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Football Is An Intermittent Team Based Sport

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1.0 Introduction Football is an intermittent team-based sport, with unpredictable changes between high intensity activity and low intensity play (Iaia, Rampinini & Bangsbo, 2009). Football players generally perform low intensity activities for more than 70% of the game, but measurements of heart rate and body temperature suggest that the total energy demand is high (Mohr, Krustup, & Bangsbo, 2003). The repeated intense actions that are performed place high demands on both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems, and are also a key feature in the fatigue that can occur at any moment in the game (Reilly, Drust & Clarke, 2008). Carbohydrates are perhaps the most important nutritional source for energy production as it is fuel for both energy systems (Burke, Loucks & Broad, 2006). Burke et al., (2006) suggested that football players should aim to achieve a carbohydrate intake that meets the fuel requirements of their training routine and optimizes restoration of muscle glycogen stores. Carbohydrate is stored in the muscles and in the liver as glycogen; muscle fatigue towards the end of a game may be related to depletion of glycogen in the muscle fibres (Reilly, Drust & Clarke, 2008). The high-intensity bursts in football also require a level of strength and power from the athlete, highlighting protein as another dietary essential (Boisseau, Vermorel, Rance, Duché & Patureau-Mirand, 2007). Along with carbohydrates, protein is also significant in the aid of recovery (Nieman,

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