Dietary Behaviors in Gaelic Football: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Physical, Psychological, and Environmental Influences

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Kelly, Niamh Ní Chéilleachair, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6693988/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Gaelic football is a high-intensity, intermittent team sport played at an amateur level, though its training demands often resemble those of professional sport. Previous research has indicated suboptimal energy and carbohydrate intake among players, which may impair performance and recovery. Objective This study aimed to explore the behavioural determinants of dietary intake in Gaelic football players, using the COM-B model to identify modifiable factors to inform future nutrition interventions. Methods A mixed-methods, cross-sectional design was used. An online questionnaire captured sociodemographic data, nutrition knowledge, and cooking and food skills confidence. Semi-structured interviews explored dietary influences, and a 5-day estimated food diary assessed dietary intake. Data were integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of dietary behaviours. Results A purposive sample of 20 players (mean age 27.1 ± 5.5 years) participated. The mean nutrition knowledge score was 54.7 ± 10.5%, cooking skills confidence was 62.3 ± 18.9, and average daily energy intake was 2482 ± 788 kcal. Carbohydrate intake averaged 3.8 ± 0.9 g/kg/day, protein 1.9 ± 0.5 g/kg/day, and fat 31.7 ± 4.8% of total energy. Thematic analysis identified seven key influences on dietary behaviour, including performance-driven motivation, variability in applying nutrition knowledge, time and resource constraints, and the influence of social and environmental support. Conclusions Findings emphasise the need for holistic, context-sensitive strategies to improve dietary behaviours. Recommended approaches include enhancing food skills, tailoring support from nutrition staff, and integrating practical education into training settings. These findings may apply to other amateur and high-level recreational athletes. Gaelic Games Dietary Intake Nutrition Knowledge Cooking Skills Sports Nutrition Dietary Assessment Mixed-Methods Dietary Behaviour Behaviour Change Intervention Design Figures Figure 1 1. Introduction Gaelic football, an indigenous sport of Ireland, stands as one of the most popular among the Gaelic games—a collective term encompassing sports such as hurling, camogie, court handball, road bowls, and various individual athletic events [ 1 ]. This high-intensity, intermittent, invasion-based field game is played by two teams of fifteen on a pitch measuring between 130 to 145 meters in length and 80 to 90 meters in width. The gameplay features frequent bouts of high-speed running, tackling, and jumping, interspersed with brief recovery intervals, and combines elements of soccer, rugby, and basketball in terms of ball-handling, physical contact, and continuous movement [ 1 , 2 ]. For male club level players (sub-elite) and female club and inter-county level players (sub-elite and elite) each half of the game is 30 minutes in duration, whilst male inter-county players (elite) contest 35 minute halves [ 3 , 4 ]. Despite the sport maintaining amateur status since its inception, Gaelic football players engage in rigorous and systematic training akin to other professional team sports [ 5 , 6 ]. Furthermore, they exhibit VO2 max values ranging from 48.7 to 65.8 (ml.kg -1 .min -1 ), comparable to those observed in professional soccer players [ 6 – 8 ]. Optimal energy intake and macronutrient balance are crucial for athletes' preparation, recovery, and immunity [ 9 ]. Despite this, team sport athletes frequently fail to meet the energy requirements necessary for their demanding training and competition schedules [ 10 , 11 ]. Specifically, Gaelic footballers exhibit an average daily energy deficit of 12.3% and low carbohydrate intake of 3.4-3.7g/kg, across pre-season and game periods, potentially partly due to high fat (31-37.5%) and protein (1.9-2.1g/kg) consumption—values at the upper limits of recommendations [ 12 – 14 ]. Elevated fat intake can compromise the availability of energy from carbohydrates, as fats constitute a higher proportion of the energy source [ 15 ]. Excessive protein intake, particularly among Gaelic football players, may displace carbohydrate-rich foods and suppress appetite due to its satiating effect, potentially compromising performance [ 16 , 17 ]. Such nutritional inadequacies can compromise adaptation and recovery from exercise [ 18 ] and lead to low energy availability (LEA), which has been associated with negative effects on menstrual, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal health [ 19 , 20 ]. Consistent observations of sub-optimal dietary intake among Gaelic footballers has prompted calls for education interventions to facilitate positive dietary behaviour change [ 13 , 14 ]. While research has identified limited nutrition knowledge as a potential intervention target [ 21 , 22 ], evidence suggests knowledge alone weakly correlates with actual dietary intake [ 23 – 25 ]. This indicates that interventions need to go beyond simply imparting nutrition knowledge. A recent study, highlighted that team sport athletes, including Gaelic footballers, lack confidence in cooking and food preparation skills [ 26 ], compared to other demographic groups [ 27 , 28 ], suggesting a need for combined nutrition and culinary training to foster lasting improvements in dietary behaviour. However, it's important to recognise that the determinants of dietary behaviours are multifactorial; wider socio-demographic and psychological elements also play significant roles [ 29 ]. Factors such as taste preferences, cost, time constraints, body weight goals, perceived effects on performance, and the influence of coaches and peers may also need to be considered [ 30 – 34 ]. Such determinants remain underexplored in Gaelic football players, a group that parallels professional athletes in their training rigor [ 5 , 6 ], despite balancing full-time employment and personal responsibilities [ 2 , 35 ]. These unique demands introduce specific challenges that must be navigated by practitioners and researchers engaged with this athletic cohort [ 2 ]. Sports nutrition practitioners increasingly recognise the importance of comprehensive support strategies that account for the complex factors shaping athletes’ dietary behaviours [ 36 ]. The COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour) offers a valuable framework for identifying these influences and informing intervention design [ 37 ]. It highlights the need for psychological and physical capability, adequate social and environmental opportunity, and sufficient motivation to sustain behaviour change. Its attention to social and physical contexts makes it particularly relevant for athletes navigating multiple commitments [ 36 , 38 ]. In Gaelic football, where amateur athletes manage demanding training alongside work or study, the COM-B model can help guide tailored nutrition interventions. This approach may also apply to other high-demand sports, such as endurance or multisport disciplines, where athletes face similar challenges in meeting dietary recommendations while balancing competing priorities [ 39 ]. Despite this, limited research has explored the behavioural determinants of dietary intake in Gaelic football, reflecting a broader gap in understanding how athletes with dual roles manage their nutrition. Greater insight into these factors is essential to inform effective, context-sensitive strategies [ 40 ]. Addressing this gap could support the design of interventions that enhance adherence to dietary guidelines, not only within Gaelic football but also across comparable athletic populations [ 39 ]. Therefore, this study used a mixed methods design to explore the behavioural determinants of dietary intake among Gaelic football players, guided by the COM-B model. Qualitative interviews were integrated with quantitative assessments of nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills confidence, and dietary intake to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping dietary behaviours in this population. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Methodological and Philosophical Underpinning: In this study, pragmatism guides the scientific inquiry, prioritising knowledge acquisition for practical application. This philosophical stance supports the convergent parallel mixed methods design, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to address the research aims [ 41 ]. An interpretivist approach is employed to explore the factors affecting dietary intake among Gaelic football players via semi-structured interviews, while a post-positivist perspective guides the quantitative assessment of nutrition knowledge, food-related skills, and dietary intake to contextualise the qualitative insights. By integrating these data sources, this approach provides a more comprehensive understanding than either method alone [ 41 ], forming a strong foundation for the development of effective behaviour change interventions. 2.2. Researcher Positioning: The lead researcher (MR) brought a multifaceted perspective shaped by his PhD research on dietary intake determinants in Irish team sport athletes. His expertise as a registered public health and sports nutritionist, with experience in private healthcare and sports settings, influenced the co-creation of knowledge with participants. While his interpretations were informed by these experiences, the absence of prior professional relationships with participants helped mitigate potential bias. 2.3. Participants: Irish Gaelic football players were purposively recruited to ensure the sample reflected the study's specific requirements. An a priori estimate of the sample size required to adequately address the study’s objectives, was informed by previous research [ 42 – 44 ] and the assessment of information power, based on the study’s proposed methodology [ 45 ]. A sample of 20 participants was predicted to yield sufficient information power. This predication was based on the following: the anticipated high specificity of the sample; the use of a semi-structured interview guide, which was informed by theory [ 37 ]; and the experience and confidence of the interviewer (MR), which was expected to facilitate a higher quality of dialogue. Furthermore, the planned analytical approach to interpret the findings, also facilitates both rigour and reflexivity [ 46 ]. Participants were recruited via email through the research team’s networks and through social media advertisements on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram. Eligible individuals were aged 18 or older, resided in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, and engaged in Gaelic football training at least twice weekly. The purposive sampling strategy aimed for equal representation by sex (male and female) and performance level (sub-elite and elite), as well as a broad geographical spread across regions and clubs in both jurisdictions, prioritising diversity in representation across local regions. Data were collected between May and November 2023. The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki, with written and verbal informed consent obtained. Ethical approval was granted by the Technological University of the Shannon Research Ethics Committee, Ireland (Approval Number: 20230403). 2.4. Procedure: The study employed a cross-sectional observational design, which required participants to complete three distinct components: firstly, an online questionnaire to gather sociodemographic data, assess nutrition knowledge, and evaluate cooking and food skills; secondly, an individual semi-structured interview positioned to gain greater understanding of the factors influencing their dietary intake; and thirdly, a self-reported 5-day food record to provide an estimate of their dietary intake. 2.4.1. Questionnaire: The questionnaire hosted online (SurveyMonkey Inc., San Mateo, USA), collected participants' characteristics, including gender, age, height, weight, training history, and competitive level. To ensure accurate analysis using validated scales, the survey required respondents to complete all questions before submission, preventing partial responses. On average, participants took 18 minutes and 38 seconds to complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire featured a validated measure for assessing nutrition knowledge [ 47 ], with nutrition knowledge scores subsequently categorised using the following scoring system: 'poor' (0–49%), 'average' (50–65%), 'good' (66–75%), and 'excellent' (76–100%) [ 48 ]. It also evaluated confidence in cooking and food skills, with scores obtained by summing ratings from 1 to 7 for all the skills presented. The maximum achievable score for cooking skills was 98, while for food skills it was 133. Higher scores in each category indicate a greater number of skills used and/or a higher level of confidence [ 49 , 50 ]. 