Got Water?

Yesterday I felt that if I drank anymore water I would probably produce about two humps. I decided to have a late afternoon run which was great. I ran for about 26 minutes at a moderate pace. Then the Mrs. decided to take the little one out for a walk, and me being the big macho guy that I am, felt that it would be great to put bubs in the sling instead of pushing the pram. So here I am lugging 10 kilos (she’s eight months old) of cute, cuddly joy, over some pretty serious hills. To tell you the truth I worked up a sweat. What I also worked up was a serious thirst. We don’t get too much H2O in our systems, that’s a fact. Following is some advice about why hydration is so important for the competitive soccer player.

I’m not going to give you the ABC’s of water, you are probably grilled by your coach as to hydration. If not, well I’d truly ask what your coaches qualifications are? Water is of the utmost importance for the athlete. Sodium/potassium drinks like Gatorade are also extremely important during competition. Why? There is a phenomenon in our bodies called the sodium-potassium pump. This little beauty, helps regulate the amount of sodium or potassium being pushed in and out of your muscles. If you don’t have the right amount of sodium or potassium in your blood stream, your muscles are not going to function at their maximum. This is why electrolytic drinks are so important.

Competitive soccer players need to hydrate often, before, during and after a game. Water contributes to every facet of your body’s makeup. If you don’t have a good intake of water, then the muscles don’t function, the brain does not function..well you pretty much end up bursting into flames (not that serious!) Most athletes totally forget about the need for proper hydration, this is why the trainers role is to inform you before, during and after competition to constantly hydrate. This article points to some very good studies that tell of the need for athletes to consume water and an electrolytic drink with some carbs mixed in to maximize performance.

Never, ever forget the importance of drinking water throughout the day, and during competition. The need for electrolytic drinks with carbs added can help fuel continued performance, help with thermo regulation and restore vital body fluids for better overall well-being. A good question to ask yourself regularly is…”Have I got enough water”?