Case Study: Choose a Sport 1
Case Study: Choose a Sport
Liberty University
HLTH 645
October 20 2024
Case Study: Choose a Sport 2
Selected Sport and Characteristics
The sport I choose to discuss in this informative paper is Basketball, which is played at
multiple levels from kids starting out all the way to professional athletes. In this sport nutrition
plays a critical role, where using adaptations and proper eating habits can have an effect on the
athlete's overall performance and health. Basketball is an intermittent sport, characterized
by alternating periods of low and high intensity, and often demanding a range of
complex technical abilities, numerous directional changes, and jumps.³ A variety of
characteristics go into this sport that could have effect on the nutritional requirements
needed. These factors include things such as; duration, risk of injury, frequency, and
intention of the training sessions.
Preseason needs/concerns/differences
During the pre-season period within the basketball season has a variety of needs, these
include physiological attributes that the players need to work on and develop, in order to sustain
a full season workload.³ Basketball involves rigorous exercises and training that is intended to
build muscles, increase stamina, and perfect the skill needed to play the game effectively. A
study found that using plyometric training showed to be beneficial in terms of physiologically
and that biochemical markets that were analyzed assisted in monitoring and managing fatigue.
Having these implements are essential for training modifications to maximize athletes overall
performance.³ Training begins at an easier level with some basic conditioning and skill technique
then will eventually move to higher difficulty and intensive level.
Energy requirements and Predominate Metabolic Pathway
Athletes that participate in the game of basketball at any level rely on both anaerobic and aerobic
metabolism during their training sessions and competitions. The athletes participate in a variety of high
intensity movements which include; jumping, sprinting and other quick burst of energy movements.¹ With
Case Study: Choose a Sport 3
this however, this particular sport calls for strength and for the most part has lower intensity levels for a
longer period of time, in term means that carbohydrates and fats are the main source of fuel for the
athletes bodies. Athletes need to be aware of the intensity change many times during the games, which
could include during timeouts, or walking/jogging off and on the court.
Dehydration risk/hydration guidelines
The physiological and metabolic demands of basketball are significant, with players
engaging in high-intensity activities over extended periods. Consequently, dehydration poses a
serious risk. Research indicates that during a single game, each player typically executes around
100 sprints and various jostling maneuvers, averaging one every 20 seconds of active play, and
may cover a distance of 5 to 6 kilometers.² This underscores the importance of recovery and
rehydration in basketball. It is recommended that hydration commence 8 to 12 hours prior to the
match; however, if this is not feasible, it is advised that players consume 500 mL of fluid at least
4 hours before the competition, continuing until their urine is no longer dark. Additionally,
hydration needs can vary among individuals and should be monitored and adjusted as necessary
before, during, and after the game.²
Specific nutrient demands and deficiencies of concern
Within all sports and physical activities that an incident could compete in during their
lifetime it's essential to remember that protein, fats, and carbohydrates are needed for a well
balanced diet. Not only does these nutrients help to feel the body, but also aids as a healing
process when the body needs it most. If an athlete is consuming proper nutrition in their
everyday diet, there isn't a need for supplements. However, using some supplements have shown
to have some benefit within sports including; vitamin E, vitamin D and EPA for recovery. ²
Recovery needs/concerns
Case Study: Choose a Sport 4
The sport of basketball does have its own unique requirements in terms of nutrition, and
physiological. ALong with many other things, hydration recovery is an important aspect for the
athletes, as this could cause fatigue, affect recovery time, and even lead to fuel depletion on and
off the court. Having proper hydration is important during practice and games and should be a
main aspect of recovery off the court. Athletes should focus on getting proper sleep and nutrition
leading up to an event and especially afterwards to remain at top performance.
Other challenging dietary issues particular to this sport (Gastrointestinal upset, weight
classes, food availability, timing).
It should be well known that the availability of glucose holds both cognitive and physical
aspects for an athlete. Since this sport requires a lot of physical attributes and the game is
primarily strategy, stores of glucose are important for one's success. If a player doesn't gain
proper amount of carbohydrate this could lead to a decline prior, during and post game. Because
of this, it's important to always have a significant amount of carbohydrates and not see any
decline. A couch and training needed to be away of these within their athletes to make sure
everyone is able to perform ceo at max capacity.
Case Study: Choose a Sport 5
References
1. Castillo M, Lozano-Casanova M, Sospedra I, Norte A, Gutiérrez-Hervás A,
Martínez-Sanz JM. Energy and Macronutrients Intake in Indoor Sport Team Athletes:
Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2022; 14(22):4755. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224755
2. Esen O, Rozwadowski K, Cepicka L, Gabrys T, Karayigit R. Practical Nutrition
Strategies to Support Basketball Performance during International Short-Term
Tournaments: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2022;14(22):4909. Published 2022 Nov 20.
doi:10.3390/nu14224909
3. Mexis D, Nomikos T, Kostopoulos N. Effect of Pre-Season Training on Physiological
and Biochemical Indices in Basketball Players—A Systematic Review. Sports. 2022;
10(6):85. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10060085