2.4.2. Interview: After completing the online questionnaire, each participant was scheduled for an online individual interview at a mutually convenient time. All interviews were conducted via Zoom v5.14.7 (Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). A semi-structured guide, developed through prior research [ 36 , 51 , 52 ], team consultation, and alignment with COM-B model categories [ 37 ], was piloted with three eligible participants. Based on their feedback, refinements were made to improve clarity and add prompts for more detailed responses. The finalised interview guide (see Supplementary Material) was used consistently to support engagement and minimise researcher bias. All interviews were conducted by the lead researcher (MR), a male final-year PhD student trained in qualitative methods, analysis, and motivational interviewing. He also managed recruitment and participant queries. At the start of each session, he introduced himself, explained the study purpose, and clarified that participants could skip questions or request clarification. Sociodemographic data were reviewed, and consent to record was re-confirmed. The recorded portion of interviews averaged 32 ± 15 minutes. At the end, participants were invited to share additional comments, redact any statements, and were thanked for their time. Reporting adhered to the COREQ checklist (see Supplementary Material) for interviews and focus groups [ 53 ]. 2.4.3. Dietary Assessment: After the recorded interview, participants were briefed on completing a 5-day estimated food record and were emailed a digital, editable version with written instructions. As a prospective dietary assessment, participants were asked to log all food and fluid intake at the time of consumption to minimise recall bias [ 54 ]. The food record was adapted from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) diaries and included four daily pages covering over seven meal periods, a checklist for commonly forgotten foods, and space for recipes. It also featured a food habits questionnaire, portion size guidance, and food photographs to assist with estimation [ 55 – 58 ]. Reminder emails were sent as needed to support compliance. Completed records were reviewed by the lead researcher for accuracy and completeness, with follow-up queries where required. Data were analysed using Nutritics Dietary Analysis Software v5.88 (Nutritics Ltd, Dublin, Ireland). The energy intake to basal metabolic rate ratio (EI:BMR) was calculated to assess dietary intake validity [ 59 , 60 ]. Mean energy intake was derived from 5-day food diaries, and BMR was estimated using the Harris–Benedict equation [ 61 ], which is recommended when lean body mass is unknown [ 62 ] and has been used in similar athletic populations [ 12 , 14 ]. In the absence of direct physical activity data, a physical activity level (PAL) of 1.66 was applied, based on prior 5-day activity assessments in Gaelic football players [ 14 ]. Energy intake plausibility was evaluated using Black’s 95% confidence limits (1.12–2.46), with values outside this range classified as under- or over-reporting [ 60 ]. 2.5. Data Analysis: 2.5.1. Quantitative: Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participants’ characteristics, nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills, and dietary intake, characterising the sample. This analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics v29.0.2 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA), and the results, including individual values, means, and standard deviations are presented in Table 1 . Dietary intake data are reported as mean daily intakes of energy (kcal/day), protein (g), carbohydrate (g), and fat (g). Protein and carbohydrate intakes are also expressed in relation to body weight (g/kg/day), while fat intake is presented as a percentage of total daily energy intake (% TDEI). This reporting format conforms to consensus sports nutrition guidelines [ 9 ]. 2.5.2. Qualitative: A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted following a six-phase approach [ 46 ]. First, the lead researcher (MR) transcribed interviews verbatim and immersed himself in the data by repeatedly listening to recordings. Second, inductive coding was performed in NVivo 14 (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia). Third, codes were grouped into preliminary themes and supporting extracts collated. In the fourth phase, themes were critically reviewed and refined through discussions with co-researchers (COC, FL, NNC, DK), who critically discussed interpretive assumptions. Fifth, themes were defined and named collaboratively to ensure a reflexive analytic stance. The sixth phase involved constructing an analytical narrative, supported by illustrative quotes that reflect sex- and level-specific variations where relevant. Themes were then mapped to the six components of the COM-B model, namely physical and psychological capability, social and physical opportunity, and reflective and automatic motivation [ 37 ], to structure the findings and guide recommendations for intervention design. Integration with quantitative findings provided a more comprehensive understanding of dietary behaviours, allowing the triangulation of intake patterns with contextual and behavioural insights from participant narratives. 3. Results Of the 66 participants who accessed the online questionnaire and provided consent, 23 (34.8%) submitted complete responses, as the survey required all questions to be answered before submission. The final interview cohort comprised 20 of these respondents, with 3 excluded due to non-response to follow-up. Thematic analysis was conducted with this final sample of Irish Gaelic football players, which included equal representation by sex (10 male, 10 female) and competitive level (10 sub-elite, 10 elite), and spanned eight club-level and eight county-level teams across Ireland. Participants had a mean age of 27.1 ± 5.5 years and had been playing Gaelic football for an average of 20.1 ± 5.6 years. Weekly training/competition averaged 8.0 ± 2.5 hours. Mean body mass and height were 63.8 ± 6.4 kg and 164 ± 5 cm for females, and 81.4 ± 8.3 kg and 181 ± 3 cm for males. The average nutrition knowledge score was 54.7 ± 10.5%, with 6 participants classified as having ‘poor’ knowledge, 12 as ‘average’, and 2 as ‘good’. Mean cooking skills confidence was 62.3 ± 18.9, and food skills confidence was 84.2 ± 22.6. Among the 17 participants who completed the dietary assessment, average daily energy intake was 2482 ± 788 kcal, with mean intakes of 3.8 ± 0.9 g/kg/day for carbohydrate, 1.9 ± 0.5 g/kg/day for protein, and 31.7 ± 4.8% of energy from fat. Based on Goldberg cut-offs, 2 participants were identified as under-reporters; the remaining 15 were classified as acceptable reporters. A summary of participant characteristics, nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills, and dietary intake is provided in Table 1 . Table 1 Participant characteristics, nutrition knowledge, cooking & food skills, and dietary intake. Demographic Characteristics Nutrition Knowledge, Cooking & Food Skills Dietary Intake Participant Sex Playing Level Playing (yrs) Training (hrs) Age (yrs) Mass (kg) Height (cm) NK Score (%) NK Rating Cooking Skills (/98) Food Skills (/133) EI (kcal·day − 1 ) CHO (g) CHO (g·kg·day − 1 ) Protein (g) PRO (g·kg·day − 1 ) Fat (g) Fat (% TDEI) EI: BMR 1 Male Elite 20 11 23 81 180 51.4 Average 62 56 4090 418 5.2 * 214 2.6 132 29.0 † 2.12 2 Female Elite 15 8 21 60.2 172 60.0 Average 71 92 1554 197 3.3 86 1.4 ** 47 27.2 † 1.07 § 3 Male Elite 28 6 36 81.2 181 62.9 Average 54 94 2514 228 2.8 157 1.9 ** 109 39.0 1.36 4 Female Elite 6 12 26 77 171 51.4 Average 75 82 1999 223 2.9 119 1.5 ** 71 32.0 † 1.26 5 Female Elite 16 8 22 68 161 42.9 Poor 58 77 - - - - - - - - 6 Male Elite 19 6 26 60 175 60.0 Average 69 72 2526 293 4.9 121 2.0 ** 97 34.6 † 1.59 7 Female Sub-Elite 16 8 20 57.8 160 60.0 Average 84 114 1822 235 4.1 106 1.8 ** 51 25.2 † 1.29 8 Female Elite 20 6 27 55 163 45.7 Poor 76 60 1285 130 2.4 73 1.3 ** 53 37.1 0.95 § 9 Male Elite 18 7 26 88 184 74.3 Good 37 85 3674 439 5.0 * 236 2.7 109 26.7 † 1.82 10 Female Sub-Elite 23 6 28 65 155 48.6 Poor 90 97 1797 188 2.9 122 1.9 ** 57 28.5 † 1.25 11 Female Sub-Elite 16 6 23 63.8 169 60.0 Average 49 106 - - - - - - - - 12 Male Sub-Elite 30 9 36 86 183 45.7 Poor 76 108 3036 345 4.0 199 2.3 89 26.4 † 1.58 13 Female Sub-Elite 24 6 30 62 164 71.4 Good 74 97 2360 289 4.7 91 1.5 ** 94 35.8 1.67 14 Female Sub-Elite 20 6 25 60 160 51.4 Average 50 86 1871 192 3.2 109 1.8 ** 75 36.1 1.33 15 Male Sub-Elite 18 7 22 77 180 28.6 Poor 56 72 2350 212 2.8 121 1.6 ** 99 37.9 1.25 16 Male Sub-Elite 28 8 36 83 178 65.7 Average 77 104 3002 322 3.9 177 2.1 112 33.6 † 1.62 17 Male Sub-Elite 24 12 32 86 183 54.3 Average 9 20 2571 287 3.3 123 1.4 ** 102 35.7 1.32 18 Male Elite 16 9 19 83 186 51.4 Average 40 71 3642 443 5.3 * 228 2.7 106 26.2 † 1.81 19 Female Elite 18 14 29 69.2 162 60.0 Average 73 77 2099 256 3.7 129 1.9 ** 63 27.0 † 1.42 20 Male Sub-Elite 26 5 34 88.7 180 48.6 Poor 65 113 - - - - - - - - Mean All All 20.1 8.0 27.1 72.6 172 54.7 Average 62.3 84.2 2482 276 3.8 142 1.9 86 31.7 - SD - - 5.6 2.5 5.5 11.6 10 10.5 - 18.9 22.6 788 92 0.9 51 0.5 26 4.8 - Mean Male - 22.7 8 29 81.4 181 54.3 Average 54.5 79.5 3045 332 4.1 175 2.2 106 32.1 - SD - - 5.1 2.3 5.5 8.3 3 12.6 - 20.9 28.0 623 87 1.0 47 0.5 12 5.1 - Mean Female - 17.4 8 25.1 63.8 164 55.1 Average 70.0 84.1 1848 214 3.4 104 1.6 64 31.1 - SD - - 5.8 2.4 5.4 11.3 10 8.6 - 13.6 21.8 328 48 0.7 19 0.2 16 4.7 - Mean - Elite 17.6 8.7 25.5 72.3 174 56.0 Average 61.5 76.6 2598 292 3.9 151 2.0 87 31.0 - SD - - 5.5 2.8 4.8 11.4 9 9.3 - 14.2 12.4 994 115 1.2 61 0.6 30 4.9 - Mean - Sub-Elite 22.5 7.3 28.6 72.9 171 53.4 Average 63.0 91.7 2351 259 3.6 131 1.8 85 32.4 - SD - - 4.9 2.1 5.9 12.3 11 12.0 - 23.5 28.3 501 60 0.7 37 0.3 22 4.9 - Note : SD = Standard Deviation, Playing (yrs) = Total Years Played, Training (hrs) = Total Hours Training Per Week, NK Score = Nutrition Knowledge Score, NK Rating = Nutrition Knowledge Rating (“poor” (0–49%), “average” (50–65%), “good” (66–75%) and “excellent” knowledge (76–100%) [ 48 ], EI = Energy Intake, BMR = Basal Metabolic Rate, CHO = Carbohydrate, PRO = Protein, * = meets carbohydrate recommendations for a moderate exercise programme (1 hour/day) of 5–7 g/kg/day [ 9 ], ** = meets protein recommendations of 1.2–2.0 g/kg/day [ 9 ], † = meets fat recommendations of 20–35% total daily energy intake [ 9 ], § = Below the lower limit of 1.12 for the 95% confidence interval for energy intake (EI) [ 60 ] indicating potential under-reporting. 3.1. Overview of Themes: Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts generated seven key themes, which are detailed below: 1) ‘Athlete’s Motivations – A Double-Edged Sword’; 2) Knowledge Is Power – But Only If You Apply It’; 3) ‘Cooking and Food Skills – Failing to Prepare Is Preparing to Fail’; 4) ‘An Athlete’s Social Dilemma’; 5) ‘Nutrition Support – More Than a Tick-Box Exercise’; 6) ‘We are All Products of Our Environment – Athletes are No Exception’; 7) ‘Fulfilling Psychological Needs: The Athlete's Desire to Be Accepted’. Figure 1 presents a visual mapping of the key themes onto the COM-B model, illustrating how various aspects of dietary behaviour change align with its components: capability, opportunity, and motivation. 3.1.1. Athlete’s Motivations – A Double-Edged Sword Participants shared that their dietary choices are largely motivated by a desire to optimise their performance. “Performing at a high level in my sport would really motivate me. It's probably my main motivator, because all I think about is football and how can I be better. So definitely, that's number one.” P18, Male, Elite. Many highlighted that they construct their dietary choices around performance goals, especially in preparation for competitions or intense training sessions. Yet, they report this focus shifts in the context of reduced performance demands, such as during off-season or injury, resulting in a more relaxed dietary approach for some, while others indicated that they experience detrimental effects on their dietary choices during such periods. Participants consistently identified time constraints as a significant challenge to their motivation for adhering to a diet they deemed optimal for their needs. This issue was emphasised in repeated discussions, indicating its significant impact on dietary adherence. “So biggest thing for me is I obviously struggle with time…I'm finishing work at 6 and we're training at 7, there's a very small window to get food in, and [I] don't want to be obviously getting a stitch and stuff like that…and then when you get home at 9 o'clock you don't want to be eating massive dinners”. P19, Female, Elite. Additionally, participants expressed that their dietary motivations are fluid and evolve over the course of their careers. “Moving from [being driven by] kind of an internal motivation of 'this is what I want for me' to [considering] 'this is what I can be for others'... I think that’s... yeah, that’s been a huge, huge change... an enjoyable one, and I think I kind of like that.” P12, Male, Sub-Elite. As shown in Fig. 1 , this theme aligns with reflective motivation in the COM-B model, as athletes consciously tailor their diets to optimise performance, particularly during competitions or intense training. However, this motivation shifts in response to factors like off-seasons or injury, leading to more relaxed dietary choices. Over time, athletes' motivations also evolve from personal performance goals to broader social or professional considerations, reflecting ongoing, deliberate adjustments in their dietary behaviour. 