SafeSport Nutrition and Wellness 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organization's guidelines does SafeSport primarily align with when addressing athlete mental health and wellness?
- The American Dietetic Association only
- The U.S. Center for SafeSport's policies and applicable sport governing bodies (Correct answer)
- The NFL Players Association
- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) exclusively
Correct answer: The U.S. Center for SafeSport's policies and applicable sport governing bodies
SafeSport certified staff follow U.S. Center for SafeSport policies as well as the specific sport governing body's guidelines for athlete wellness.
Question 2: Which nutrient is most critical for repairing muscle tissue after intense exercise?
- Dietary fat
- Protein (Correct answer)
- Refined sugar
- Caffeine
Correct answer: Protein
Protein provides amino acids essential for muscle repair and synthesis following strenuous exercise.
Question 3: A sport with weight classes (e.g., wrestling) poses a specific nutrition risk. Which behavior is most concerning from a SafeSport perspective?
- Athletes eating a full meal 2 hours before competition
- Coaches requiring athletes to make weight through severe dehydration (Correct answer)
- Athletes drinking water between weigh-in and competition
- Athletes working with a registered dietitian for weight management
Correct answer: Coaches requiring athletes to make weight through severe dehydration
Requiring severe dehydration to make weight is a dangerous practice that puts athlete safety at risk and constitutes a form of misconduct under SafeSport.
Question 4: What is the primary role of carbohydrates in athletic performance?
- Building and repairing muscle tissue
- Providing the main energy source for high-intensity activity (Correct answer)
- Regulating hormone production
- Transporting oxygen in the bloodstream
Correct answer: Providing the main energy source for high-intensity activity
Carbohydrates are stored as glycogen in muscles and the liver and serve as the primary fuel for high-intensity exercise.
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT an appropriate role for a coach in supporting athlete nutrition?
- Encouraging athletes to fuel adequately before practice
- Prescribing specific diet plans and calorie targets for individual athletes (Correct answer)
- Referring athletes with nutrition concerns to a registered dietitian
- Providing access to healthy snacks at team events
Correct answer: Prescribing specific diet plans and calorie targets for individual athletes
Coaches are not qualified to prescribe individualized diet plans or calorie targets; this falls within the scope of a registered dietitian.
Question 6: Heat illness during exercise is most directly prevented by:
- Increasing protein intake before outdoor practice
- Maintaining adequate hydration before, during, and after activity (Correct answer)
- Wearing compression garments
- Reducing carbohydrate intake to lower metabolic heat
Correct answer: Maintaining adequate hydration before, during, and after activity
Proper hydration is the most effective strategy for preventing heat illness because water regulates body temperature through sweat.
Question 7: An athlete confides to a coach that they have been using a teammate's prescription diuretics to lose weight before competition. The coach should:
- Keep it confidential since the athlete shared it privately
- Report the disclosure per SafeSport and organizational protocols and refer the athlete to medical staff (Correct answer)
- Advise the athlete to stop and monitor them on their own
- Tell the athlete it is acceptable as long as they make weight
Correct answer: Report the disclosure per SafeSport and organizational protocols and refer the athlete to medical staff
Misuse of prescription medications is a health and safety issue that requires reporting and medical referral under SafeSport's athlete protection framework.
SafeSport Nutrition and Wellness 3
Which organization's guidelines does SafeSport primarily align with when addressing athlete mental health and wellness?