What’s in a word?…EVERYTHING!

They are called SUPPLEMENTS for a reason… they are designed to be a supplement to a diet. Supplementing what? We’ll lets go to the obvious here- MACRO and MICRO nutrients. A protein supplement may be needed IF an athlete is deficient in his macro nutrient consumption of protein.

In 2009, the Protein shake- became a staple of the New Orleans Zephyrs clubhouse. RHP Rick Vanden Hurk and I still share recipes we think make a good protein shake (peanut butter and banana being the favorite!) but did Rick or did anyone else need a protein supplement?

You must first start by analyzing the dietary composition of the athlete- what is the day-to-day athlete caloric consumption look like- and here’s the kicker- as a strength and conditioning coach – you may be able to- under guidance- suggest that the diet may be deficient in a certain macronutrient. HOWEVER- you have to stop short of “prescription”. Why?

Simply- we are not qualified to prescribe macro or micro nutrients.

That’s the role of a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

My recommendation to you is- find a good one. Maureen Mason M.S. R.D.- (former Florida Gators nutritionist) – has been a blessing when it comes to resources for nutrition. Her ability to keep things in broad perspective and understand the baseball athlete lifestyle is exceptional. Bob Seebohar is another great resource for me – and really has pioneered the world of periodization for nutrition.

Having a great nutritionist resource is as important as having a foam roll and a TRX on the road...they are a part of your tools and solutions for optimizing athlete genetic potential. As we all know it's not about "food" - for an athlete- it's about "fuel"- and thats a good educational position to drive from when interacting on the subject matter with your players.

I’ve heard of coaches- even youth coaches exude that an entire diet would be best served made up entirely of supplements! My response has been- that’s akin to eating donut holes.

Keep the focus- find a great resource-and know that they’re called supplements for a reason.