PROTEA’S, RYAN MCLAREN SQUARES UP AGAINST SA UNDER-19 PACE BOWLER, KAGISO RABADA TO PROVE THE VALUE OF THE POWERADE® PERFORMANCE SESSIONS

Powerade®, chosen by Cricket South Africa to hydrate the Proteas, ran Powerade® Performance Sessions at approximately 70 South African high schools in October and November 2012, and then pitted a Proteas player against an under 19 cricketer to demonstrate the importance of conditioning at International level.

The Powerade® Performance Sessions were designed by Proteas’ Strength and Conditioning coach, Rob Walter, who has over 11 years of experience in training elite athletes. Through these sessions Powerade® sought to integrate the link between high performance, biokinetics, sports science, nutrition and hydration. All the exercises targeted the specific movement patterns that players would encounter on the field of play.

The best way to demonstrate the value of the Powerade® Performance Sessions was to square up a Proteas player against an under 19 cricketer.

In the bowling category Walter matched pace bowlers, Ryan McLaren, who joined the Proteas for the second Test against New Zealand, and SA Colts and SA under 19 cricketer, Kagiso Rabada. 

The first exercise was based on two throws. In the first the cricketers had to throw a cricket ball as far as possible which tested explosive power. The second was a rotational throw, which measured how much power one generates through rotation.  This was followed by a gym session and then a bowling session. 

“Ryan’s straight throw reached 13.20m whereas Kagiso threw 11.30m and Ryan managed 18.50m and Kagiso 13.70 in their rotational throws” reported Walter. “In the bowling sessions, Ryan managed a consistent speed of between 124 and 132km/h and Kagiso 117 to 142km/h,” Walter said.

What Kagiso learnt was that one needs to be consistent in the speed you bowl at, not start off at a very high speed and then drop off as the game progresses.”

One of the ways to consistently perform at a high level is to keep hydrated. Powerade puts back the fluids and electrolytes that are lost whilst exercising.

“Powerade® is key to our performance in terms of providing the energy required to maintain sustained levels of high performance, as well as helps with recovery after prolonged exercise.”  Walter said.

“Powerade® is the chosen sport drink of many of South Africa’s sports stars,” explains Craig van Niekerk, Marketing Assets Manager of Coca-Cola South Africa.  “But effective conditioning is a combination of many factors and through the Powerade® Performance Sessions we want the players to continue to develop, become more functional and continue to challenge themselves so that they continue growing and improving their cricket skills.”