Assessment of Sports Nutrition Knowledge, Sources and Recommendations of Coaches and Athletic Trainers at a Division I University and The Perceived Impact of a CSSD to an Athletic Team

The purpose of this investigation was to assess nutrition knowledge, opinions, and practices of coaches and trainers at a Division I university. Participants (n = 53) completed questionnaires regarding nutrition knowledge, opinions, and practices. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were used to analyze data. Overall, participants responded correctly to 67% of nutrition knowledge questions. Participants who coached/trained female athletes tended to score better than respondents who coached/trained male athletes. Strength and conditioning coaches and participants with greater than 15 years of experience scored higher than other participants. Nutrition opinions/practices responses revealed that nutritional supplements were provided for all but 6% of participants’ athletes. Participants rated body weight as more important than body composition to athletes’ performances. Over 30% of participants perceived at least one case of disordered eating within the past year. Some participants (53%) felt that athletes may consume more nutritious meals on team-sponsored trips if given larger food allowances. Thirty percent of participants reported dietitians were available to them; the same percentage reported utilizing dietitians. Coaches and trainers are knowledgeable about some appropriate nutritional recommendations, but registered dietitians or qualified sports nutrition professionals may complement the nutrition-related education and counseling of athletes (23).

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Assessment of Sports Nutrition Knowledge of NCAA Division I Collegiate Athletes

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ◽

10.1016/j.jand.2020.06.051 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 120 (9) ◽

pp. A75

Author(s):

J. Danh ◽

J. Kurtz ◽

A. Nucci ◽

J. Doyle ◽

R. Feresin

Keyword(s):

Ncaa Division I ◽

Collegiate Athletes ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

Sports Nutrition ◽

Division I

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Sports Nutrition Knowledge Among Collegiate Athletes, Coaches, Athletic Trainers, and Strength and Conditioning Specialists

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-47.2.205 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 205-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Toni M. Torres-McGehee ◽

Kelly L. Pritchett ◽

Deborah Zippel ◽

Dawn M. Minton ◽

Adam Cellamare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutrition Education ◽

Athletic Trainers ◽

Collegiate Athletes ◽

The United States ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

Sports Nutrition ◽

Nutrition Information ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Registered Dietitians ◽

Strength And Conditioning

Context: Coaches, athletic trainers (ATs), strength and conditioning specialists (SCSs), and registered dietitians are common nutrition resources for athletes, but coaches, ATs, and SCSs might offer only limited nutrition information. Little research exists about sports nutrition knowledge and current available resources for nutrition information for athletes, coaches, ATs, and SCSs. Objective: To identify resources of nutrition information that athletes, coaches, ATs, and SCSs use; to examine nutrition knowledge among athletes, coaches, ATs, and SCSs; and to determine confidence levels in the correctness of nutrition knowledge questions within all groups. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I, II, and III institutions across the United States. Patients and Other Participants: The 579 participants consisted of athletes (n = 185), coaches (n = 131), ATs (n = 192), and SCSs (n = 71). Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants answered questions about nutrition resources and domains regarding basic nutrition, supplements and performance, weight management, and hydration. Adequate sports nutrition knowledge was defined as an overall score of 75% in all domains (highest achievable score was 100%). Results: Participants averaged 68.5% in all domains. The ATs (77.8%) and SCSs (81.6%) had the highest average scores. Adequate knowledge was found in 35.9% of coaches, 71.4% of ATs, 83.1% of SCSs, and only 9% of athletes. The most used nutrition resources for coaches, ATs, and SCSs were registered dietitians. Conclusions: Overall, we demonstrated that ATs and SCSs have adequate sports nutrition knowledge, whereas most coaches and athletes have inadequate knowledge. Athletes have frequent contact with ATs and SCSs; therefore, proper nutrition education among these staff members is critical. We suggest that proper nutrition programming should be provided for athletes, coaches, ATs, and SCSs. However, a separate nutrition program should be integrated for ATs and SCSs. This integrative approach is beneficial for the continuity of care, as both categories of professionals might be developing and integrating preventive or rehabilitative programs for athletes.

