Raptor Advantage
Soccer players need to have a high level of aerobic fitness, muscular endurance, speed, agility, and flexibility. They also often have to play in hot and humid environments and have a limited number of timeouts which can make it difficult to maintain hydration. This is particularly true for soccer players playing weekend tournaments in which they may play 5-7 games in less than 48 hours or during tournaments when they play daily for 3-4 days in a row. The Raptor bar can help soccer players gain a competitive edge by helping them meet their nutritional needs to optimize performance and recovery.

The first goal in optimizing performance of soccer players is to prevent dehydration. Soccer players are particularly susceptible to dehydration because they often have to play in hot and humid environments and have limited opportunities to consume fluids. Recent research indicates that athletes may need more electrolytes than typically found in sports drinks in order to maintain hydration during intense exercise. The Raptor bar contains recommended levels of sodium and other electrolytes needed to promote hydration and help reduce the incidence of muscle cramping during exercise. In addition, the Raptor bar contains glycerol which has been shown to help promote fluid retention. Therefore, ingesting a Raptor bar prior to playing soccer, at half-time, and between matches during tournaments can help soccer players retain the fluids they need perform at their best.

The second nutritional goal for soccer players is to provide carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels. Competitive soccer players expend a large amount of energy that depletes muscle carbohydrate availability and may limit exercise performance toward the end of a match. In addition, since pre-game meals are typically 3-4 hours before the game, they may be playing the end of the game 5-7 hours after their last meal. The Raptor bar contains a mixture of fast, intermediate, and slow releasing carbohydrates that can provide a sustained release of carbohydrate over time. Ingesting a Raptor bar 30-minutes prior to warm-ups and at half-time can help maintain carbohydrate availability throughout the match.

The third nutritional goal to optimize performance of soccer players is to provide nutrients that can enhance exercise performance. Research has shown that sodium and calcium phosphates and β-alanine can help buffer muscle acidity and increase anaerobic threshold. In addition, sodium phosphate supplementation has been reported to increase maximal aerobic capacity. The Raptor bar contains high levels of sodium and calcium phosphate as well as β-alanine content that can help soccer players maintain high intensity exercise and recover between explosive bursts and sprints.

The fourth goal to optimize performance of soccer players is to help them maintain mental focus throughout the game. Often times, mental focus and concentration declines throughout a game, particularly when playing in a hot and humid environment. This can lead to poor shooting and decisions on the field. The Raptor bar contains branched chain amino acids (BCAA), taurine, and choline that can help maintain mental focus and concentration throughout the match.

The fifth goal of optimizing performance of soccer players is to minimize the catabolic and immune-suppressive effects of intense exercise. The Raptor bar contains the right amount and type of protein and amino acids that can help minimize catabolism during exercise and promote protein synthesis after exercise. The Raptor bar also contains a rich source of antioxidants (Vitamin E, Vitamin C, selenium, Coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, and taurine) that have been reported to minimize the effects of intense and prolonged exercise on muscle damage. In addition, the Raptor bar contains high levels of nutrients that support the immune system (i.e., L-glutamine, Vitamin C, zinc). For soccer players, ingesting a Raptor bar 30-minutes prior to warm-ups and at half-time can help minimize the catabolic effects of intense training and play, promote recovery from practice and matches, and support the immune system.

The final nutritional goal for soccer players is to provide nutrients after practices and matches to promote recovery. Ingesting carbohydrate, protein/amino acids, electrolytes, anti-oxidants, and nutrients that support the immune system can help soccer players recover from intense prolonged exercise and tolerate training to a better degree. This can also help soccer players recover from match to match when playing in tournaments.

Exercise

• 5-8 hours per week of running, resistance-training, conditioning drills, and practice during off-season to increase aerobic capacity, muscle endurance, flexibility, speed, agility, and fitness
  
  
• 2-2.5 hours of running and jogging with intermittent sprints during practices
  
  
• 3-4 hours of running and jogging with intermittent sprints for warm-ups and matches
  
  
• 1-2 hours per week of resistance-training, stretching, and conditioning drills in-season to help maintain strength, muscle endurance, and flexibilit
  
  
• 1-2 hours of running and jogging with intermittent sprints two or three times per day during weekend tournaments

Nutrition

• Fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration and muscle cramping
  
  
• Carbohydrate to sustain blood glucose levels and exercise capacity throughout the match
  
  
• Nutrients that support aerobic capacity, muscle endurance, and recovery from intermittent sprints
  
  
• Nutrients to help maintain mental focus during games
  
  
• Protein/amino acids and antioxidants to reduce muscle breakdown, oxidative stress, and muscle damage from exercise
  
  
• Nutrients to promote recovery and support the immune system following exercise

Refueling

• Consume a moderate to high carbohydrate/low fat meal 3-4 hours prior to training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar 30-60 minutes prior to training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume 1-2 cups of water and/or sports drinks every 15-20 minutes during training
  
  
• Ingest one Raptor bar within 30 minutes following training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume a high carbohydrate/low fat meal within 2 hours following training sessions and/or events
  
  
• Consume Raptor bars as a nutrient dense snack between meals and training sessions