In this episode of Untapped Stories, we sit down with Maddie Troyer - a former Division I runner and Head Sports Nutritionist at SMU, now working with the ⁨https://www.instagram.com/nutrition_with_wendi/ team - to break down one of the most overlooked performance factors in youth sports today: in-game fueling.

Most young athletes think fueling is simple: drink water and keep playing. But at higher levels, especially in extreme heat, fast-paced games, or multi-game tournament weekends, water alone might not cut it. Hydration, electrolytes, and quick-access carbs become the difference between finishing strong and hitting the wall.

Maddie explains exactly what most athletes get wrong — and why in-game fueling is about far more than thirst. It’s about maintaining blood glucose, avoiding energy crashes, replacing sodium lost through sweat, and keeping your muscles firing when the game gets tight.

But this conversation goes way deeper than “water vs sports drinks.”

Maddie breaks down the science athletes never learn but desperately need. Things like:

Carb timing, electrolyte balance, sweat rate, recovery windows, and how in-game fueling impacts decision-making, reaction time, and late-game explosiveness. Not fad diets. Not body-image trends. Not the “smaller is better” myth that derails so many young athletes.

She also talks about practical, athlete-friendly options players can actually use: sports drinks, electrolyte packets, gels, chews, honey sticks, applesauce pouches, bananas, pretzels — real fueling solutions that fit in a bag, on a bench, or in a locker.

And for parents, Maddie gives the message every family needs:

Under-fueling isn’t just a nutrition mistake — it’s a performance limiter.

Your athlete might be training hard, but if they’re not fueling right, they’re leaving half their potential on the table.

This episode covers:

- The difference between hydration and fueling (and why athletes need both)

- When water is enough — and when it isn’t

- How to avoid mid-game energy crashes

- Why electrolytes matter more than most athletes realize

- The best quick-carb options for tournaments and long practices

- How fueling impacts speed, decision-making, and stamina

- What parents can do to help their athlete fuel consistently

- Why in-game nutrition is the easiest competitive advantage most players ignore

Maddie’s story is a reminder that great performance isn’t just about training — it’s about energy availability, smart fueling, and respecting what your body needs to compete. The right nutrition can elevate everything: your recovery, your consistency, and your confidence in big moments.

At Athletes Untapped, we believe performance isn’t one-dimensional. Skill, mindset, training, and fueling all play a role in helping athletes reach their full potential. Maddie brings clarity to a topic every athlete and parent should understand.

🎙️ Untapped Stories is presented by https://athletesuntapped.com - the nation’s #1 platform for private sports coaching. Our mission is to help athletes excel through great coaching and great habits, on and off the field.

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