Table 3.
Hydration Knowledge of NCAA Track and Field Throwers, No. (%)
| Item | True | False |
|---|---|---|
| Using salt tablets keeps athletes from getting dehydrated during training and competition. (F) | 63 (21.4) | 232 (78.6) |
| Dehydration decreases athletic performance. (T) | 287 (97.3) | 8 (2.7) |
| Thirst is the best indicator of dehydration. (F) | 149 (50.5) | 146 (49.5) |
| An athlete should not drink water or any fluids during practice. (F) | 1 (.3) | 294 (99.7) |
| Coaches should not let athletes drink any fluids during practice. (F) | 2 (.6) | 293 (99.3) |
| Coaches should not let athletes drink any fluids during competition. (F) | 0 (0) | 295 (100) |
| It is important for fluids to be readily available to athletes during practice. (T) | 294 (99.7) | 1 (0.3) |
| It is important for fluids to be readily available to athletes during competition. (T) | 291 (98.6) | 4 (1.4) |
| Within 2 hours after exercise, athletes should drink a sports drink. (T) | 199 (67.5) | 96 (32.5) |
| Sports drinks are better than water because they restore glycogen in muscles. (T) | 122 (41.4) | 173 (58.6) |
| An athlete should drink 503 – 591 ml of water or a sports drink a couple of hours before competition. (T) | 266 (90.2) | 29 (9.8) |
| An athlete should drink 207 – 295 ml of water or a sports drink 10-20 min before competition. (T) | 200 (67.8) | 95 (32.2) |
| When exercising for more than 1 hour, an athlete should drink a sports drink rather than water. (T) | 122 (41.4) | 173 (58.6) |
| By monitoring the color of urine, an athlete can judge if he/she is dehydrated. (T) | 281 (95.3) | 14 (4.7) |
| A good way for an athlete to determine how much water or sports drink to consume after practice is to obtain body weight before and after practice. (T) | 187 (63.4) | 108 (36.6) |
| Excessive sweating, thirst, and muscle cramping are signs of dehydration. (T) | 280 (95.6) | 13 (4.4) |
| More than two drinks of alcohol the day before practice and/or competition can lead to dehydration. (T) | 286 (96.9) | 9 (3.1) |