One subject that is always touchy in dealing with high school players is supplementation. As intense and scrutinized as the sport can be, players want to reach the highest levels possible. And coaches want to see them reach those levels – for themselves, for the team, and for our own personal glory. However, many states discourage coaches (or forbid!) from discussing nutrition supplements with their players. Let me start by saying that I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. There are obviously medical issues that can be involved and I do not claim to be an expert. That’s the disclaimer, now on to my opinions.
Here’s the problem with that. It’s not that I am in favor of us, as coaches, slamming supplements down their throats (if they get a D-1 scholarship, they’ll get enough of that). But we should at least be able to talk sensibly with the players about them. If all we ever discuss is abstinence, and not safe sex, with adolescents, we know what is more likely to happen. (Did you see this blog going in that direction?) Well if we don’t talk to the kids, they learn from somewhere else. The guy at the GNC pimps some snake oil, or worse, to them. They get advice from one of the bodybuilding magazines, pushing products for whoever pays them the most money. Or what’s worse, they get some guy at the local Gold’s Gym telling them how much this stuff in a needle can do for you! We’re supposed to tell them how dangerous Steroids are, but never give them a safe alternative?
Why don’t we talk to our players about proper, safe supplementation? There are some great supplements out there, that are safe and beneficial to athletes. And then there are some supplements that should be avoided by young athletes. And our players, well, they know absolutely nothing about either one.
Safe supplementation involves knowing what you are taking, when to take it, possible side effects, expected benefits, and more. Products that are safe for the High School athlete to use are products such as Whey Protein. Players need to know when to use it though, and how much to use. They also need to know that protein shakes are not a magic bullet, but rather a supplment to a healthy diet and rigorous training regiment. Muscle Milk is a great product, that is safe but needs to be taken properly. Many colleges provide this product (in the “Collegiate” form) to their players. Some players may benefit from weight gainer, but again they must know how to use these products. There’s no need to take 2200 calories in at once! Cut the serving size in half, and then split that shake up over two meals during the day.
Players should be taking protein in before and after their workouts. Since they probably cannot (or are not allowed) to take a protein shake before workouts, they should get that serving in the form of a meal, like a peanut butter sandwich. Another good time to take protein shakes is right before bed time or right after waking up in the morning. The body is going to be going into a starvation mode in the middle of the night, and we want to get it out of that.
Most supplements that you will find in a GNC are completely worthless, and our kids are wasting money (their parents money, usually) on it. Kids are getting their advice from a salesman, not a qualified professional. Unfortunately, I was one of those kids in High School, so I’ve tried almost everything. It would be nice to be able to talk to the kids and tell them what is garbage, what is dangerous, and what actually helps.
Players who are trying to lose weight, or get “up” for a workout, may try fat burners. These are dangerous, particularly for a very active player who already has his or her heart rate up. (As a side note, if you have kids downing those energy drinks like Red Bull, they need to know how dangerous it is immediately!) Overweight players would benefit much more from changing their diet and adding a few pounds of muscle, which will burn more fat. Another product that I would not recommend to a High School athlete is Creatine. Does it work? Absolutely. Its one of the best supplements on the market – for an adult. Not for a 16 year-old. There are no studies, to my knowledge, that show the effects of Creatine on the body of a teenager who is still developing. When a kid is already pumping out more testosterone than any 30 year old ‘roid freak, he doesn’t need to take that risk.
To be honest, I know very little about the N.O. products, but I would put them in the category of not safe for a teenager, and not necessary. Word on the street is that they can give you a nasty case of bubble gut, so I have avoided them.
Players must know that none of these things are a magic bullet. There is only one magic bullet, Anabolic Steroids, but the dangers far outweigh the benefits. Continued education on this subject can save lives, careers, and more.
Unfortunately, many coaches avoid these subjects with their players, or are ordered to avoid these subjects. Many players are putting things into their body that they don’t know anything about. Some of them are harmless, some worthless, and some dangerous. We do not present alternatives to steroids. Politicians and administrations with no knowledge of the subject fear getting into legal issues, rather than looking out for the best interest of players. Let’s do our best to steer these kids in the right direction. Supplements are a delicate subject in High School Football.