3.1.2. Knowledge Is Power – But Only If You Apply It Varying levels of confidence in nutrition knowledge were evident, with some individuals expressing a solid understanding of their overall nutritional needs, while others acknowledged gaps—particularly regarding specific sports nutrition guidelines. “I’m probably not familiar with the actual guidelines, I didn’t actually realise there was any.” P4, Female, Elite. Participants acknowledged that applying their knowledge consistently was of greater importance to them than simply gaining a more comprehensive understanding. “So there's lots of stuff…that I don't know but I think it's the application of that knowledge, I suppose, that’s key. For like anything, implementation is what’s important, implementation and consistency. So I suppose, the knowledge I do have, I put into practice.” P12, Male, Sub-Elite. Application of nutrition knowledge varied among individuals—some focused on visual plate balance, while others prioritised specific macronutrients such as carbohydrates and protein. Reported information sources were similarly diverse, ranging from informal peer discussions and online searches to a preference for advice exclusively from qualified nutritionists. “I wouldn't really trust someone else, like say someone from the club team, when they're telling me what you should be doing if they don't have the right like, if he's not in the human nutrition sort of side of the workplace. I wouldn't really trust it.” P15, Male, Sub-Elite. This theme reflects the psychological capability aspect of the COM-B model (Fig. 1 ), as it pertains to athletes' knowledge and cognitive ability to apply nutrition principles in practice. Participants expressed varying levels of confidence in their nutrition knowledge, with some feeling well-informed, while others acknowledged gaps, particularly in sports-specific guidelines. Despite these gaps, many participants emphasised that consistent application of their existing knowledge was more important than gaining comprehensive expertise. This focus on practical implementation, such as prioritising macronutrients or achieving visual balance on the plate, underscores the role of psychological capability in shaping dietary behaviour. Furthermore, the sources of nutritional information varied, with some athletes relying on informal advice, while others trusted only qualified nutrition professionals, reflecting different approaches to enhancing their capability. 3.1.3. Cooking & Food Skills – Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail The importance of meal planning was widely emphasised, particularly in managing busy schedules. Approaches varied, with some describing meticulous weekly planning that included shopping routines, snack timing, and preparing meals suitable for freezing. “Planning will probably be the most important and preparing yourself especially if you wanted to shop on Sunday or a Monday, planning for your week and having a have a step by step of what you're going to eat, and you know, when you're going to eat it if your training, and how many hours are you going to eat before training, and then what you're going to eat after training, that planning would be important too.” P15, Male, Sub-Elite. Participants also highlighted that they felt a lack of preparation and planning could negatively influence their diet. “I would make sure that I have… the meals planned out throughout the day because what I found is that if I don't, I end up, you know, maybe eating junk…rather than eating what I probably should be.” P3, Male, Elite. A lack of meal planning was commonly associated with poorer food choices, such as resorting to less healthy, more convenient options. While many athletes reported taking personal responsibility for cooking and meal preparation, others highlighted the role of family support—often provided by female household members such as mothers or sisters. Confidence in cooking skills also varied; some expressed enjoyment and competence in the kitchen, while others relied on basic, convenient meals. “If it was out of ten, ten being very confident, I’d be maybe a 6 or 7 and I’d probably put ten as being like a really high-level chef. Maybe it's, maybe a bit more like a 6, I can get by, I can cook some okay meals, but nothing too fancy, but I can get by well enough.” P9, Male, Elite. This theme primarily relates to physical capability within the COM-B model (Fig. 1 ). Meal planning and preparation require both the skills and capacity to execute these behaviours consistently, especially in the context of busy lifestyles. Participants’ ability to plan meals, cook, and organise their dietary intake is an expression of their physical capability to engage in health-promoting behaviour. Additionally, the varying levels of confidence in cooking skills reflect the degree to which physical capability is developed among individuals. 3.1.4. An Athlete’s Social Dilemma Family dynamics was identified as a key influential factor on the majority of participants dietary choices, and for most the influence of family was presented in a positive and favourable way. Participants also revealed that their wider social environments, especially within team settings, influence their dietary choices and for some this fosters a collective commitment to shared dietary goals. “I think the environment that I’m involved in with the county [Elite] team is brilliant like. So for the day before a game, everyone’s messaging each other, do you want to go for a bit of lunch at a really healthy spot or do you want to come to one of the lad’s houses and he will make a bit of food or something like that.” P1, Male, Elite. While participants valued peer support, they also described difficulties in navigating negative social influences that hinder their dietary goals. Many expressed concerns about the impact of social media, citing misinformation, short-lived trends, and an overwhelming range of conflicting opinions. “It can be overwhelming, especially with the ease of like getting stuff [information] from obviously Tik Tok, Instagram [social media platforms]…That if you were to follow everything that you’re seeing on that as well like they’re going to be different opinions and then you can kind of end up in a rock and a hard place wondering are you doing anything right at times and that’s something like with the ease of access to all these different kinds of opinions it can get hard.” P19, Female, Elite. The role of alcohol in deviating from healthy dietary choices was also acknowledged by participants, particularly in celebratory contexts or when socialising with peers that were not teammates and didn’t have shared goals. “The biggest negative influence [on dietary choices] would probably be alcohol…any sort of big win with the group, our management are big believers in you know, we celebrate together… I’ll see myself having 2 or 3 drinks, and then, you know, you have that craving were, ah I’ll get a chippy, or I’ll get a pizza.” P20, Male, Sub-Elite . This theme primarily relates to social opportunity within the COM-B model (Fig. 1 ). Participants highlighted how their family dynamics, team settings, and wider social environments shape their dietary choices, both positively and negatively. The influence of peers, collective dietary goals, and social norms within athletic teams foster a supportive environment, while negative influences such as social media misinformation and alcohol consumption in social settings present challenges. These social factors create the opportunity for behaviour change, either enabling or hindering adherence to dietary goals based on the social context. 3.1.5. Nutrition Support – More Than a Tick-Box Exercise Participants shared diverse experiences of nutritional support. Some were very grateful for the personalised attention and meal provision that they have received. “Yeah, I think our one’s [nutritionist] brilliant now to be fair. I reached out to him... last week... to get things back on track after a few months of downtime, and he was straight away happy to analyse and help. But at the same time, he does let you enjoy your own food... he is not going to hold you back and make you eat everything and anything to enhance performance.” P1, Male, Elite. Whilst others expressed dissatisfaction and frustration with the inconsistent nutrition support, they had experienced. “To be honest, no, I didn’t take anything new from the person [nutritionist, albeit credentials questioned by the participant]. Like I don’t even actually, to be honest remember them, so that just tells you like, you know, they didn’t really have much impact.” P4, Female, Elite. Remaining participants highlighted that they had no experience of formal nutrition support. Among those who had, experiences varied: some reported regular provision of supplements and meals on match and training days, while others had to source these themselves. Several participants felt that one-off group education workshops were insufficient and lacked impact, and some questioned the credibility and experience of those delivering nutrition support. “Obviously, it's a group setting you're not sitting down one to one, talking about a food diary to the nutritionist at the time. It was a lot more, obviously the nutritionist at the time, they were only new into their professional careers aiming to get experience. Some of them were obviously only just out of college or doing work placements and stuff like that.” P6, Male, Elite. This theme primarily relates to social opportunity within the COM-B model (Fig. 1 ). The participants’ experiences with nutritional support reflect how their access to external resources—whether through personalised attention, meal provision, or formal education—shapes their dietary behaviours. Positive social opportunities, such as personalised guidance from a qualified nutritionist, were appreciated and contributed to improved dietary practices. In contrast, inconsistent or inadequate support, including one-off workshops or inexperienced providers, hindered participants' ability to effectively utilise nutrition advice. The theme highlights the role of professional support and social structures in enabling or limiting behaviour change. 3.1.6. We Are All Products of Our Environment – Athletes Are No Exception Participants revealed that their dietary choices are often influenced by the cost and availability of food. They described making pragmatic decisions to obtain more affordable food options, such as purchasing workplace lunches or items from nearby supermarkets. Yet, they also reflected on the trade-offs involved, expressing that they felt having to make such choices could compromise their overall dietary quality. “My closest shop is an Aldi [discount supermarket], and sometimes I feel like they don't have all the ingredients that you might want. So I might change what I'm going to make, or just like, buy more convenience foods that are there just because Aldi is closer and there is like Super Valu and Dunnes Stores [Supermarket chains], they usually have a wider range of ingredients, but I just wouldn't go to them as much, because they're a bit further away, and I suppose a bit more expensive and stuff as well”. P13, Female, Sub-Elite. Conversely, participants who described themselves as financially secure, expressed that they prioritised making healthier dietary choices, despite potentially higher costs, sharing that they viewed the additional expense as a worthwhile investment in their health. “I can understand how some people might struggle to be like really healthy if they're in a kind of lower earning job, or if they're student and stuff like that, but I think since I started working, I definitely have gotten healthier again because I have the means to do it and like that, if you go out for a meal, sometimes the healthier options are a bit more expensive as well. So yeah, I'm just lucky that I have the kind of means to do it, which is a really good help.” P19, Female, Elite. Cooking at home was widely seen as a cost-effective strategy; however, some participants noted that challenges such as broken appliances or limited kitchen space, often due to shared living arrangements, made this more difficult. Those affected by such barriers reported a greater reliance on convenience foods or eating out. Eating outside the home was generally described as an occasional treat, with most participants prioritising enjoyment over nutritional considerations. “Definitely in a restaurant setting, you wouldn’t really be thinking, oh, how many calories have I eaten already to how many can I eat now for this kind of meal. It definitely wouldn’t even be a thought in our family, you're there to kind of go out and enjoy yourself in that kind of sense”. P6, Male, Elite. However, a select few did share that they would adopt a more strategic approach to dining out and attempt to carefully select options from the menu that best meet their nutritional needs for optimal performance and recovery. This theme primarily relates to physical opportunity within the COM-B model (Fig. 1 ). Participants’ dietary choices are influenced by external factors such as the cost and availability of food, which affect their ability to access healthier options. Pragmatic decisions based on convenience, affordability, and accessibility often lead to compromises in dietary quality, especially when individuals face financial or logistical constraints. Conversely, participants with greater financial security reported prioritising healthier food choices, highlighting how material circumstances can either facilitate or hinder the opportunity to maintain an optimal diet. 3.1.7. Fulfilling Psychological Needs: The Athlete’s Desire to Be Accepted Participants shared that their dietary choices are often shaped by body image goals. “If I had a holiday coming up, I would be thinking, I’d like to feel a bit leaner for my holiday. So like on the days I'm not training, I would be more conscious of maybe trying not to eat as much carbohydrate then just probably body composition would be more focused at that time.” P13, Female, Sub-Elite. Discussions with participants highlighted a complex interplay between societal expectations of body image and the dietary behaviours that support athletic performance. Participants described a tension between making dietary choices for aesthetic purposes and those for optimising sporting performance. Despite the challenges, many participants emphasised the value that they place on maintaining autonomy and control in their dietary choices. “You just don’t want the feeling of not making your own food, at least you know what’s going into it and you can dictate what you’re getting, it feels cleaner or something.” P10, Female, Sub-Elite. Many participants expressed a strong preference for managing their own dietary choices, favouring homemade meals they could tailor to their tastes and nutritional needs, even when time-constrained. Those with a greater sense of self-accountability also reported making more proactive and health-conscious dietary decisions. “I think it keeps you kind of focused…because it's ultimately up to you to kind of plan, prepare your food, and then ultimately…cook it and eat it…I think that piece is positive, you're not depending or relying on…somebody else. So you've got, I guess, a bit more control over what you're putting into your body and the makeup of your various meals.” P16, Male, Sub-Elite. This theme relates to both reflective and automatic motivation within the COM-B model (Fig. 1 ). Participants’ dietary choices are consciously shaped by body image goals and performance optimisation, reflecting deliberate decision-making. The tension between aesthetic aims and athletic performance highlights the role of reflective motivation, where individuals actively adjust their diets to achieve specific outcomes. However, aspects of automatic motivation are also evident, as habitual responses to societal pressures and internalised body image ideals influence dietary behaviours, such as reducing carbohydrate intake before a holiday. Additionally, participants emphasised the importance of autonomy and self-accountability in meal preparation, which reinforces both their conscious efforts and ingrained behaviours in maintaining control over their dietary choices. 