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Post by tiger11 on Dec 5, 2023 12:05:32 GMT -6
What are your thoughts on pregame meals?
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Post by coachwoodall on Dec 5, 2023 13:33:25 GMT -6
Chik-fil-a
bag of chips
cookies
sports drink
electrolyte tablets
3 hours before KO
half time snack
salted sports drink
2 fig newtons
hersey chocolate bar
choice of banana/organs/apple
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Post by MICoach on Dec 5, 2023 13:44:09 GMT -6
Usually we do pasta or subs, with some salad and/or fresh fruit, and a lot of water.
Four hours before kickoff apparently gives kids time to digest protein or complex carbs or something...idk I teach social studies.
Given a 7pm game, this works out great for the meal being right after school then we do our pre-game meeting with plenty of time for kids to get dressed and taped and stuff before taking the field.
At a previous school we'd do halftime snacks...need to bring that back. Also a bigger meal for after on road trips...funding is always the challenge.
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Post by bluboy on Dec 5, 2023 14:48:33 GMT -6
Our players eat together in cafeteria and get a pre-game meal every week (paid for by booster club). For a 7 PM home game, serving starts at 3:25. For a 6 PM away game, we might start serving at 2:30/2:45 (depending on travel distance). We will have our offensive, defensive, and special teams meeting immediately following pre-game meal (if home or relatively short road trip).
Meal includes: chicken breast, pasta or rice, salad, fruit, rolls, and Gatorade.
Players are asked, before first game, whether they want rice or pasta; once they decide, they can't change. Kids with food allergies/issues are handled appropriately.
Parents set-up and clean-up everything.
On some long road trips, the boosters will buy pizza or hoagies and something to drink for the ride home.
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Post by hlb2 on Dec 6, 2023 7:16:17 GMT -6
We have one every week provided by the parents. The parents get together before the season and sign up as to what week they want to do their meal. Meal for a 7PM kick is at 3PM and adjusted accordingly for earlier or later kickoffs and long road trips (which we have a lot of). A list of what can be cooked is provided when the parents sign up and is similar to what most have listed here.
The benefits for us are
1. Kids leaving school to go get food and come back was always an issue with getting into trouble, not getting back on time etc. We do pregame meal, followed by a quiet time/period and then meetings. After that we get dressed and get into pregame routine. Keeps them busy and out of trouble.
2. We live in one of the poorest areas in our state, some of our kids don't get good nutrition at home and the pregame meal is the best meal many of them get all week.
3. It gives our parents a stake in the game and makes them feel a part of something.
The cons are:
1. The cost. Parents are donating everything and as I mentioned being in a poor area it's difficult to feed 50 kids sometimes, especially the way prices are nowadays. We have had parents group together so the expense isn't so big.
2. Having only a few parents get on board. The past two seasons the parents have only been able to provide half of the meals, so some local restaraunts have stepped up to the plate and filled the void. This is a small town so those same restaraunts were also hit up for banners, and other donations from Little League and Pop Warner etc. So far we haven't had an issue with not having all the games covered though.
I like it. I think it keeps us unified and helps us focus on game day. I've done both (not had one and had one) and having a pregame meal benefits us way more than not having it.
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Post by realdawg on Dec 6, 2023 8:52:46 GMT -6
We do pregame meal after school unless long bus ride dictates earlier. We have churches come in and cater the meals for us. Sometimes it’s a business or individual. But usually a church. The kids then get till 430 to kinda do their own thing. Hang out, poop. Whatever. 430 position meetings. Quiet time after till 530. Tape/dress. This is for home games. A lot of times for away games we are loading the bus at 430
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Post by nhsehs on Dec 6, 2023 9:57:25 GMT -6
I think it's a necessity. If you let them leave there's no telling what they'll get into. Their only day of freedom right after school doesn't need to be game day.
Restaurants cater for us weekly. We gave them a banner around the stadium in exchange for food. We ordered 10 more servings than we needed in order to feed officials/custodians.
For JV, we gave a pizza place a banner and let them sponsor a player of the week in exchange for pizzas for JV pregame meals for the year.
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Post by Down 'n Out on Dec 6, 2023 10:28:47 GMT -6
Pregame meal right after school in the cafeteria.
Our parents take care of the food(which is a blessing). Sometimes its hamburgers, hotdogs, or Subway. Sometimes very good meals like chicken tenders, mac n cheese, etc. A few seasons back one of our players fathers was really into smoking meat and grilling(as well as having some $) so we had pork loin and smoked meats several times that season. The downside is sometimes we get pizza or spaghetti which arent exactly great options for pregame.
