Table 9.

Recommendations

Athletes would benefit from increased nutrition education with specific attention to significance of adequate carbohydrate and energy intakes for performance and recovery.

Athletes should be made aware of sports nutrition guidelines and further emphasis should be put on the achievement of carbohydrate and energy goals alongside protein targets.

Further education around knowledge of supplement use is required and players should be educated that achievement of body composition goals should not come at the expense of carbohydrate and energy requirements to support recovery.

Specific nutritional strategies such as meal timing and consumption of appropriate pregame and recovery meals may be encouraged to enhance performance, recovery dietary practices of the players.

Provide educational tools around nutrition to athletes as well as athletes’ closed ones including coach, family, friends, partners and peers to create an enabling environment for healthy eating. Resources given could include but not limited to the following: Quick, healthy, low-cost recipe ideas Meal planning self-help guide Nutritional knowledge tailored to dietary goal of athletes Performance enhancing supplements and evidence. What and when is it needed?

Advise athletes on some of the limitations associated media’s nutrition advice and provide a list of government/evidence-based resources and contact details (if able) to increase knowledge or if further information is sought

Create a supportive environment within the team by for instance, developing a themed afternoon once every 3 weeks to share views and discuss some of the enablers/challenges around nutrition and performance

Have innovative ideas to maintain contact and/or train together during off-season or COVID-19 lockdown with peers and coach via means such as zoom video call