We Optiimal using tertiary performmance. Good nutrition can help enhance athletic performance. Nutrition during activity Drink oz. Sydney, Allen and Unwin, Fluid losses are also affected by variable climate and environmental conditions in which team sports are played e.

Optimal nutrition for team sports performance -

Repeated matches e. tournaments may increase risk of compounding dehydration from one match to the next. midfield players in soccer, Australian Rules football. tournament may increase risk of poor refuelling from one match to the next. Hypoglycaemia and depletion of central nervous system fuels brain glycogen.

Reduction in blood glucose concentrations due to poor carbohydrate availability. May occur in players with high-carbohydrate requirements see above who fail to consume carbohydrate during the match. Prolonged or repeated intervals of high-intensity activities. Inadequate recovery of phosphocreatine system of power production.

GI disturbances, including vomiting and diarrhoea may directly reduce performance, as well as interfere with nutritional strategies aimed at managing fluid and fuel status. Inadequate replacement of sodium lost in sweat. There is anecdotal evidence that salt depletion may increase the risk of a specific type of whole-body muscle cramp.

Salty sweaters — individuals with high sweat rates and high sweat sodium concentrations who may acutely or chronically deplete exchangeable sodium pools. Water intoxication Hyponatraemia low blood sodium.

Excessive intake of fluids can lead to hyponatraemia ranging from mild often asymptomatic to severe can be fatal.

Players with low sweat losses e. low activity or game time who overzealously consume fluid before and during a match. Team sport players in positions that cover significant distances within a game and who are required to be fast and agile are generally aided by a lighter and lean physique.

Typically, the body fat levels of team sport players do not reach the low levels typical of endurance athletes such as runners, cyclists and triathletes. However, recent observations among professional team sports have noted a reduction in body fat levels across players in general Duthie et al.

The requirement to wear lycra bodysuit uniforms in some team competitions has also contributed to an increased interest in loss of body fat among team players, although in this case it may be driven by aesthetic interests as much as by performance goals. Table 2 summarizes the risk factors and strategies to manage unwanted gain of body fat among players in team sports.

Recent research using tracer techniques has focused on the best feeding strategies following a bout of resistance exercise. Various investigations have found that the maximal protein synthetic response is produced when resistance exercise is followed by the immediate intake of rapidly digested, highquality protein Tang et al.

Despite the belief that large amounts of protein are needed for gains from resistance exercise, a dose—response study has found that the maximal synthetic response to a training bout was achieved with the intake of 20 to 25 g of high-quality protein following exercise Moore et al.

Over a hour recovery window, regular feeding i. every 3 hours of a moderate quantity [20 g] of rapidly digested whey protein will continue to promote high rates of muscle protein synthesis following resistance training Areta et al.

As a general rule, including ˜0. Furthermore, a well-scheduled intake of high-quality protein foods is likely to restrict the loss of muscle mass and strength during recovery from injury Wall et al. Table 2: Risk factors and strategies to manage unwanted gain of body fat among players in team sports adapted from Burke, Strategies to address risk factor.

Substantial reduction in activity levels during the off-season or injury. Poor nutrition knowledge and practical skills leading to poor food choices, convenient low-quality ready-prepared meals and reliance on takeaway foods.

supermarket tours, cooking classes to teach domestic skills and knowledge of sound choices in restaurants and takeaway outlets. Chaotic meal patterns and displaced meals leading to poor awareness of actual food intake in a day.

Residential situation e. college, foster family exposing athlete to inappropriate food choices and food volume. Constant travel, leading to disturbance of home routine; game schedule of frequent matches where emphasis is on fuelling and recovery. Regular excessive intake of alcohol, often in conjunction with inappropriate eating.

There are few studies of the fuel demands of team sport players during training or competition, with the available evidence being focused on the match play of soccer players.

Significant muscle glycogen depletion has been shown to occur over the course of a football match Ekblom, ; Saltin, ; Krustrup et al. The current guidelines for carbohydrate intakes amended to suit a range of needs for team players are summarized in Table 3.

As such, team sport athletes should be appropriately educated to manipulate their daily fuel intake to match the demands of training and competition.

Higher intakes may be required for younger team players to accommodate for growth and development, for leaner players with high daily energy requirements and for athletes striving to gain lean muscle mass to maintain a positive energy balance.

