Abstract
The need for applicable nutrition knowledge and information among Division I college coaches has been documented (Corley, 1990). Current research on nutrition knowledge among college coaches and whether or not coaches provide athletes with nutrition advice is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the level of nutrition knowledge among coaches in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) (a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division III). A secondary purpose was to determine whether or not coaches provide their athletes with nutritional advice and how this information is used. METHODS: Participants included head and assistant coaches from ten male sports teams, and ten female sports teams in the MIAC (Men's sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, hockey, soccer, swim/dive, tennis, track and field; Women's sports: basketball, cross country, golf, hockey, soccer, softball, swim/dive, tennis, track and field, volleyball) A 74 question anonymous survey was sent to each participant, with a return rate of 30.37% (n=191).. DATA: Summary data results demonstrated 62.5% of participants felt a need for more personal knowledge with regard to nutrition, even though 45.5% of participants had conducted nutrition related research within the last year and 84.7% in the last three years. Sixty-eight percent of participants read about nutrition every few months to keep themselves informed. Seventy-one percent of coaches felt the team's nutrient intake was part of their responsibility. Team discussions regarding nutrition take place at least once a month for 60%, participants. Supplementation was not recommended to athletes by 74.1% of coaches. Of supplements recommended, 5.6% was protein, 22.2% was vitamin, 9.3% was mineral, and 9.3% was other supplementation. Ninety-three percent of coaches do not prescribe diets encouraging a decrease in weight, and 89% of coaches do not prescribe diets to increase weight. Eighty-seven percent of respondents do not supervise weight loss or weight gain amongst their athletes. Most MIAC coaches are not recommending supplements to their athletes nor supervising weight changes. A majority of MIAC coaches felt it was their responsibility to research and educate their team about nutrition.
Published Version
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