Eating right helps football
Inside the Lines
Mark Hopkins
"Inside the Lines" is a look into the world
of the Cougar football team. Each week Mark Hopkins gives his thoughts
on the week that was, game preparations,
weekly routine and life as a student athlete.
Today he talks about how members of the football team are encouraged to
maintain healthy and balanced diets
to maintain prime physical conditioning
before and during the season.
Summers are spent conditioning and getting
ready for football season. Players have to be in peak condition, both physically
and mentally, going into
two-a-day workouts in August.
At the end of each summer off-season, Cougar
football players are tested to see how far they have progressed. These
tests include timed running, agility
drills and weight training maximum limits.
In addition to these tests, body measurements
are taken. Height, weight, arms, legs and body fat percentage are all measured.
Results are recorded and
compared to the individual's previous
tests as well to those of other team members.
The testing proves that our off-season
conditioning has definitely been worth it. We have improved much in size,
speed and over-all physical and mental
condition. We are definitely ready to
get the season underway.
Part of our ongoing program to condition
in the off-season includes proper diet and nutrition.
We all know that eating "right" is very
important. But most of us don't know what that is.
A typical college student doesn't eat well-balanced
meals on a regular basis. A schedule of attending classes all day and studying
until late at night, with
small doses of personal activities in
between, doesn't lend itself to eating nutritious meals.
But the Cougar football players are concerned
about nutrition and that has become a major focus this summer. The coaching
staff has helped us focus on
nutrition by hosting nutrition experts
as guests in our off-season schedule. These experts helped players assess
their own eating habits and improve them
to avoid deficiencies and diseases.
Getting just the right amounts of proteins,
carbohydrates, calories and even fat is important to a total nutritional
program. The experts explain a good nutrition
program in small groups, or one-on-one
counseling, if the players choose.
Reading material on the subject is provided,
and counselors can help a player refine his personal program. Initially,
the subject of nutrition seemed
overwhelming, but in just a few days,
we found that a sound program is easy to develop and follow.
Knowing correct amounts, and staying away
from the junk foods most young adults usually eat, has helped with our
nutritional needs.
