Article:Coach Teaches Team Nutrition: How Great is This!?



While driving home last night (it's a half hour commute), I called my ortho buddy, Dr X, who was also traveling home. His has an older son who is 13 years old (2 kids)and who plays soccer (indoor right now). His coach today ended practice 15 minutes early, gathered up the parents and kids, and reminded everyone on how the outdoor soccer season is fast approaching. He began discussing how this year he wants to make sure his team is eating healthy and getting the necessary nutrients in their diets and wanted to educate the kids on what is healthy and what is not. This of course, would also require the parents to be onboard, to agree to follow the coaches advice, and to give him their permission. He continued to inform us that over the winter he had gone to classes taught by a nutritionist who specialized in sports nutrition for kids and adolescence, finished a 6 weekend training, and passed a test given at the end. The coach didn't want to apply ANY of the information he was being taught until he finished the course and felt comfortable sharing the information. What the coach was asking for from the parents was to sign a paper that first: 1) consent and to waive any legal action against him 2) commitment to follow his nutrition plan. My friend thought personally that this was a great idea and was all for it, quickly taking the coaches paper, signing it, and telling him that he thought this was great and to keep up the good work. While walking out the door with his son, my friend heard 2 mothers and 1 father standing in a small circle with the papers all appearing upset. While passing them he heard one mother say " How dare he! This is ridiculous, I feed my kids just fine. He has no right......" My friend left shaking his head.

I did a quick search this morning and found this interesting article. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/testimony/obesity07162003.htm. It was a statement from Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S. Surgeon General U.S. Public Health Service Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Department of Health and Human Services

On '''"The Obesity Crisis in America". ''' Here's a section of it.

''And to make healthy choices, parents and children need easy-to-understan information that fits into their busy lifestyles. All of us — government, academia, health care professionals, businesses, schools, and communities — need to work together to ensure that straightforward information about healthy eating and physical activity is available.....''

''Today I will discuss the three key factors that we must address to reduce and eliminate childhood obesity in America. They are:''


 * 1) Increased physical activity; 
 * 2) Healthier eating habits; and 
 * 3) Improved health literacy.

As I was listening to my friend tell me this story I thought of how ridiculous this was. Here's a coach who really cares about the kids, trains them well, looks after them, and even wants to go that extra step for them. Of course, these kids are already active, so you can eliminate number 1 on the "3 key factors" in helping reduce and elminate childhood obesity. Most coaches or people in athletes only focus on this. That's what they "specialize in" and what they feel comfortable in. But,  here's a guy who is going to address factor 2 or 3, paid to get educated, and was willing to educate others for FREE to help them, and I feel doing a great well needed service.

Does anyone here feel like he has overstepped his boundries here? He wants to add 30 minutes, once a week, with the parents and kids, for a few weeks to educate and put these kids on a healthy eating plan.

What do you guys think about this? If you were a parent would you be happy or ticked off? The coach is looking for all to attend, even if the parent feels like the do a good job at feeding their kids healthy foods.

Let me know your thoughts. Has this coach gone TOO FAR or are other coaches NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH?