Why I want to be a Sports Nutrition

ConsultantWith Justin

Bailey

What exactly is a sports nutrition consultant? Sports nutritionists are consultant dietitians who provide their

nutritional expertise specifically to sports teams. The consultant can either review an individual client's eating habits,

or oversee a general healthy meal plan created for all or certain groups of the sports team.

The consultant would not only take into account the current eating habits and wellness goals of the clients, but would also take into account any diseases that are currently being treated and preventing future health conditions.

A big job duty and skill set for the consultant will be to understand what to eat, how much to eat, and when to eat before and after practices or workouts to ensure optimum results for a variety athletes with different goals.

Education There is a little bit of a grey area behind becoming a nutrition consultant due

to the fact that it is NOT actually required to have a degree or a certification to claim that you are a “nutritional consultant”.

However, the industry is in fact beginning to change, and even though the education level and experience needed can vary by state, it is in large part becoming the norm to have at least a certification of some kind showing your legitimacy in the field. Also is some states, it is actually required to have a license or register with the state, which often times will require an undergraduate degree at the least, or a masters degree or higher.

Institutions that offer sports nutrition certifications include the International Sports Science Association (ISSA), the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), and there are programs that can be taken even as continuing education credits at some more well known places such as the NSCA, ACE and NASM.

Working Conditions Your working conditions could vary greatly depending upon what level

of sports you are consulting for, if you consult for a team or just work with athletes on your own, and what exactly your relationship is in terms of how and when you meet your clients.

Wages/Salaries In 2013 the US government indicated that the average annual wage for

nutritionists was $56,300.00 and the average annual wage was $27.07/hr, with entry level making about $33,000.00 and experience individuals making around $75,000.00 per year. This ranges widely depending upon education level, location and specialized training.

The good news, is that this is a rising field. With more awareness being made on health and wellness, the general public, as well as athletes are beginning to turn to individuals to understand how to eat and what to eat more on a daily basis.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2012 there were 67,400 dieticians and nutritionists employed throughout the country; and by 2022, this number is expected to rise to 81,600, which would equate to a 21% increase.

Also, recently the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has joined forces with the Collegiate & Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA) and the Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) to more actively promote nutritious lifestyles among its athletes.

Pros and Cons Possible cons of this job could be that it will be relatively difficult to

land a job for a professional sports team. BUT with the right type of networking and hard work, there is always a way!

Some may think of this job as a “low” paying job. If you are shooting for more than $100,000.00 a year, this may not be the job for you.

A Pro for this job is that it’s a steadily increasing occupation, with more possible benefits depending upon how things turn out with insurance.

Another PRO for this is the more you continue to expand your knowledge as an individual with nutrition and personal fitness, the more successful you will be. You can not only help your athletes understand nutrition better, but if you are also equipped and educated enough to be their personal strength and conditioning coach, you are opening yourself up for much more success and much more opportunities.

LOVE WHAT YOU DO!