Proper Diet Before Competition

The importance of eating correctly before a game has been well documented and is a necessary trait for the athlete who wants to compete at peak performance in any sport. I have seen in my own experiences how not eating correctly can affect the energy I have during a game.

With all the other factors that go into each game, such as physical preparation, mental preparation, and scouting, it is a real shame for an athlete to not know the correct diet to maintain in order to let all that preparation fully be seen out on the court.

Here is a core group of three things that athletes need to be putting into their bodies before each game. It is important to note that proper eating begins several days before the game, and also that it is best for athletes to eat 3 hours before the game to get the most out of all the nutrients.

  

                                 What to drink?

According the National Academy of Sports medicine, it is advised to drink 2 to 3 cups of fluid before game time. Also, 30 minutes before game time attempt to drink ½ to 1 cups of fluid. The ideal drinks would be simply water which has no negative properties to it. Also, even though Gatorade has sugar, it has electrolytes which will help keep muscles working properly. I have found Gatorade prime, the first step in the G Series, works extremely well if it is drunken 30 minutes before game time to prevent the cramping up of muscles.

                                                                 

                                    Foods with Carbohydrates

The pregame meal needs to consist of foods that are high in complex carbs, and these types of foods are the most important for athletes of any sports because carbs provide the energy that fuels muscle contractions. Once eaten, carbohydrates breakdown into smaller sugars) that get absorbed and used as energy. Whole grains are full of complex carbs and should be added to any meal before a game. Also look for leafy greens and rice if possible.

                             Foods with Protein

Protein is essential for rebuilding the muscles that are worn down during games, which is why proteins are a good meal for athletes both before and after games. Protein needs to be combined with the carbs in order to let each substance do its job. The carbs will provide the energy and the protein will provide the rebuilding of muscles. You do not want to lean simply on protein to provide energy for the game. The best foods to look for include meat, fish, and especially eggs. Eating these foods in the proper amount will help increase the strain you can take during the game. Also nuts are a quick snack that can be used before games to get solid protein as well.

                                                Food to Avoid

According to Yahoo Sports the nutrients that you need to avoid before the game include caffeine, foods with high sodium, and sugars. Specific foods to avoid which can cause issues to your digestive system before a game include cucumbers, beans, fiber rich grains, milk, and sugar alcohols. 

Faith in More

                                         Faith

If there is one thing that drives Milwaukee Marquette’s Coach David Cooks, it’s faith. You do not need to talk with him for very long to see just how influential and important his faith is to every aspect of his life.

I was told that Coach Cooks was a man who lived by his faith in Jesus Christ, but I truly experienced it after I was able to talk with him.

I asked Coach Cooks how important his faith is to him, and his first answer sentence summed up everything,

                             “Christ supersedes everything I do”

Coach Cooks explained to me how everything he does, whether its teaching, coaching, etc, falls under underneath living for Christ because this belief provides the boundries with which he runs his life.

 He can’t help but let it be seen because to Coach Cooks and so many others, its proves that you can be a Chrstian, be successful, and not have to succumb to certain practices that are a “norm” in the coaching arena. This does not mean that he is judging others by any means, but that he chooses to try to live by a set of higher standards. Coach expressed that:

“Who I am is because of who Christ is to me”

The faith within Coach Cooks is what drives him to do his very best, because of his belief that he is attempting to do his best for God’s glory. You cannot give a subpar effort, if you have a Christian faith, because you are not doing it for yourself or for others, but for God.

With this foundation built on faith, I asked Coach Cooks what he hopes to pass onto his players once they graduate. Coach Cooks four solid principles that he hoped he could give to his athletes.

1. He hoped to live out what he preached. He wanted to show his athletes that God is real and also Coach Cooks wanted to show his players that he loved them through the life that he lives.

2. He hoped to stress the importance of family, and of being part of a family. A family does not simply mean those immediately related to you, but instead extends to both teammates and coaches. Coach Cooks hoped that players would realize to rely on family, and to always be there for your team when they need you.

3. He hoped to help his players realize the importance of perspective, because when you have a correct perspective of the situation, you being to appreciate the things that you do have. 

4. Finally, he wanted his players to understand that there is no substitute for hard work. When his players do what is right with all their might, no matter what the outcome they can be satisfied.

Coach Cooks understands doing what is right no matter what the situation. He was been in a wheel chair for the past 32 years of his life, but has refused to let that prevent him from coaching or living for Christ. This same determination transfers to the basketball court where he believes that players should never quit, but continue to fight till the end. Coach stresses how there are so many lessons that be learned through the process of improving skills and working hard.

Overall, I believe that Coach’s Cooks life and his philosophy can be summed up this statement:

                   

                             

                 “Do everything with all of your might and strength unto God”

Coach Cooks should be a great example to all of us. Anyone who puts their faith and trust in Christ can live for a higher purpose. It is then possible to play for a purpose that is more important that the scoreboard.

Understanding Success: The John Wooden Way

John Wooden is one of the greatest speakers on success that we have ever known. I did a short video based on John Wooden's pyramid of success, which helps to view success beyond the scoreboard. View video by clicking the link below.

Pyramid of Success