I found out I’m
good at this, and I can
accomplish things.
It takes my mind
off other things. When
I play, I focus on the
game and everything
else goes away.
My sisters all
play volleyball, so
I do it, too.
I like that
I get more time
with my friends.
It makes me feel
graceful and
creative.
I love being
outside.
My dad says it makes me
more well-rounded, and that
it could help me get into a
good college.
It’s better
than sitting inside
all winter!
It makes my
mind quieter.
I like
learning
new skills.
I feel like my
teammates have my
back, on and off
the field.
My family says
I need to do at least
one physical activity
every year.
When I accomplish
something, I feel like,
YEAH!
I thought
it might be a little
scary. But I like the
feeling when we’re in
a close game and
then we win.
Scoreboard
You may play because it’s fun or because it makes you feel good.
You may play because it strengthens your friendships or because
you find out new things about yourself along the way.
If your answers show you might be playing for reasons that aren’t
your own, dig deeper. Can you think of two or three things you enjoy
about playing? Did it take a tiny push to get you started, but you like it
now? How often do you come home from practice or a game with a smile
on your face? If you can’t come up with positive answers to these ques-
tions, this book will help you find a solution—or find the fun!
I love being in the water
because my body feels so free,
like I can do anything!
–Abby
I love being active.
It makes me feel
healthy and
beautiful.
–Josephine
your body
Playing sports is fun,
and it makes me feel
awesome about
my body.
–Cali
fuel up!
As an athlete, you ask a lot from
your body. It’s important to know
how to treat it well and keep it
energized, healthy, and ready for
action—starting with what you
put into it.
Food is fuel.
To stay strong, you eat right. And
the more you move, the more you
need. So refuel regularly to keep
your body performing at its peak.
If you spread healthy meals and
snacks through the day, you won’t
run out of gas!
Every body needs the vitamins in
fruits and veggies. And dairy foods
like milk, cheese, and yogurt are
loaded with calcium for strong
bones. You already know that.
Do you also know how important
carbohydrates and proteins are?
Carbs store fuel inside muscles—
so you want your tank full of
them before you play. Protein? It
gives you energy, helps you grow
and recover from exercise, and
builds strong muscles. It’s actually
what muscles are made of!
whole-grain
bread
whole-grain
cereal
whole-grain
pasta
brown
rice
potatoes
peas
beans
fruit
fish
cheese
beans
tofu
milk
turkey
lean
meat
chicken
eggs
yogurt
Pressure
to be thin?
Some girls think losing weight
will enhance their athletic per-
formance. Girls in sports that are
graded by judges—such as figure
skating, dancing, and gymnastics—
sometimes feel extra pressure to
be slim. Girls who are runners,
swimmers, and cyclers also some-
times get concerned about weight.
The truth is, dropping pounds in
an