Module JXH-2027:
Sport Nutrition

Module Facts

Run by School of Human and Behavioural Sciences

10.000 Credits or 5.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 2

Organiser: Dr Anthony Blanchfield

Overall aims and purpose

The dietary habits that an athlete maintains can be an integral part of their assent to the top of their sport. To help an athlete realise their full potential they need a knowledgeable team of sport scientists to work with them. Because every athlete is different, it is important that the sport scientist knows how to develop and implement effective nutrition plans. This is important for short-term performance, post exercise recovery, long-term adaptation, and also health. We will focus specifically on these things to establish how sport nutrition can support athletes to perform at their peak

Course content

You will learn about the modern and traditional influence that nutrition has on elite athlete performance and health and how science translates into nutritional practice. This will include - understanding the specific nutritional demands of the exercising individual; including, the role of carbohydrate, fat, protein and fluid availability and the effect of various dietary strategies on performance and health. You will explore whether nutritional supplements can improve athlete performance and health. The module aims to increase your confidence in translating the core science into practical nutritional advice for pre-event, during event and recovery.

Important: module failure that prevents you passing the year will require resit assessment and attendance at Supplementary Assessment Week (exact date TBC)

Assessment Criteria

good

Evidence of extensive and thorough understanding of the learning outcomes listed; good capacity to interpret, relate and use material flexibly; succinct critical writing; no notable omissions or rerrors or irrelevancies; adequate referencing, using adequate primary sources.

excellent

Students must show an ability to critically reconstruct material and evidence of wide reading of current research literature and extensive use of primary sources. Students are able to accurately present, interpret and analyse data and form clear conclusions to answer the question.

threshold

Limited evidence of understanding of the learning outcomes listed; work generally descriptive in nature; notable omissions, errors and irrelevancies; poor referencing and use of primary sources.

Learning outcomes

  1. Apply previously acquired biochemical and physiological knowledge to understand digestion of macro/micro nutrients and their fate in energy metabolism

  2. Demonstrate a clear understanding of how diet generally influences sports performance and how different events have different nutritional requirements

  3. Understand the specific role of macronutrients (e.g., carbohydrate, fat protein) and fluid availability in the diet of an athlete and how this may vary according to the sport in which the athlete is involved.

  4. Demonstrate the effects of ergogenic aids on sports performance

  5. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the appropriate use of dietary analysis with sport performers

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
COMPREHENSION TEST MCQ

Here you will answer 15 multiple choice querstions about various aspects of the module.

 15.00
CASE STUDY Nutrition Case Study

For this assignment you will be presented with one of fourse case study options. You only need to select one of these options for the assignment. The case study will consist of two parts. In the first part you will be presented with the current macronutrient breakdown of an athlete in their given sport. You will be required to assess this macronutrient breakdown and modify it, according to the needs of the sport and the physical characteristics of the athlete. You will provide scientific support for your modifications. In the second part you wil provide the athlete with scientifically driven advice about a specific theme of their nutritional intake that they have asked you about.

 85.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study

Required and recommended reading each week.

 78
Lecture

The course will be lecture driven with opportunities for student interaction, active tasks, and questions and answers

 22

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sensitevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting

Subject specific skills

  • critically assess and evaluate data and evidence in the context of research methodologies and data sources
  • describe, synthesise, interpret, analyse and evaluate information and data relevant to a professional or vocational context
  • plan, design, execute and communicate a sustained piece of independent intellectual work, which provides evidence of critical engagement with, and interpretation of, appropriate data
  • apply knowledge to the solution of familiar and unfamiliar problems
  • develop a sustained reasoned argument, perhaps challenging previously held assumptions
  • demonstrate effective written and/or oral communication and presentation skills
  • work effectively independently and with others
  • take and demonstrate responsibility for their own learning and continuing personal and professional development
  • self-appraise and reflect on practice
  • plan and design practical activities using appropriate techniques and procedures whilst demonstrating high levels of relevant skills
  • demonstrate evidence of competence in the scientific methods of enquiry, and interpretation and analysis of relevant data and statistical outputs.
  • develop transferable skills of relevance to careers outside of sport, health and exercise sciences.
  • communicate succinctly at a level appropriate to different audiences.
  • accurately interpret case study data
  • develop justifiable and/or evidence-based interventions

Resources

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

Optional in courses: