VFF continues to hold the third sports nutrition training session for young female players

Continuing the series of sports nutrition training activities under the JENS – Japanese Standard Sports Nutrition programme, the Sports Nutrition Development Project in Vietnam by Japan’s SHIDAX Group, in coordination with the coaching staff and the Sports Medicine Department of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), organised a thematic workshop titled “Supplements – Hydration” for U15 young female players. The workshop aimed to provide practical knowledge, contributing to improving players’ physical condition and performance, while helping prevent injuries from the early stages of development.

Physical health and nutrition are crucial factors that play a decisive role in an athlete’s long-term development. Providing sports nutrition education to athletes from a young age not only helps establish healthy eating habits, but also lays a foundation for strong physical growth, optimised fitness, sustained high performance, and reduced risk of injuries during training and competition.

Following previous nutrition workshops, this session focused on two essential topics for young players: supplements and hydration. Given that athletes’ energy and nutritional demands are significantly higher than those of the general population, questions such as whether supplements should be used, and how to choose and use them safely and effectively, have always attracted great interest from the players.

Based on the practical questions raised by the U15 young female players, the nutrition experts, in coordination with the coaching staff, developed lesson content that was appropriate for the players’ age and training conditions. The workshop helped the players assess which nutrient groups their daily meals currently provide, identify any deficiencies or imbalances, and thereby determine suitable supplementation needs for their bodies.

In particular, the programme highlighted the risks related to doping when supplements are used improperly, while consistently delivering the key message: “Prioritise nutrition from daily meals.” The players were also guided on how to choose safer products to minimise risks associated with prohibited substances.

In addition, hydration was considered a key factor in helping athletes maintain stable performance throughout training and competition. The players took part in a hands-on workshop to check their own dehydration status, and learned how to rehydrate properly and effectively at different stages of physical activity.

At the end of the workshop, the nutrition experts and coaching staff also shared additional tips to help athletes “enjoy Tet while still maintaining form”, ensuring they are ready to return to the pitch in the best possible condition after the holiday.

The series of sports nutrition workshops jointly organised by JENS and VFF has shown clear effectiveness, as the athletes have become increasingly proactive in paying attention to nutrition, retaining the knowledge gained, and gradually improving their daily diet by eating more balanced and nutritious meals.

Previously, the JENS – Japanese Standard Sports Nutrition seminar series in collaboration with VFF had been implemented for:

– Vietnam Women’s National Team U19–20:
The importance of sports nutrition – how to fuel during training and competition

– Youth teams U15–U17:
Seminar 1: Basic diet for athletes
Seminar 2: Nutrients for essential performance capacity
Seminar 3: Supplements – Hydration

In addition, JENS will continue to provide E-learning courses for coaching staff and sports medicine personnel, helping the professional team closely support athletes throughout training and competition.

Through these structured sports nutrition education activities, the Vietnam Football Federation and JENS aim to build a nationwide pool of athletes meeting international standards, contributing to improved results for football in particular and Vietnamese sports in general.