Youth sports in America are more competitive than ever, especially football. A man with a track record of the upbringing of boys who can thrive is the Super Bowl -Master broad receiving Ed McCaffrey.
McCaffrey is the father of superstar San Francisco 49ers, who runs back Christian McCaffrey, Washington Commander’s wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, Miami Dolphin’s assistant coach Max McCaffrey and former college -quarterback Dylan McCaffrey.
“We were lucky. We had good kids who were very competitive, very motivated. We set certain standards. Academics were important to us. We wanted to get them a good education, so if they didn’t play well in the classroom, they wouldn’t be allowed to play sports,” Ed said.
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Former Denver Broncos recipient Ed McCaffrey, Center, talks to young footballers next to his two sons, San Francisco 49ers recipient Max McCaffrey, Left and Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey, on the right, at McCaffrey Football Camp at Valor Christian High School June 27, 2019. (Andy Cross/Denver Post)
Handling of adversity is a critical focal point in parents of McCaffreys. Ed believed in parents’ intervention after moments of adversity in sports in particular.
“After the game, if things do not go well, neither for them personally nor their team, nor if they are injured, or at any time they go through a hard time, as a parent, you will build their spirit back, clap them on the back and say ‘try again,'” he said.
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For young athletes, Ed McCaffrey believes that gains and losses are less significant than the individual mindset of competing.
“If you play to win and give your best effort, you’ve already won no matter what the scoreboard is,” he said.
“It’s not about winning every single game. We all want to win, but you won’t win every game you play. It’s about knowing that you gave it all you might be able to your team to your sports.”
Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey (5) shakes his hands with his father, the former NFL’s width receives Ed McCaffrey as his mother Lisa looks at after a spring match at Cagan Stadium. (John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
For McCaffrey and his sons, it was arguably the most critical aspect of their athletic success their daily lifestyle, especially diet and get enough sleep.
The vast majority of McCaffrey Sons’ meals were cooked at home by their mother, Lisa McCaffrey, Ed said and added Lisa prepared dinner to the boys “every night.”
Due to the boys’ constant athletic activity, parents increased the amount of red meat and dairy, they ate to higher levels than what is recommended for the average adult.
“Children can consume a little more red meat, a little more fat, more dairy,” McCaffrey said.
Staying with homemade food was even more important when it came to snacks before sporting events. If oath or Lisa gave them food at all before games or practice, it had to be free of certain ingredients and “easily digestible.”
Siriusxm -host Ed McCaffrey and NFL, who run back Christian McCaffrey from Carolina Panthers is for photos at Siriusxm in Super Bowl Life January 30, 2020, in Miami, Fla. (Cindy words/getty images to siriusxm)
“It’s hard to consume food before an event because most foods have things in them that are difficult to digest, but they have additives in those that affect your gut and it’s hard to go and compete,” Ed said. “It was so important to us as they grew up to give them healthy snacks that were easy to digest.”
One of the most common snacks oath and Lisa fed their sons was homemade protein bite, which has since inspired the family to release his own series of McCaffrey protein bites with similar ingredients. These ingredients include flax seeds, brown rice and pea protein. They also made sure to keep peanuts out of the bite because of their sons allergies.
