Dec. 21, 2014 
Elite athletes know how to deliver elite performances. And they know that the best way to fuel elite performances is to make great nutrition choices. But fueling elite performances shouldn't be limited to our elite athletes.
Nutrition is a key contributor to performance. And it's one that is often overlooked for athletes of all ages. The building blocks of good nutrition start with just good instincts. Starting from a young age, you probably knew not to eat certain things before a game, or to not eat too much because it's hard to digest before the game starts. What youth athletes might not know is that certain foods can make you feel more energetic, think more clearly, and benefit performance in training and competition.
Here at Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive™ we believe that parents and coaches can help youth athletes incorporate sports nutrition into their pre-game plans to bring out their best performance. Think of food as fuel for everything your youth athletes do.
We sat down with USA Water Polo Women's Senior National Team standout Annika Dries, to get her thoughts on how youth athletes, coaches and Positive Sport Parents can help fuel elite performances.
In our exclusive TAKE 5 interview, Annika told us that "awareness" and "routine" are both key components to fueling elite performance in the pool.
"Having an awareness of what you are eating daily and developing a solid routine are two important keys to fueling performance," said Annika. "Notice how your body feels during a workout when you eat well, and strive to maintain that diet."
Annika said that another top priority for youth athletes should be to always stay hydrated.
"I think that it is important to stay hydrated throughout the day and workouts, with more than just water," said Annika. "While I enjoy drinking alkaline water with minerals such as Waiakea throughout the day, I like to supplement with some type of electrolyte, especially during longer workouts."
As much as water intake should be maximized, Annika believes that soda should be eliminated - or at least drastically reduced.
"Honestly, soda and juice are probably a large source of unnecessary sugar and "not fueling" calories," said Annika.
Annika added that she believes coaches and parents can both play a vital role in ensuring youth athletes properly fuel their performances.
"Coaches can encourage players to bring their own reusable water bottle to practices and games," said Annika. "Also, building in short water breaks can help athletes develop awareness of when they need to hydrate."
Positive Sport Parents, meanwhile, can help out by making sure elite performances are also being fueled in the home.
"Starting an awareness of nutrition early can build important routines," said Annika. "Food is fuel, and reminders can help the athletes stay engaged in practice and on game days on what they do best - go play!"
To read the full TAKE 5 interview with Annika, visit PlayPositive.com. And come back next month for another exclusive TAKE 5 interview!
At Liberty Mutual Insurance, we constantly look for ways to celebrate the countless acts of positivity shown by people every day. We created Play Positive, powered by Positive Coaching Alliance, as part of this belief to help ensure that our kids experience the best that sports have to offer in environments that promote and display positivity. We believe kids can learn valuable life lessons when coaches and parents come together to support winning in and out of the pool.
©2014 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and Positive Coaching Alliance. All rights reserved. This material may not be distributed without express written permission. Any reproduction in whole or part by and individuals or organizations will be held liable for copyright infringement to the full extent of the law.
