will be 40-50 degrees. To properly deliver this run-up shot, the player accelerates as they approach ball the supporting leg is placed behind and slightly to the side of the ball, and the kicker strikes with a swing motion. The body is tilted forward. When delivering this blow, the correct work of the hands is important: the hand opposite to the supporting leg is sharply backward in front, while the other is brought forward to chest level. At the moment of impact, the hands change places.

With a punch inside the feet usually just pass the ball. Ideally, the ball should fly and not or roll on the ground. When hitting, the toe of the supporting foot is directed in the direction where you send the ball, the kicking leg is bent at the knee, and the hit itself falls on the central part of the ball.

When hitting with the outside of the foot, the toe of the skating foot should be turned approximately 30 degrees towards the target. And the blow is applied in the same way as the inside one, with the difference only in the plane of the foot in contact with the ball.

On the one hand, the lifting blow is the most difficult, and on the other hand, the main blow. Due to the contact of a large area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe foot with the ball, this stroke achieves greater accuracy. If such a blow is struck on an immovable ball, its flight path will be low. The supporting leg should be on the same straight line with the ball a little to the side of it and all the weight of the body should fall on this particular leg. The body is tilted so that the player's shoulders are above the ball. The kicking leg is bent at the knee and laid back, the ankle is relaxed. It is important to keep the angle formed by the thigh and lower leg as long as possible. The climb is tight. At the moment of impact, the knee of the kicking leg is above the ball. The arm, the same name as the supporting leg, is located behind, and at the moment of impact it passes forward and bends at the chest. The kicking leg, immediately after the kick, moves forward with the ball for some time. Lift kicks are divided into two types: a straight lift kick, when the ball comes into contact with the lift in the middle, i.e. lace-up cleats, and kick the outer or inside lifting when the ball falls on either side of the lacing.

Flying strikes ball technically they are no different in lifting. However, if the ball is in the air, it is necessary to accurately calculate the moment of swing and touch. In this case, it is not necessary to put a lot of force into the blow, since an accurate touch will give ball enough energy.

Helpful advice

In any case, to achieve perfect accuracy and the desired impact force is possible only with the help of training.

In ball play, it is important to achieve maximum control over it, since the point of the game is precisely to make the ball fly exactly where you direct it. How to hit correctly is an important topic for every player.

Instruction

If the ball rolls on the ground or is motionless, then the setting of the supporting leg and the trajectory of the kicking leg relative to the ball also matter. To control the height of the kick or pass, you need to control the position of the supporting leg in relation to ball. By placing the supporting foot on the same line with it, you can swipe with low ball trajectory. And putting your foot behind the ball, you can have a higher trajectory. The position of the upper body also matters - if you lean back, the ball will fly higher, and if you move forward, the blow will be lower and stronger. In order for the impact force to be maximum, the knee of the kicking leg at the moment it touches the ball should be on the same line with it or a little further, above the ball. After the impact, you must continue to move in the direction of the target.

To hit with the inside of the foot, the supporting leg should be placed about 10 from the ball and on the same line with it. The toe of the foot of the supporting leg should be directed towards the target, and the ankle of the kicking leg at the moment of impact should be turned perpendicular to the supporting leg. The blow must be carried to the central (height) part of the ball. After the strike, you need to continue moving in the direction of the target. At good hit The ball must fly straight, without rolling on the ground or jumping.

To strike with the outer side of the foot, the supporting leg should be placed not reaching the ball, and the toe should be turned 15-30 degrees away from the direction of impact. This will allow you to strike accurately.

To kick with a lift, the supporting leg must be on the same line with the ball, the toe of the foot is directed towards the target. The toes and ankle of the kicking leg at the moment of impact must be tense and fixed, the body is tilted forward so that the shoulders are above the ball. To fly at low altitude, you need to hit the ball or a little higher, hitting the inner surface of the toe.

To strike with the inside of the foot with a twist, the supporting leg must be placed next to the ball. Her fingers should be directed either towards the target, or at a slight angle away from it. The kicking leg swings and touches the ball top thumb. The kick should be applied just below the ball (in height) and along its outside to add twist. After such a blow, you must continue to move, but not in the direction of the target.

To hit with the outside of the foot with a twist, the supporting leg should be placed to the left of the ball (for the right-hander), its fingers are directed at the target or slightly turned away from the target in the direction of the twist. The kicking foot must touch the right side of the ball with the outside of the foot. After hitting, you must continue to move in the direction of the ball's flight.

To kick with a toe, the supporting foot must be placed behind the ball, fingers towards the target. With such a blow, the swing of the kicking leg is done quickly, with a slight movement of the hip, the toes of the kicking leg are raised and tense. You have to strike at lower part ball to give it backspin and a high flight path.

