It’s Gametime: A compilation of the top athletes routine before they perform

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Sleep is the most important way to recover your body, especially as an athlete, and be ready for the next competition. Photo Courtesy of Medical News today

Athletes or performers, especially the ones at the top of their game, have a routine that they consistently do to properly collect themselves to stay at the top. Sleep is arguably the most important part of an athlete’s routine from recovering from their previous game or preparing for the next one. With a lack of sleep, people are more likely to make more poor decisions and take unnecessary risks. This is especially impactful for an athlete because their mind has to be as sharp as possible and their bodies need to be as recovered as possible to play the best. On an episode of the podcast “The Tim Ferriss Show,” [Lebron] James said, “That’s the best way for your body to physically and emotionally be able to recover and get back to 100 percent as possible. Now, will you wake up and feel 100 percent? There are some days you don’t. So some days you feel better than others. But the more, and more, and more time that you get those eight – if you can get nine, that’s amazing.”

 

Pregame Meal
Depending on the athlete, is what kind of pregame meal they will have before games. Some athletes like to keep it light especially if they have to play in the morning. However, some athletes like to eat mass amounts of food even 30 minutes before the game. Each athlete, especially ones at the highest of levels, knows their body and is able to tell how much food they are able to take in before games. According to Jade Scipioni, a writer for CNBC, “On game-day, dinner is packed with plant-based foods. Sometimes he will also have a steaming cup of bone broth, [Tom Brady] he says. (Some research has linked bone broth, which is animal collagen, to faster healing of soft-tissue injuries and digestive health in athletes, while other research debunks those claims.)”

A light meal right before the competition with good proteins and carbohydrates can give the athlete a good boost for top performance. Photo Courtesy of Damn Delicious

Minutes Before Game Time
Athletes are known to be one of the most superstitious people. Most athletes have pregame routines they will do right before the start of every match or game. Whether that is Lebron’s pregame chalk toss to get the crowd hyped up or Rafael Nadal’s notable habits in between serves, most athletes have tricks to get their minds right for the big game. According to Essentially Sports, “[Nadal] He places his hair behind his ear, pulls his nose and adjusts his shorts while bouncing the ball. Furthermore, he towels himself after each and every point. Many accuse Nadal of using this routine as a tactic to break the momentum and rhythm of his opponents. However, Nadal explained that these routines are for his psychological benefit.

Postgame
The postgame routine for every athlete is almost more important than the pregame routine. After games, matches, or competitions athletes need to be able to recover. According to Bleacher Report, “[Cristiano] Ronaldo doesn’t let himself relax and drift off to sleep [after games]. Instead, he will swim for 20 minutes. Not only is swimming an ideal low-impact method of recovery training, but it is well-known for its stress-relieving and relaxation properties.

 

Kofi Kessey, Staff Reporter