TL;DR Card
- Team culture predicts athlete nutrition behavior more than one-off talks.
- No body comments, no public weigh-ins, no food shaming.
- Praise fueling, recovery, consistency, and sleep habits.
- At Colorado Springs altitude, under-fueling consequences hit performance quickly.
Why Culture Matters
Team culture shapes athlete behavior more than individual talks:
- Athletes take cues from coaches and teammates
- Norms around food and body affect eating behavior
- Unhealthy culture contributes to disordered eating
- Healthy culture promotes performance and well-being
[!WARNING]
The Cultural Red Flags
If these behaviors exist on your team, you are actively increasing the injury risk and RED-S rates of your athletes:
- Body-related comments (Even "positive" ones like "You look so fit!")
- Weigh-ins tied to performance, pacing, or roster decisions.
- Public praise for weight loss.
- Food restriction being normalized or joked about ("I can't eat that").
- Diet talk dominating team meals or bus rides.
- Food policing (Teammates or coaches commenting on what someone is eating).
- Fear of eating around the coaching staff.
Building Healthy Culture
Coach Behaviors
Model These:
- Eat normally in front of athletes
- Talk about food as fuel
- Value performance over appearance
- Take rest days
- Never comment on athlete bodies
- Normalize variety in eating
Avoid These:
- Diet talk
- Skipping meals
- Negative self-talk about your body
- Commenting on athlete weight/size
- Labeling foods "good" or "bad"
Team Norms to Establish
Around Food:
- We fuel before training
- We recover after training
- Team meals include variety
- Everyone eats (no skipping)
- No food shaming
Around Bodies:
- We don't comment on bodies
- All body types are valued
- Performance is the focus
- Appearance is not discussed
The Coach's Communication Cheat Sheet
| ❌ The Harmful Phrase |
✅ The Biological & Performance Pivot |
| "You'd be faster if you lost a few pounds." |
"Let's look at your sleep and recovery data this week." |
| "You're looking so lean right now." |
"You're looking strong and powerful out there." |
| "Are you really going to eat all that?" |
(Say Nothing. Let the athlete eat.) |
| "We need to get some weight on you." |
"Let's refer you to a Sports Dietitian to dial in your fueling." |
| "Some people just have the perfect runner's body." |
"Running rewards consistency, mechanics, and mental grit." |
Team Meals and Events
Best Practices
- Serve variety of foods
- Don't monitor what athletes eat
- Make all options acceptable
- Include athletes in planning
- Accommodate dietary needs
- Make meals positive experiences
Avoid
- Restricting options
- Commenting on choices
- "Healthy" calories labels
- Making athletes feel watched
Addressing Athlete Concerns
If Athlete Asks About Weight Loss
Do:
- Listen to concerns
- Redirect to performance
- Refer to sports dietitian
- Avoid giving advice
Say:
"I hear that you're worried about performance. A sports dietitian can help you fuel for your best performance. Want me to connect you?"
Don't say:
"Sure, you could probably drop a few pounds."
"You look fine to me."
"Have you tried cutting carbs?"
If Athlete Is Struggling
Do:
- Express concern about health/performance (not weight)
- Refer to professionals
- Follow up
- Support treatment
Don't:
- Diagnose
- Give nutrition advice
- Ignore it
- Make it about weight
Working with Parents
Set Expectations Early
- Share team philosophy
- Explain no weight comments policy
- Encourage supportive home environment
- Provide resources
When Concerns Arise
- Partner with parents, not against them
- Focus on health and performance
- Maintain athlete privacy appropriately
- Refer to professionals
Staff Alignment
All Staff Should
- Follow same body-positive guidelines
- Know referral resources
- Model healthy behaviors
- Support team culture
This Includes
- Assistant coaches
- Athletic trainers
- Team managers
- Volunteer parents
Resources for Teams
Consider Providing
- Sports dietitian talks
- RED-S education for staff
- Resources for athletes struggling
- Parent education nights
Go-To Professionals
- Sports dietitian
- Sports psychologist
- Team physician
- Athletic trainer
How to Evaluate Your Culture
Ask Yourself
- Would athletes feel comfortable eating in front of me?
- Do athletes talk about diet/weight negatively?
- Are there athletes who seem to restrict?
- Have I ever commented on body/weight?
- Do team meals feel inclusive?
Get Feedback
- Anonymous surveys
- One-on-one check-ins
- Observe team dynamics
Making Changes
If Culture Was Problematic
- Acknowledge past issues
- Commit to change openly
- Implement new policies
- Model new behaviors
- Reinforce consistently
- Seek outside help if needed
It Takes Time
- Culture doesn't change overnight
- Consistency matters
- Keep reinforcing positive norms
- Celebrate progress
Quick Reference
Culture Builders
✓ Performance focus (not appearance)
✓ Body comments = off limits
✓ Food is fuel (no "good/bad")
✓ Model healthy eating
✓ Inclusive team meals
✓ Professionals for nutrition concerns
Culture Destroyers
✗ Weight-focused comments
✗ Public weigh-ins
✗ Praising thinness
✗ Diet talk
✗ Food restriction normalization
✗ Ignoring warning signs
For team culture consultation, book at aspireperformancerd.com