Nutrition for High Performance
| Module title | Nutrition for High Performance |
|---|---|
| Module code | SHSM059 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Mary O'Leary (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
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 required to enhance your knowledge to work as an applied practitioner within elite sport.
This module runs alongside the undergraduate equivalent, ESS3508. The assessments at this MSc level differ, providing a more advanced, in-depth approach to the subject matter.
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 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 | 256 | 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 | 128 | Reading |
| Guided Independent Study | 128 | 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: Students will work with an athlete in small groups (2-3 students per athlete, depending on availability and logistics). The objective is to evaluate the athlete's diet, lifestyle, and priorities. Each student will individually create a detailed, evidence-based nutrition plan with an implementation timeline, intended for an academic audience. In addition, each student will prepare a two-page summary specifically for the athlete, providing key insights and recommendations in a format that is easy for the athlete to understand. | 50 | 2500 words, excluding two-page summary for athlete | 1-8 | Written |
| 30-Minute Workshop for Athletes Groups of 2-3 students create and deliver workshops for athletes (topics to be decided in consultation with module team) Week 4: Draft workshop plan presentation (10%). Week 8: Updated plan for workshop presentation (10%). Weeks 10/11: Workshop delivery (30%). | 50 | Week 4: 7 min presentation Week 8: 7 min presentation Weeks 10/11: 30 min workshop (in person/online). | 1-5, 8 | Oral and 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 |
| 30-Minute Workshop for Athletes | Individual presentation of workshop plans at agreed interval prior to workshop. Workshop delivery to real or mock athlete audience 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://vle.exeter.ac.uk/ (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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | ESS2509 Sports Nutrition and Metabolism or equivalent at the discretion of the module lead. |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 18/03/2025 |