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Exploring Sports Nutrition Knowledge in Elite Gaelic Footballers

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041081 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1081

Author(s):

Luke O’Brien ◽

Kieran Collins ◽

Farzad Amirabdollhian

Keyword(s):

Athletic Performance ◽

Athletic Trainers ◽

Age Groups ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

Sports Nutrition ◽

Nutritional Knowledge ◽

Strength And Conditioning ◽

Knowledge Questionnaire ◽

Nutrition Intake ◽

Knowledge And Practice

Nutrition intake plays a crucial role in improving athletic performance, enhancing adaptations to training, and augmenting recovery from exercise. However, research has reported that Gaelic footballers consistently fail to meet energy and carbohydrate recommendations. Sports nutrition knowledge (SNK) can influence the dietary intake of athletes, and therefore has the potential to have a significant impact on athletic performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the current level of SNK in elite Gaelic footballers (n = 100). An online version of the Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (NSKQ) was used to assess sports SNK. The overall mean SNK scores for Gaelic footballers and practitioners were 47.6 ± 12.3% and 78.1 ± 8.3%, respectively. There were no differences in knowledge between age groups, education level or divisional status. The top three sources of nutrition information identified by participants were team dietitian/nutritionists (84.0%), athletic trainers/strength and conditioning coaches (73%), and social media (37%). The results show that there is a major gap in the SNK of Gaelic footballers, while practitioners demonstrated a promising SNK, that could support Gaelic footballers. There is a need for development of interventions and knowledge transfer partnerships, including more effective methods of educating Gaelic footballers and translating sports nutrition principles to players. Developing appropriate nutritional education strategies using online resources and mobile applications could help to improve nutritional knowledge and practice of Gaelic footballers.

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Sports Nutrition Knowledge among Mid-Major Division I University Student-Athletes

Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1155/2016/3172460 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ashley Andrews ◽

Janet R. Wojcik ◽

Joni M. Boyd ◽

Charles J. Bowers

Keyword(s):

Student Athletes ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Knowledge Score ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

Sports Nutrition ◽

University Student ◽

Division I ◽

Impaired Performance ◽

Class Level ◽

Major Division

Competitive athletes have goals to optimize performance and to maintain healthy body composition. Sports nutrition is a component of training programs often overlooked by student-athletes and their coaches. The purpose of this study was to examine student-athletes’ sports nutrition knowledge across sex, class level, team, and completion of prior nutrition coursework. Participants included 123 mid-major Division I university student-athletes (47 females and 76 males) from baseball, softball, men’s soccer, track and field, and tennis. The student-athletes completed a survey questionnaire to determine adequate sports nutrition knowledge (mean ≥ 75%). The overall mean sports nutrition knowledge score for the student-athletes was 56.9% which was considered inadequate sports nutrition knowledge (mean < 75%). Only 12 student-athletes achieved adequate sports nutrition knowledge score of 75% or higher. There were no differences by sex, class level, team, and completion of prior nutrition coursework. Student-athletes’ inadequate sports nutrition knowledge may place them at nutrition risk, lead to impaired performance, and affect their lean body mass and energy levels. Athletics personnel should not assume student-athletes have adequate sports nutrition knowledge. Athletic departments may make available a board certified Sports Dietitian or Registered Dietitian and offer classroom or online courses facilitating student-athletes to optimize nutrition knowledge and behaviors.

