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Hydration strategies for spring competition
03/18/2013 - 10:38 am
As warm weather approaches, football players and coaches are starting to pull out the helmets, shoulder pads, blocking shields and lesson plans for spring workouts.
One key to a good football practice is proper hydration.
Throughout training – including before, during and after – players and coaches both must focus on maintaining adequate hydration levels. Drinking plenty of fluids and staying well-hydrated benefits onfield performance while reducing the risk of heat stress or illness.
Read More »Staying hydrated equally important in the cold
09/21/2012 - 11:13 am
This story was orginally posted Nov. 3, 2009.
You play the way you practice. Every athlete at any level has heard this motivational speech from his coaches before. Coaches know that practicing is essential to progress, but if done inefficiently or incorrectly, it can actually hinder one's improvement.
JohnEric Smith, Ph.D., a Senior Scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, wants athletes and coaches to use that same concept and apply it to proper hydration during cold weather seasons.
Read More »Experts warn against caffeinated energy drinks for young athletes
08/01/2012 - 05:06 pm
Athletes often look for a quick boost to gain an edge.
Some – including youth players whose bodies can’t handle the elevated levels of caffeine – are turning to caffeinated energy drinks to provide a burst prior to practices and games.
This is a short-sighted and sometimes dangerous approach, said St. Vincent Sports Performance sports dietician Lindsay Langford. A proper diet and adequate hydration provide young athletes all the energy they need.
Read More »Maintaining balance is the key for heat and hydration
07/19/2012 - 05:07 pm
As football teams return to practice during the next few weeks, coaches will pay attention to many things – effort and execution among them.
Lisa Heaton of Gatorade Sports Science Institute wants coaches to add another item to their watch lists.
Heat indexes.
Heaton spoke Thursday during the NFL/USA Football Youth Summit in Canton, Ohio, urging 150 youth commissioners and high school head football coaches in attendance to become as familiar with hydration and heat preparedness as they are zone blitzes.
Read More »AP: Athlete deaths in workouts prompt new guidelines
06/29/2012 - 11:40 am
The most dangerous time for amateur athletes may not be during the heat of the game or even in rigorous practices. A total of 21 college football players have collapsed and died during conditioning workouts since 2000 — many on the first few days, when even the fittest players are often pushed too hard.
Read More »Coaches, families need to watch hydration levels as well
03/22/2012 - 12:59 pm
Players aren’t the only ones needing proper hydration during hot months.
Coaches experience the same high temperatures as their players during practices. Most of the time, they do similar exercises as their players, such as throwing and running. This means they have to be just as cognizant about hydration as their players.
Read More »NCAA posters help combat high temperatures with smart approach to practice
08/05/2011 - 02:59 pm
Top help prevent illness and dehydration during record-setting heat waves sweeping across the nation, the NCAA is providing parents, players and coaches with good advice to combat high temperatures.
The NCAA has released three posters that are free and available to download from the Internet. The posters warn athletes and coaches about the dangers of the August heat and how to prepare for it. They feature slogans such as “Beat the Heat” and “Tackling Two-a-days” and list a number of ways to cope.
Read More »Staying cool: The essentials for dealing with the August heat
08/04/2011 - 01:36 pm
Coaches face a dilemma every August.
On one hand, the start of the preseason means getting their players in shape, but they have to do it during the hottest time of the year. This combination forces them to monitor how much they push their players during the late summer heat.
Read More »Staying properly hydrated just as important when weather turns cold
09/21/2010 - 12:28 pm
The need to stay hydrated is obvious during preseason summer workouts, when players are dripping with sweat as the sun beats down on them.
But as the temperature beings to drop, the issue is no less important when it comes to keeping players safe, said Dr. JohnEric Smith, a senior scientist at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute and a member of USA Football's Football and Wellness Committee.
Read More »Heat and Hydration: Signs of Dehydration and Tips for Rehydrating
07/26/2010 - 12:03 pm
As the summer sun continues to bear down, the dog days of August and preseason football are just around the corner.
Many youth leagues and high schools across the country will begin preparations for the 2010 season with two-a-day practices filled with conditioning drills, play installation and fine-tuning fundamentals. The physical and mental grind will be at a high, meaning proper hydration will be paramount.
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