To hit on ball in the air, it is important to adjust to the trajectory of its flight - you need to be at the right distance from the ball. Moving in short steps, you need to accurately catch the moment to strike. Attention should be focused on the timing between the swing and the touch - if the moment of the touch is timed correctly, this will give enough power and accuracy to the strike. If the flying ball is already too close or vice versa, you do not reach it - it follows from a volley. The technique of the kick itself is similar to the lift kick.

Developing the necessary striking technique requires a lot of practice. Beginners should hit the stationary ball, and more advanced - to practice hitting the rolling one. You also need to train different variants dribbling before impact - the willingness to strike from the situation dramatically increases their effectiveness.

Football - simple game at first sight. It seems that the players just dribble and hit it, trying to get into the opponent's goal. In fact, they need to master a large number of skills. Kicking the ball is one of them.

Instruction

Place the ball on the 11 meter kick in front of the . Your task is to make an accurate shot, hitting the net. Take three big steps back from the ball. Take one step to the side. If you are right handed, then move to the left. The left-hander, respectively, departs to the right.

Approach the ball by taking the first step with your kicking foot. On the third step, the non-strike leg should be about 15 cm from the ball. Point your toes in the direction you want to launch the projectile. Keep both knees bent and arms wide apart to create balance. Repeat this and the previous step until these steps become automatic.

Bring your kicking leg smoothly forward and hit the center of the ball with the inside edge of your foot. Make sure your knee is directly over the ball when you kick it. Swing your foot over the ball so that at the end of the kick it points to the target of the ball. Attach your ankle to the kick itself as well to add more power to it. You should get a cannon shot that will pierce through the mesh if you did everything right.

Playing football in the yard or in nature is a young thing: even if you are over 50, regularly playing sports, you will feel like you are in your 20s. But what if the ball taken with you is blown away, and the question arises of how to pump up the ball without a needle and a pump in artisanal conditions(beach, nature, someone else's yard)? Naturally, it would be better to take care of this, and take a bicycle pump and a needle with you (the cost of which is no more than 150 rubles).

But, if the above equipment is not at hand, all is not lost! But remember that the methods listed below are far from the safest for your ball: you can simply pump it over and ruin it, so if we are talking about a rarity autographed by your favorite football player, then it is better to postpone such manipulations.

How to pump up a ball without a needle: "Medical" way

Advantages: low cost of the method, availability of materials. Everything can be found in the roadside pharmacy and the glove compartment of the car.

Disadvantages: in the outback, there may not be such a pharmacy. In addition, the instructions below are not an answer to the question of how to pump up a ball without a needle: this is an instruction on how to make such a needle.

The essence of the method

If trouble overtook you on the road, then with some effort and a little ingenuity, you can pump up the ball with a simple electrical tape and a needle from a syringe. The needle must first be blunted: it should not pierce the nipple, but smoothly enter it. Needles from blood transfusion systems are ideal: they are quite thick and durable. The tip of the needle should be blunted on asphalt or a knife sharpener. The result should be a needle with a blunt end, which will serve as the basis for the adapter from the pump to the ball. Next, carefully wrap the tape around the base of the needle. It will take about 12 layers. This is done so that the needle fits snugly into the pump hole.

Road way: how to pump up a ball without a needle using ... a car service

Pros: Pretty effective method pumping up a deflated one on the road To help you, car service assistants will come to your aid, who will be happy to help for a purely nominal fee. In addition, many may find the right needle. The method is suitable if there is neither a needle nor a pump at hand.

Disadvantages: at the right time, a car service may not be nearby. An inexperienced worker can pump the ball, from which it can burst from excessive pressure during careless pumping or during the game.

The essence of the method

It is known that in car services the most popular service is tire inflation. The compressor used for this can supply air at high pressure, which is what we need. The deflated ball should be pressed very tightly against the nozzle of the compressor and inflated until the desired level of rigidity is reached. You should be very careful to monitor the density so as not to pump and explode the ball. The procedure is best done by three people: two press the ball, one should turn off the compressor on a signal. By the way, on many modern models of compressors there is a nozzle for inflating balls.

Making injections with air: how to pump up a ball without a needle: an alternative but very debilitating way

Advantages: Another "medical" way, but this time it does not require a needle or a pump. Only a first-aid kit with a syringe and a few hours of time should be at hand, depending on the volume of the syringe found.

Disadvantages: the method is exhausting and inconvenient. It is possible to permanently ruin the nipple of the ball, and it will bleed air if you do not use special oil.

