Tips for Handling Multiple Games in a Day?

Discussion in 'Youth & HS Soccer' started by MonagHusker, Apr 20, 2018.

  1. MonagHusker

    MonagHusker Member

    Liverpool FC
    United States
    Feb 25, 2016
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I know I have read some of these before, but wasn't sure what thread. So, I thought I would make a new one. We have played multiple games in a day before, but I don't know if I ever considered anything more than "I'm sure they will be tired" type insight!

    Our oldest soccer playing daughter is on two teams (this is her second season doing it). On Saturday and Sunday, her select/club/competitive team is entered into a tournament and she has a game with her rec team. Saturday shapes up like this: morning "select" tournament game, 1:00 PM "select" tournament game, followed by a game a couple hours later for her rec team. She loves her rec team and not playing it isn't really an option as they really just barely have enough players.

    I know some of you have had crazy schedules. Do you have any tips for handling it?

    Thanks as always!
     
  2. pu.ma

    pu.ma Member

    Feb 8, 2018
    What age and size of the field? I found the younger age groups with their small sided games handle this better because there is less intensity and body contact. I would make sure the player stays hydrated, a banana after games and small snack between and perhaps a soak in the tub between the last 2 games. Inform the coach and perhaps play as keeper or back in the rec game.
     
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  3. MonagHusker

    MonagHusker Member

    Liverpool FC
    United States
    Feb 25, 2016
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    U12...9v9 (her select team will have probably have 13 or 14 girls..I am guessing...so that allows for some rest)...not positive the field dimensions.

    Thanks for the advice!
     
  4. mwulf67

    mwulf67 Member+

    Sep 24, 2014
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    With a schedule like that, it’s important to start slow and moderate your drinking throughout the day, otherwise you will be completely hammered by kickoff of the 3rd game…
     
  5. MonagHusker

    MonagHusker Member

    Liverpool FC
    United States
    Feb 25, 2016
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Day proved to be pretty successful. Her team in the tournament tied the first game and then had their best outing as a team with a 7-1 win in game two. She played a little midfield and a lot of defense (game two didn't require as much running). This is a team that scored like five league goals all season plus not much more in tournaments. So very much improved...even beyond the final score.

    Her rec team also won. In that game she was typically in a forward role with a stint at GK. I felt she was tired late in that game as she didn't have her normal burst, but enough to net her first goal.:)
     
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  6. bigredfutbol

    bigredfutbol Moderator
    Staff Member

    Sep 5, 2000
    Woodbridge, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sounds successful! And congrats on her first goal!

    Hopefully she got plenty of rest, fluids, and good food after. Rest and recuperation become increasingly important once adolescence starts.
     
  7. MonagHusker

    MonagHusker Member

    Liverpool FC
    United States
    Feb 25, 2016
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks!

    The tournament was a success as well. We ended up taking first place and my daughter got two goals in the final game. This has not been the norm, but it was great to see. I can't say for sure what our opposition is like, but what a difference a season makes!
     
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  8. PlaySimple

    PlaySimple Member

    Sep 22, 2016
    Chicagoland
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    • Keep feet elevated if at all possible. When my kids when the were younger and their teams were in those weekend tournaments on a Saturday & Sunday with 2 games each day, kids would want to go out to malls or wherever and walk around. If the tournament was in a "touristy" area they would always want to do something at night. The next day you could always tell the teams or kids that were on their feet too much. They had dead legs. Get rest and stay off of the feet.
    • Ice Baths. Ice baths work great for sore muscles and rejuvenation. Sometimes it's hard to get enough ice to make it cold enough but if possible, an ice bath is very beneficial.
     
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  9. jmplautz

    jmplautz Member

    Jul 28, 2007
    Madison
    Sorry to add this here so late but I still think it's pertinent. This is coming from a dad of soccer and swim. These are some of the observations from weekend long swimming competitions.

    1. Make sure the kids get protein for muscle rejuvenation . Muscle Milk is becoming popular at swim meets. It's even being sold at the snack bar. No reason it shouldn't be used in other sports.

    2. Get muscle rollers and stretching bands. And make sure they are used. Wouldn't be able to kick a ball without hitting a kid using one at a swim meet.

    3. This may be a bit controversial, but energy drinks are big. Drinks like G-Fuel and C-4 are used by almost everyone in swim. Don't be afraid to use them. Obviously you don't want to develop a dependency on them, even if it's just a mental one. But, it can make a big difference in performance. Particularly on game three of a weekend.
     
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  10. BigD_D

    BigD_D New Member

    Atlético Madrid
    United States
    May 21, 2018
    Plenty of super foods. Banana, spinach, avocado smoothie. The banana s help with sweetness and flavor.

    Fluids, we pack a cooler with water and Gatorade. Carrots to snack on. We pack tuna salad, bread and veggies.

    Memory foam bed roll and tent. We post up like we are camping all day.
    We even, in the past brought a travel grill and boneless skinless chicken breast. Going the veggie smoothie super foods gets kind of bland and having that savory bit helps break things up.

    Pack up the appropriate anti-inflammatory and SUN BLOCK (we prefer the mineral based kind). U should be good to go.

    Something to read....downtime can be a drag. Also, keep your phone/tablet/media device. charged
     
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  11. johngonole

    johngonole Member

    Barcelona
    United States
    Feb 15, 2018
    So my kid used to go to tournaments and then he would be sore on day 2. We started having him drink tart cherry juice (a small cup) once a day for like the week leading up to a tournament. Doesn't get sore anymore.

    In addition a massage at night. Another important thing to do is to make sure they sip on water and gatoraid throughout the day. Small sips though. The body can only rehydrate at a certain rate. So gulping down water does nothing for you other than make you bloated.

    The other thing is making sure they don't skip a meal. Often with lots of exercise the kids won't want to eat much. If anything they need to eat more.
     
  12. Soccer Wanderer

    Soccer Wanderer New Member

    Lazio
    United States
    Dec 8, 2018
    Start hydrating two days out, eat protein, not carbs the day before
     

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