Imo a organized pregame meal is essential. You have control(some control that is) of what theyre eating, and you can make sure everyone is getting fed(we all know some kids arent getting what they should be). We also provide bottles of Gatorade or Powerade, ive noticed a drop in the number of cramps we deal with during games. I attribute that, at least in part, to them having a bottle or two 4 hours before kickoff.
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Post by coachwoodall on Dec 6, 2023 10:32:25 GMT -6
If you want the whole itinerary for a home game
3:45 – Devotion / Special Teams Check – Auditorium
4:30 – Pregame Meal
4:55 – Pants / Tape
5:40 – Walk Throughs – O Back Gym – D Multipurpose
6:09 – Depart to Field
6:10 – Field Walk
6:25 – Locker Room
6:39 – Specialty Out
6:40 – Specialty
6:51 – Remainder Out
6:52 – Position Stretch
7:02 – Team
7:07 – Extra Point / Off / Water
7:20 – Devotion
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lws55
Sophomore Member
Posts: 241 
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Post by lws55 on Dec 6, 2023 12:19:13 GMT -6
Where I was in California JV and Varsity, both played on Fridays, we had team dinner Thursday night, parents brought a dish that could feed 10-15 kids and everybody ate together.
On Fridays we would have a sandwich, fruit and water and Gatorade for the JV (their game was at 4:30). Varsity for us was a little different because I had a dad that owned a Chinese restaurant, so he would make these rice, broccoli, and Chicken bowls for each player, it was awesome! Unfortunately, he only had 2 sons in the program so after those two graduated he stopped doing the bowls. But that also coincided with my last year at the school.
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Post by agap on Dec 7, 2023 8:38:56 GMT -6
I don't know of any teams around here that have pregame meals. Thursday night meals after practice are popular, but I don't know of anyone that has pregame meals.
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Post by coachtua on Dec 7, 2023 13:52:00 GMT -6
One school we did IHOP or Dennys. $3 for a stack of pancakes or plate of spaghetti.
Another school it was up to the parents, usually some kind of high carb meal.
Current school whatever the mess hall serves.
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Post by wolverine55 on Dec 8, 2023 11:59:25 GMT -6
For our home games, local churches provide pregame meals. Varsity players drive to the church right after school is dismissed (3:00) and we eat at 3:30. Players are free to leave the meal whenever they want to as long as they're back at the school by 5:30. This does give them some free time, but it's never been a problem. JV is given sandwiches/snack bags as they play at 5.
For road games, our players are provided a bag that has a sub sandwich, chips, and some fruit in it to eat on the bus ride. We used to do the Thursday night meal, but for us coaches, it was decided that we needed to take advantage of a night where we got home early to be with our families as our Thursday walk-through is only roughly an hour long.
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Post by PIGSKIN11 on Dec 31, 2023 2:10:00 GMT -6
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Post by CS on Dec 31, 2023 6:28:53 GMT -6
Yeah that’s happening 🙄I truly despise private trainers. They have zero clue what it’s like out in the real world I’m gonna tell that kid on my team who lives in a run down trailer to eat grilled salmon and brown rice the night before the game |
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Post by coachwoodall on Dec 31, 2023 9:01:40 GMT -6
Yeah that’s happening 🙄I truly despise private trainers. They have zero clue what it’s like out in the real world I’m gonna tell that kid on my team who lives in a run down trailer to eat grilled salmon and brown rice the night before the game Yeah, I know. Our S&S coach made a nutrition manual for all these thing but he was realistic enough to make each one of these type 'meals' as a gold, silver, bronze level of eating. Basically if you're a rich kid/pro level athlete the gold are things like what she listed. But he included the bronze level which was basically what anyone could afford and was realistic for most anyone. |
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Post by Defcord on Dec 31, 2023 10:06:40 GMT -6
Yeah that’s happening 🙄I truly despise private trainers. They have zero clue what it’s like out in the real world I’m gonna tell that kid on my team who lives in a run down trailer to eat grilled salmon and brown rice the night before the game Coach you are missing out. That’s the facemelter of diets! |
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Post by coachd5085 on Dec 31, 2023 10:31:32 GMT -6
Does anyone monitor the quantity eaten? I helped with a jr high program this year (about 40 min drive away) and the first two weeks by the time I got there kids had downed 5/6 slices of pizza. Of COURSE two starters got sick and threw up during the game….
Fortunately one of the other coaches who got there before I did nipped it in the bud prior to week 3.
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Post by bluboy on Dec 31, 2023 10:59:19 GMT -6
At our pre-game meal, players receive portioned-out chicken and rice or pasta. They can get all the salad, fruit, Gatorade that they want. We've never had an issue with players eating too much ( Last Supper Syndrome).
