Home > Muscle & Fitness > News > Nutrition & supplementsInterstate travel is a regular part of an elite AFL player's life, and this brings extra challenges to preparation, performance and recovery. Five of the sixteen AFL teams are non-Victorian based, meaning that players travel interstate regularly throughout the year. In addition to 'away' games, many teams also choose to play some of their home games interstate so that supporters around the country can watch their favourite team play eg. Hawthorn Football Club has a strong supporter base in Tasmania and play several home games each year in Launceston. With pre-season practice games in rural and remote areas, plus travel for finals at the end of the year, there is plenty of flying and overnight stays for AFL players. With careful planning and preparation, it is possible to reduce the 'home-ground advantage' of opposition teams. The food and fluid consumed when travelling is important for a number of reasons and can help to improve game performance. Adequate travel nutrition:
The key nutrition goals when travelling include:
Before you leave homeAFL players and teams take a range of supplies when they are on the road to be prepared for all situations. Hawthorn Football Club always travel with a range of Aussie Bodies snacks such as Protein FX bars, Protein Revival drinks and the new PC's for during flights and game day. Other great snack options to take on the plane include grain and fruit based bars, nuts/dried fruit, wholegrain dry biscuits or sandwiches. Top AFL players know it is always wise to have a balanced meal before leaving for the airport, as you can never really be sure what meal you will receive on the plane! Filling up with a meal that contains carbohydrate combined with high-quality protein will reduce temptation to reach for high fat and/or sugar snacks. A couple of wholegrain chicken and salad sandwiches or some pasta with a tomato-based lean meat/chicken sauce are great options. Aussie Bodies have recently developed Time Release, a new protein supplement that is perfect to take before a flight. Time release drip feeds muscles and maintains an anabolic state. With five protein sources; Micellar Casein, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Calcium Caseinate and Egg, this product provides stage released absorption. Aussie Bodies Time Release ensures elite athletes are nourished throughout flights, they arrive at their destination ready to perform at their peak and post match fatigue is reduced. During FlightsHydration is a priority on all flights due to extra fluid losses that occur in the pressurised cabin. AFL players are encouraged to carry a large water bottle on the plane and drink consistently during flights and continue this once the plane has landed. Water should be the main drink consumed, however other fluids also help to hydrate. Aussie Bodies protein drinks provide the added benefits of providing balanced carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and minerals which help to prepare the body for the game ahead. When playing in hot/humid environments, electrolyte beverages may also be required to promote optimal hydration. For flights greater than one hour it is expected that players will need to eat. It is a good idea to take foods on the plane to ensure nutrition requirements for fuelling and hydration are met. On ArrivalThe Sports Dietician from each AFL club will discuss food and fluid requirements with the hotel to ensure appropriate options are provided and many of the hotels catering for AFL clubs understand that athletes have specific requirements. The team dinner will often be early in the evening, but many players take extra snacks for later on, such as fruit, yoghurt, Protein FX bars or Protein Revival drinks. Pre-GameIn the lead up to the game, the focus should be on foods and fluids that provide adequate carbohydrates, not too much fat, and easily digested protein. Players are often not too hungry, therefore light snacks or fluids are a preferred option. Aussie Bodies protein supplements are a great alternative to solid foods as they provide an easily digested source of carbohydrate and high quality protein to help fuel optimal performance on field and improve recovery. |
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