The lower-range carbohydrate intake recommendations are likely suitable for team players with high body fat levels given recommendations are expressed relative to body mass , for athletes returning from injury or on a break where training loads are reduced, or for players striving to reduce body fat levels during a general conditioning phase of training.

The high-carbohydrate diet did not increase the ability of players to shoot or dribble. Several explanations are possible: muscle glycogen depletion may not impair the ability of the player to execute game skills; alternative fatigue mechanisms such as dehydration or increased lactate production may be causative factors in the reduction in skill performance; or the treadmill protocol employed failed to induce a degree of glycogen depletion or fatigue large enough to cause a significant fall in skill performance Abt et al.

Distance skated, number of shifts skated, amount of time skated within shifts, and skating speed were all increased in the carbohydrate-loaded players compared with the mixed diet group, with the differences being most marked in the third period Akermark et al.

There are few studies of actual glycogen restoration following real or simulated competition in team sport; these are limited to soccer and show divergent results with both success Zehnder et al. Potential reasons for failure to refuel effectively after competition include interference with glycogen storage due to the presence of muscle damage arising from eccentric activities Zehnder et al.

Current sports nutrition guidelines for everyday eating recommend that athletes consume adequate carbohydrate to meet the fuel requirements of their training programme, thus allowing training sessions to be undertaken with high-carbohydrate availability for review, see Burke, There are a number of potential ways to reduce carbohydrate availability for training, including doing two training sessions in close succession without opportunity for refuelling Hansen et al.

As reviewed by Burke , it should be pointed out that these strategies do not involve a low carbohydrate intake per se, or follow the currently topical low-carbohydrate high-fat diet.

Furthermore, they do not advocate low carbohydrate availability for all training sessions; indeed, studies report a reduction in selfchosen training intensity with " train low " sessions, which may account for a failure to achieve an overall improvement in performance Yeo et al.

Morton and colleagues Morton et al. Further work, including a more sophisticated approach to periodizing carbohydrate availability around different training sessions, is needed. These include inadequate fuel and fluid status; factors that can be addressed by the intake of appropriate drinks and sports products during a match.

Given the intermittent nature of team sports, they often offer frequent opportunities to ingest fluid and energy during breaks between periods, time-outs, substitutions or breaks in play see Burke, Drinking opportunities for selected team sports are summarized in Table 4.

Fluids must be consumed at sidelines; players must not leave field. Third-time breaks, time-outs, substitutions, pauses in play. Half-time break, substitutions, pauses in play.

Trainers may run onto field with fluid bottles during pauses in play. Half-time break, pauses in play drink must be taken at sideline. First to 3 sets, limited substitutions, time-outs. Sweat rates for team sport players are underpinned by the intermittent high-intensity work patterns, which are variable and unpredictable between and within team sports.

Even from match to match, the same player can experience different workloads and sweat losses due to different game demands and overall playing time. Fluid losses are also affected by variable climate and environmental conditions in which team sports are played e.

outdoor vs. indoor; on sunny beach vs. on ice and in some sports the requirement to wear protective clothing, including body pads and helmets. Garth and Burke recently reviewed fluid intake practices of athletes participating in various sporting events.

They noted that most of the available literature involves observations from football soccer games, and there is little information on practices on other team sports, such as rugby league, rugby union, cricket, basketball and beach volleyball for review, see Garth and Burke, Studies that have included a test of pre-game hydration status in conjunction with fluid balance testing found that a subset of players reported on match day with urine samples consistent with dehydration.

Overall, mean BM changes over a match ranged from ˜1 to 1. One study reported that the total volume of fluid consumed by players was not different when they were provided with sports drink and water compared with water alone.

In addition, mean heart rate, perceived exertion, serum aldosterone, osmolality, sodium and cortisol responses during the test were higher when no fluid was ingested. Nevertheless, Edwards and Noakes suggest that dehydration is only an outcome of complex physiological control operating a pacing plan and no single metabolic factor is causal of fatigue in elite soccer.

The subjects were able to continue running longer when fed the carbohydrate-electrolyte solution. Ali et al. The carbohydrate-electrolyte solution enabled subjects with compromised glycogen stores to better maintain skill and sprint performance than when ingesting fluid alone.

Linseman et al. Skating speed and puck handling performance during the game, as well as post-game skating speed were improved with ingestion of the carbohydrate-electroltye solution.

