The Winning Edge 2008
Sports Nutrition Conference

The BEST Exercise Program for Osteoporosis Prevention

Sports Fitness Nutrition Education

Winning Sports Nutrition Workshop, 1996-2001, 2004, 2006, 2008

The Winning Edge 2008: Special Topics in Sports Nutrition was held on Friday, October 3rd at the Embassy Suites Hotel (Skyline/Campbell) in Tucson, Arizona. Thanks to all of speakers and sponsors for making it a great event! Speakers at this year's conference included: Linda Houtkooper, Bob Seebohar, Melinda Manore, Kathleen Woolf, Hana Feeney, and Gale Welter.

We plan on holding our next conference in Fall 2010, so stay tuned! Send suggestions for topics and speakers to: Melanie Hingle, Conference Coordinator, at hinglem@u.arizona.edu.

In 1996, the first interactive continuing education 1-day workshop based on the "Winning Sports Nutrition" Training Manual and Video was presented.  This research-based continuing education sports nutrition workshop was developed at the University of Arizona to increase the knowledge and applications of sports nutrition information for athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, dietitians, and other health education and fitness professionals.  Selected by the NCAA as the nutrition component of their Life Skills training program, the distance option of this course provides an attractive choice as a continuing educaiton opportunity for busy working professionals.

The goals of the workshop are to (1) provide a research-based continuing education workshop in the area of nutrition for fitness/sports, including educational materials for workshop participants to use when presenting information and programs to people in their communities and (2) to emphasize the three key nutrition training tips fundamental in developing a high-performance winning nutrition plan:

1. Drink the right amount of fluids at the right time.
2. Eat the right variety and amount of foods at the right time.
3. Use only safe, effective supplements at the right time.

Output and outcome indicators:

• Presented annually (Fall 1996-2001) in Tucson, and as distance education via satellite telecommunication system in other Arizona cities
• Presented again Fall 2004 via satellite telecommunication with speakers in both Tucson and Phoenix, and Fall 2006 using face-to-face format in Tucson
• Total # workshop participants 1996-2001 & 2004, 2006 = 575
• 6-month follow-up evaluations from participants in 1996-2001 & 2004, 2006 indicate an increase in sports nutrition knowledge (20-41%) upon completion of the workshop 
• Information and materials provided by the workshop were used by participants to educate over 6,500 additional people in their communities
• Distance education (e.g. satellite telecommunication) is as effective as face-to-face format for teaching continuing education sports nutrition courses
• Published article: Ricketts J, Hoelscher-Day S, Begeman G, Houtkooper L. Interactive Distance Learning Effectively Provides Winning Sports Nutrition Workshops. Journal of Extension. 2001;3(5)

For More Information Contact:
Melanie Hingle, PhD, MPH, RD
hinglem@u.arizona.edu
or 
Theresa Spicer
tspicer@email.arizona.edu 
520.621.7126

Link to Cooperative Extension Sports Nutrition Resources