Nutrition is an important part of overall development. According to Nick Bollettieri, “Nutrition is essential to providing the fuel for the machine that is the human body. High-level training and competition places huge demands upon the various systems of the body. Optimal nutrition is essential to replace the supplies used up in the demands of each day. A carefully selected and timed diet can make the difference between “feeling good and feeling great.’”

We interviewed Jack Groppel recently about the topic of nutrition and he offered the following: “An athlete needs a well-balanced diet, consisting of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Water is a critically important nutrient that must be consumed at regular intervals. The other important nutrients include vitamins and minerals, which should be found in the normal, daily consumption of foods in a well-rounded diet. Athletes should always consider how their diet varies, the portion sizes consumed, and the timing of when and how to eat.”