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Researchers find the key to winning in extra-time - preparing 48 hrs before the game even begins

December 16, 2003

At the start of a match, every manager sets out confident of winning within the normal time period of the game. But a new study by Andy Foskett, working with Dr Clyde Williams from the School of Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University, not only recommends that all managers take a pessimistic approach and prepare for extra-time 48 hours before the game begins, but also found a way of keeping the players going 60 per cent longer during the extended period. "Most managers hope they don't go into extra-time," said Dr Williams. "But the smart manager will prepare for extra-time throughout the whole game."

The research, to be presented at this year's Physiological Society conference on Thursday 18th December, looked at techniques of delaying the onset of fatigue during a game. "We wanted to look at what happens specifically if a 90 minute game goes into extra-time," explained Dr Williams. "Volunteers ran for a full 90 minutes, but then were asked to keep going for a bit longer."

Volunteers underwent exhaustive high intensity intermittent running, to mimic the conditions of an actual game. Volunteers were provided with either flavoured water, or a carbohydrate sports drink throughout the 90 minutes. When asked to go beyond the 90 minutes, those given the sports drink were able to last 60 per cent longer than those on flavoured water.

Exercise is predominantly limited by how much carbohydrate, the body's energy source, is stored in our muscles. "The body will go into a game with long term stores of carbohydrates already in the muscles. Fatigue occurs when these stores are depleted," explained Doctor Williams. "The key is managing these stores efficiently. By keeping the body topped up with carbohydrates, the stores are depleted less quickly and are generally used more economically."

But good preparation is not exclusively reserved for the morning of the game. As Dr Williams' states: "It's not just a case of taking carbohydrates during the game, you have to prepare nutritionally as well. We found the best results came from boosting the bodies existing stores with a high carbohydrate diet at least 48 hours in advance."
Dr Williams and his team aren't content at keeping the players going through extra time, they want them to win too. "The next step is to look at the relationship between nutrition, fatigue and performance," explained Dr Williams. "The goal is to sustain skill levels in the face of fatigue."

Ben Wilson

Physiological Society, The