The Athlete's Diet - A Guide For Netball Players

Netball is a game that requires a certain discipline and this extends to nutrition. Fuel is important for the body to function properly. Whilst a normal diet may do for a single game a week, getting the most out of your body's capabilities is going to take a bit more effort. And if you're attending several training sessions a week along with games, nutrition is an extremely essential part of your regime. Eating the right foods at the right times will not only prepare you for the game, it will also aid recovery. Taking control of your diet will have you in fighting form for your game and leave you with enough energy for the rest of your life. Look at the week ahead to plan your meals. Often it's a good idea to cook a large batch of food and subsist of this for a few days. When you come home from a gruelling game or netball training session it's good to know that you can simply microwave or heat up a meal that's healthy. This is also a great way to avoid junk food, which we often crave after heavy physical exertion. Another way to avoid the junk food is to try re-organising your days to have your main meal either during the day or prepared during the day so you can have it soon after returning home from training or your game. Knowing how to cook is essential. If you or nobody in your household knows their way around a kitchen (other than cooking toast) then consider talking to a sports nutritionist about your needs. There are also many easy, healthy recipe books published to help you out. Remember that snacking throughout the day isn't a bad thing! Snacking keeps your metabolism chugging along. What's important is what you're snacking on. Eating low energy-releasing foods such as fruits and muesli bars will have you lasting the day without resorting to chocolate or takeaways. Drinks like fruit smoothies, protein shakes and meal supplements can also give you a boost if needed. Pre-game nutrition is an essential part of having enough energy and stamina. Eating a carbohydrate-rich, low fat meal 2 or 3 hours before a game will give you plenty of slow-burning energy to last all of the quarters. Ensuring you have enough fluid before, during and after the game is essential. Drinking with your pre-game meal and netball warm up drills is easy enough, but many players forget to keep hydrated during the game itself. There are several opportunities to quench your thirst throughout the game, so be sure to keep a water bottle handy and go for it during timeouts and in between quarters. Be sure to take care of yourself after the game, too. What you eat to recover your body has a direct impact on your body. Go for fruit if you can or other carbohydrate-rich foods like sandwiches or muesli bars. Nutrition is the fuel your body needs to perform, and it can only perform at its optimum levels if your give it the right sorts of fuels. Taking control of your diet is just as important as sticking to your training regime.