NUTRITION
provided in an interesting but informative way and is made totally relevant to them, it can help to give the foundation to a life in sport by setting in place good nutritional practices. A variety of different teaching methods can be used to keep interest, backed up by resources that can be referred to regularly by the athlete. The ultimate aim of nutritional
education of young athletes is to provide practical advice backed up by accurate and up-to-date science.
to reduce body fat and whether bottled water is better than tap water.
Young athletes today have grown up with the internet, emailing and texting on mobile phones. Sending a monthly or even fortnightly nutrition e-news is another method of educating them. This can often encourage e-mail communications between the sports dietitian or performance nutritionist and the athlete, which can be particularly helpful for the less outgoing young athletes who might hesitate to ask questions in public. Subjects covered in e-news have ranged from coping with Christmas, eating late at night and getting a good night’s sleep to assist the healing process, eating out and basic cooking skills to try out at home or while living in an Academy house.
COACHES It is important that coaches buy into the nutritional advice being given by the sports dietitian or performance nutritionist. Not only do they provide the time slots for regular education sessions through the season but they must back up the advice that is being given to the young athletes. This is particularly relevant when considering the issue of fluid intake during training sessions. Young athletes are at greater risk of over-heating than adults. They sweat less than adults and are not as efficient at moving heat from inside the body to the skin surface via the blood. Children also have a larger surface area to body mass ratio than adults and as a result they gain heat faster on hot days. They also do not recognise or respond to the thirst mechanism (which is not a particularly good warning sign anyway) as well as adults and therefore are at greater risk of becoming dehydrated just through not drinking enough. Coaches need to be educated about the importance of hydration and how young athletes differ from adults. As a result they will recognise the need to schedule regular fluid breaks during all training sessions but particularly during warm/hot weather.
Young athletes are used to ‘being educated’ but it is worth bearing the following points in mind when preparing an education session for them. ■ Adapt the session to the age group ■ Be flexible ■ Vary the teaching methods ■ Be honest if you don’t know the answer - but say you will find out for the next session
■ Keep them entertained ■ Appreciate the pressures they are under ■ Ask for feedback ■ Think outside the box ■ Always relate advice to performance.
CONCLUSION Young athletes are used to a learning situation. If information is
sportEX dynamics 2007;12(Apr):7-9 9
References 1. Unusan N. How university students evaluate the grammatical style of nutrition messages? British Nutrition Foundation Nutrition Bulletin 2006;31:100-103 2.
www.100percentme.co.uk 3.
www.rfu.com 4.
www.wada-ama.org
THE AUTHOR
Jane Griffin qualified from London University with a degree in Nutrition and a postgraduate diploma in Dietetics and is an Accredited Sports Dietitian. She is currently the sports dietitian to London Irish RFC (having previously worked with NEC Harlequins for three seasons) and to the Rugby Football League. She is also the sports dietitian to London Irish, London Wasps and NEC Harlequins England Rugby Academies. She has written extensively for a wide range of sports magazines and her first book ‘Food for Sport’ (Eat Well, Perform Better) was published by The Crowood Press in September 2001. Her second book ‘Nutrition for Marathon Running’ was published in 2005 and she is currently writing her third book ‘Food for Rugby’.
RESOURCES
■ Food for Sport by Jane Griffin. Crowood Press 2001. ISBN 1861262167
■ Nutrition for Marathon Running by Jane Griffin. Crowood Press 2005. ISBN 1861265905
■ Fuelling Fitness for Sports Performance by Dr Samantha Stear. British Olympic Association 2004. ISBN 9501447312
■ Jane Griffin’s website can be found at
www.eatwellperformbetter.co.uk
INTERACTIVE 1
■ Nutrition for the young athlete – advice leaflet ■ Hydration and sport – advice leaflet ■ Thirsty work: Hydration and exercise – sportEX health issue 9
■ Eat, Drink and be Active – sportEX health 12
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