Quote:
Originally Posted by rockhead
I am a HS Football coach, and would like any qualified viewers to help us with some information we can use to give to our kids.
Of course we want them to get bigger faster and stronger, the kids are interested in supplements and we are telling them they just need to eat right and work hard.
Thanks for anything you can add
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Thank you for raising such an excellent question and concern, Coach rockhead.
Informing and educating high school athletes about supplements nowadays is very important. As a coach, you are more than just a mentor to these kids, you are going to be largely responsible for their upbringing and molding them into responsible young men.
Unfortunately, I am not considered a medical and/or nutritional professional and am not qualified to speak as one. But I think the way you answered your own post is excellent, it is entirely hard work and healthy habits that will determine how well one does in sports, and life. However, if you want some suggestions, remind these kids that the statements found on supplement labels are
not regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Also, the ingredients found in some of these supplements are unhealthy and sometimes, potentially dangerous. For example, there used to be an ingredient found in Muscle Milk not too long ago (they've changed it now) that was a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and disrupts nervous system functions. You can read more about it here:
TESTOSTERONE NATION
Also, you need to warn your athletes about seeking information on the internet, because a lot of them get most of their information from the world wide web. When I was in high school, the internet was just beginning to boom. Today, the internet is huge and is easily accessible. Kids can easily access information about anything they type in the search bar. Unfortunately, this also means that any results they find can be bogus and/or bad information.
One thing my coaches did for us while I was in high school is that they would bring in guest speakers to talk to us. These guest speakers were always men who were highly respected, because they had made great accomplishments in athletics. Some of them were professionals athletes, others were former players for my coaches. I felt that the messages they spoke of really came across to me, because I could easily relate to them and look up to them. So whatever they had to say, I would listen very carefully. What I recommend to you is that you bring in guest speaks to talk to your kids. Find as many professional athletes or former professional athletes or even college athletes to come in and talk to your athletes, because their words will help influence them. For example, imagine how cool it would be for your athletes to get Michael Jordan to speak to them about hard work ethics and the dangers of supplements and drugs.
For the record, I am currently attending college. I am a Social Science major at San Diego State University, and I plan to be a high school teacher after I graduate. So I hope to be in the same position as you someday. I played football in high school, so I would also like to be a football coach and/or weightlifting instructor aside from being a teacher. I feel I would be a good mentor to high school kids, especially athletes, because I can relate to them. Like you, I will also address concerns about supplements (and drugs) to help educate them and steer them towards the right path on life.
Nutrition for HS Football players
