Trainers discourage energy drinks for young athletes

Just saying the names out loud -- Amp, Monster, Rock Star, Red Bull, Vault, Jolt, Full Throttle -- is enough to get you wired.

These are some of the energy drinks popular with college and high school students trying to make it through the day or night. The drinks are loaded with sugar, caffeine and calories.

Energy drinks are readily available at local grocers or convenience stores. They are marketed toward athletes and the public as a way to improve performance or stay awake.

"College kids are tired. They stay up late. [Energy drinks] give them an instant jolt that keeps them up, and it works," said Katie Thompson, registered dietician at the University of Richmond.

The side effects from consuming energy drinks, especially excessively, can be nasty: jitters, heart palpitations, irritated digestive systems.

"I wouldn't recommend making them part of a daily diet," Thompson said.

Energy drinks differ from sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade. Sports drinks are designed to help rehydration after physical activity. Sports drinks include electrolytes such as sodium and potassium and little sugar. They are much easier on the digestive system.

The bottom line is that sports drinks are for hydration and rehydration; energy drinks are not.

Even though some energy drinks contain beneficial ingredients such as vitamins and proteins, coaches and trainers are telling their athletes to stay clear of energy drinks.

"I've heard some people say you can take a sip right before you start and just go," said Clarissa Schick, a standout distance runner at Maggie Walker Governor's School. "Coach [Jim] Holdren says no. He tells us not to drink them."

Some athletes, such as Atlee golfer Tanner Foutz, know energy drinks don't necessarily enhance performance.

"If I drank an energy drink, I couldn't putt. I'd be shaking," he said. Then he added, "If I played football, I might."

Caffeine can be addictive, and as with any addiction, sufferers have major highs and major lows.

Athletes aren't looking for that.

"We don't do it. I drink water, Gatorade, Powerade, a vitamin water once in a while," said Marquis Wallace, a 6-4, 290-pound All-Metro offensive lineman at Varina who has committed to West Virginia University. "[Coach Stu Brown] doesn't even talk about Gatorade. It's water, water, water with him."

Varina doesn't specifically address energy drinks, according to trainer Jessica Meade.

"We do talk about water, and we do talk about eating right and we do talk about the things you should do," she said. "I don't know that we necessarily address the fact that energy drinks aren't so good. I think we're more proactive as far as what you should do as opposed to this is what you shouldn't do."

Among the things discouraged by the Virginia High School League are supplements and steroids. However, the VHSL handbook contains only a policy dedicated to steroids. The policy says that a student-athlete found using steroids by his or her school will be suspended from athletic activity for two years.

Tom Zimorski, deputy director of the VHSL, says energy drinks haven't come up in any of his discussions with principals, activities directors and coaches.

"It's kind of been a non-issue," he said.

Contact Arthur Utley at (804) 649-6559 or .