Nutritional knowledge of UK coaches

Nutrients. 2014 Apr 10;6(4):1442-53. doi: 10.3390/nu6041442.

Abstract

Athletes obtain nutritional information from their coaches, yet their competency in this area is lacking. Currently, no research exists in the UK which has a different coach education system to many other countries. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the sports nutrition knowledge of UK coaching certificate (UKCC) level 2 and 3, hockey and netball qualified coaches. All coaches (n = 163) completed a sports nutrition questionnaire to identify: (a) if they provided nutritional advice; (b) their level of sport nutrition knowledge; and (c) factors that may have contributed to their level of knowledge. Over half the coaches provided advice to their athletes (n = 93, 57.1%), even though they were not competent to do so. Coaches responded correctly to 60.3 ± 10.5% of all knowledge questions with no differences between those providing advice and those who did not (p > 0.05). Those coaches who had undertaken formal nutrition training achieved higher scores than those who had not (p < 0.05). In conclusion, UK sports coaches would benefit from continued professional development in sports nutrition to enhance their coaching practice.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Athletes
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutritional Requirements
  • Nutritional Sciences / education*
  • Occupations
  • Sports
  • Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United Kingdom
  • Young Adult