The Soccer Player's Diet
No doubt a proper diet is an ingredient in the soccer player’s formula to success. Do it right and you’ll have more energy. Do it wrong and it could potentially lead to harmful effects.
In this Soccer Diet Guide we'll explore the principles of a good soccer diet and some specific guidelines that need to be followed to promote better soccer performance.
Why Soccer Diet Eduation is Important?
A study looked at the nutritional habits of soccer players ages 14- 16 years old who are living at home. The study found protein, lipid and cholesterol above recommendations and that carbohydrate consumption was below. (1) Yet another study showed nutritional intake of soccer players was not optimal. (2)
I am proposing that soccer clubs at the youth level make soccer diet education a key part of soccer programming and athlete experience. It will give your club a competitive advantage over other clubs who don't focus on this area. Whether we like it or not soccer clubs do compete over the best players. Part of the “sales pitch” (for lack of a better term) is that nutrition plays an important part of success in soccer. As a club if you care about your players health and performance by offering nutritional help it will give you advantage.
An idea to build a solid library of information is to pay a local sports nutritionist to come in to do a presentation for the coaches. Get permission to film the presentation. Put the video on a DVD or on your club website behind the soccer club members log in for viewing and education purposes. You should also have the nutritionist put together a packet for all players, parents and coaches. Every new kid that comes in gets the packet. These two things, the Nutritionist video and nutritional guidelines, will help to get your overall club performance to the highest level it can.
Because an individualized nutrition plan is best, have someone from the club negotiate with a sports nutritionist to give a bulk deal or a discount for kids at the club.
Elements of the Soccer Diet
Knowing that many of our young athletes are possibly definicient in proper sports nutrittion. I've devoted an entire series of articles to help properly educate them, parents and coaches on how to eat.
These are some of the elements of the soccer diet. By no means did I cover everything. There are entire textbooks devoted to just sports nutrition.
Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fat
Essential Nutrients-Vitamins and Antioxidents
Sex differences: The Female Soccer Player's Diet Consideration
References
- Food habits and nutritional status assessment of adolescent soccer players. A necessary and accurate approach. Can J Appl Physiol. 2005 Feb;30(1):18-32. Iglesias-Gutiérrez E et al.
- Nutritional intake in soccer players of different ages. J Sports Sci. 2005 Mar;23(3):235-42. Ruiz F, Irazusta A, Gil S, Irazusta J, Casis L, Gil J.
