Anonymous wrote:Don’t know where to post this! My 8yo daughter is complaining of terrible stomach aches an hour or two after her soccer games. I can see that her stomach is distended/bloated. Last weekend she refused to even eat dinner after two long games. She plays most of each game (sometimes all) and she runs a lot. She drinks a bit at halftime and then tons after the game. I don’t know if the cramping and dissension is from dehydration, or from gas from drinking too much after the game, or maybe even just from breathing hard during the game? Does anyone have any tricks/remedies? I thought about giving her a pedialite frozen pop at halftime to rehydrate with less liquid (and hopefully no cramps).

Anonymous wrote:e
Electrolytes or even a little hymilaian (sp?') salt mixed in her drink especially at night before bed.

Anonymous wrote:She's not properly hydrating BEFORE the game. If you're dehydrated for just one day, the deficit carries through for days after.

It can also be very difficult for those who get very dehydrated to get rehydrated properly without an IV.

Here's a tip I learned playing soccer all through school and college (Div I): if you are not urinating as frequently as a pregnant lady, you're dehydrated. Also, next time she urinates, check the color. If it's not a pale yellow to nearly clear, she's not hydrated enough. You don't want CLEAR, though, as that is bad and she needs electrolytes.

The distended belly is just a natural reaction to lots of running. Your GI tract slows down considerably while you're running, which causes bloating. The bloating causes pain. Do some research on Runners Stomach to see what she should be eating before games.