Did you ever want to coach a basketball team with Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan? At Hoop-O-Matic, you can do just that, by drafting and coaching your very own NBA team. Even if you're not a hoops hero, you can still test your skills and savvy in sports areas such as the Girl's Zone, the SI Kids Poll and Home Run Fever. Whether you're a football fanatic or an Olympics trivia buff, Sports Illustrated for Kids provides every young sports fan with enough action and instruction to fill an entire season with cheers and jeers. Once here, you'll get the latest news from your favorite athletes and professional teams. There's even a sports zone created by kids! It's time to win one for the team at www.sikids.com .

Step up to the plate and hit an online drive at Major League Baseball's Web site, http://mlb.mlb.com . Complete with stats, schedules and player profiles, this is as close as it gets to hearing the crack of the bat and the cheer of the crowd in person. There's even a special section just for kids where the stars of the game answer your hardest questions. Bring your glove, peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and be ready to catch those foul balls. (Disclaimer: This site now contains advertisements.)

It's almost Spring, and kids across the country are heading outside to play sports-basketball, soccer and baseball. While some of us play with our friends for fun in backyards, empty fields and parks around our homes, others play organized ball like Little League. At www.littleleague.org you can find out everything you ever wanted to know about Little League Baseball and Softball. They have facts about the history of the league, information about special equipment and, of course, a breakdown of the Little League World Series. Take a tour of the Little League Museum and see the famous Little League players in the Hall of Excellence. So slide into Little League; it's sure to be a home run.

What is a boomerang? How does it work? You know, boomerangs aren't found only in Australia. People all over the world are getting into boomerangs for fun and competition. Just zip on over to the Boomerang Homepage at www.boomerangs.org to learn all about these fascinating flying objects. You'll see how they're made and how to throw them, and even learn about the laws of physics that make them come back to you on their own. Try to make a Frisbee do that! Sure, it takes a little time and practice to learn the art of boomeranging, but this site will teach you all the tricks you need to get started.

From the Stanley Cup playoffs to the women's and men's hockey tournaments at the Winter Olympics, hockey has proven to be one of the fastest, coolest games on Earth. At the Exploratorium's Science of Hockey Web site, you can learn a side of this game that the television announcers never tell you about, such as: How to slap a puck 100 miles per hour, or how much energy is generated by two hockey players in a mid-ice collision. Find out by skating to www.exploratorium.com/hockey . The site features a fascinating look at the mechanics of skating and the science of ice. Plus, you'll hear from leading physicists, chemists, and the players and coaches of the NHL's San Jose Sharks! And when you're ready to hit the ice yourself, be sure to check out the links page, which is a slice of hockey heaven. The Science of Hockey World Wide Web site is for both the young scientist and the hockey enthusiast alike!