3.2. Integration of Quantitative and Qualitative Findings Integration of the quantitative and qualitative data provided a comprehensive view of participants’ dietary behaviours. Key areas of convergence were observed across nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills confidence, and dietary intake. For example, participants with lower food skills confidence scores commonly described minimal involvement in meal preparation, while those with gaps in sports-specific knowledge expressed similar uncertainty during interviews. Discrepancies in carbohydrate and protein intake were also reflected in qualitative accounts of time constraints, fluctuating motivation, and competing social influences. These integrated findings informed the application of the COM-B model explored in the discussion. 4. Discussion This mixed methods study explored the behavioural determinants of dietary intake among Gaelic football players, using the COM-B model to guide interpretation. By integrating quantitative measures of nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills confidence, and dietary intake with in-depth interviews, the study provided a richer understanding of how individual capability, environmental and social opportunity, and motivation interact to shape dietary practices in this population. Key findings revealed that dietary choices were primarily driven by performance goals, with participants valuing practical nutrition knowledge and expressing a clear need for meal planning skills to support their intake. Challenges related to conflicting advice, inconsistent access to nutrition support, and limited autonomy in food-related decisions were also highlighted. Many participants emphasised that greater control over dietary choices enhanced their sense of self-agency, while some described the influence of body image and social acceptance on their eating behaviours. Participants’ average nutrition knowledge score (54.7 ± 10.5%) was classified as ‘average’ and exceeded previously reported values for male (44.3 ± 12.7%) [ 22 ] and female (46.0 ± 12.0%) [ 21 ] Gaelic football players. This may be partially explained by the higher proportion of elite-level players in the present study, a pattern also observed among female athletes in earlier work [ 21 ]. Despite this, several participants described uncertainty around sports-specific nutrition guidelines and expressed reliance on informal sources such as peers or social media. Others emphasised the importance of implementing what they already knew, rather than acquiring additional theoretical knowledge. Overall, athletes demonstrated a preference for practical, actionable information that could be integrated into their existing routines, which has been associated with more effective translation of nutrition knowledge into sport-specific dietary behaviours [ 40 ]. These findings suggest that while foundational nutrition knowledge may be present, confidence in applying that knowledge consistently is variable. Addressing this implementation gap is essential to ensure that educational strategies translate into effective behaviour change. Cooking and food skills emerged as key components of participants’ physical capability and environmental opportunity to support healthy eating. Quantitative scores for cooking (62.3 ± 18.9) and food skills confidence (84.2 ± 22.6) were comparable to those previously reported among Irish team sport athletes [ 26 ], but lower than those observed in broader demographic groups [ 27 , 28 ]. Female participants reported higher confidence scores than males, a pattern consistent with general population trends [ 27 ]. This was reflected qualitatively, with many male participants receiving support from female family members for meal preparation, revealing a persistent gendered division of cooking responsibilities, similar to broader societal patterns in Ireland [ 63 ]. Participants generally expressed a pragmatic approach to cooking, often viewing their skills as adequate for meeting basic dietary needs, although the definition of "basic" varied between individuals. Rather than aiming for culinary expertise, athletes prioritised planning, routine, and the ability to tailor meals to personal preferences, goals, and available resources, a behaviour consistent with findings in both athletic and general populations across the Island of Ireland [ 44 ]. Environmental factors such as food cost, access to kitchen facilities, and shared living spaces also influenced participants’ reliance on convenience foods or family-prepared meals, mirroring patterns reported in Irish and U.S. populations [ 44 , 64 ]. Previous research has highlighted the importance of food-related competencies such as shopping, budgeting, and preparation for supporting optimal dietary intake in athletes [ 40 , 65 ]. Despite this, research specifically focused on culinary nutrition in athletic populations remains limited, underscoring the need for further investigation into how practical food skills influence performance and health outcomes [ 66 ]. Given the gendered disparities observed and the moderate confidence levels reported, there is a clear need for interventions that strengthen culinary competencies, particularly among male Gaelic footballers. Programmes that combine practical, face-to-face education with cooking demonstrations, food tasting, and guided practice may enhance both skill acquisition and intrinsic motivation [ 67 ]. However, current initiatives tend to rely heavily on online delivery or offer limited hands-on food preparation activities, suggesting an opportunity to better align programme content with athletes’ behavioural needs and preferences [ 67 , 68 ]. Dietary intake data in this study were broadly aligned with previous research on Gaelic footballers [ 12 – 14 ]. Mean carbohydrate (3.8 ± 0.9 g/kg/day), protein (1.9 ± 0.5 g/kg/day), and fat (31.7 ± 4.8% of total energy intake) intakes mirrored prior findings, though notable individual-level discrepancies were observed. Only three of seventeen participants met the recommended carbohydrate intake of ≥ 5.0 g/kg/day, all of whom were male elite-level players. In contrast, all participants met the minimum protein recommendation of 1.2 g/kg/day, with five exceeding the upper limit of 2.0 g/kg/day [ 9 ]. This may reflect a prioritisation of protein, which was also evident in participants’ narratives. Fat intake exceeded the recommended 20–35% range [ 9 ] in six participants, many of whom described time constraints or low food skills confidence. These findings point to inconsistencies between dietary goals and intake, often shaped by fluctuating motivation, limited planning, and environmental constraints—all of which align with the COM-B model domains. These intake patterns must also be understood within the broader context of performance-driven motivation, which strongly influenced participants’ dietary behaviours. Although athletes frequently described tailoring their intake to align with training or match demands, the majority did not meet key dietary recommendations—particularly for carbohydrate intake. This disconnect suggests that performance motivation alone may not be sufficient to drive optimal dietary behaviours, especially when capability or opportunity is lacking. Similar patterns have been observed among New Zealand elite male rugby players, where awareness of the benefits of healthy eating shaped food choices leading up to competition [ 69 ]. While this type of goal-oriented motivation can support dietary adherence, excessive focus on performance has been linked to risks such as disordered eating behaviours [ 70 ]. As with UK Olympic, Paralympic, and professional athletes [ 51 ], motivation among Gaelic footballers to maintain optimal dietary intake often declined during off-season periods or injury, highlighting a reliance on short-term goals. Participants also identified time constraints as a consistent barrier to dietary planning and adherence. Similar patterns have been documented among New Zealand rugby players, with 57% (n = 17) reporting time management and meal preparation as principal barriers to healthy eating [ 43 ]. These findings point to a need for support strategies that help athletes sustain healthy dietary behaviours beyond the immediate performance context, while managing competing demands—an issue also raised in studies of collegiate and student athletes [ 71 , 72 ]. Beyond individual motivation and planning constraints, the social and informational environment also shaped dietary behaviours in complex ways. The interplay of family, peer, and digital influences often presented conflicting messages, creating confusion and uncertainty in food-related decision-making. Similar dilemmas have been documented in the literature; for instance, a study of New Zealand rugby union players found that 55% (n = 11) identified peers as facilitators of healthy eating when they themselves practiced and supported healthy habits. Conversely, 75% (n = 15) perceived peers as impediments when their own dietary choices were unhealthy, presenting a source of temptation [ 69 ]. The credibility of nutrition information disseminated via social media was raised as a concern by several participants, with many expressing confusion over conflicting advice. This reflects broader issues reported in the literature; for instance, an analysis of UK social media influencers' weight-management blogs identified significant concerns with the quality and integrity of information provided [ 73 ], highlighting the potential risks for athletes who rely on these platforms for dietary guidance. Athletes also expressed mixed feelings about the effectiveness and accessibility of nutritional support, with many characterising it as merely a formality, or 'tick-box exercise,' rather than a substantive resource. This perception points to an overarching need for more consistent and tailored nutrition support. Research underscores the significance of a strong athlete-nutritionist relationship as a catalyst for dietary adherence [ 51 ]. Similarly, over 88% of 135 Australian athletes have emphasised the value of personal rapport with their coaches, equating it in importance to technical expertise [ 74 ], a sentiment that likely extends to other support staff, including nutritionists. Nonetheless, the definition of a 'good working relationship' likely varies by individual, suggesting that personalised approaches are essential to fulfil each athlete's unique needs and preferences. Beyond practical guidance, the quality of nutrition support may also influence how athletes manage broader psychological and social tensions. Participants reported a conflict between choosing diets for aesthetic reasons and for enhancing sports performance, illustrating a challenge in reconciling personal and societal standards of appearance with athletic demands, as has been noted in previous research [ 51 ]. This conflict suggests a need for social acceptance and relatedness. Additionally, coaching staff may inadvertently reinforce misconceptions about food and body weight [ 36 ]. Such misinformation, combined with athletes' own body image concerns, could hinder adherence to nutritionally adequate diets. Therefore, future interventions could benefit from providing education that enhances support staff's awareness and sensitivity regarding these issues. Autonomy was also a recurring theme: players in this study viewed control over their dietary choices as empowering and central to their sense of agency. Yet, in structured settings such as training camps, autonomy was often limited. This aligns with findings from UK Olympic, Paralympic, and professional athletes who reported restricted control over food environments at team venues [ 51 ]. Reduced autonomy may impair self-regulation and engagement