Nutrition knowledge and competitiveness : interrelationships in high school wrestlers and their coaches

Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the level of nutrition knowledge and degree of competitiveness in high school wrestlers and their coaches and to look at the differences between groups. Twelve schools participated in the study and a total of 180 wrestlers and 29 coaches (12 head and 17 assistant) completed the nutrition knowledge and Sports Orientation (competitiveness) questionnaires. The results indicate that nutrition knowledge increases significantly with increasing age or grade level in the athletes (p=.0001), but significant increases were not seen for each year. The mean score for nutrition knowledge was 53.9% for the athletes and 67% for the coaches, both very low scores overall when compared with previous research, indicating a strong need for improved nutrition education in both populations. The coaches' mean nutrition knowledge levels were found to increase significantly with increasing years of coaching (p=.0001), suggesting that some knowledge is gained through experience. Team nutrition scores varied significantly, with a range of 50 to 63%, suggesting that some schools may have higher quality nutrition education programs than others. Results of the nutrition knowledge scores also demonstrate that a significant similarity exists between the head coaches' nutrition score and the teams' mean score (p=.0001), suggesting the possibility that the head coaches can have a greater impact on their teams' level of nutrition information than can other possible sources. Competitiveness scores were very high for this population as compared to previous studies completed with high school students, with the mean scores being 58.5 out of a possible 65 points for the wrestlers, and 59.4 for the coaches. Average competitiveness scores previously seen in the high school athletic population are approximately 20% lower than the scores found in these wrestlers, with a mean of 47. Competitiveness was found to significantly increase with increasing years of participation in wrestling (p=.02), but no other significant interrelationships were found to exist with regard to competitiveness levels in this population. There are many factors that were unable to be researched in this study due to inconsistent weight records that were to be kept by each team. Not 1 of the 12 schools kept consistent nor complete weight records throughout the season, making much of the planned research impossible. In conclusion, there exists much speculation regarding the possible consequences of weight cutting during adolescence, especially when the perceived benefits of the practice are not scientifically based. Research has suggested that there are many changes that need to be considered within the sport of wrestling such as minimal weight standards along with strict enforcement of those standards. As demonstrated with the results of this study, nutrition knowledge is low in the wrestling population, wrestlers and coaches alike, and therefore, additional education regarding nutrition and unsafe weight loss practices in high-risk populations such as the high school wrestler is needed.