Caffeine In Sports
 

Do u think a lot of professional athletes use caffeine before they play? I play a lot of soccer, and sometimes our games are late at night and I drink a Red Bull or something. I can't tell if it hurts or helps my performance, but it got me thinking about if this occurs in the big time sports.

I am pretty sure I have heard of the old time basketball players drinking coffee at half-time etc. Anyone have any insight?

Re: Caffeine In Sports
 

1st thing that popped up on google

Re: Caffeine In Sports
 

Caffeine is a diuretic so it makes it so you don't retain water and thus dehydrate. This is no good for most sports. It also makes you pee lots.

I remember drinking a red bull before a long run and I definitely noticed a negative effect towards the middle of the run.

So it can definitely give you energy in short bursts but can be long term detrimental for endurance purposes.

Re: Caffeine In Sports
 

I'm pretty sure they've done studies showing caffeine has a positive effect on athletic performance. The diuretic effect is easy enough to counter.

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You can't have any caffeinated drinks in boxing or MMA type events. The fluids that are issued in your corner need to be accepted by the state athletic commissions. If you were to drink a redbull before a boxing match, the effects will last you maybe a round or two, and you better hope you knock that guy out because when you crash, you're not going to worth anything.

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We weren't professionals but, my cycling team used to fill bottles with a mixture of flat coke and water. This was before Red bull and all the other energy drinks. Not sure if it really had any great effect on us or not.

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I'm pretty sure they've done studies showing caffeine has a positive effect on athletic performance. The diuretic effect is easy enough to counter.

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this is the correct answer.

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Caffeine is a controlled substance in fencing precisely because it helps alertness and explosive movement. I'm not sure just how high the level is - I've heard wildly different stories (ie highest I heard was it was equivalent of 30 cups a day, lowest was "one redbull before a match and you're at risk of failing")

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I don't drink coffee very often, but I drank a cup one time before a tennis match in high school. It made me completely jittery. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for sports that require a great deal of hand-eye coordination.

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You can't have any caffeinated drinks in boxing or MMA type events. The fluids that are issued in your corner need to be accepted by the state athletic commissions. If you were to drink a redbull before a boxing match, the effects will last you maybe a round or two, and you better hope you knock that guy out because when you crash, you're not going to worth anything.

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This is interesting if true, considering Xyience energy drink is a major sponsor of UFC and MMA in general, Most fighters are required to take a drink after their fight this may have little to do with what they drink during and before their fights but still, the perception is that it's supposed to help fighters.

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This is interesting if true, considering Xyience energy drink is a major sponsor of UFC and MMA in general, Most fighters are required to take a drink after their fight this may have little to do with what they drink during and before their fights but still, the perception is that it's supposed to help fighters.

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Xyience can be used as a training supplement of sorts, but it can't be consumed during the fight. Kinda like the Budweiser logo is was plastered all over boxing rings but the boxer's cant drink a Bud between rounds.

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People who eat before competition have an unfair advantage. All pro athletes should be forced to fast for 36 hours before matches.

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1st thing that popped up on google

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it's got all the info you need

Re: Caffeine In Sports
 

I run about 25 miles a week, and have done marathons in the past, I can smoke a cig before a run and be fine. I drink coffee before a run and I feel like my heart is going to explode.

Edit: Apparently I'm not normal [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

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200mg of caffeine before every workout guarantees that I kill the weights when I'm in the gym regardless of how tired I am or how crappy I feel. There have been a ton of studies supporting claims that caffeine improves strength and endurance but I can see how it would be detrimental for an activity requiring a lot of precise movement.

Re: Caffeine In Sports
 

I can tell you what it would do to me. If I have no tolerance built up, caffine will increase my energy and sense of well being that will translate into better performance. The duration of this effect is related to the amount of caffine and my tolerance level.

Currently I drink supersize energy drinks every day, diet cokes, starbucks, etc. Caffine right before say running 100 meters will not help me all that much. If I did not have caffine all day and tried to run, it would in fact hurt my performance.

If I snorted coke or did speed, it I think it would usually help me perform certain explosive tasks since I haven't done any of this stuff over a decade. (assuming I didn't have a heart attack).

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Some pro football players take caffeine in before the game. Some drink redbull while other drink coffee. I watched one time as a linebacker slammed a cup of hot black coffee right before he hit the field.

You would be amazed though at the amount of smelling salts used during the game by the players (and some coaches, i'm looking at you Jim Mora).

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occasionally i would have an energy drink before a soccer game back when i played. i would dominate the first half, be unable to sit down during half-time, and become totally worthless 25 minutes into the second half.

i figure it was worth it.

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improves performance if you don't use it often

those that use it alot get nothing out of it

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You can't have any caffeinated drinks in boxing or MMA type events. The fluids that are issued in your corner need to be accepted by the state athletic commissions. If you were to drink a redbull before a boxing match, the effects will last you maybe a round or two, and you better hope you knock that guy out because when you crash, you're not going to worth anything.

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This is interesting if true, considering Xyience energy drink is a major sponsor of UFC and MMA in general, Most fighters are required to take a drink after their fight this may have little to do with what they drink during and before their fights but still, the perception is that it's supposed to help fighters.

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I forget if this is a UFC rule or an advertising law or if guys just don't actually like the stuff, but most/all fighters are drinking from an empty can or without popping the top.

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Caffeine is a controlled substance in fencing precisely because it helps alertness and explosive movement. I'm not sure just how high the level is - I've heard wildly different stories (ie highest I heard was it was equivalent of 30 cups a day, lowest was "one redbull before a match and you're at risk of failing")

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This is insanely stupid. Why not ban healthy eating and training while they are at it. Those are certainly performance enhancing.

Re: Caffeine In Sports
 

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Caffeine is a controlled substance in fencing precisely because it helps alertness and explosive movement. I'm not sure just how high the level is - I've heard wildly different stories (ie highest I heard was it was equivalent of 30 cups a day, lowest was "one redbull before a match and you're at risk of failing")

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This is insanely stupid. Why not ban healthy eating and training while they are at it. Those are certainly performance enhancing.

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What is the difference between caffeine and HGH or anabolics then?

You might as well just let people bring a gun instead of a sword.

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Caffeine is a controlled substance in fencing precisely because it helps alertness and explosive movement. I'm not sure just how high the level is - I've heard wildly different stories (ie highest I heard was it was equivalent of 30 cups a day, lowest was "one redbull before a match and you're at risk of failing")

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This is insanely stupid. Why not ban healthy eating and training while they are at it. Those are certainly performance enhancing.

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What is the difference between caffeine and HGH or anabolics then?

You might as well just let people bring a gun instead of a sword.

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There are two possible differences. One is illegal and the other is not, or one is harmfull and the other is not.

IMO is a substance is legal, and harmless, then it should be allowed.