The GPS she is referring to is system that is widely used in professional
sports to map an athlete’s performance: speed, distance, acceleration, deceler-
ation, and body load. This kind of data has become an integral part of train-
ing for peak performance. It helps Brooke help individual players reach their
fitness and performance goals. She says, “I am able to work with our sports
scientist to develop a personal plan specific to what they want to achieve,
for instance, body composition, or to be more explosive, the list goes on...”
Hydration and Performance
Hydration is an obvious question for a soccer team’s nutritionist. Much
has been written about the negative effects of dehydration, not only on
physical health, but also cognitive performance. In order to reach peak
mental and physical performance, it is crucial that both the body and
brain be hydrated. Ellison says, “Every single day, I have them weigh in
when they arrive at the stadium and then when they come back after prac-
tice, so I can monitor their fluid loss. I know my heavy sweaters, right off
the bat, and then I can focus with them about electrolytes and foods that
will help them hold on to water. I use a refractometer and test their urine
the day before a game to test their hydration level, and then have them
adjust to make sure they are ready for the game the next day.” I asked
her what the minimum amount of water these athletes should be drink-
ing daily during a season. Her answer was easy, “Six 16 ounce bottles.”
That’s 96 ounces a day, or the equivalent of three Big Gulps.
Mindset and Success
In a 2014 article published in Psychology Today, writer Jim Taylor,
Ph.D., talks about Mindset as an essential contributor to athletic success.
He found that the elite athletes he worked with— both professional and
Olympic—consistently used different mindsets to perform at their highest
level consistently. I see this this in the LA Galaxy players that I inter-
viewed. Venezuelan defender, Rolf Feltscher, says, “The most important
part of the sport is the mind. You have to train the body, and that’s true,
but you have to be more in shape with your mind.” When I ask him how
he trains his mind, he says, “I am happy when I stand up, when I am
grateful. You have to be grateful all the time. And you have to give back.”
French footballer, Romain Alessandrini, joined the team last year. One
of the brightest lights in an otherwise dim season, he earned the club’s
MVP status. When I asked him if he meditates, he said, “No but I try to
figure out how to be better. I try to give everything at every training and
every game. For myself, the mental attitude is 80% of my performance.”
Sebastian Lletget summed up the importance of mindset and the power
of presence for a soccer player. “The moment and the opportunity opens.
For the duration of 90 minutes, even during halftime, you have to be
super present. You have to be so in frequency with the game. Time and
time again, nothing happens in the game. You build up for so long, and
then finally it opens up and there’s an opportunity. You are right in front
of the goal and if you are a split second short, you miss it. You have to be
perfectly there in the moment. It’s all about being focused and present.”
Now he’s sounding like a good yogi.Learn more about LA Galaxy and their 2018 season at: lagalaxy.com.
Zoë Kors is a writer, speaker, sex coach, and soccer devotee: zoekors.com.
Jeff Skeirik is an LA-based photographer/videographer. An avid health enthusiast, he
specializes in working with wellness brands and entrepreneurs: rawtographer.com.