Sport Nutrition for Coaches

Sport Nutrition for Coaches is a complete resource for coaches looking to ensure that athletes achieve optimal performance through proper nutrition. In its practical and easy-to-understand format, this text supplies coaches, personal trainers, and fitness specialists with a wide range of information, including balancing nutrients, monitoring supplement use, and dealing with disordered eating. This book also contains several planning tools that can help readers to put the information and strategies to use. As one of only two nutrition books on the market geared toward coaches, this is a valuable resource for people working with athletes.


This comprehensive guide for coaches is divided into three parts. Part I covers the basics of nutrition for athletes. It includes information on proper nutrients, hydration, supplements, and overall diet as well as eating schedules for competitive events and eating to reduce body fat or build muscle. Part II describes how coaches should train athletes with unique circumstances, including those who follow vegan diets and athletes with eating disorders. Part III offers coaches advice on helping their athletes plan healthy diets.


Sport Nutrition for Coaches is unlike any other book on the market not only because of its simple format and ample information but also because it gives coaches the tools they need in order to create their own sport nutrition plan for their teams. Coaches who complete the tasks highlighted in the text to create a Coach’s Notebook will have a custom-made resource for implementing proper nutrition with their teams. And readers can use the many tables and forms available in the book to develop their sport nutrition plan.


With its practical information and resources, Sport Nutrtion for Coaches is sure to guarantee coaches success in helping their athletes to be fit and healthy with proper nutrition.


See Leslie Bonci's interview with Dr. Timothy Johnson on ABC's Good Morning America Health segment for more on proper athlete hydration and nutrition.

Audience

A practical reference for coaches and trainers working with athletes of all levels and sports who need to know more about how to care for their athletes' nutrition needs.

Part 1 Essential Concepts
Chapter 1 Sport Performance and Energy Systems
Getting Energy for Exercise
Matching Energy Systems to Sports

Chapter 2 Foods That Fuel
Carbohydrate
Protein
Fat (Lipids)
Striking a Nutrient Balance

Chapter 3 Eating Timed for Top Performance
Pre-Exercise Eating
Pre-Event Eating
Postexercise Eating
Getting Athletes to Eat

Chapter 4 Hydrating for Top Performance
Why Do Athletes Become Dehydrated?
What Should Athletes Drink?
How Much Should Athletes Drink?
What Are Salty Sweaters?
What About Caffeine and Alcohol?
How Can You Get Athletes to Hydrate?

Chapter 5 Reducing Body Fat
Assess Where the Athlete Is
Consider Diet Options
Create an Action Plan
Seek Referrals

Chapter 6 Increasing Muscle Mass
How Can Athletes Add Muscle Mass?
Determine a Starting Point
Set Up an Exercise Regimen
Implement an Action Plan
Decide What and When Your Athlete Should Eat

Chapter 7 Sizing Up Supplements
Vitamins and Minerals
Other Common Supplements
Supplement Safety
Anabolic Steroids
Supplement Legality
Supplement Education

Part II Special Situations
Chapter 8 Preventing Common Complaints
Muscle Cramps
Gastrointestinal Distress
Hitting the Wall or Bonking

Chapter 9 Coping With Special Diets
Vegetarian and Vegan Diets
Diets for Athletes With Diabetes or Hypoglycemia
Food Allergies and Food Intolerances
Religious Diets and Fasts

Chapter 10 Dealing With Disordered Eating
Eating Disorders
Signs of Disordered Eating
Female Athlete Triad
Fostering a Positive Eating Environment
Getting Help for Your Athletes With Eating Disorders
Including Parents in Treatment

Chapter 11 Dealing With Alcohol Use
What Alcohol Does in the Short Term
What Alcohol Does in the Long Term
Talking to Your Athletes About Alcohol
Setting Team Policies on Alcohol

Part III Planning Tools
Chapter 12 Facing Logistic Challenges
Off-Season Nutrition
Athletes’ Busy Schedules
Institutional Food
Nutrition on the Road

Chapter 13 Budgeting Good Nutrition
Packing Food for Contests
Getting Help From Families and the Booster Club
Choosing Affordable (and Healthy) Chain Restaurants
Negotiating Food Budgets

Chapter 14 Implementing a Sport Nutrition Plan
Creating a Sport Nutrition Game Plan
Getting Athletes and Parents to Buy In
Presenting Nutrition Information
Providing Incentives for Good Nutrition
A Final Word

Appendixes
Appendix A: Restaurant Dining Guidelines
Appendix B: Performance Eating Handouts
Appendix C: Nutrition Screening Form
Appendix D: Answers to Game Plan Questions

Glossary
Bibliography
About the Author

Leslie J. Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN is the director of sport nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She is a certified specialist of sport dietetics, and she has been working in the areas of sport nutrition and general nutrition for over 20 years. Bonci works with sport teams and athletes at all levels. Her work at the professional level includes consulting with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers as well as the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. She also works with the University of Pittsburgh and University of Texas at Austin athletic departments and with coaches and athletes at 45 high schools. Bonci also works with Olympic athletes as a member of the USOC sport nutrition network.

In addition to working with these organizations, Bonci has been a featured speaker at several conferences, including the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the American Dietetic Association, and state coaches' meetings. She is a regular contributor to the Training and Conditioning Journal and has appeared on NBC's The Today Show.

In her spare time, Bonci enjoys running, weight training, and watching all levels of sporting events. She resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Frederick, and two sons, both of whom are athletes.

"Sport nutrition is a part of our players' equipment. The information in Sport Nutrition for Coaches can help your athletes reach their goals. What they eat and drink as well as timing and quantity can translate to optimal performance, improved health, and career longevity.”

Mike Tomlin

Head Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XLIII Champions

"Sport Nutrition for Coaches is essential reading for coaches at all levels in all sports. It's comprehensive yet easy to read. Leslie Bonci writes as if she's speaking directly to athletes and coaches or presenting at a clinic. The tables, charts, worksheets, examples, and coach's to do lists are great resources."

Mickey Marotti

Director of Strength and Conditioning, University of Florida

"Sport nutrition is a critical component of optimizing performance. Leslie Bonci's advice about what, when, and how much to eat and drink has helped my players to fuel well, live well, and play well."

Jamie Dixon

Head Men's Basketball Coach, University of Pittsburgh

Planning key to eating well on the road
The low down on low-carbohydrate foods
Tips for eating right after exercise
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