with nutritional strategies, both of which have been previously identified as barriers to adherence [ 36 ]. Creating space for skill-building and decision-making may therefore enhance both competence and motivation. For example, experiential interventions used in high school soccer players, combining face-to-face sports nutrition lessons, hands-on learning, and team-building, have been shown to significantly improve knowledge and performance-focused dietary motivation during camp settings [ 75 ], suggesting a promising model for broader application. The findings of this study should be interpreted in light of several limitations. The purposive sampling approach and small sample size may introduce participation bias and limit generalisability, particularly for the quantitative data. While 17 of 20 participants completed the prospective food records, these self-reported tools are prone to under- and over-reporting [ 76 , 77 ], and no gold-standard method for estimating energy intake in free-living athletes currently exists [ 78 ]. Although the study adopted a mixed methods approach, the primary aim of the quantitative data was to complement and contextualise the qualitative findings, rather than to generate population-level inferences. Additionally, while the COM-B model was used to structure and interpret behavioural determinants, further theoretical insights could be gained by mapping findings to frameworks such as the Behaviour Change Wheel [ 37 ] and the Theoretical Domains Framework [ 79 ]. These models have been successfully applied in related research [ 51 , 52 , 80 ], and future studies should consider their integration to support intervention development, implementation, and evaluation. Based on the findings of this study, several practical recommendations can be made to promote positive dietary behaviour change among Gaelic football players using the COM-B model that could be transferable to a number of other sports. This model emphasises that effective behaviour change requires psychological and physical capability, appropriate opportunities, and sufficient motivation [ 37 ]. These recommendations are summarised in Table 2, outlining key strategies aligned with the COM-B components to facilitate sustainable dietary improvements. Table 2 Practical Recommendations for Dietary Behaviour Change in Gaelic Football Players Based on the COM-B Model COM-B Component Recommendation Reflective Motivation Explore additional motivators beyond performance, particularly outside competition periods, to enhance athletes' engagement in positive dietary behaviours. Physical & Social Opportunity Ensure athletes have the time, resources, and support to integrate positive dietary behaviours into their routines, making healthy choices more accessible. Use training camps as structured environments for teaching cooking and nutritional management skills, improving players’ self-efficacy and ability to make positive dietary changes. Social Opportunity Promote positive peer support while providing guidance on managing negative social media exposure to encourage healthier dietary behaviours. Improve support staff’s knowledge on sensitive topics, such as weight management and distinguishing bodyweight for performance versus aesthetics, to create a more supportive environment for athletes. Psychological Capability Deliver tailored nutrition education that is practical and applicable to athletes' daily lives to support better dietary habits. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of a holistic, context-sensitive approach to promoting dietary behaviour change among Gaelic football players, guided by the COM-B model. Effective behaviour change requires not only strengthening physical and psychological capabilities but also fostering supportive environments and addressing key motivational drivers. Expanding motivators beyond performance, implementing structural changes that accommodate athletes' lifestyles, strengthening social networks, enhancing support staff knowledge, and incorporating practical education within settings such as training camps are key strategies to influence dietary behaviours. While these recommendations are particularly relevant for Gaelic football players, they may also inform the development of nutrition interventions for other amateur and high-level recreational athletes, such as endurance runners and multisport competitors, who face similar challenges in balancing training, competition, and occupational commitments. Given the broader relevance of this approach, future research should explore its implementation and effectiveness across diverse athletic populations. Declarations Ethics Approval: The study adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was granted by the Technological University of the Shannon Research Ethics Committee, Ireland (Approval Number: 20230403). Consent to Participate: Written and verbal informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Funding: The principal investigator was supported by a Presidential Scholarship from Technological University of the Shannon, which covered tuition fees and provided a monthly stipend. No additional external funding was received for this research. Competing Interests: All authors declare no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank all participants for their time, participation, and engagement in the study. 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Int J Epidemiol. 1997;26 Suppl 1:S137-151. Edington J, Thorogood M, Geekie M, Ball M, Mann J. Assessment of nutritional intake using dietary records with estimated weights. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 1989;2:407–14. Lentjes MAH, McTaggart A, Mulligan AA, Powell NA, Parry-Smith D, Luben RN, et al. Dietary intake measurement using 7 d diet diaries in British men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk study: a focus on methodological issues. Br J Nutr. 2014;111:516–26. Goldberg GR, Black AE, Jebb SA, Cole TJ, Murgatroyd PR, Coward WA, et al. Critical evaluation of energy intake data using fundamental principles of energy physiology: 1. Derivation of cut-off limits to identify under-recording. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1991;45:569–81. Black AE. Critical evaluation of energy intake using the Goldberg cut-off for energy intake:basal metabolic rate. A practical guide to its calculation, use and limitations. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2000;24:1119–30. Harris JA, Benedict FG. A Biometric Study of Human Basal Metabolism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1918;4:370–3. Burke L, Deakin V. Clinical Sports Nutrition. Sydney, Australia: McGraw-Hill; 1994. Wolfson JA, Willits-Smith AM, Leung CW, Heller MC, Rose D. Cooking at Home, Fast Food, Meat Consumption, and Dietary Carbon Footprint among US Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19:853. Wolfson JA, Bleich SN, Smith KC, Frattaroli S. What does cooking mean to you?: Perceptions of cooking and factors related to cooking behavior. Appetite. 2016;97:146–54. Burke L. Practical issues in nutrition for athletes. Journal of Sports Sciences. 1995;13:S83–90. Camp R, Witard OC, Renard M, Catháin CÓ, Lavelle F. Do Athletes Cook? A Systematic Scoping Review of Culinary Nutrition in Athletes. Nutrition Bulletin [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 May 12]; Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/ 10.1111/nbu.70012 Enatsu N, Seino J, Tsuji T, Ogata M. Effectiveness of Sports Nutrition Education Based on Self-Determination Theory for Male University Rowing Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2024;16:799. Ellis J, Brown K, Ramsay S, Falk J. Changes in Student-Athletes’ Self-Efficacy for Making Healthful Food Choices and Food Preparation Following a Cooking Education Intervention. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2018;50:1056–8. Stokes EG, Hughes R, Shaw DM, O’Connor HT, Beck KL. Perceptions and Determinants of Eating for Health and Performance in High-Level Male Adolescent Rugby Union Players. Sports. 2018;6:49. Thompson RA, Trattner Sherman R. Athletes, Athletic Performance, and Eating Disorders: Healthier Alternatives. Journal of Social Issues. 1999;55:317–37. Davison KM, Gondara L, Kaplan BJ. Food Insecurity, Poor Diet Quality, and Suboptimal Intakes of Folate and Iron Are Independently Associated with Perceived Mental Health in Canadian Adults. Nutrients. 2017;9:274. Lopes Dos Santos M, Uftring M, Stahl CA, Lockie RG, Alvar B, Mann JB, et al. Stress in Academic and Athletic Performance in Collegiate Athletes: A Narrative Review of Sources and Monitoring Strategies. Front Sports Act Living [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 May 4];2. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/ 10.3389/fspor.2020.00042 Sabbagh C, Boyland E, Hankey C, Parrett A. Analysing Credibility of UK Social Media Influencers’ Weight-Management Blogs: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17:9022. Burns L, Weissensteiner JR, Cohen M, Bird SR. A survey of elite and pre-elite athletes’ perceptions of key support, lifestyle and performance factors. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2022;14:2. Patton-Lopez MM, Manore MM, Branscum A, Meng Y, Wong SS. Changes in Sport Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes/Beliefs and Behaviors Following a Two-Year Sport Nutrition Education and Life-Skills Intervention among High School Soccer Players. Nutrients. 2018;10:1636. Burke L, Cox GR, Culmmings NK, Desbrow B. Guidelines for daily carbohydrate intake: do athletes achieve them? Sports Med. 2001;31:267–99. Capling L, Beck KL, Gifford JA, Slater G, Flood VM, O’Connor H. Validity of Dietary Assessment in Athletes: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2017;9:1313. Burke L, Lundy B, Fahrenholtz IL, Melin AK. Pitfalls of Conducting and Interpreting Estimates of Energy Availability in Free-Living Athletes. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2018;28:350–63. Cane J, O’Connor D, Michie S. Validation of the theoretical domains framework for use in behaviour change and implementation research. Implementation Science. 2012;7:37. Gibson R, D’Annibale M, Oliver N, McGowan B, Forbes G, Crayton E, et al. Exploration of the individual, social and environmental factors influencing dietary behaviour in shift workers with type 2 diabetes working in UK healthcare—The Shift-Diabetes Study: A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework. Diabetic Medicine. 2024;41:e15179. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files DietaryBehaviorsinGaelicFootballSupplementaryMaterial.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 27 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 26 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 17 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Jun, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 12 Jun, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 19 May, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 19 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 18 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6693988","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":470350236,"identity":"3ec5329c-6819-4424-bfe7-187ce82d311c","order_by":0,"name":"Michèle Renard","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA/0lEQVRIie3Rv2vCQBTA8RcC53LgesFS/4UXDk5Cg/1jAnZx6CQZI0JcIl3756S8oUuIa8XFyamD0CVSQS+iYodrHB3uOyUcH979ALDZ7jAkYACv518WIrROKyYSHMllmQ0Q3AbynP8l1EzUp7tebTCE3nT28ROP5rI9AWdTAUkjIdbz33EAD0UZeUW5VILA9TIgZSacdbi+BCGG6I3TZYh6Yx0ACk0Ea7LDPYjut9yO07Im7m8jAcz1FK70lFxpwuopxo0hMeVlGHHBhypIykgKctIgwxfj8XFOa1HF/UfRKuQiGfX9t+mEvqr4yU9M5hS/+naSf17FZrPZbLd0AFI6SZYF48ixAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Michèle","middleName":"","lastName":"Renard","suffix":""},{"id":470350237,"identity":"a495c365-ae73-45f0-834e-7fd26587e113","order_by":1,"name":"Fiona Lavelle","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Kings College London","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Fiona","middleName":"","lastName":"Lavelle","suffix":""},{"id":470350238,"identity":"f11b37d1-a980-4253-b228-87224b766782","order_by":2,"name":"David T. Kelly","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"David","middleName":"T.","lastName":"Kelly","suffix":""},{"id":470350239,"identity":"e1737ba9-8b54-4eb6-a851-cb011aa02336","order_by":3,"name":"Niamh Ní Chéilleachair","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Niamh","middleName":"Ní","lastName":"Chéilleachair","suffix":""},{"id":470350240,"identity":"a24dad49-ff8a-4890-81b7-d0acf9e4b712","order_by":4,"name":"Ciarán Ó Catháin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ciarán","middleName":"Ó","lastName":"Catháin","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-19 00:53:03","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6693988/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6693988/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":84686381,"identity":"c1d59d2b-8941-466b-a253-268b657a1f27","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-16 08:55:38","extension":"jpeg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":235404,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMapping of Key Themes onto the COM-B Model of Behaviour Change\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.jpeg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6693988/v1/83894b69947a4687d81e5792.jpeg"},{"id":84687569,"identity":"689644cf-cc69-464f-bc64-48d91603c46d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-16 09:11:39","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1886570,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6693988/v1/359a2f33-4378-4ceb-9510-7d1726c838d4.pdf"},{"id":84686384,"identity":"c592f960-33aa-4e35-b4af-0ec6928eb5a3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-16 08:55:38","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":104801,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"DietaryBehaviorsinGaelicFootballSupplementaryMaterial.