ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the special nutritional considerations and recommendations needed for team sport athletes. They vary depending on numerous factors, including (amongst others) the physiological requirements of their sport, which are often intermittent in nature, the climate in which they play, the length of the game, and opportunities for nutrient and fluid intake. Alongside the challenges associated with budgetary and time constraints and the logistics of catering for team and individual nutrition goals and preferences, this can make the job of a team sports dietitian difficult at times. Furthermore, the propensity of team sport athletes to adopt a pack mentality can be either a help or a hindrance, depending on the dietary habits of those seen as leaders. Being creative to maximise consumption opportunities during competition, utilising both group and individual education, and providing food options that allow athletes to individualise their intake ensures that each of these challenges can be overcome.
