EFFECTS OF NUTRITION ON PERFORMANCE IN SOCCER

The majority of research on nutrition and physical performance centers around continuous endurance exercise. That appropriate food intake ca n influence endurance performance is widely recognized. Considering th at games in general and soccer in particular enjoy an enormous amount of participation, it should come as no surprise that nutritional influ ences on soccer performance has been studied. The literature shows tha t soccer is a glycogen-depleting activity and that work volume and rat e are influenced by level of muscle glycogen. The dietary habits of so ccer players do not appear to contain optimal carbohydrate intake give n the varied, and sometimes minimal, amount of time between games. Nut ritional assessment and counseling, if necessary, are suggested to aff ord the player adequate glycogen stores to work at the rate and volume demanded by the game.