Macronutrients These are the main components of nutrition and must be understood to create an effective nutritional approach for your players or team. The careful balance of these 3 macronutrients will allow the athlete to preform at a high energy level and also control body composition. These 3 pieces of nutrition are the foundation of any player’s daily intake. If you can get your players to understand the importance and the function of these 3 nutrients, they can manage their nutrition successfully.Protein 

Protein is essential in the following ways: 1. Builds, maintains, and restores muscle tissues. 

2. Creating enzymes, hormones, lipoproteins, muscle  tissue, connective tissue, red blood cells and immune system cells 

3. Increasing the body’s ability to use fat as energy, helps body deliver oxygen to the working muscles 

4. Increases strength of muscle contractions, increases strength, speed, explosiveness, etc. 

5. Can account for 10 – 15% of energy during exercise 

6. Allows body to break down nutrients to usable energy

 7. Athletes should take in approximately .9 to 1.0 grams of protein per pound of body weight during this period