Sharon Madigan Accredited Sports Dietitian

Nutrition and referees Can diet and hydration play a role? Key nutritional issues

Education and Knowledge Awareness of the role of diet and hydration –Dehydration will affect heart rate and make exercise seem harder. Quick fixes don’t work Willingness to take advice and make changes. For most only small changes are needed –Timing

What can be done? Tailored individual advice and devise programmes. Match analysis may highlight problems dehydration, fatigue. GPS can provide useful data.

Key nutritional issues Replacing fluid Replacing carbohydrates Timing –What and when Preferences Habit

Replacing fluid Dehydration will result in reduced performance. Need to practice adequate fluid replacement in training and competition. Access to fluids

Develop a nutrition plan? Start small and introduce new ideas one at a time. Individuals can have specific issues addressed. Hydration plans can be developed and tailored to individual referees and situations. –Normal weight loss and prescribed intakes –Hydration testing –Linked to GPS OR OTHER INDICATORS Education sessions –General and specific

Will Nutrition help?