Game days in Atlanta are busy.

Early kickoffs. Long tournament weekends. Georgia heat that drains you before warmups even start.

With all of that going on, nutrition can become an afterthought.

But what a player eats before a match directly affects energy, focus, and performance. We’ve seen it time and time again — the first half tells the story.

Here are five of the biggest pregame food mistakes youth soccer players make — and what to do instead.

Did you know overuse injuries account for more than half (54%) of youth sports injuries? Common issues include hamstring and quad strains, as well as calf injuries. And in the past 15 years, ACL injuries in high school athletes have jumped by 24%. That’s a big deal, especially considering our kids are still growing—meaning their bones haven’t fully developed and are more vulnerable to stress.