Fueling Athletes and Game Day Nutrition

Georgia Southern University Athletics

Fueling Athletes and Game Day Nutrition

The mission of Georgia Southern Athletics is to support student-athletes through proper nutrition and hydration. Adequate fueling is a key component in helping student-athletes to achieve optimal game day performance. Dietetic interns work with student-athletes and collaborate with coaches to promote nutrition education.

Sports Nutrition Home Page

Fueling Athletes and Game Day Nutrition
• Game Week My Plate

• Plate For Heavy Training Days

• Plate For Light Training Days

• Fueling Your Body

• Game Day Nutrition

• Game Day Snacks

• Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition

• Pre-Game Fuel

• Snacks to Fuel Game Day

• Football Nutrition
Games are played in short, rapid bursts, requiring the athlete to have speed, power, endurance, and agility to play at their best. Body composition relates directly to position, making nutrition an important part of each player’s success. Instead of focusing on the scale, focus on consuming high-quality, balanced meals and properly fueling your body year-round.

• Swimming Nutrition
Swimmers need speed, power, and endurance. Appropriate training programs and conditioning are important for success. Swimmers have high caloric demands and proper nutrition is critical to athletic performance. There are four key nutrient groups that should make up a swimmer’s diet: carbohydrates, protein, fluids, and iron-rich foods.

• Basketball Nutrition
The game of basketball consists of frequent stop-and-go activity and changes in direction. It requires power, endurance, stamina, and agility, making proper fueling especially important!

• Softball Nutrition
Softball requires quick judgment and reaction-time. Nutrition and hydration impact performance in every way as a softball player. The diet should fluctuate with training volume and intensity, and be something that is sustainable and enjoyable.

• Track & Field Nutrition
Track & field requires various skill sets including running, throwing, and jumping. Developing consistent and adequate sports nutrition habits year-round is important to help maintain strength and endurance and recovery properly from practice and competitions. Each event has its own training and nutrition requirements to be successful both on and off the field.

• Tennis Nutrition
Players need a nutrition strategy that meets the need for both endurance and quick energy bursts. In addition, maintaining proper hydration is important to performance and recovery. Since matches are typically played in warm and humid environments, hydrating throughout the day with water and sports drinks may help prevent fatigue and muscle cramping.

• Volleyball Nutrition
Volleyball is a fast-paced sport that requires year-round training and conditioning. Creating a balanced and consistent nutrition and hydration plan is key to maximizing performance and recovery.