High School Coach Nutrition Confidence and Skill

Abstract

High school athletes obtain nutritional information from their coaches, yet high school coaches’ capability in this area may be lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine both confidence and skill level regarding nutrition among Midwest high school coaches. Out of an estimated 2,700 possible invited coaches from two Midwest states in the US, 113 coaches completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire’s first two sections consisted of demographics, and questions concerning confidence in nutritional knowledge. The third section 81 nutrition knowledge questions separated into categories: nutrient content, recovery, fluid, weight maintenance, and supplements. Coaches reported moderate overall confidence in their ability to give nutritional advice (P=.0016). The overall knowledge score was 58.7% (±9.7). The highest score was obtained in the recovery subcategory, and the lowest score was in the supplements category. In conclusion, Midwest high school coaches would benefit from creating a working relationship with a dietitian.