4 Key Messages - Nutrition for Football

FIFA publication "F-MARC Nutrition for Football - A practical guide to eating and drinking for health and performance", Based on an International Consensus Conference held at FIFA House in Zurich September 2005

Key messages

Whenever highly talented, motivated and well trained players meet in competition, the margin between victory and defeat is small. Attention to detail can make that vital difference. Diet affects performance, and the food that we choose in training and competition will affect how well we train and play. All players need to be aware of their personal nutritional goals and of how they can select an eating strategy to meet those goals.

FIFA Guide to Nutrition for Football

NUTRITION FOR FOOTBALL - YOUNG PLAYERS

Football enjoys one of the highest participation rates for children and adolescents around the world, offering the benefits of aerobic fitness, skill development and a teamenvironment without the risks of a contact sport. Girls and boys can start playing at an early age, often with modifications to rules, playing time and pitch sizes.

Soccer continues as a popular sport from primary school through to university levels. Those with particular talent may be chosen for scholarships to junior development programmes for football. Others continue to play football for recreation, fitness or social contact.

Players should be encouraged to develop good nutritional habits at an early age.

Athletic Nutrition Bytes: Fueling the Body for Competition

If you are playing Premier League Football, a member of a Div1 Club Football Team or part of a Football development program of any sort, you should paying attention to your nutrition, become informed about what is good for you and what is not and take responsibility for the food you eat. Any player at any age who is serious about progressing in Football cannot ignore the importance of getting the right fuel into the body at the right time. Parents with children in development programs need to get across these requirements. Hard training puts a lot of demands on the body - the right food and enough water make all teh difference. If you are doing a lot of training, it might be useful to consult a Nuitritionist. Simple as that!

This article may help get you started.

Athletic nutrition bytes: fueling the body for competition

Coach and Athletic Director, Dec, 2007 by Ken Mannie, Joe Carlson, Scott Sehnert


Athletes are taught that being a part of a winning team requires discipline and attention to detail in the classroom, on and off the field, and in the food choices they put on their plate.


In today's frenetic fast-food world, the latter can prove to be one of their toughest challenges.


Fueling the body and mind helps student-athletes perform optimally in the classroom, in the weight room, and in competition.