Coaching Service
Pre-Match Preparation
Managing blood sugar and routine ahead of competition.
A session focused entirely on matchday — working through a personal routine for the hours before kickoff. That means timing, managing blood glucose as adrenaline and nerves kick in, what to have ready in the kit bag, and what to do if something doesn't go to plan right before you're due out on the pitch.
This is one of the things Ellen has had to learn the hard way, week after week, at professional level — for Sunderland in the WSL2 and for Wales on the international stage. It isn't guesswork for her anymore. She scored a hat-trick and was named Baller of the Round in the FA Cup in January 2025, on a day where matchday preparation, not just football ability, had to go right.
This topic can be booked as part of either an online coaching call or a face-to-face session — choose whichever format works best for you when booking.
Why It Helps
Benefits
A routine built from real matchdays, not theory
Years of learning, first-hand, what actually happens to blood sugar under matchday adrenaline, travel and pressure — not a generic checklist.
Covers the details that get missed
Not just 'eat before the game' — timing, what to keep in the kit bag, and what to do if something changes in the last hour before kickoff.
Adaptable to your sport and level
A youth league match, a trial, or a cup final all carry different pressure. The approach adjusts to what you're actually walking into.
One less thing to worry about at kickoff
Having a routine you trust means matchday nerves can be about the game itself, not about managing diabetes on top of it.
Real Scenarios
Where This Fits
Your first competitive match after diagnosis
Working through the nerves of playing competitively with T1D for the first time — with someone who's been through exactly that.
A cup final, trial or big fixture
Preparing for a high-stakes match where getting the routine right matters even more than usual.
An away day that disrupts your normal routine
Travel, unfamiliar changing rooms and later or earlier kickoffs — working out how to adapt when the usual routine doesn't quite fit.
Ideal For
Young athletes playing regular competitive matches who want a matchday routine that's actually theirs, built around their own body and their own sport — and parents or coaches who want to understand how to support on matchday without taking over.