Evaluation of Sports Nutrition Knowledge of New Zealand Premier Club Rugby Coaches

Abstract

Little is known about if and how team coaches disseminate nutrition information to athletes. In a census survey, New Zealand premier rugby coaches (n = 168) completed a psychometrically validated questionnaire, received by either Internet or standard mail (response rate, 46%), identifying their nutrition advice dissemination practices to players, their level of nutrition knowledge, and the factors determining this level of knowledge. The majority of coaches provided advice to their players (83.8%). Coaches responded correctly to 55.6% of all knowledge questions. An independent t-test showed coaches who imparted nutrition advice obtained a significantly greater score, 56.8%, than those not imparting advice, 48.4% (P = 0.008). One-way ANOVA showed significant relationships between total knowledge score of all coaches and qualifications [F(1,166) = 5.28, P = 0.001], own knowledge rating [F(3,164) = 6.88, P = 0.001] and nutrition training [F(1,166) = 9.83, P = 0.002]. We conclude that these rugby coaches were inadequately prepared to impart nutrition advice to athletes and could benefit from further nutrition training.

Assessment of Nutritional Knowledge of Lebanese Coaches: A Unique Study in the Middle East and North African (MENA) Region

“…These conclusions are comparable with those of another research group (4,9), and show that coaches are misled about weight control issues due to the spread of numerous nutritional myths and misinformation in our societies.…”

“…Rosenbloom, Jonnalagadda, and Skinner (6) reported that athletes had a faulty perception of the roles of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Many other studies have also noted these results (7,8) showed that approximately 84% of trainers advised their athletes (9). Torres-McGehee et al (5) unveiled that 43% of athletes sought nutrition advice from their trainer.…”

“…Furthermore, research has precariously indicated that trainers do not acquire whole nutritional knowledge (5,9,10). Other studies claimed that the nutritional knowledge of trainers ranged from 55% to 70% (2,9,11). This is a critical fact, which implies the necessity to investigate trainers' nutritional knowledge and determine whether or not it is adequate.…”

“…Torres-McGehee et al (5) unveiled that 43% of athletes sought nutrition advice from their trainer. Furthermore, research has precariously indicated that trainers do not acquire whole nutritional knowledge (5,9,10). Other studies claimed that the nutritional knowledge of trainers ranged from 55% to 70% (2,9,11).…”

Nutrition Knowledge in Athletes: A Systematic Review

“…Athletes also obtain information from a variety of other sources including school or tertiary-education programs, books, sport-specific magazines, the mass media, and, increasingly, the Internet (Burns, Schiller, Merrick, & Wolf, 2004;Jacobson, Sobonya, & Ransone, 2001;Parr, Porter, & Hodgson, 1984). Even at the elite level, nutritioneducation programs for athletes may be predominantly coach driven and reactive, with depth and frequency of intervention influenced by financial constraints (Zinn, Schofield, & Wall, 2006). In contrast to education programs in other areas of nutrition, evaluation of athlete nutrition-education programs is rarely reported (Abood, Black, & Birnbaum, 2004;Collison, Kuczmarski, & Vickery, 1996).…”