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Post by irishdog on Dec 31, 2023 17:46:40 GMT -6
Thursday night - Carbo Load - Parents would host (typically held at one of the players' homes, or in the cafeteria). Parents would divide up the weeks to supply Thursday nights pot luck type meal. Parents would sign up to bring a main dish (usually pasta), or a protein (usually meatballs), or a grain (breads/rolls), or veggie dish (usually salads), or dessert. Players would stay to help clean-up, and then go watch the JV play if playing at home.
Pre-game - 3:00 for both Home and Away games unless the road trip was a long one. Other Parents would sign-up to split cost of providing deli-style sandwiches/chips/fruit and drinks from local sandwich shop. A few of the moms would coordinate ordering/pick-up/set-up. We stayed away from Turkey/Chicken especially if we were taking a long road trip.
Game Night - Other parents would sign-up to provide halftime snacks (fruit, snickers bars) and provide burgers/fries/drinks for post-game road trips. Again, all coordinated by the parents (moms).
Not sure about y'all but everywhere I've been I was always blessed to have a number of moms willing to go above and beyond the call of duty in helping the program.
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Post by fballcoachg on Dec 31, 2023 20:50:11 GMT -6
Thursday Right after practice-Parents provide a meal. It can be anything. We've had pasta, burgers, chicken of all varieties, sandwiches, sloppy joes, pulled pork, etc. They are teenagers...If it's pizza and wings, that is ok. We want them together for a little bit and not doing football.
Friday-nothing formal. We have snacks for those that aren't going home before report time. We have half time snacks as well, I make sure starters and players get them first then the other dudes attack the piles! Away post-game, we have subs.
Not pregame but we load up on the gatorade packages for post workouts year round. Protein bars and drinks.
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Post by PIGSKIN11 on Jan 1, 2024 18:31:24 GMT -6
Yeah that’s happening 🙄I truly despise private trainers. They have zero clue what it’s like out in the real world I’m gonna tell that kid on my team who lives in a run down trailer to eat grilled salmon and brown rice the night before the game Yeah, I know. Our S&S coach made a nutrition manual for all these thing but he was realistic enough to make each one of these type 'meals' as a gold, silver, bronze level of eating. Basically if you're a rich kid/pro level athlete the gold are things like what she listed. But he included the bronze level which was basically what anyone could afford and was realistic for most anyone. Can you share it? Would love to see it... Kids need to see something to strive for - love the levels... |
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Post by PIGSKIN11 on Jan 1, 2024 18:32:56 GMT -6
Yeah that’s happening 🙄I truly despise private trainers. They have zero clue what it’s like out in the real world I’m gonna tell that kid on my team who lives in a run down trailer to eat grilled salmon and brown rice the night before the game Not everyone has the ability - but giving them ideas and suggestions is never a bad idea - chicken is on there too... |
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Post by CS on Jan 1, 2024 19:31:32 GMT -6
Yeah that’s happening 🙄I truly despise private trainers. They have zero clue what it’s like out in the real world I’m gonna tell that kid on my team who lives in a run down trailer to eat grilled salmon and brown rice the night before the game Not everyone has the ability - but giving them ideas and suggestions is never a bad idea - chicken is on there too... I’m happy if they just eat most of the time |
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Post by coachlit on Jan 1, 2024 20:34:54 GMT -6
Not everyone has the ability - but giving them ideas and suggestions is never a bad idea - chicken is on there too... I’m happy if they just eat most of the time The amount of kids—who have access to food, mind you—that don’t eat is astonishing. |
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Post by coachwoodall on Jan 1, 2024 21:53:44 GMT -6
Yeah, I know. Our S&S coach made a nutrition manual for all these thing but he was realistic enough to make each one of these type 'meals' as a gold, silver, bronze level of eating. Basically if you're a rich kid/pro level athlete the gold are things like what she listed. But he included the bronze level which was basically what anyone could afford and was realistic for most anyone. Can you share it? Would love to see it... Kids need to see something to strive for - love the levels... |
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Post by PIGSKIN11 on Jan 1, 2024 22:53:53 GMT -6
Can you share it? Would love to see it... Kids need to see something to strive for - love the levels... I could not get it to load when I clicked it... anyone else get it? |
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Post by CS on Jan 2, 2024 4:53:14 GMT -6
I’m happy if they just eat most of the time The amount of kids—who have access to food, mind you—that don’t eat is astonishing. Agreed |
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Post by coachwoodall on Jan 2, 2024 8:17:58 GMT -6
I could not get it to load when I clicked it... anyone else get it? You should be able to duels it |
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Post by PIGSKIN11 on Jan 2, 2024 18:27:59 GMT -6
My chrome browser blocked it - opened it in firefox - thanks!!
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