Let's Play 2 (or 3, or 4)
February 16, 2012
A few conversations I had at last week's Women In Sports Leadership conference further affirmed a point I've been making for years -- high school athletes, if they'd like, shouldn't hesitate to play multiple sports.
Doing so does not hurt, but might just help their chances at landing that prized college scholarship -- on top of adding another layer to the high school sports experience.
Reaffirming this for me last week was Michigan State softball coach Jacquie Joseph, who spoke on that subject at the WISL conference. She's heading into her 24th season as a head coach at the Division I college level -- so she's been around for some of the evolution of both high school sports specialization and college recruiting. Plus, she coaches a sport that sees its share of athletes playing just that one.
Later, I spoke with a high school coach who leads teams in three sports and also played one at the Division I college level. She's a believer in this as well.
Some of the things I've been told over the years about playing more than one sport:
- It allows an athlete to learn more skills and hone more parts of his or her athleticism.
- Using another range of movement further helps condition an athlete's body and make it more resistant to injury.
- It's hardly rare to see a college football coach watching a prospect's basketball game -- coaches like to see how athleticism transfers across sports, and sometimes will see something from an athlete playing basketball that he didn't show on the football field. (Football and basketball are used in this example, but the same applies to a number of similar situations.)
- Athletes get an opportunity to play whatever they'd like only this once (unless they turn out to be that rare college athlete who takes on more than one sport at that level).
These are hardly new arguments. But they are always worth repeating -- especially when the people frequently making them (college coaches) are the ones single-sport athletes often are trying to impress.
Fuel Up for Daytime Fasting with Proper Nutrition, Hydration
February 17, 2026
Some athletes follow periods of daytime fasting for personal or religious reasons, such as Ramadan. Fasting from dawn to sunset requires thoughtful planning around nutrition and hydration. With adjustments to meal timing and fluid intake, athletes can continue to support their training, performance, and recovery while observing the fast.
Eating a balanced meal before dawn helps provide sustained energy throughout the day. Including a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats can help fuel muscles and promote fullness.
When breaking fast, athletes should focus on prioritizing complex carbohydrates for energy, along with protein and healthy fats to help the body recover and prepare for the next day’s activity.
Hydration during non-fasting hours is also key, and fluids should be consumed throughout the evening rather than all at once.
With careful planning around meals, fluids, and nutrient balance, athletes can successfully navigate fasting while maintaining strength, endurance, and overall performance.
Click: Practical nutrition & hydration guidance for athletes who observe daytime fasting, such as Ramadan.
