making it through periods 2 &3

[grecogoalie]

I am playing on a team where...lets face it I get ALOT of shots....in the first period because I am fresh i do very well (usually a shutout or maybe 1 goal on over 20 shots). what i have noticed is in the second and for sure the third i have been so over worked and if possible my team is tired and gives me even less support that I am tired and my efficiency drops dramatically.

Is there anything you guys take between periods that can give me a "quick" boost of energy to get me through the rest of the game...

I understand conditioning and all that and I am working on it but i need a little extra.....

[canesgoalie]

Let me preface my theory by stating I have tried almost everything to get thru long games with lots of shots, from Sudafed to ginseng to coffee to Red Bull, also to ginseng + coffee + Red Bull. I am lazy by nature and would gladly take a pill to give me the energy to play well without having to do conditioning. I hate aerobic exercise. However, I have found that when I stick to my off-ice training program and eat right, drink water, get enough sleep, I play well the entire game, most of the time.
I still take ginseng and drink coffee before games, but that's because I work 40 hours a week, am married, etc., typical adult BS, yada yada yada. I wish I could tell you that there is some other substitute for hard work, but I haven't found it. You might try a sports drink and/or orange wedges, something of that nature between periods to give you a little energy. Best of luck!

[Clyde]

One word: conditioning. There is no easy answer, and if there was, it would be wrong. I have noticed a HUGE difference over the last year or so while losing 25 pounds and getting in great shape. Most of the pills that "boost" energy also have a side effect of vasoconstriction. This is going to mean that, while you may feel more energetic in general, you will have less acute vision, due to less blood flow to you eyes. This is especially true if you are not in good condition and already have a low aerobic capacity and are getting short of O2 from all the work in the crease anyhow. I don't know about you, but that is not a good trade off for me. Anyhow, good luck in your quest for third period dominance.

[sloppy]

Conditioning, slacker!

Sounds like some of my non hockey playing friends that think, oh yah, goalie, that's an easy job. I tell them, oh sure, I just pull up a chair and have a sit down, easy.

Fact is, it's the most demanding position. You're still one second and blasting across in the next second. Better have all your muscles ready for it.... and the game is 60 minutes, so.....

I don't know about anyone else, but oranges between periods? What. You'll eat it in the time it takes to skate to the other net and be ready for a face off? What about washing your hands, Huh? They don't zamboni between periods in this town..... time? Who's got time?

[canesgoalie]

It was just an idea, relax. I have a minute and a half between periods to tend to matters such as fruit and hydration. Other goalies' results may vary.

[Timberwoof]

grecogoalie: endurance responds to practice, training, and conditioning the same as stregnth, agility, and skills. Eat well, drink enough water, and keep working at it and eventually your endurance will build up to last a whole game.

Stimulants such as Red Bull do not give you extra energy. They only make you feel as though you have more energy. Energy for playing hard is calories. You find calories in pizza and spaghetti, not in Red Bull.

[Pollux]

Some words from a biochemist, who has read a lot of investigations regarding this subject :

Coffee and Red Bull are definitely not advised, as this stuff causes significant dehydration itself. You need at least the same amount of mineral water to even neutralize the dehydration effect of coffee. Please note, neutralize means to get rid of the negative effect !!
Best results to replace lost minerals due to sweat is ordinary apple juice mixed with mineral water.

The second negative effect of coffee is the energy response curve of the body over time. You get a significant boost, but depending on your constitution after an average of 45-60 minutes you end up in a lower energy state than before.

The third negative effect of coffee/red bull are ingredients that irritate the stomach. As has already been mentioned, this causes blood circulation in the stomach, which then means less blood is available where it should be. Similar stands for concentrated orange juice, which has much more irritating ingredients than apple juice. Apple juice puts the lowest "load" on the stomach.

However, the most recommended procedure was this :

Around 4 hours before a game eat carbohydrates, preferrably spaghetti. One hour before a game eat a banana. Bananas contain serotonine, which is involved in the day/night adjustments of your body. This leaves you in the best possible "wake-up" state (besides enough sleep of course). Take a bite or two in a banana in the locker room between periods. Not more to avoid load on the stomach. Drink a lot of apple juice/mineral water mix as soon as you start to sweat.

Of course every individual responds a bit different on these things, so the above are only average results. It's a bit try and error to find out the best time to eat and what's best for you. However, you get the idea.

Pollux

[Dr Dave]

Originally posted by Pollux

Coffee and Red Bull are definitely not advised, as this stuff causes significant dehydration itself. You need at least the same amount of mineral water to even neutralize the dehydration effect of coffee. Please note, neutralize means to get rid of the negative effect !!

Don't forget why these drinks cause dehydration - because caffiene is a diuretic. Diuretics crank up your kidney function making them produce more urine. You will need to drink more to rehydrate your tissues because more is being turned into urine at a time when urine production would otherwise be limited due to dehydration. Not only do you have the negative effects of dehydration, but it is hard to play well once your bladder fills to capacity.

[Squealagig]

Plus the kidneys use a tremendous ammount of energy performing their function.

[gizmo]

Pollux, I just wanted to let you know that the goalies for both my teams this last week end followed your recommendations with the pre-game meals, the banana piece's in between periods and the apple juice. the only difference was that they took water out with them to the nets and the difference in thier playing was amazing. One of the boys had never gone a full game this season with out some sort of dehydration problem or heat exhaustion to the point where we had to stop the game for him. ( by the way they are playing roller hockey...in georgia). Thanks for the tip, just in time for the play-offs and all-star games.

[jens_iceman]

I completely agree with Clyde !!!!
A good condition is the base of everything !!!!

Jens, Belgium

The iceman keeps them out !!

[grecogoalie]

No Doubt conditioning is key but until i get to that point ...I will try the apple/banana thing and let you know. I also read on the Vaugn website about carrots before the game other slow sugar stuff (milk etc) 4 hours before...

ill let you know

[sloth2946]

POLLUX: Brilliant and simple. I love it!

To all you Red Bull and other BS users: It absolutely amazes me the amount of people out there who say, " I know the answer is X(which requires hard work a extended efforts), but I really want to find another solution, solution Z(instant gratification!)."

Hard work. You want to get through the game. Work hard away from the game.

[Pollux]

Gizmo,

whow, great to hear it worked. Apple juice between periods is just fine. Just water at the net is probably better to handle.

Yes, it's really simple (and cheap). Not really what the industry with all their Gatorades/Isostars/Red Bulls (incl. tons of industrial sugar !) or whatever likes to hear

Pollux

[Cagey]

I'm always ravenous after playing/practicing. I drink water water water and eat a clif bar, cause its easy and I'm such a dope for chocolate, but should I be eating bananas then instead, or something else?

Methinks the chocolate is only what my tongue and soul want and those oaty bits under the chocs arent really doing as much as I hope they are.