A study was conducted with 53 UCO football players as part of a class project; the results revealed that over half receive their nutrition information from their coaches, and the majority believed that eating a nutrition meal will improve their performance. However, the UCO athletic program does not employ a Registered Dietitian or sports nutritionist. The purpose of this STRL project was to increase knowledge, awareness, and to provide resources about proper food/beverage choices and nutritional practices for performance, recovery, and overall health to the football athletes. Outcomes of the project were the players gaining awareness of the effects of nutrition on performance and body composition. Due to the success of the project with the football team, it was continued for a second year and expanded to all student-athletes through a UCO Intern position. The author will present the results of the survey, methods that were most successful for the student-athletes during the project and lessons learned as a result of the transformative learning experience with the anticipation that this will be an on-going collaborative project for nutrition students and student-athletes at UCO.

Nutrition is a very important component of an athlete’s training and performance. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ position on this issue is that physical activity, athletic performance, and recovery are enhanced by optimal nutrition (1). Although diet and nutrition are significant aspects of athletes’ training and performance, there may not be an easily accessible qualified person for athletes to seek out for advice. In 2012, there were fewer than 40 major colleges or professional teams that employed full time registered dietitians (RD) (2).  This leaves a void, making it harder for athletes to obtain reliable evidence-based advice. Oftentimes, athletes rely on a coach or the internet for nutrition information. Some coaches may have limited knowledge of the basics of nutrition.  Torres-McGehee et al. (2012), concluded that coaches and athletes have the least amount of knowledge base pertaining to nutrition when compared to athletic trainers or strength and conditioning specialists. However their knowledge may not be a suitable replacement for the expertise of a RD (3).  A systematic review that was conducted in 2011 by Heaney et al., found that athletes may have a higher or equal to knowledge base of nutrition when compared to non-athletes but were lower when compared to nutrition students (4). With this lack of knowledge, athletes may not be getting sufficient macro/micronutrient intake when their bodies are needing to perform and recover from sports performance/training.  A small study was conducted as part of an Advanced Nutrition course of 53 football players, ages 18 - 23 years. The study revealed that 52% seek their nutrition information through their coach/trainers. The majority of UCO athletes believe that eating a nutritious meal will improve their athletic performance. According to the survey, the athletes seek their nutrition information from their coaches first; then seek secondary information from the internet, and friends. Athletes are not required to take a nutrition course and UCO does not employ a sports dietitian. The purpose of this STRL project was to increase knowledge, awareness, and to provide resources about proper food/beverage choices and nutritional practices for performance, recovery, and overall health to the football athletes. This was done by providing the athletes with information on the nutritional value of foods, the components of an adequate diet, and the proper knowledge of making appropriate food choices and purchases from available resources. Throughout the year the goal was to provide the athletes valuable knowledge but also encourage active participation through activities such as healthy breakfast options for summer practice, grocery store tours, discussions on the importance of BMR and body composition, and nutrition education.  Due to the success of the project with the football team, it was continued for a second year and expanded to all student-athletes through a UCO Intern position. Based on expected outcomes during the second year, it is anticipated this will be an on-going collaboration between nutrition students and student-athletes that will benefit both groups through this transformative learning experience.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American College of Sports Medicine, & Dieticians of Canada. (2016). Nutrition and athletic performance. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(3), 501-528. Retrieved from http://www.eatrightpro.org/resource/practice/position-and-practice-papers/position-papers/nutrition-and-athletic-performance

Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association. (2012). 'Sports RD' survey: Nutrition specialists laying claim to where food meets the field. Retrieved from https://www.newswise.com/articles/sports-rd-survey-nutrition-specialists-laying-claim-to-where-food-meets-the-field

Torres-McGehee, T. M. (2012). Sports nutrition knowledge among collegiate athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning specialists. Journal of Athletic Training. 205-211.

Heaney, Susan, et al. (2011). Nutrition knowledge in athletes: a systematic review. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 21(3), 248-261.

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