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6693988/v1/00e5eefa29bd7b9d838471ef.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Dietary Behaviors in Gaelic Football: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Physical, Psychological, and Environmental Influences","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eGaelic football, an indigenous sport of Ireland, stands as one of the most popular among the Gaelic games\u0026mdash;a collective term encompassing sports such as hurling, camogie, court handball, road bowls, and various individual athletic events [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. This high-intensity, intermittent, invasion-based field game is played by two teams of fifteen on a pitch measuring between 130 to 145 meters in length and 80 to 90 meters in width. The gameplay features frequent bouts of high-speed running, tackling, and jumping, interspersed with brief recovery intervals, and combines elements of soccer, rugby, and basketball in terms of ball-handling, physical contact, and continuous movement [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. For male club level players (sub-elite) and female club and inter-county level players (sub-elite and elite) each half of the game is 30 minutes in duration, whilst male inter-county players (elite) contest 35 minute halves [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. Despite the sport maintaining amateur status since its inception, Gaelic football players engage in rigorous and systematic training akin to other professional team sports [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Furthermore, they exhibit VO2 max values ranging from 48.7 to 65.8 (ml.kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e.min\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e), comparable to those observed in professional soccer players [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR7\" citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOptimal energy intake and macronutrient balance are crucial for athletes' preparation, recovery, and immunity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. Despite this, team sport athletes frequently fail to meet the energy requirements necessary for their demanding training and competition schedules [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. Specifically, Gaelic footballers exhibit an average daily energy deficit of 12.3% and low carbohydrate intake of 3.4-3.7g/kg, across pre-season and game periods, potentially partly due to high fat (31-37.5%) and protein (1.9-2.1g/kg) consumption\u0026mdash;values at the upper limits of recommendations [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR13\" citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Elevated fat intake can compromise the availability of energy from carbohydrates, as fats constitute a higher proportion of the energy source [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Excessive protein intake, particularly among Gaelic football players, may displace carbohydrate-rich foods and suppress appetite due to its satiating effect, potentially compromising performance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Such nutritional inadequacies can compromise adaptation and recovery from exercise [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e] and lead to low energy availability (LEA), which has been associated with negative effects on menstrual, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal health [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConsistent observations of sub-optimal dietary intake among Gaelic footballers has prompted calls for education interventions to facilitate positive dietary behaviour change [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. While research has identified limited nutrition knowledge as a potential intervention target [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e], evidence suggests knowledge alone weakly correlates with actual dietary intake [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR24\" citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e]. This indicates that interventions need to go beyond simply imparting nutrition knowledge. A recent study, highlighted that team sport athletes, including Gaelic footballers, lack confidence in cooking and food preparation skills [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e], compared to other demographic groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e], suggesting a need for combined nutrition and culinary training to foster lasting improvements in dietary behaviour. However, it's important to recognise that the determinants of dietary behaviours are multifactorial; wider socio-demographic and psychological elements also play significant roles [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e]. Factors such as taste preferences, cost, time constraints, body weight goals, perceived effects on performance, and the influence of coaches and peers may also need to be considered [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR31 CR32 CR33\" citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e]. Such determinants remain underexplored in Gaelic football players, a group that parallels professional athletes in their training rigor [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e], despite balancing full-time employment and personal responsibilities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e]. These unique demands introduce specific challenges that must be navigated by practitioners and researchers engaged with this athletic cohort [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSports nutrition practitioners increasingly recognise the importance of comprehensive support strategies that account for the complex factors shaping athletes\u0026rsquo; dietary behaviours [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e]. The COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour) offers a valuable framework for identifying these influences and informing intervention design [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e]. It highlights the need for psychological and physical capability, adequate social and environmental opportunity, and sufficient motivation to sustain behaviour change. Its attention to social and physical contexts makes it particularly relevant for athletes navigating multiple commitments [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e]. In Gaelic football, where amateur athletes manage demanding training alongside work or study, the COM-B model can help guide tailored nutrition interventions. This approach may also apply to other high-demand sports, such as endurance or multisport disciplines, where athletes face similar challenges in meeting dietary recommendations while balancing competing priorities [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite this, limited research has explored the behavioural determinants of dietary intake in Gaelic football, reflecting a broader gap in understanding how athletes with dual roles manage their nutrition. Greater insight into these factors is essential to inform effective, context-sensitive strategies [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e]. Addressing this gap could support the design of interventions that enhance adherence to dietary guidelines, not only within Gaelic football but also across comparable athletic populations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e]. Therefore, this study used a mixed methods design to explore the behavioural determinants of dietary intake among Gaelic football players, guided by the COM-B model. Qualitative interviews were integrated with quantitative assessments of nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills confidence, and dietary intake to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping dietary behaviours in this population.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1. Methodological and Philosophical Underpinning:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this study, pragmatism guides the scientific inquiry, prioritising knowledge acquisition for practical application. This philosophical stance supports the convergent parallel mixed methods design, integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches to address the research aims [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e]. An interpretivist approach is employed to explore the factors affecting dietary intake among Gaelic football players via semi-structured interviews, while a post-positivist perspective guides the quantitative assessment of nutrition knowledge, food-related skills, and dietary intake to contextualise the qualitative insights. By integrating these data sources, this approach provides a more comprehensive understanding than either method alone [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e41\u003c/span\u003e], forming a strong foundation for the development of effective behaviour change interventions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2. Researcher Positioning:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe lead researcher (MR) brought a multifaceted perspective shaped by his PhD research on dietary intake determinants in Irish team sport athletes. His expertise as a registered public health and sports nutritionist, with experience in private healthcare and sports settings, influenced the co-creation of knowledge with participants. While his interpretations were informed by these experiences, the absence of prior professional relationships with participants helped mitigate potential bias.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3. Participants:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIrish Gaelic football players were purposively recruited to ensure the sample reflected the study's specific requirements. An a priori estimate of the sample size required to adequately address the study\u0026rsquo;s objectives, was informed by previous research [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR43\" citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e42\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e] and the assessment of information power, based on the study\u0026rsquo;s proposed methodology [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e]. A sample of 20 participants was predicted to yield sufficient information power. This predication was based on the following: the anticipated high specificity of the sample; the use of a semi-structured interview guide, which was informed by theory [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e]; and the experience and confidence of the interviewer (MR), which was expected to facilitate a higher quality of dialogue. Furthermore, the planned analytical approach to interpret the findings, also facilitates both rigour and reflexivity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants were recruited via email through the research team\u0026rsquo;s networks and through social media advertisements on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram. Eligible individuals were aged 18 or older, resided in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland, and engaged in Gaelic football training at least twice weekly. The purposive sampling strategy aimed for equal representation by sex (male and female) and performance level (sub-elite and elite), as well as a broad geographical spread across regions and clubs in both jurisdictions, prioritising diversity in representation across local regions. Data were collected between May and November 2023. The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki, with written and verbal informed consent obtained. Ethical approval was granted by the Technological University of the Shannon Research Ethics Committee, Ireland (Approval Number: 20230403).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4. Procedure:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e The study employed a cross-sectional observational design, which required participants to complete three distinct components: firstly, an online questionnaire to gather sociodemographic data, assess nutrition knowledge, and evaluate cooking and food skills; secondly, an individual semi-structured interview positioned to gain greater understanding of the factors influencing their dietary intake; and thirdly, a self-reported 5-day food record to provide an estimate of their dietary intake.