For those who didn't have any duct tape on hand or a car service down the road, there's another way to save the tournament. beach volleyball or street football. The bottom line is to introduce air into the ball through a simple syringe. Depending on the volume of the syringe, the amount of work ahead depends: a 20-cc ball can be pumped up in about half an hour. 10 Ml - per hour. 5, 2 Ml - is it worth the candle? .. This is the most affordable and artisanal way to pump up without a needle, without having a compressor at hand. To facilitate the introduction of the syringe and the safety of the ball, the nipple should be moistened with oil.

If there is a needle but no pump

Advantages: Quite a fun and creative way to pump. Most likely, it will not work to pump up the ball to the desired density, but the pleasure of the process is guaranteed! In addition, the method is suitable for soft beach balls.

Disadvantages: the need to find a strong one or a bottle. The need to make an adapter.

There are those who do not know how to pump up soccer ball without a needle. But the lack of a needle is, as it becomes clear, this is a third of the trouble. The worst is for those who, for some reason, cannot use the pump, since it is still possible to create a high one from improvised means, but it is very difficult to direct it to a certain point (ball). As a compressor, you can use a plastic bottle or a tight bag. Some folk craftsmen manage to solder a needle into the cap of a bottle and pump up the ball over and over again, standing or carefully jumping on this bottle.

After the air from the bottle passes into the ball, the structure is taken out, another portion of air is injected into the bottle and the manipulation is repeated. And so - to the bitter end!

There is a more advanced way using vinegar and soda: vinegar and soda are poured into the same bottle, and carbon dioxide is injected into the ball. But this is provided that the needle is firmly soldered into the bottle cap.

As we can see, there are a lot of ways to pump up a ball without a needle. None of them is notable for convenience and ease, but a true athlete is one who, despite all the obstacles, goes to the bitter end!

Probably, each of you wondered how to keep the nipple of the ball, how to properly inflate the ball? Unfortunately, I could not find anything clear on the Internet. But today, we have come to what we can tell you about all the subtleties that arise when inflating the ball with a pump. Go:

1) Use ONLY a special needle that is designed for inflating balls (see the picture below) The needle should be smooth and without any scratches or nicks, they will significantly reduce the life of the nipple. Do not attempt to inflate the ball without a needle by simply pressing down on the pump/hose. At best, nothing will work out for you, at worst, the nipple will fall into the ball and you will “get” to repair the ball or to a new ball.

2) You need to insert the needle STRICTLY VERTICALLY, after dipping the needle into a special lubricant. The lubricant will help extend the life of the nipple and maintain its elasticity (grease will be available soon in our group - https://vk.com/sosokservice). In extreme cases, spit abundantly on the needle! If you insert the needle at an angle, then you instantly spoil the nipple - tear it in the wrong place. The nipple is actually very soft and can be easily damaged by accident.

3) While inflating the ball, the needle must not be allowed to move in ANY direction inside the nipple. Not back and forth! Don't sway to the side! From this, the nipple gradually breaks.

Of course, it is impossible to firmly fix the needle while inflating the ball so that it does not move left and right, but the less the needle “plays” inside the nipple, the longer it will live!

4) Upon reaching the required pressure, smoothly, without sudden movements, remove the needle. Voila, you pumped up the ball correctly!

— Excessive pressure does not affect the life of the nipple. It affects only the geometric parameters of the ball.

— The fewer times we insert the needle into the nipple, the longer it will live., for this it is advisable to use a pump with a built-in pressure gauge in order to immediately pump up the desired pressure. The fewer times we completely deflate-inflate the ball, the live longer nipple - because rubber also oxidizes! Many times we observed a crumbling nipple for two reasons - oxygen and ultraviolet. Hence - do not store the balls in direct sunlight.

— Don't store balls in the cold, for example, in the winter in the car. During each winter, new balls are often brought to us for repairs. The reason is that in the cold the air inside the ball is compressed, and when they go to the gym, they try to pump up the ball in order to start training. But they forget about the important thing - in the cold, the nipple also coarsens, losing its elasticity. As soon as you insert a needle into a frozen nipple, you run the risk of severely damaging the nipple. If you really swing the ball after frost, then after long storage at room temperature.

P.S. We allow you to copy the text completely and without changes and use it on behalf of our blog.

In order for the soccer ball to serve you as long as possible, it, like many other types sports equipment, requires proper care and compliance with operating conditions. From these factors, as well as from the intensity of use of the ball, its service life largely depends.

Operating conditions mean, first of all, the type and properties of the playground surface and weather conditions.

There are several main types of playing surfaces:

- very hard (SUPER HARD), these are cinder areas, parquet in the hall, as an exception, an asphalt area, etc .;

- hard, hard (HARD, TURF) made of various synthetic materials (can be both indoors and outdoors);

- soft: unstable ground, lawn.

