Health & Wellness
There can be a lot to navigate in this area for male and female athletes, and it’s important to know that there are resources available to athletes, coaches, and parents.
Here are a few places to get you started.
NCCP Sport Nutrition
Good nutrition is important for both athletic performance and maintaining a healthy lifestyle outside of sport. By helping their participants make good nutrition choices, coaches not only empower them to perform their best, but they also help them to establish positive dietary habits that can last a lifetime.
The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Sport Nutrition module provides coaches with education about basic sport nutrition principles. This eLearning module will provide an understanding of how to support athletes and their parents or caregivers to make effective nutrition choices.
After completing NCCP Sport Nutrition, coaches will be able to:
- Explain the basic nutritional needs of an athlete.
- Take appropriate measures to ensure that athletes stay hydrated during exercise.
- Educate athletes on the use of nutritional supplements and sports drinks.
- Encourage a positive body image in athletes.
- Identify the different types of disordered eating.
- Support athletes with special nutritional needs.
- Identify common food allergies and intolerances.
- Provide accurate guidance to athletes and their parents or caregivers on nutrition before, during and after exercise.
- Provide accurate nutritional guidance to athletes and their parents or caregivers before and during travel.
Coaches who are maintaining their trained or certified status will receive 5 Professional Development (PD) points upon completing this eLearning module. This module may also be required as part of a coach training or certification pathway for sports. For more information, find your sport here.
This eLearning will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. You may complete the module in multiple sittings. Once you have completed NCCP Sport Nutrition, the module will appear in your coach transcript.
BodySense
The BodySense web site is full of helpful information, tools, and tips to guide you to positive body image and strong self-esteem.
Athletes
…are sometimes brainwashed by the media into thinking that each sport has a “special” body type. Making the problem worse are pressures that come from those you trust: your peers, parents, coaches and teachers. The reality is that there are some bodies that are better suited to play certain sports, but that should not stop you from trying any sport!
So how do you handle the pressure to change your body size? Both girls and guys can find information and tools that can help you learn the facts, build your confidence, and help you deal with the pressures to “change” your body.
Check out the athlete section of BodySense!
Key Influencers…
…are faced with the daunting task of preparing youth to face everyday challenges. As a coach, parent, teacher, or other adult that has influence to shape youth, your actions can have a dramatic effect. One example is with body image. With so much said in the media about who’s hot and who’s not, what are you to do?
BodySense is a good place to start! Here you will find information on body image, eating disorders, nutrition and steroids — and their effect on self-esteem. Each key influencer can play a role by setting a good example and providing tools to help build a solid foundation of positive body image and self-esteem.