Sports & Exercise Research Volume 25 Number 3
Author：Wen-Hsin Wang; Jen-Fang Liu; Wen-Hsin Chang
Period/Date/Page：Vol. 25 No. 3 (2023 / 09 / 30) ， P347 - 359
DOI：10.5297/ser.202309_25(3).0007
Assessment of Nutrition Status of Adolescent Female Softball Players Within a Microcycle: Precompetition Training, Competition and Postcompetition Recovery Days
Abstract：This study was designed to address a lacuna in sports research regarding nutritional intake within a microcycle during precompetition training, competition, and postcompetition recovery days among adolescent athletes in Taiwan. Therefore, it assessed the eating patterns of adolescent female softball players during these three time periods, and compared the athletes' calorie and macronutrient intake levels with current sports nutritional recommendations. Eighteen high school female softball players were recruited. A registered dietitian assessed their dietary intake, either by directly weighing the meals or by uploading food photos. Athletes’ sports nutrition knowledge was evaluated with a validated questionnaire, and finally, the dietitian provided sports nutrition education based upon the nutrition problems found in the assessment. Results indicated that: Carbohydrate intake in each training period was generally lower than the commonly recommended values in published guidelines, and only 50% of players met the minimum carbohydrate requirement. On competition days, only 27.8% of the players met the minimum protein requirement and 94.4% of the players’ fat intake exceeded recommended levels. Before undergoing sports nutrition education, the mean percent (%) correct score was only 47.8%. In conclusion, the adolescent female softball players have inadequate sports nutrition knowledge, and their carbohydrate intake generally do not meet the recommendation during each training period; moreover, there are problems with low protein intake and high fat intake on the competition days. (Full text)