There are several types of weather conditions, the main of which are: rain, snow, mud, high humidity and air temperature.

It should be understood that the materials used in the manufacture of the ball, the design options for the ball and the resulting specifications, such as rebound height, moisture resistance, wear resistance are selected for specific operating conditions. Therefore, carefully study the pictograms on the ball, they will tell you what kind of weather conditions and on what grounds you can play with this ball model.

	- the ball is suitable for playing on soft ground, lawns with natural and artificial grass;
	– the ball is suitable for playing on hard playgrounds with synthetic turf;
	- the ball is suitable for playing on playgrounds with a very hard, hard surface, for example, cinder fields, hard synthetic surfaces, halls, asphalt is possible, but highly undesirable, etc. For the production of balls suitable for this type of surface, materials are used that have increased wear resistance and abrasion resistance;
	- the ball is suitable for use in conditions of high humidity and in adverse weather conditions: rain, slush, mud;
	- the ball is suitable for playing at low temperatures of 0 ... -2 ° C, on snow-covered surfaces, in conditions of poor visibility;
	– the ball is suitable for playing indoors (mini-football, futsal) and, if desired, for playing on small-sized outdoor playgrounds with a hard surface.

Dear customer, we consider it our duty to emphasize that football is still a game on a grassy lawn at temperatures above 0°C! Soccer balls, in principle, are not intended for playing in extreme conditions, such as, for example, frost - 20 ° C or asphalt. This does not mean that it is impossible to play with them in such conditions, it is possible, of course, but the service life of the ball is reduced by 3-5 times, and there are difficulties in returning the goods under warranty, since the marriage is not manufacturing, but is the result of a violation of operating conditions .

User manual

Attention! Before the first inflation, you need to perform with the ball the following actions: Spread the ball as far as possible and shake it so that the camera is freely and centered inside the ball.

Due to the specifics of packaging, transportation and storage of balls, wrinkles and creases sometimes form on their tires (the outer layer of the ball), which after some time (depending on the type of tire material and other factors) disappear and the ball becomes smooth. The same applies to the shape of the ball, after inflating, leave the ball inflated for a while, the panels and seams will straighten out, it will become round and even.

1. Inflate the ball as follows: apply 1-2 drops of special oil to the nipple hole or needle, take the ball by the panel where the nipple is located, insert the needle into it, inflate the ball to the pressure value indicated in the figure around the nipple. We strongly advise you to use oil, it not only prevents damage to the valve and the walls of the nipple when the needle penetrates, but also makes the material of the nipple more elastic and protects it from drying out. In the absence of oil, moisten the needle or nipple with saliva, but never use lubricants that are not intended for inflating balls, such substances may contain active ingredients that destroy the material of the nipple. The needle must also be special, suitable for inflating balls, the tip of the needle must be even, smooth, without sharp edges and burrs.

Attention, always use lubricants for the nipple or needle, otherwise you risk damaging the nipple and losing the ball!

It is recommended to always check the pressure in the balls with a pressure gauge. Pumping the ball creates increased pressure and excessive tensile loads on the panels and seams of the ball, greatly reducing its life.

2. After play, deflate the ball slightly using a needle and oil (saliva) to relieve pressure on the panels and seams of the ball and thus maintain their elasticity and shape. In a ball constantly inflated to maximum pressure, the panels stretch out, the density of the seams weakens, the ball wears out faster, absorbs moisture more, and its playing characteristics deteriorate.

Please note that latex bladders (they are found in most footballs, sometimes mini-soccers) have the ability to slightly bleed air, which creates the impression of "flattening". This is an absolutely normal phenomenon, easily eliminated by pumping the ball.

Care and storage instructions

1. After each game, wipe the ball with a damp cloth. In case of heavy soiling, use a cloth dampened with warm soapy water, never use abrasive cleaners, solvent-based cleaners or other aggressive substances.

2. Let the ball dry naturally. If the ball is very wet, then wipe it dry first soft cloth. Dry the balls in a well-ventilated place, away from heat sources, at a temperature of +20-25°C and a humidity of 60-65%. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and never dry the ball near or on the surface of heaters. Prolonged exposure to dirt, moisture, elevated temperatures leads to a deterioration in the physical properties of the ball, and, as a result, its playing characteristics, and a reduction in service life.

3. It is recommended to store the balls in a dry, ventilated place at a temperature of +5°C to +25°C and a relative humidity of 50-80%. Balls must be protected from direct sunlight, vapours, gases and chemicals.

Following the above simple rules will save the life of your ball for a long time!

We wish you a wonderful game and amazing victories!