Sports Nutrition for Young Athletes

Abstract

Nutritional needs for peak athletic performance include sufficient calorie intake, adequate hydration, and attention to timing of meals. Student athletes and their advisors often are misinformed or have misconceptions about sports nutrition. This paper identifies nutritional needs of young athletes, reviews common misconceptions, and examines the nutrition knowledge of athletes and their sources of nutrition information. Topics covered include energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat and micronutrient needs, hydration requirements, timing of meals, and issues related to age, gender, and specific sports. Other issues addressed include "making weight" and ergogenic aids. Proper nutrition for young athletes is critical not only to their athletic success, but more importantly to their growth, development, and overall health. Nutritional recommendations should be based on the most current scientific data; we provide information about appropriate resources for the school nurse when advising student athletes and their coaches and parents.

Body composition and nutritional profile of male adolescent tennis players

“…However, in adolescent athletes, nutrition is particularly critical to supply the increased needs for training, in addition to the needs generated by the intense growth that occurs during the puberty spurt (American Dietetic Association, 1996;Cotunga, Vickery, & McBee, 2005;Spear, 2005;WHO, 1995). Nevertheless, several studies evaluating youth involved in sports report energy and nutrient intakes (mainly calcium, iron, and zinc) below recommended values.…”