Their results showed that perceived activation was lower without carbohydrate ingestion during the last 30 min of exercise, and this was accompanied by lowered plasma glucose concentrations.

In the carbohydrate trial, RPE was maintained in the last 30 minutes of exercise but carried on increasing in the PLA trial. These authors concluded that carbohydrate ingestion during prolonged high-intensity exercise elicits an enhanced perceived activation profile that may impact upon task persistence and performance.

On a third trial, the same volume of carbohydrate-electrolyte was consumed in smaller volumes at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes. This manipulation of the timing and volume of ingestion elicited similar metabolic responses without affecting exercise performance.

However, consuming fluid in small volumes reduced the sensation of gut fullness Clarke et al. Indeed, gastric emptying of liquids is slowed during brief intermittent high-intensity exercise compared with rest or steady-state moderate exercise Leiper et al.

These products are summarized in Table 5. Among the proposed nutritional ergogenic supplements, creatine Cr is the one that has been investigated the most in relation with team sports, given that its purported ergogenic action i.

enhanced recovery of the phosphocreatine power system matches the activity profilent of team sports. Various investigations indicate that both acute and chronic Cr supplementation may contribute to improved training and competition performance in team sports e.

Ahmun et al. Table 5: Sports foods and dietary supplements that are of likely benefit to team sport players adapted from Burke, However, conflicting results are not lacking in the literature Paton et al. Beta-alanine supplementation, to increase muscle stores of the intracellular buffer carnosine, may also provide benefits and requires further study using protocols suited to team sports Derave et al.

Colostrum supplementation has conflicting reports with respect to its effects on recovery and illness Shing et al. Beetroot juice, a source of nitrate, may enhance sports performance by mechanisms including an increase in exercise economy Wylie et al.

Holway and Spriet summarized the dietary intake studies of team sport athletes published over the past 30 years. It is difficult to make broad generalizations as data are skewed to certain team sports football, basketball and volleyball with little or no contemporary information reported on others e.

cricket, rugby union, water polo, hockey. However, weighted averages for energy intake were Relative to body mass, male team sport athletes reported eating an average of 5. This is less that reported for athletes engaged in individual team sports Burke, Not surprisingly, larger athletes were reported to consume more energy and pre-season intakes were greater than in-season intakes, perhaps to accommodate the additional conditioning work incorporated into the preparatory training phase.

Some evidence suggests the dietary quality of team sport athletes is less than what is reported for athletes involved in individual sports Clark et al. For instance, alcohol intakes of team sport athletes appear higher than other athlete groups Van Erp-Baart et al.

Experimenting with diets on your own can lead to poor eating habits with inadequate or excessive intake of certain nutrients. Speak with a health care professional to discuss a diet that is right for your sport, age, sex, and amount of training.

Buschmann JL, Buell J. Sports nutrition. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Riley E, Moriarty A. In: Madden CC, Putukian M, Eric C. McCarty EC, Craig C.

Young CC, eds. Netter's Sports Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 5. Thomas DT, Erdman KA, Burke LM. Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: nutrition and athletic performance. J Acad Nutr Diet.

PMID: pubmed. Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.

Editorial team. Nutrition and athletic performance. You are more likely to be tired and perform poorly during sports when you do not get enough: Calories Carbohydrates Fluids Iron, vitamins, and other minerals Protein.

However, the amount of each food group you need will depend on: The type of sport The amount of training you do The amount of time you spend doing the activity or exercise People tend to overestimate the amount of calories they burn per workout so it is important to avoid taking in more energy than you expend exercising.

Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as pasta, bagels, whole grain breads, and rice. They provide energy, fiber , vitamins, and minerals. These foods are low in fat.

Simple sugars , such as soft drinks, jams and jellies, and candy provide a lot of calories, but they do not provide vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. What matters most is the total amount of carbohydrates you eat each day.

A little more than half of your calories should come from carbohydrates. For example, an athlete weighing kg who performs high volume intense training would look to consume roughly 1,—1, g of carbohydrates.

Protein also plays an essential role in sports nutrition, as it provides the body with the necessary amount of amino acids to help build and repair muscles and tissues. Athletes doing intense training may benefit from ingesting more than two times the recommended daily amount RDA of protein in their diet.

For example, the dietary reference intake for adult females is 46 g, and for adult males — 56 g. That is why it may be beneficial for athletes to consume nearer to 92 g and g of protein, respectively.

