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"Life of an Athlete": How Alcohol Poisons Athletic Performance

The "Life of An Athlete" program is focused on providing information to students regarding the negative effects alcohol consumption can have on their athletic performance and their life.

 

 

 

Statistics show that nearly 60% of all seniors and close to 50% of all juniors report regular drinking activity. Studies from the American Athletic Institute have provided evidence that consumption of alcohol directly relates to decreased athletic performance. Alcohol consumption decreases speed, endurance, agility, strength, and concentration; all key factors in the success of an athlete.

The content for "Life of An athlete" was provided by John Underwood, President and Founder of The American Athletic Institute (AAI). The New Mexico Activities Association, with the support and assistance of the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) developed the curriculum and program. The NMAA strongly encourages athletes, parents and coaches to take the FREE interactive Life of An Athlete program.

PositiveSports.net gives Life of An Athlete our highest endorsemement.  This is a powerful course which should be taken by every athlete, coach, and sports parent.

Learn more about Life of An Athlete here...

 

One night of drinking can undo as much as two weeks of athletic training

Athletes and alcohol abuse seem inseparable. The problem starts as early as middle school, expands in high school, and continues to grow in college.  There is no magic bullet to stop the problem.  But facts like the one in the title can cause more athletes to stop and think before they drink.

The American Athletic Institute studies the numbers and the science behind this problem.  The AAI also educates athletes and adults in an effort to curb the trend.  In a recent article at CoachesAid.com, John Underwood of the AAI shows how we can use the facts about alcohol, health, and athletic performance to discourage our athletes from drinking.

Read Sobering Facts About Alcohol Use and Athletes at CoachesAid.com.

College & High School: The continuing problem of athletes and alcohol

By Steve Horan, PositiveSports.net

Many if not most college and high schol coaches encourage their athletes to train for peak performance.  Yet too many athletes engage in alcohol abuse and assume the associated risks.  Consider:

• Male college athletes have significantly higher rates of heavy drinking (defined as five or more drinks in a row) than non-athletes (57 percent to 48 percent) (NCAA)
• Female college athletes have significantly higher rates of heavy drinking (defined as four or more drinks in a row) than non athletes (48 percent to 40 percent) (NCAA)
• Multiple stuidies indicate alcohol is involved in between one half and three quarters of college campus sexual assaults
• Multiple studies suggest that male athletes are more likely to commit sexual assault than nonathletes.

Now take a look at the high school statistics:

 

New study raises questions about alcohol, violence, and sports participation among youth

Source: Medline Plus November 11, 2009

A study of more than 13,000 high school students by Raindow Babies and Children's Hospital in Ohio finds that:

For boys, participation in team sports was correlated with an increased likelihood of fighting, drinking and binge drinking. Rates of depression and smoking, however, seemed to decline.

White girls who were active in team sports reported lower levels of fighting, depression, smoking, marijuana use and unhealthy weight loss practices. Black high school girls reported increased levels of binge drinking.

Correlation does not equal causality. But, the results raise two important questions for coaches and parents:

• Is there something about the youth sports environment which encourages the cited negative behaviors?
• Should coaches and parents more actively discourage athletes to engage in drinking and other risk behaviors?

To learn more, read a more complete summary of the study at Medline Plus.

The American Academy of Pediatrics on Performance Enhancing Substances

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness

Despite all of the cautions about performance enhancing drugs, they are still in play, sometimes with the approval of coaches and even parents. 

This product from American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness provides an objective review of the risks of performance enhancing substances. The risks are sobering to say the least. 

Although the statement is aimed at pediatricians, it should be read by every coach, athletic director, and parent in an environment where athletes might be tempted to try steroids or other performance enhancing drugs.  We can use this knowledge  to proactively educate our athletes about the serious dangers of performance enhancing substances .

Click here to view the full report at the American Academy of Pediatrics website. 

Avoiding Athletic Supplement Contamination

Author: Lee, Jimson

Source: SpeedEndurance.com

Protecting our athletes from accidental doping is extremely important within the goal of helping them lead a healthy lifestyle. Accidental doping resulting from the consumption of unregulated nutritional supplements that have been contaminated with band substances is the reason some athletes fail drug tests on the Olympic and college level. High school level coaches, or recreational league coaches within the same age groups need to be aware and educate their athletes of these risks, especially if they are considering using supplements. Jimson Lee puts this issue into perspective, as offers suggestions for companies which should be trusted more than others. Protecting our athletes from accidental doping is extremely important within the goal of helping them lead a healthy lifestyle.

Click here to view full article at SpeedEndurance.com.

Health Risks and the Teen Athlete

Source: Women's Sports Foundation

It is conventional wisdom that sports participation promotes good health. However, this is not always the case. This article from the Women's Sports Foundation presents research findings on the positive and negative health impact of sports on both girls and boys. This report also points out specific policy recommendations for administrators and coaches. This report ends with giving advice towards reducing the health risks associated with sports.

Click here to view full report at the Women's Sports Foundation's website.

Coaching against alcohol

By Steve Horan

 

Multiple studies show that college and high school athletes are at higher risk for alcohol abuse (especially binge drinking) than non-athletes. What would happen if all coaches stood up and spoke out against alcohol abuse by athletes?

 

 

Everyone involved in youth sports has seen the destructive impact of alcohol, either in our own program or the one down the road.  The ingestion of poisonous amounts of alcohol is bad enough.  Even worse is the collateral damage - sexual risk behaviors, sexual assault, fighting, drunk driving, suicide, and a general deterioration in health and well being.

If we are candid, we have to admit that relatively few athletic programs take an assertive approach to alcohol prevention.  There are various reasons for this, but we can do better by getting educated and delivering a clear message that we disapprove of alcohol use by our young athletes.

Sins of a Father

Corey Gahan was a champion in-line skater at 13. Then his dad put him on a regimen of steroids and HgH.

Many coaches and parents believe steroids do not become an issue until at least high school, or later on at the college or professional levels. This article from SI.com is an important true story that all youth coaches should read.

Click here to view full article at SI.com.

Helpful Resources from Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free

Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free addresses the influence educators, coaches, have in the prevention of alcohol abuse by youth. This web site has many different materials available to any interested party in the prevention of alcohol abuse by youth. This link for educators provides warning signs for childhood drinking, questions to ask yourself, foundation for a strong school alcohol policy, and links to other publications and resources. 

Click here to link to Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free for Educator's web page.