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Need for and Interest in a Sports Nutrition Mobile Device Application Among Division I Collegiate Athletes

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism ◽

10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0305 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 43-49 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Krystle E. Zuniga ◽

Darcy L. Downey ◽

Ryan McCluskey ◽

Carley Rivers

Keyword(s):

Mobile Device ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Collegiate Athletes ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

Sports Nutrition ◽

Division I ◽

Nutrition Information ◽

Strength And Conditioning ◽

Device Application

The majority of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) programs do not have a sports nutritionist, leaving athletes to gather information from resources that vary in reputability. The objective of this study was to identify a need for the development of accessible and reputable resources of nutrition information by assessing the current use of nutrition information resources, dietary habits, and sports nutrition knowledge among Division I collegiate athletes. Seventy-two athletes across eight sports completed questionnaires concerning nutrition resources used, dietary habits, and sports nutrition knowledge. In addition, interest levels in a mobile device application for delivery of nutrition information and tools were assessed. Primary sources for nutrition information included parents and family, athletic trainers (AT), and the internet/media, and athletes felt most comfortable discussing nutrition with parents and family, ATs, and strength and conditioning specialists. Performance on a sports nutrition knowledge questionnaire indicated a general lack of nutrition knowledge, and the high frequency of “unsure” responses suggested a lack of confidence in nutrition knowledge. Athletes conveyed a high likelihood that they would use a mobile device application as a nutrition resource, but were more interested in access to nutrition topics than tools such as a food log. We found that college athletes possess minimal sports nutrition knowledge, obtain nutrition information from nonprofessional resources, and were interested in utilizing a mobile device application as a resource. Further research is needed to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of alternative resources, such as a mobile device application, to deliver nutrition information and improve nutrition knowledge.

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Assessment of Dietary Intake, Body Composition and Sports Nutrition Knowledge of NCAA Division I Female Collegiate Volleyball Players

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa066_006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 1751-1751

Author(s):

Jessica Danh ◽

Anita Nucci ◽

J Andrew Doyle ◽

Rafaela Feresin

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Body Composition ◽

Ncaa Division I ◽

Nutrition Knowledge ◽

Sports Nutrition ◽

Division I ◽

Fat Intake ◽

Vitamin D Intake ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Volleyball Players

Abstract Objectives To assess nutritional intake, body composition and sports nutrition knowledge of NCAA Division I female volleyball players. Methods Nutritional intake was assessed using three-day food records. Daily average energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, and specific vitamins and minerals intakes were analyzed using Food Processor 11.1. These values were compared to the recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Sports nutrition knowledge was assessed using an 87-question validated nutrition for sports knowledge questionnaire (NSKQ). Athletes were also asked to state their sources for nutrition knowledge. Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Descriptive data (mean ± SD) and Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated using SPSS 26.0 with significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Results Fourteen female volleyball players (age: 19.6 ± 1.3 y, height: 174.9 ± 8.2 cm, weight: 73.2 ± 8.5 kg, BMI: 24.1 ± 2.5 kg/m2; body fat: 25.2 ± 3.4%) completed the study. Athletes’ mean energy intake was 24.7 ± 6.4 kcal/kg BW/day, while carbohydrate, protein and fat intake were 2.9 ± 0.92, 1.3 ± 0.44, and 0.88 ± 0.28 g/kg BW/day, respectively. Vitamin D intake was 137.1 ± 90.7 IU/day and calcium intake was 673.4 ± 352.5 mg/day. Energy and carbohydrate intake were lower than the ACSM recommendations (37–41 kcal/kg BW/day and 6–10 g/kg BW/day, respectively) while fat intake was higher. Protein intake fell within the recommended ranges (1.2–1.7 g/kg BW/day). Additionally, vitamin D and calcium were lower than the recommendations. The average NSKQ score was 45.4 ± 9.6% and was positively associated with weight (r = .738, P = 0.003) and vitamin D intake (r = .587, P = 0.027). Weight management score (51.8 ± 15.4%) was positively associated with weight (r = .676, P = 0.008). Four athletes included a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) as a source of nutrition information. In contrast, twelve athletes listed athletic trainers as a source. Conclusions The average NSKQ score suggests that NCAA Division I female volleyball players lack adequate sports nutrition knowledge which may be associated with inadequate energy and nutrient intakes. Athletes may benefit from nutrition education and counseling for improved performance and health from RDNs. Funding Sources There are no funding sources.

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