Fuel for Game Day: When to Eat and Drink
Working in teams and in a relay, students build a timeline showing when and what kind of food or drink makes sense around a game or practice. It covers fueling for activity with no diets, no portion sizes and no talk about weight.
How to play
- Present three scenarios: a game at 10 a.m., practice at 6 p.m. right after school and an all-day tournament in the heat; each team of five gets one (3 min).
- Relay: each member runs to the center, picks up a timing card (3 hours before, 1 hour before, during, right after) or an option card (usual main meal, light snack, fruit, sandwich, water, electrolyte drink) and places it on the team's cone line (8 min).
- Each team explains its plan and the others check it against four criteria: familiar food, easy to digest, drink before you are thirsty and recover afterward with a normal meal (5 min).
- Practice check: a 5-minute intense game block where each student decides in advance when to drink water and sticks to it; afterward they rate thirst and energy from 1 to 5 (6 min).
- Wrap-up: there are no magic foods and supplements are not needed; what matters is not starting on an empty stomach, eating a variety of foods and drinking water (3 min).
Rules
- No talk about weight, calories or individual portion sizes.
- Respect every family, cultural or religious way of eating.
- Run in separate lanes during the relay and place the card, never throw it.
- Everyone brings their own water bottle and does not share it.
Variations
Easier
One shared scenario for the whole class and picture cards.
Standard
Three scenarios, a relay timeline and a practice check with planned hydration.
Harder
Each team adapts its plan to an extra case, such as a player fasting for religious reasons or one with an allergy.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: arranges the cards on the line while a teammate does the running.
- Hearing impairment: scenarios and criteria are also given in writing.
- Students with allergies or intolerances: can suggest their own options for the team to include.
Learning goals
- Plan meal timing and hydration around sports practice.
- Tell useful information apart from myths about energy and supplements.
- Link eating to performance without focusing on bodies or weight.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cards: 60
- cones: 25
- pinnies: 30
Teacher tip
If you know a student has or may be at risk of an eating disorder, plan the lesson with the school counselor first. Avoid labels like 'good food' or 'bad food.'
PatioLab has "Fuel for Game Day: When to Eat and Drink" and 5176 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
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