Nutritionists need to become better communicators in order to ‘sell’ their advice to athletes more effectively, according to a Premiership sports nutritionist.
Mayur Ranchordas, senior lecturer in sports nutrition at Sheffield Hallam University, has been working with Bolton Wanderers Football Club since they started pre-season training in August. He believes that sport scientists need to use their communication skills to overcome footballers’ resistance to dietary advice.
Mayur said: “In football, you tend to have four different types of responses to nutrition advice: those who do everything in order to improve as much as possible, those who take on board some of the advice, those who ignore the advice and do nothing, and those who are indifferent but will do it if they’re forced to. Part of the problem is how we as sports nutrition practitioners communicate, how we sell the message.”
“If you tell a footballer that drinking beetroot juice will allow him to work harder, beat his opponent to the ball, enhance his fitness test results, and therefore his match performance, he’s more likely to take that advice. It’s about translating our knowledge into practical results for them.”
According to Mayur, sport science is becoming a highly valued part of football, but there is still a clash between sport science and the culture among footballers.
He said: “Very few clubs outside of Manchester United and Chelsea have got a real suite of sport science services. They all have sports massage and physiotherapy specialists, but not necessarily things like a nutritionist, physiologist, chiropractor and acupuncturist, for example. Ten years ago there were no dedicated nutritionists in professional football, it was left to the manager or the catering staff. Now it’s a key part of the support team.”
“Additionally, the move away from chemicals and supplements in nutrition to natural, food-based products means that players are often more receptive.”