Tip of the Week: Celebrate safely during the end of the sports season    

Make healthy choices and stay alcohol and drug-free to celebrate the end of your sports season. Plan a dinner out with friends and family, host a game or movie night or take an overnight trip to somewhere new. Take time to reflect on the season and prepare for your next sport or enjoy the off-season.

Tip of the Week: Complex carbohydrates for pre-game fuel equals better performance.

Your body needs energy to perform at its best, and you get that energy from glycogen. Glycogen acts as your body’s fuel source and is found in complex carbohydrates. Eat foods that are rich in starch—potatoes, pasta and rice. It’s extremely important that your body has time to digest the food so eat three hours before you compete to avoid cramping and fatigue during the competition.

Today’s National Prevention Week theme is Preventing Youth Tobacco Use (E-Cigarettes and Vaping). Learn more about E-cigarette’s and vaping and how to start the conversation using our resource below!

Tip of the Week: Nicotine is addictive – 3 out of 4 teens who start using in high school will continue to use as adults

Vaping nicotine rewires the brain, which can impact your concentration, learning and impulse control. It reduces athletic ability to focus completely, slowing your reaction time. Nicotine also interferes with lung function – narrowing blood vessels and making your heart work harder than it should.

“Do I still matter?” That’s the question  facing many parents as their children head into their teen years. Spoiler alert — the answer is YES — parents do matter to their teenagers — perhaps more than ever!

Click here to read the full article from the Center for Parent & Teen Communication

Tip: Athletes who sleep at least 8 hours per night are 68% less likely to sustain an injury compared to those who get less sleep.

Lack of sleep impacts reaction times and performance and causes fatigue. Aim to sleep at least 8 hours per night to maximize muscle growth, repair and recovery. This will also help improve cognitive skills and concentration. All of these factors together can contribute to a lower rate of athletic injuries.