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4.1. Questionnaire:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe questionnaire hosted online (SurveyMonkey Inc., San Mateo, USA), collected participants' characteristics, including gender, age, height, weight, training history, and competitive level. To ensure accurate analysis using validated scales, the survey required respondents to complete all questions before submission, preventing partial responses. On average, participants took 18 minutes and 38 seconds to complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire featured a validated measure for assessing nutrition knowledge [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e], with nutrition knowledge scores subsequently categorised using the following scoring system: 'poor' (0\u0026ndash;49%), 'average' (50\u0026ndash;65%), 'good' (66\u0026ndash;75%), and 'excellent' (76\u0026ndash;100%) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e]. It also evaluated confidence in cooking and food skills, with scores obtained by summing ratings from 1 to 7 for all the skills presented. The maximum achievable score for cooking skills was 98, while for food skills it was 133. Higher scores in each category indicate a greater number of skills used and/or a higher level of confidence [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e50\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4.2. Interview:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAfter completing the online questionnaire, each participant was scheduled for an online individual interview at a mutually convenient time. All interviews were conducted via Zoom v5.14.7 (Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). A semi-structured guide, developed through prior research [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e], team consultation, and alignment with COM-B model categories [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e], was piloted with three eligible participants. Based on their feedback, refinements were made to improve clarity and add prompts for more detailed responses. The finalised interview guide (see Supplementary Material) was used consistently to support engagement and minimise researcher bias.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll interviews were conducted by the lead researcher (MR), a male final-year PhD student trained in qualitative methods, analysis, and motivational interviewing. He also managed recruitment and participant queries. At the start of each session, he introduced himself, explained the study purpose, and clarified that participants could skip questions or request clarification. Sociodemographic data were reviewed, and consent to record was re-confirmed. The recorded portion of interviews averaged 32\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;15 minutes. At the end, participants were invited to share additional comments, redact any statements, and were thanked for their time. Reporting adhered to the COREQ checklist (see Supplementary Material) for interviews and focus groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4.3. Dietary Assessment:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAfter the recorded interview, participants were briefed on completing a 5-day estimated food record and were emailed a digital, editable version with written instructions. As a prospective dietary assessment, participants were asked to log all food and fluid intake at the time of consumption to minimise recall bias [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e]. The food record was adapted from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) diaries and included four daily pages covering over seven meal periods, a checklist for commonly forgotten foods, and space for recipes. It also featured a food habits questionnaire, portion size guidance, and food photographs to assist with estimation [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR56 CR57\" citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e58\u003c/span\u003e]. Reminder emails were sent as needed to support compliance. Completed records were reviewed by the lead researcher for accuracy and completeness, with follow-up queries where required.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eData were analysed using Nutritics Dietary Analysis Software v5.88 (Nutritics Ltd, Dublin, Ireland). The energy intake to basal metabolic rate ratio (EI:BMR) was calculated to assess dietary intake validity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e59\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e]. Mean energy intake was derived from 5-day food diaries, and BMR was estimated using the Harris\u0026ndash;Benedict equation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR61\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e61\u003c/span\u003e], which is recommended when lean body mass is unknown [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR62\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e62\u003c/span\u003e] and has been used in similar athletic populations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. In the absence of direct physical activity data, a physical activity level (PAL) of 1.66 was applied, based on prior 5-day activity assessments in Gaelic football players [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Energy intake plausibility was evaluated using Black\u0026rsquo;s 95% confidence limits (1.12\u0026ndash;2.46), with values outside this range classified as under- or over-reporting [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.5. Data Analysis:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.5.1. Quantitative:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive statistics were used to summarise participants\u0026rsquo; characteristics, nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills, and dietary intake, characterising the sample. This analysis was conducted using SPSS Statistics v29.0.2 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA), and the results, including individual values, means, and standard deviations are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. Dietary intake data are reported as mean daily intakes of energy (kcal/day), protein (g), carbohydrate (g), and fat (g). Protein and carbohydrate intakes are also expressed in relation to body weight (g/kg/day), while fat intake is presented as a percentage of total daily energy intake (% TDEI). This reporting format conforms to consensus sports nutrition guidelines [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.5.2. Qualitative:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA reflexive thematic analysis was conducted following a six-phase approach [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e]. First, the lead researcher (MR) transcribed interviews verbatim and immersed himself in the data by repeatedly listening to recordings. Second, inductive coding was performed in NVivo 14 (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia). Third, codes were grouped into preliminary themes and supporting extracts collated. In the fourth phase, themes were critically reviewed and refined through discussions with co-researchers (COC, FL, NNC, DK), who critically discussed interpretive assumptions. Fifth, themes were defined and named collaboratively to ensure a reflexive analytic stance. The sixth phase involved constructing an analytical narrative, supported by illustrative quotes that reflect sex- and level-specific variations where relevant.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThemes were then mapped to the six components of the COM-B model, namely physical and psychological capability, social and physical opportunity, and reflective and automatic motivation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e], to structure the findings and guide recommendations for intervention design. Integration with quantitative findings provided a more comprehensive understanding of dietary behaviours, allowing the triangulation of intake patterns with contextual and behavioural insights from participant narratives.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eOf the 66 participants who accessed the online questionnaire and provided consent, 23 (34.8%) submitted complete responses, as the survey required all questions to be answered before submission. The final interview cohort comprised 20 of these respondents, with 3 excluded due to non-response to follow-up. Thematic analysis was conducted with this final sample of Irish Gaelic football players, which included equal representation by sex (10 male, 10 female) and competitive level (10 sub-elite, 10 elite), and spanned eight club-level and eight county-level teams across Ireland.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants had a mean age of 27.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.5 years and had been playing Gaelic football for an average of 20.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.6 years. Weekly training/competition averaged 8.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.5 hours. Mean body mass and height were 63.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.4 kg and 164\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5 cm for females, and 81.4\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;8.3 kg and 181\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;3 cm for males. The average nutrition knowledge score was 54.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.5%, with 6 participants classified as having \u0026lsquo;poor\u0026rsquo; knowledge, 12 as \u0026lsquo;average\u0026rsquo;, and 2 as \u0026lsquo;good\u0026rsquo;. Mean cooking skills confidence was 62.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;18.9, and food skills confidence was 84.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;22.6. Among the 17 participants who completed the dietary assessment, average daily energy intake was 2482\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;788 kcal, with mean intakes of 3.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9 g/kg/day for carbohydrate, 1.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5 g/kg/day for protein, and 31.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.8% of energy from fat. Based on Goldberg cut-offs, 2 participants were identified as under-reporters; the remaining 15 were classified as acceptable reporters. A summary of participant characteristics, nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills, and dietary intake is provided in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipant characteristics, nutrition knowledge, cooking \u0026amp; food skills, and dietary intake.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"22\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c15\" colnum=\"15\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c16\" colnum=\"16\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c17\" colnum=\"17\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c18\" colnum=\"18\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c19\" colnum=\"19\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c20\" colnum=\"20\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c21\" colnum=\"21\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c22\" colnum=\"22\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDemographic Characteristics\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNutrition Knowledge, Cooking \u0026amp; Food Skills\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"7\" nameend=\"c21\" namest=\"c15\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDietary Intake\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipant\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSex\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlaying Level\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlaying (yrs)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTraining (hrs)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge (yrs)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMass\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(kg)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHeight (cm)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNK Score (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNK Rating\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCooking Skills\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(/98)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFood Skills (/133)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEI (kcal\u0026middot;day\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCHO\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(g)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCHO (g\u0026middot;kg\u0026middot;day\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eProtein (g)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePRO (g\u0026middot;kg\u0026middot;day\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFat\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(g)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFat\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(% TDEI)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEI: BMR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4090\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e418\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.2\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e214\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e132\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29.0\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e172\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1554\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e197\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.4\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.2\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.07\u003csup\u003e\u0026sect;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e81.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e181\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2514\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e228\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e157\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.9\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e39.