A: I have always loved sports and beginning in high school I thought I might want to work with athletes in some capacity, perhaps as a team doctor. When I got to college I started taking pre-med courses but soon discovered that nutrition was where my interests truly were. I received my undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise. My master’s degree is also from Virginia Tech in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, with an emphasis on Sports Nutrition. I am a Registered Dietitian; Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD), and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
Q: Do you have any recommendations for players or coaches who might be reading this article? Books or reference materials that might help?
A: I would encourage coaches to contact a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). These are dietitians who have specific training to able to work with athletes and address their specific needs. They can find a dietitian in their area by going to http://www.scandpg.org and selecting “Find a SCAN RD”.
One of the most informative sports nutrition websites is the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (http://www.gssiweb.com). It has great information about nutrition, hydration, training, and medical conditions for all athletes.
A great book for players and coaches to read would be Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook. It clearly presents basic sports nutrition principles that anyone can apply.
