MBB HOKIES 17-18 | MEDIA GUIDE
Q & A WI TH JENN I E ZAB I NSK Y ASSOCIATE ATHLET ICS DIRECTOR, SPORTS NUTRI T ION Q: How do you address the needs of the men’s basketball team, both individually and as a full team? JZ: Nutritional needs as a team are addressed in team talks and providing the team with its own fueling station in its locker room for quick, convenient snacks, as well as pre- and post-fuel around training. We address individual needs through one-on-one consultations when we can discuss an individual’s specific hydration, nutrient, and recovery needs and adapt this to his unique schedules. Q: How important is it for a team to have access to Training Table (on-campus dining) out of season? JZ: Out of season is a crucial time to make gains, especially from a body composition standpoint. Providing Training Table out of season allows for athletes to maximize their potential for managing their body composition goals. Training Table provides a convenient “one-stop shop” for our athletes to fuel up with everything their bodies need to replenish, rebuild, and refuel. Q: How important is it for players to have access to Training Table during the season? JZ: Training Table plays a slightly different role during the season. With such a demanding in-season schedule, basketball players are notorious for losing weight and lean body mass, which poses the threat of decreased performance. Their caloric demands are high, and their schedules are busy. Training Table provides athletes an all-you-can-eat opportunity to fuel up on high-performance food options. To decrease the chance for injury and illness, Training Table focuses on foods that are anti-inflammatory, nutrient dense, hydrating, and balanced. Q: How has your program grown over the past few years? JZ: Our Sports Nutrition Program has increased its staff from two to five sports dietitians, has built and managed five new fueling stations, and has incorporated new hands-on nutrition experiences, such as cooking demonstrations, “Dine with a Dietitian,” and grocery store tours to name a few. We are fueling athletes more than ever, and that provides a great avenue for educating at the same time. We are looking forward to our largest project yet—an all-sports Training Table dining facility located adjacent to Cassel Coliseum in 2019. Q: What are your specific goals with the men’s basketball team? JZ: Our sport-specific goals with this team are optimizing hydration, reaching body composition goals, properly recovering from workouts and competition, eating more frequently (and focusing on the importance of timing), and increasing their food option repertoire (e.g. eating more variety). Q: What are the keys to maintaining the nutritional needs of the men’s basketball team, especially in regards to the frequent travel? JZ: Fueling frequently is on the top of our list. We ideally would like them consuming calories every 2-3 hours to meet their caloric demands, to recover quickly for their next training session, and “to keep their fuel tank full.” Bookending workouts and games is a must. This includes a pre-fuel high-carbohydrate snack to top off energy stores before, and recovering immediately afterward with foods that include protein, carbohydrates, and fluids. Having convenient snacks on travel trips also helps to fill the gaps in between meals. We emphasize dried fruit, trail mix, beef jerky, pretzels, granola bars, PBJs, etc. @VT_MBBall @vthokiembb VTMBBALL 94
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