Unit 28- The
Athletes Lifestyle
P1/ M1/ D1- Lifestyle factors
• Success brings with it a responsibility to be
professional in all aspects of life. How athletes
spend their leisure time, communicate with the media and
others and plan a career after sport, all influence the
reputation and eventual success of those
athletes.
• Successful athletes are in the limelight and all aspects of
their lives are subject to media scrutiny.
Intro…
The time left after all work and
survival activities have been
done… what bearing can they
have on performance?
Rest:
- Period of ‘anabolism’, in
which structures of the body
are rebuilt after training
(catabolism)
- Laying down of proteins in
muscles, replacing damaged
tissues and replenishing
glycogen stores
- 7-8 hours sleep a day is
recommended
Relaxation/
Socialising:
- Relaxing provides an internal environment
optimum for re-building of broken
structures from training
- Socialising is also conducive to relaxation
producing hormones that aid recovery to
body systems and cells
Eating:
- Rebuild the body by providing the
cells with quality nutrients
- Foods with high levels of
preservatives/toxins place stress
on body systems
Appropriate Behaviours
Alcohol:
Smoking:
-
- Cigarette smoke contains 4000
different chemicals (400 toxic and 60
cancerous)
- Reducing lung function – The tar in a
cigarette accumulates in the airways,
restricting the flow of the air to the
lungs.
- Producing carbon monoxide – This is
present in the smoke and is attracted to
the haemoglobin in the red blood cells.
It stops Oxygen from getting into the
blood and therefore to the working
muscles.
- SERIOUSLY impairing performance!!
In excessive quantities alcohol damages
the structures it passes through: throat,
stomach, intestines, blood & liver
Tiredness and Dehydration is caused by
toxins within the bloodstream and loss
of vitamins/minerals- seriously affecting
performance.
-
Unruly
Behaviour:
-
-
Level of conduct is expected
from athletes
As role models in the
community, all professional
sports people must be aware of
the effects of their behaviour
Bans and fines are imposed if
needed
Inappropriate Behaviours
Drugs:
Gambling:
- Gambling is a problem for
professional sports people, as often
they have access to money, and
considerable amounts of free time
- It offers a similar adrenaline fix to
sport, so is very popular with retired
and practicing sports people.
- Since the Gambling Act in 2005,
players have not been allowed to bet
on events that they are participating
in…
Performance enhancing drugs:
•
Performance enhancing drugs are
used by athletes to improve their
performance. Good examples would
be anabolic steroids, diuretics and
THG
Why do you think this is?
Continued…
- You should be aware of
some of the different
drugs that a footballer
may be involved in taking
Recreational Drugs:
•
Good examples of recreational drugs are
tobacco, nicotine, cannabis, ecstasy,
heroin and cocaine. Some of these are
legal, others are not
Other
People
Social Life:
Although a social life is beneficial to
relieve stress and help with rest and
recuperation, you may feel pressure
to spend more time with people than
you feel you have available.
This could come from
girlfriends/boyfriends or being
friends with many different
groups of people.
•They may also want
you to participate in
activities that may be
detrimental to your
athletic performance
Other People:
Peers: They need to understand what they have to go through in order to be
successful- 2 types…
The Saboteur – sabotages an athletes actions to behave and puts pressure onto an
athlete to do something they don’t want to do.
The Supporter – supports the athlete, as in encourages them to do well at training/
in matches.
Teachers: Place deadlines for coursework and exams, making studying from
home intense.
Family: Added responsibility of looking after siblings, doing chores,
Spouse, children etc… which also brings high expectations of you.
Living away from home can mean they expect you to visit them at every
opportunity and impact on leisure time.
Coaches: Pressure to perform.
Pressures on Athletes
Competition and Training:
- There are many pressures that come with being an athlete. As
mentioned before these pressures can come from coaches,
managers, parents and peers.
Stress caused by the need to train and perform is a
huge reason for drop of from sport amongst young
athletes.
A good example of pressure being put
on an athlete, is a coach or parent
forcing them to compete when they are
carrying an injury.
Other pressures may come from the
need to be fit, avoid injuries, stay
motivated etc
Continued…
•
Also due to Football being a team game there is
also pressures from the need for team work,
tactics, as well as being subbed.
Saving:
-
In the early stages of a career, an athlete
often has to spend a lot of their income
trying to establish themselves.
However, if at all possible, an established
athlete should look to manage their earnings
in a way that allows them to plan for their
future without the substantial income that
elite sports performance can provide.
Savings accounts vary a great deal…
With some allowing tax-free investment,
but limited access to your money.
Others offer immediate access to the
money, but with much lower returns in the
form of interest.
Insurance:
This is all about life’s uncertainties, and is where an
athlete pays a fee or premium to a company to protect
themselves and their equipment.
•
As a player, you may need to consider
– Personal Accident insurance – Provides cover if you are injured
– Life assurance – Pays a lump sum to a beneficiary, if the athlete
dies
– Medical cover – Covers physiotherapy and other medical services
in the event of an injury.
– Equipment insurance – Protect expensive equipment against theft
or damage.
• Think of Chris Hoy or Ben Ainslie, who’s bikes/boats are
worth an awful lot of money. They would have to insure their
equipment.
Financial
Spending:
Spending money for leisure will be what
is left over after all the essentials have
been paid for… (food, drink, shelter
and clothing) and money has been put
aside for savings and taxes etc.
Describe 5 different lifestyle
factors that can affect
athletes…
Remember only choose 5
from within/across the 3
different constructs:
Inappropriate activities:
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Drugs
- Gambling
- Unruly behaviour
Leisure Time
Pressures
Financial
Appropriate activities:
- Rest
- Relaxation/Socialising
- Eating
-
Living away from home
Social life
Training
Competition
-
Saving
Spending
Investing
Insurance
Sponsorship
Tax
Need to explain the
descriptions made
for P1, using reallife examples and
experiences
Need to analyse how the
lifestyle factors used in P1 and
M1 affect performance.
Explaining how such factors
are related and the extent to
which they affect performance.