As a collegiate coach, Dr. Kimberly Stein had to communicate the science of recovery and nutrition to her teams.



Being a pioneer in the NFL Kevin Luhrs had to communicate the science behind the small changes to improve player performance.







What does effective communication mean to you/look like to you?



KS:



We think it is cool and give them the details but they do not really careKeep it simpleMeet them where they are



KL: 



transfer of knowledgeFind where they are and stay one step ahead of them



What barriers have you run into while trying to share science?



KL: 



I started in 2010



I think the number of Sports dieticians has doubled in college athleticsAppeal to the why - Why are you tired on the field, why are you sluggish? Keep monitoring them.



KS: 



You have to sell it as another training aidePotential injury preventionSTART WITH WHY



What are the best steps to introduce science into a conversation effectively?



KL:



Plant the seedAsk questionsI had the opportunity to communicate the science in front of the whole teamI had a lot of consultations in the whole way or in the At Facility



KS:



Meeting them for the first time is not the best timeWhat do you think about nutrition and performance?What do you think you need to perform?“Let’s try just a little bit of energy” not well the RDs recommend 20 ML of fluid every 20 minutes of heavy activity.



How can you get a team of professional athletes to take interest in the science behind sport?



KL:



Where do I start?Fried catfish FridaysImplement it into practice as you educate themSmall changes



KS:



Older athletes kinda lead the way for me…they wanted to extend their career.Nowadays we see athletes that are asking questions as soon as they get the contract.



How do you adjust your communication methods between a practitioner audience or a professional athlete audience?



KS: 



Practitioners get more of the scienceThey want to see the charts and graphs and dataBut you are still not talking to other scientists so do not go overboard.Use visuals often.



Professional athletes Let them ask questions and get a feel for what they wantUse examples of places and people it has worked withCoachesThey have to be the key in implementing it.Allowing water breaksAllowing practice to start later so the team has time to eat.But they also need to internalize this personally



KL: 



Educate them so they can communicate the message when neededBeing on the same page as a staff is probably the biggest key to success..coaches, admin, everyone



How can someone communicate why their recommendations are effective for reasons beyond the science?



KL: 



- We definitely have to convince people or sell it at times



- Like Dr. Stein said, science is not black an white, it is evolving



KS: 



Yes!!!Understand the science of behavior changeYou are not really changing the diet but changing their behaviorTiny Changes



How can a practitioner determine whether information is best communicated visually through graphics or data, or through straightforward text?



KS:



Pee Color chartHaving a picture of carbohydrates…giving examplesDo this instead of a list



KL:



Weigh in charts for hydrationTraffic light training systemGoSlowWhoa



What are your recommendations for sharing/communicating the science via social media? What are some effective posts/sources that you’ve seen recently? 



KS:



We are a headline driven society..so it is hard to communicate the science accuratelyWho know how valid the “reports” areGet with the team captains and see if they can share the good stuff on their personal info



KL:



Point towards some that are doing the right thing.



What are some scientific resources you would recommend for someone who is trying to expand their sports performance research knowledge?



KS: - www.GSSIweb.org - hands down



KL: Sports Science Exchange or Gatorade performance partner website



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