The ISSA suggests that many athletes can safely consume 2 g of protein per 1 kg of body weight daily, compared with the RDA of 0. The ISSN also notes that optimal protein intake may vary from 1.

Higher amounts of protein can help athletes avoid protein catabolism and slow recovery, which the ISSN notes can contribute to injuries and muscle wasting over time.

For moderate amounts of intense training, an athlete should consume 1. For high volume intense training, the ISSN suggests 1. Healthy protein sources include:. Fats are essential in the diet to maintain bodily processes, such as hormone metabolism and neurotransmitter function.

Including healthy fats in the diet also helps satiety and can serve as a concentrated fuel source for athletes with high energy demands. Some athletes may choose to eat a ketogenic diet and consume higher amounts of fats. Healthy fat sources include oily fish , olive oil , avocados , nuts, and seeds.

Athletes should ensure they consume the essential vitamins and minerals they need to support their general health and sports performance. People can usually achieve adequate intakes of essential vitamins and minerals by eating a varied, balanced diet. Some athletes may choose to take vitamin or mineral supplements or ergogenic aids, such as creatine.

The ISSN recommends that consumers evaluate the validity and scientific merit of claims that manufacturers make about dietary supplements. There is little evidence to support the efficacy or safety of many dietary supplements, including:. However, scientists have shown that other ergogenic aids, such as caffeine and creatine monohydrate, are safe and effective for athletes.

It is important to be aware that some athletic associations ban the use of certain nutritional supplements. Moreover, athletes should ensure they maintain adequate hydration. Given that sweat losses are a combination of fluids and electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, athletes may choose to and benefit from using sports drinks, milk , or both to meet some of their hydration needs.

The ISSN suggests that athletes training intensely for 2—6 hours per day 5—6 days of the week may burn over — calories per hour while exercising. As a result, athletes engaging in this level of activity may require 40—70 calories per 1 kg of body weight per day, compared with the average less active individual, who typically requires 25—35 calories per 1 kg of body weight daily.

According to the ISSN, athletes weighing 50— kg may require 2,—7, calories per day. It also notes that athletes weighing — kg may need to consume 6,—12, calories daily to meet training demands.

The timing and content of meals can help support training goals, reduce fatigue, and help optimize body composition. Guidelines for the timing and amount of nutrition will vary depending on the type of athlete. For example, the ISSN advises strength athletes consume carbohydrates and protein or protein on its own up to 4 hours before and up to 2 hours after exercise.

The American College of Sports Medicine ACSM also notes the importance of consuming protein both before and after exercise for strength athletes.

By contrast, endurance athletes would need to consume mostly carbohydrates and a small amount of protein roughly 1—4 hours before exercise. Both the ISSN and ACSM emphasize the role of meal timing in optimizing recovery and performance and recommend athletes space nutrient intake evenly throughout the day, every 3—4 hours.

Some people may find that consuming meals too close to the beginning of exercise can cause digestive discomfort. It is therefore important to eat an appropriate amount and not exercise too quickly after eating. People who are training or racing at peak levels may find it challenging to consume enough food for their energy requirements without causing gastrointestinal GI discomfort, especially immediately before an important workout or race.

Optimal nutrition for team sports performance Wisconsin clinic and Liver health support system locations masks are nutritino during performancf patient interactions. In Illinois clinic and fof locations masks are required in some areas and strongly recommended in others. Learn more. Every athlete strives for an edge over the competition. Daily training and recovery require a comprehensive eating plan that matches these physical demands. Team sports Optimal nutrition for team sports performance based on nutritioon high-intensity activity patterns but the exact characteristics vary between and perfomance codes, sorts from one game to the next. Despite Optimaal challenge Optimwl predicting exact game demands, performance in team sports Dairy-free energy snacks often influenced sporfs nutritional preparation. Chronic issues Fir achieving ideal teak of muscle mass and body fat, and supporting the nutrient needs of daily training. Acute issues, both for training and in games, include strategies that allow the player to be well fuelled and hydrated over the duration of exercise. Each player should develop a plan of consuming fluid and carbohydrate according to the needs of their activity patterns, within the breaks that are provided in their sport. In seasonal fixtures, competition varies from a weekly game in some codes to two to three games over a weekend road trip in others, with a tournament fixture usually involving one to three days between matches.