I am watching Cathedral vs. #22 Carmel a high school football game on ESPN. First off ESPN is showing high school football. Carmel is the 2007 Indiana state high school football champions. How cool is that if you are on either one of those high school teams. ESPN plans to show 20 High School games. Second, I am so psyched for football to start, that I am watching a high school game. Heck, if pee wee football was on, there's a good chance that I would be watching it.
Let me set the scenario for the televised game. First game of the season. Its 100 degrees plus on the field in Carmel, Indiana and nearing the end 3rd quarter. I have been watching the game for less then 5 minutes, and the announcers have said, "he's now bothered by cramps now," at least 12 times. Other quotes I have heard are "these early games, its hot, it almost doesn't matter how much you hydrate. The cramps are effecting everyone." "Man those things hurt." "It's got to effect the playing calling. It takes the running game away." "These guys are having trouble moving." They keep going on and on about cramps. The game is definitely being effected by the hydration status of the athletes on the field. The star quarterback is out with cramps (he's committed to Kentucky), the star fullback has been out since the second quarter, guys are holding their legs and hamstrings every time they get tackled. This is a prime example of the importance of hydration and its importance to on field performance.
Watching this game just reiterates the importance of hydration as a Fuel Factor. Dehydration leads to declines in performance and also increases the risk for such things as cramps (which are obvious in this game), muscle strains, and more serious issues related to heat illness and exhaustion. To prevent the cramps the trainers are giving all the kids sports drinks as well as additional electrolytes to help prevent or subdue additional cramping. I am sure that trainers and coaches discussed the possibility of the heat causing cramps and dehydration, but how many of those players actually took a preventative approach.
If you want to keep performance at maximal level, then you must follow simple hydration tools. These tools become increasingly important with increases in heat and humidity. Fuel Factor preaches the UBW ("u be dub") hydration method. U for Urine, B for body weight, and W for (water bottle). Gatorade promotes "WUT." W for Weight, U for Urine, and T for Thirst. Both methods should be used on a daily basis by athletes to help ensure they remain properly hydrated so that one, dehydration does not occur, and two, performance declines caused by fluid loss do not occur.
If you want to learn more about hydration, or are just curious about hydration issues, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute's Sport Science exchange 97 Volume 18 (2005), the American College of Sports Medicine's Position Stand - Exercise and Fluid Replacement (2007), and if you are local greensboro, NC athlete, Fuel Factor has two articles on hydration. The Fuel Factor articles can be found on our website (www.nevergoempty.com)
