OK..thanks....I will play around with the lens and manual setting once I get it on Monday...however if I am having trouble figuring out shutter speed, aperature, iso, etc..would it be better to shoot on the fixed aperature of 2.8 and only change the iso to get the right shutter speed to freeze the action.....

What flash do you recommend? I have the D80.

I thought the flash didn't help out that much when you were some distance away?

Thanks for your help.