The timing of a meal also remains important; most players will eat about three hours before a game, Bonci said. “A meal may be three hours prior, but that doesn’t mean that everybody’s eating it,” Bonci said. “The nerve factor is there, and there are a lot of players that just don’t have an appetite,” she said.

Eat a large meal at least 3 to 4 hours before a competition to give your body time to digest the food. If you cannot eat a meal 3 to 4 hours before the competition, eat a light meal or snack. The amount of time it takes for your body to digest food is as follows: 3 to 4 hours to digest a large meal.

The night before a game a player should eat a high carbohydrate meal to maximize glycogen stores. Ideally it should contain easily digestible starchy foods such as pasta, bread, rice and fruit. A glass of water should also accompany the evening meal.

Try pre-game meals like:

• Turkey sandwich on whole-grain bread with low-fat cheese, yogurt, fruit or granola bar.
• Pasta with 3-4 ounces of meat sauce, bread sticks, low-fat milk.
• Steamed rice with vegetables with 3 ounces of chicken and a piece of fruit.

How long before the event do I eat? It’s best if no food is in the player’s stomach during their activity. Carbs take about 3-4 hours on average to digest and protein can take between 5-7 hours.

For soccer athletes, caffeine is a proven performance enhancer. A cup of pre-exercise coffee can help most soccer players work harder—without realizing it. Caffeine has been shown to enhance performance by about 1% to 3%, particularly in endurance sports.

Players should consume an OTE Recovery Shake within 30 minutes of finishing. OTE Recovery Drinks will help to re-fuel muscle electrolyte as well as provide carbohydrate and protein in an easily digestible form.

If enjoyed in moderate amounts, alcohol is also “allowed” for athletes and leisure athletes. Yet there is no scientific consensus on where to draw the line between a healthy alcohol consumption and the point where it affects your training. We do know, however, that women should drink less.

Caffeine is Very Effective Studies have shown that caffeine can benefit endurance performance, high-intensity exercise and power sports. However, it seems to benefit trained athletes the most. The recommended dose varies by body weight, but is typically about 200–400 mg, taken 30–60 minutes before a workout.

While caffeine has been found to significantly enhance muscular endurance [2], the effects of caffeine ingestion on maximal muscle strength (commonly operationalized as one repetition maximum [1RM]) and muscle power (commonly operationalized as vertical jump) remain unclear, and the practical utility of caffeine …

POTENTIAL RISKS • Caffeine is a banned substance by the NCAA. A urinary caffeine concentration exceeding 15 micrograms per milliliter (corresponding to ingesting about 500 milligrams, the equivalent of six to eight cups of brewed coffee, two to three hours before competition) results in a positive drug test.

Drinking coffee around 45–60 minutes before a workout allows for caffeine to reach its peak effectiveness. Most studies indicate that caffeine is highly effective for workouts when consumed in doses of 0.9–2.7 mg per pound (2–6 mg per kg) of body weight.