Kids, teenagers, and even older skaters are often
raised in a fast-food culture. Fast food is ubiquitous,
inexpensive and tasty. One fast-food giant claims a corporate goal
of having one of its establishments within four minutes of every
American. Fast foods and soft drinks have replaced home cooked meals
and more nutritious beverages in many schools. Moreover, many
coaches grew up at time when nutritional recommendations for sport
were non-existent. So, how can we get our skaters to eat better for
sport? While there is no one solution, a three-step approach can
help.
1.
GET SUPPORT.
Nutrition recommendations should be a team approach. Skaters should
enlist the support of their coach and parents to reinforce nutrition
recommendations. If the skater’s support team is in agreement
that nutrition is important, compliance is more likely. If all
members of the skater’s support team recognize the need for proper
hydration, fluids are more likely to be provided during practice, at
competitive events, at the rink, and during team meetings.
For younger athletes, parental support is key. Children
cannot be expected to choose proper foods and fluids if their
parents skip meals and order pizza for dinner several evenings each
week. Coaches... communicate the importance
of proper nutrition and set the example!
Moms and dads... don't take your kids by
McDonalds after practice just for convenience... go the extra mile
by cooking something healthy. If you must eat "something on the go,"
choose a healthy sub sandwich.
2.
GET REAL.
Make nutrition recommendations relevant to the skaters. Focus your
efforts on nutrition early in the season, when skaters are excited
about the upcoming season. Emphasize that food and fluids are
critical parts of training. Without the ability to properly fuel
for training, recovery can be slow and risk for injury increased. Make recommendations fit the real world of the skaters. If skaters
eat from the value menu of a fast-food restaurant, tell them which
options they can eat. Let them know that value meals “Number 2 or 4”
are good choices, but that “Number 8” is not. Translate fluid
goals into understandable units. Find out how much fluid their sport
bottles hold and mark lines for pre-training fluid needs and
competition fluid needs. Give them practical tips for high-energy
foods to carry in their skate bags, stash in their car, or tuck in
their jackets.
3.
GET SPECIFIC.
Learn the sport of speed skating, and tailor recommendations for
speed skating. A starting point guard on the basketball team has
different nutritional needs from the back-up player who rarely sees
action on the court. The baseball or softball catcher has higher
energy needs than an outfielder. Develop a “Nutritional Playbook”
for the team, emphasizing nutritional needs of our sport of speed
skating. Translate nutrition recommendations into food plans. Tell
the skaters what they should eat for breakfast instead of giving
them general guidelines such as “increase carbohydrate and have a
moderate amount of protein.” Skaters set goals for the season; why
not establish food and fluid goals as well? Research on adults who
try goal setting for dietary change suggests that goal-setting
strategies are likely to lead to better eating habits. While no one
strategy will work for every skater, be alert for that “teachable
moment” and take advantage of every opportunity to help skaters see
the value of healthful eating for peak performance.
Remember,
when it gets down to it, winning is all about the details… are you
missing out on this important detail? It’s easy to tell… take a poll
of your skaters right after practice. Ask them what they had to eat
immediately after their last afternoon practice… I bet it was
McDonalds, Burger King or something similar.
If coaches don’t provide the proper nutritional
direction, parents don’t support this direction, and skaters do not
discipline themselves to follow positive nutritional guidelines, the
skater will never reach his or her fullest potential… it’s a cold,
hard fact.
So, coaches and parents, if you're not preaching and living a
nutritional lifestyle, don't expect the best from your skaters.
Mediocre efforts begets mediocre results... how ironic.
