If these stores are depleted, muscle fatigue results, which can make the athlete more susceptible to muscle injury. Use of anabolic steroids among youth football players is becoming more common. It has been estimated that 500,000 young athletes use these. Although they do add muscle mass, they should be avoided. They have been proven to cause serious and even life threatening conditions.
Dehydration is another concern for the football player.
Many of the practice sessions and games are conducted in very warm temperatures. Athletes can burn anywhere from 4000 to 5000 calories or more daily. For every calorie of this energy that is used, the body needs one milliliter of water. The key to accomplishing this is simply by constantly reminding him of his need for water. This will also help to prevent heat-related problems.