My son is in jv football, how can he recover from 2 a day practices?

Question

My son is in jv football, how can he recover from 2 a day practices?

Answer 1

VERRY GOOD QUESTION. MY SON IS ALSO PLAYING FOR JV.  I TRY TO GIVE HIM LOTS OF PROTEIN AND VITAMINS . THAT SEEMS TO BE HELPING HIM. NOT BRAGGING BUT HE IS PLAYING OFFENSE  AND DEFENE..HE SEEMS TO BE VERRY ACTIVE ON WEEKEND LOL..

Answer 2

Gatorade, rest, lots of carbs...fix him a big plate of pasta

Answer 3

We used to make our own fresh-squeezed fruit juice as a team--we used alot of bananas for their potassium.  I have used pickle juice as well, albeit for Girls basketball conditioning.  Take a tip from soccer and have him eat oranges and drink a little water in between two-a-days if the two practices are not long apart.  You are losing alot of iodine, so salt.   Make sure he is staying away from muscle enhancing drinks as they are dangerous under these extreme conditions--he is more likely to be using these if the coaches are requiring him to lift on top of practicing.  

Water cannot be overstated; in fact, another way to replenish lost electrolytes is specialty bottled water.  (Caution: really cold water is not good on your system after being in intense heat)  Gatorade and Powerade are not ideal either, as the sugar tends to bring you down.  The guy who has said "off field" G2 is not incorrect however--my understanding is that its not as sugar based as the other power drinks--or you may make him ginger water.  

Most teenagers and some coaches alike are foolish and forget their boys should stretch after each practice as well.  Some dynamic warm-ups in the morning help.  And, of course, regimented rest--stick to the regimen even if you have weekends or a day off!!!  

Anything more specific and I may run out of bounds.  There are alot of other variables, like local heat and humidity--here my opinion is skewed, having played and coached football in the Southeast.  If you are in California, for example, you are in such a different environment.  Seek out local medical advice.  I was thinking last night, your state athletics association should have mandates posted online...again knowing your local environ is everything.  Do you know any fathers who used to play locally?  

Does the team have an A.T.?  Enquire with him/her or a physician before doing anything too out of the norm, as with anything pertaining to the body's health.

Try to keep in mind that your boy is training his body for the long and punishing season ahead.  Kissing every bruise beats the purpose of two-a-days--I mean that almost literally.  Its more important to get him into season-long habits that sustain the body.

Answer 4

I do exactly the same. And play varsity and start as a linebacker. I akways do this and it alays works. Put ice in your bath tub and tell him to get in and stay there for 10 mins and all the soreness will go away. It is the NICEST feeling after the ice bath. Trust me it works

Answer 5

eat light but eat right...good carbs and protein...also drink lot of water stretch and get enough sleep.

Answer 6

1 huge ice bath

Answer 7

Rest and fluids.

Make sure he's getting enough sleep, and eating good meals. Mostly carbs and protein. Pasta, eggs, chicken, bagels. Bananas are great with breakfast. MAKE SURE HE EATS BREAKFAST! We've had a handful of kids complain of dizziness or nauseousness, none of them ate breakfast...

Biggest thing though is making sure he's taking in plenty of water. He's losing a couple of pounds in fluids every day.

A trick to help prevent cramping is the Ramen Pride/Marachan noodles, or something with alot of sodium the night before....

Answer 8

TAKING A LONG, HOT SHOWER AFTER INTENSE PRACTICE IN THE HEAT CAN PUT YOUR SON'S HEALTH AT RISK.

It makes as much sense as putting snow on frostbite or butter on a burn. The recovery mission is to replace fluids and cool the body. A hot shower will not help him recover.

You should have your son drinking water all the time: before, during and after practice. This should continue through September, at least. You see kids cramping up at games everywhere in the early season because they are not replacing the fluids they are losing.

It is a good idea to take a shower to clean off dirt and sweat and ward off staph infections. But cold water will help his muscles recover. If you have a trash can or hot tub you can fill with ice and water, put him in it for 15-20 minutes. After he has eaten a good meal and had a good night's sleep, he will awake in much better shape.

Answer 9

take in protein

Answer 10

Haha my brother is playing JV football as well! He also has two-a-days practice.

Well to answer your question:

1) Make sure he eats a breakfast full of Carbs and protein! Breakfast is overlooked and is vital for his perfomance..

2) Withing 30 minutes after exercise make him consume carbs and protein (sandwich is perfect for this)

3) After the practice(s) he should take a cool shower to reduce soreness and make sures he will cool down.

4) Prepare a dinner full of carbs and protein, so when he goes to sleep the body will utilize the nutrients during his sleep to repair muscle.

5) Make sure he drinks a LOT of water, this keeps him from being dehydrated and flushes out bad things in your body.

6) Make sure he gets a lot of sodium, to prevent cramping. Ham is very good for this and potassium from fruits like bananas are effective too.

List of foods that are great for these purposes (or all around eating):

Carbs:

-Pasta

-Rice

-Whole Grain bread

Protein:

-Eggs

-Steak (lean)

-Chicken/turkey breast

-Tuna/Salmon

-Ground Turkey

If these steps are followed, your son will surely recover faster and be less sore for the day ahead.

Answer 11

Hot bath with Epsom salt. Eating carbs, protein, and staying hydrated. Good sleep and rest.

Answer 12

Stay hydrated between practice and sit in the bathtub with cold water.  Make sure he's eating alot fruit and get the electrolytes back in him by drinking G2.