ASSESSMENT OF DIETARY AND FLUID INTAKE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER TRAINING OF ATHLETES; IN CASE OF MAYCHEW JUNIOR ATHLETICS TRAINING CENTER IN TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the dietary and fluid intake before, during and after training of Maychew junior athletics training center. Maychew athletics training center was established in 2001 E.C. Many scientific researchers showed that centering an athlete’s food and fluid consumption before, during and after exercise can significantly support the demands of sport training. However, many athletes showed that, adopt dietary and fluid practices that are not always in accordance with guidelines and inadequate intakes of certain nutrients before, during and after training. This is common problem that faced Ethiopian athletes including Maychew junior athletes. The main purpose of this study was identifying, examining and recommending the general scientific and appropriate guidelines of dietary intake before, during and after training. For this study a descriptive survey method was employed. The tools used during data collection were: questionnaires, observation, interview and document analysis. Population of the study were 36 athletes, 2 coaches and 1 coach served as coach and technical director and 2 food service providers who were available in the center. The data analyzed using frequency, percentage and descriptive phrases. The results of the study reveal that the nutritional practices of Maychew athletics projects were found to below. Almost all athletes and coaches follow traditional nutrition practice before, during and after training. In addition to this factor, the indentified problems were incomplete meal plan, lack of awareness, absence of dietician or nutritionist, lack of finance and less availability of food around the center. The findings of the study showed that a lot has to be done to effective optimal nutritional practice in this athletic training center. Therefore, it’s recommended that Maychew project athletes should be applying scientific and suitable nutritional practices strategies of dietary and fluid intake before, during and after training to achieve their goals.