We spend countless hours coaching skills and strategy. Let’s spend a little time teaching athletes how to fuel the body that’s expected to perform.

The reality is that many high school athletes have never been taught the basics about food.

They don’t know: -How much to eat before practice or competition. -What to eat after training to recover. -How to hydrate properly. -How to reduce the risk of muscle cramps and dehydration. -Which supplements are safe, and which aren’t as well as how to use them! -Why energy drinks aren’t a replacement for proper fueling.

Instead, too many athletes are skipping meals, relying on convenience foods, living on caffeine, and buying random supplements off Amazon because someone on social media recommended them.

Poor nutrition doesn’t just affect performance. It can contribute to slower recovery, increase the risk of illness and some injuries, and make it harder to maintain the energy, focus, and resilience athletes need throughout a long season. Nutrition also plays an important role in supporting overall mental well-being alongside sleep, exercise, stress management, and access to appropriate mental health care.

Imagine if every fall sports meeting included just 30–60 minutes of practical nutrition education for athletes and parents. The return on that investment could be fewer preventable nutrition mistakes, healthier athletes, improved recovery, better performance, and more informed families making better decisions all season long.