Below is a letter I received from a soccer coach whose team
has embraced proper fueling as a way to get to the winners’ circle. I hope it will inspire you to get your team
on the Good Nutrition bandwagon!
Dear Nancy,
I wanted to give you an update on what's happening with our boys’ high school soccer team. Inspired by your Food Guide For Soccer, we've slowly gone from giving only very basic nutrition advice other than "hydrate and eat carbs" to a full-fledged nutrition "battle plan.”
I wanted to give you an update on what's happening with our boys’ high school soccer team. Inspired by your Food Guide For Soccer, we've slowly gone from giving only very basic nutrition advice other than "hydrate and eat carbs" to a full-fledged nutrition "battle plan.”
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Pre-season, the head coach asked if I would talk
to the players on nutrition, explaining he wanted to make nutrition education a
big part of this years’ season. I agreed and have talked to the players, sometimes
several times a week. The information I give them comes almost exclusively from
your Food Guide for Soccer, Sports Nutrition Guidebook, website, and
other articles you have written. The players are being taught, to the best of
our ability, the what, when's and why's of nutrition and how it impacts them
and their game.
Our official high school season began on Aug 31 with two games against two very tough opponents. We ended the day with two wins. 3-0 and 5-0. We are about half way through our regular season with a record of 7 wins, 1 tie and two losses. We are one game away from first place in our division and the team has their sights set on a county championship as well as a district and state title.
The players are engaged and believe in the nutrition improvement effort. They've felt and seen the results and most (dare I say all?) of them get it. I had to chuckle as some of the boys told me that that about a half hour before their first game this season they saw most of the opposing team line up at the snack bar and walk away eating hot dogs, burgers and fried chicken. Our nutrition guide (something I prepare for each game) for that game advised them to avoid those items. We offered them alternatives. Fresh fruit, thick-crust pizza, soft pretzels, and a choice of chocolate milk, water or sports drinks. We beat the opposing team 5-0. First time in 3 years!
For critical evening games, we'll often keep them at school and feed them before they board the bus at 4:30. They have all trained their bodies to accept pre- and mid-game fueling. We've just started to include an additional "emergency" bag of gummies to be used if we find ourselves in overtime situations. We offer them low fat chocolate milk within 15-20 minutes of the end of each game. They all enjoy it and they all know WHAT it's doing for them. They've made their water bottle their best friend. This season leg cramps are extremely rare.
I keep reinforcing my doubt that any team we face will be as well prepared nutritionally. While some teams we'll face may be technically better, most of them will hit the wall by halftime. The “good nutrition advantage” as you know is both physical and psychological. That's powerful.
The players now consider proper fueling to be
their secret weapon. The gummy bear bag is passed around discretely
during halftime and the post-game refueling never takes place within view of
the opposing team. FUNNY! It shows me they believe!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the helpful information in your books!
With appreciation,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the helpful information in your books!
With appreciation,
A happy high school soccer-nutrition coach
Nancy Clark MS RD CSSD
Sports nutrition counselor, consultant, speaker
www.sportsnutritionworkshop.com (Philly 1/24;
Pitt. 2/7; online 24-7)
www.nancyclarkrd.com (books, handouts, PowerPoint
talks)
Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook NEW
Fifth Edition
Food guides for soccer, new runners,
marathoners, cyclists
Twitter.com/nclarkrd iPhone app: Recipes for Athletes
1155 Walnut St, Newton Highlands, MA 02461
Phone:
617.795.1875 Fax: 617.963.7408
