Experts on diet and nutritional studies, Dr Meghan Bentley and Dr Debbie Smith have outlined how important it is for athletes who want to make it to the next level need to have the correct diet plans.
With skill in abundance, hard work and dedication are just as important and the doctors have outlined how their research has proven to make a huge difference.
Smith said: “Autonomy is a massive factor,” showing the self control needed when it comes to the jump from student to pro.
She believes: “They have to be able to make the decision about whether it will help their performance.”
The athletes have to make sure they keep it strict and work hard, which is shown by athlete Harry Sayers.
After swapping to American football from rugby at just the age of 16 and then making the GB team by just 19, Sayers quickly realised that his natural abilities alone wouldn’t get him through.
He said “When I first started university, I didn’t take my diet seriously,” but he quickly realised that he needed to change.
Sayers said: “When you’re trying to get to the next level, it’s really important that you start eating correctly.”
This has been proven as he has been playing in the German American Football second division after seriously impressing in his short but intense career so far in the sport.
Supplements have been a confusing part of diet for students as they can act as a substitute, but Bentley stressed that you can’t just rely on them.
She said “A supplement is supposed to supplement a diet, not replace it, you also get more from foods.”
Young athletes need to make sure that they are eating correctly to make it, skill isn’t everything.
