An audit of performance nutrition services in English soccer academies: implications for optimising player development

Figures & data

Figure 1. Overview of category status and role of practitioners providing the nutrition support in each respective academy.

Table 1. Overview of nature of service provision.

Nature of Service Provision	Examples
One-to-one player support	Individualised support to players comprising formal (e.g., planned consultation) and informal (e.g., corridor or canteen conversation).
Group education	Group presentation or workshop delivered to a squad/age-group.
Parent education	Support delivered to parents/guardians of the players, e.g., presentations, practical workshops and newsletters etc.
Host-family education	Support delivered to individuals who provide board and lodging to players, e.g., presentations, practical workshops and newsletters.
Player cooking workshops	Group sessions related to practical cooking and food hygiene skills.
Staff education	Support delivered to club staff, e.g., presentations, practical workshops or individual educational support.
Catering staff education	Support delivered to club catering staff, e.g., group presentations, practical workshops or individual educational support.

Figure 2. Comparison of (a) the employment status of the practitioners who provide the nutritional support at each respective academy, and (B) hours of nutrition provision provided per month to the foundation phase (FP), youth development phase (YDP) & professional development phase (PDP) by either an accredited nutritionist (AN), sport science and medicine staff (SSM), or an intern/volunteer (I/V).

Figure 3. Proportion (%) of clubs in each category who provide nutrition provision in the form of (A) one-to-one support, (B) group education, (C) parent education, (D) host-family education, (E) cooking workshops, and (F) staff education to the foundation phase (FP), youth development phase (YDP) and professional development phase (PDP), as well as the proportion (%) of practitioners per role who provide (G) catering staff education.

Figure 4. Proportion (%) of clubs in each category who deliver each theme of education content to the foundation phase (FP), youth development phase (YDP) and professional development phase (PDP).

Figure 5. A comparison between categories 1–4, of the proportion (%) of clubs who provide (A) Breakfast, (B) Lunch, (C) Dinner, (D) Snacks, (E) Pre-match food, (F) Post-match food and (G) water/fluids, and the frequency at which they do so for the Foundation Phase (FP), Youth Development Phase (YDP and the Professional Development Phase (PDP).

Table 2. Total number and percentage (%) of clubs who provide each form of supplement to the foundation phase (FP), youth development phase (YDP) and professional development phase (PDP) between categories 1–4.

	Category 1			Category 2			Category 3			Category 4
	FP	YDP	PDP	FP	YDP	PDP	FP	YDP	PDP	FP	YDP	PDP
Carbohydrates	1 (4%)	9 (35%)	25 (96%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	14 (88%)	0 (0%)	1 (3%)	16 (47%)	n/a	n/a	1 (33%)
Protein	1 (4%)	4 (14%)	24 (92%)	0 (0%)	1 (6%)	14 (88%)	0 (0%)	2 (6%)	19 (56%)	n/a	n/a	1 (33%)
Electrolytes	1 (4%)	7 (27%)	24 (92%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	12 (75%)	1 (3%)	1 (3%)	14 (41%)	n/a	n/a	0 (0%)
Vitamin D	1 (4%)	8 (31%)	21 (81%)	0 (0%)	1 (6%)	7 (44%)	1 (3%)	1 (3%)	19 (56%)	n/a	n/a	1 (33%)
Caffeine	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	19 (73%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	7 (44%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	4 (12%)	n/a	n/a	0 (0%)
Creatine	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	15 (58%)	0 (0%)	1 (6%)	11 (69%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	4 (12%)	n/a	n/a	1 (33%)
Collagen	0 (0%)	2 (8%)	15 (58%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	1 (6%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	2 (6%)	n/a	n/a	1 (33%)
Multi-Vitamin	0 (0%)	1 (4%)	12 (46%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	5 (31%)	1 (3%)	1 (3%)	4 (12%)	n/a	n/a	0 (0%)
Probiotic	0 (0%)	1 (4%)	10 (38%)	0 (0%)	1 (6%)	2 (13%)	1 (3%)	1 (3%)	2 (6%)	n/a	n/a	0 (0%)
Nitrate	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	4 (15%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	1 (6%)	0 (0%)	1 (3%)	2 (6%)	n/a	n/a	0 (0%)
Beta-Alanine	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	3 (12%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	1 (6%)	0 (0%)	1 (3%)	2 (6%)	n/a	n/a	0 (0%)
Fish Oil	1 (4%)	2 (8%)	2 (8%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	n/a	n/a	0 (0%)

Figure 6. A comparison between categories 1–4, of the proportion (%) of clubs who monitor (a) anthropometrics, (b) body composition, (c) bloods and (d) hydration, and the frequency at which they do so for the foundation phase (FP), youth development phase (YDP) and the professional development phase (PDP).