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e171\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1999\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e223\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e119\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.5\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.0\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e161\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e42.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e175\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2526\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e293\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.0\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e97\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34.6\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e160\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e114\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1822\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e235\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e106\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.8\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.2\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e163\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1285\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e130\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.3\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.95\u003csup\u003e\u0026sect;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e184\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3674\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e439\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.0\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e236\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.7\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e155\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e97\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1797\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e188\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e122\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.9\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28.5\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e169\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e106\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e183\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e108\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3036\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e345\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e199\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.4\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e164\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e97\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2360\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.5\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e160\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1871\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e192\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e109\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.8\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2350\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e212\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e121\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.6\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e178\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e104\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e322\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e177\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e112\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.6\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e183\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2571\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e287\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e123\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.4\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e102\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e186\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3642\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e443\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.3\u003csup\u003e*\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e228\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e106\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.2\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69.2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e162\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAverage\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2099\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e256\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e129\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.9\u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27.0\u003csup\u003e\u0026dagger;\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e113\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMean\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e20.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e27.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e72.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e172\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e54.7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAverage\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e62.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e84.2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2482\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e276\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e142\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e86\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e31.7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e10\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e10.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e18.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e22.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e788\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e92\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e51\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e26\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMean\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e22.7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e29\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e81.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e181\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e54.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAverage\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e54.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e79.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3045\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e332\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e175\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e106\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e32.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e20.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e28.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e623\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e87\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e47\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMean\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e25.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e63.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e164\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e55.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAverage\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e70.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e84.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1848\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e214\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e104\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e64\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e31.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e10\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e13.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e21.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e328\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e48\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e19\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e16\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMean\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e17.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8.7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e25.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e72.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e174\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e56.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAverage\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e61.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e76.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2598\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e292\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e151\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e87\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e31.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e14.2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e994\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e115\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.2\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e61\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e30\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMean\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSub-Elite\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e22.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e7.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e28.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e72.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e171\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e53.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAverage\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e63.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e91.7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2351\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e259\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3.6\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e131\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1.8\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e85\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e32.4\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSD\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.1\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12.0\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e23.5\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e28.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c15\" namest=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e501\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e60\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.7\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c18\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e37\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c19\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.3\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c20\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e22\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c21\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4.9\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c22\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e-\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"22\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote\u003c/b\u003e: SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Standard Deviation, Playing (yrs)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Total Years Played, Training (hrs)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Total Hours Training Per Week, NK Score\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Nutrition Knowledge Score, NK Rating\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Nutrition Knowledge Rating (\u0026ldquo;poor\u0026rdquo; (0\u0026ndash;49%), \u0026ldquo;average\u0026rdquo; (50\u0026ndash;65%), \u0026ldquo;good\u0026rdquo; (66\u0026ndash;75%) and \u0026ldquo;excellent\u0026rdquo; knowledge (76\u0026ndash;100%) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e], EI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Energy Intake, BMR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Basal Metabolic Rate, CHO\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Carbohydrate, PRO\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Protein, * = meets carbohydrate recommendations for a moderate exercise programme (1 hour/day) of 5\u0026ndash;7 g/kg/day [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e], ** = meets protein recommendations of 1.2\u0026ndash;2.0 g/kg/day [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e], \u0026dagger; = meets fat recommendations of 20\u0026ndash;35% total daily energy intake [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e], \u0026sect; = Below the lower limit of 1.12 for the 95% confidence interval for energy intake (EI) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e60\u003c/span\u003e] indicating potential under-reporting.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1. Overview of Themes:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThematic analysis of the interview transcripts generated seven key themes, which are detailed below: 1) \u0026lsquo;Athlete\u0026rsquo;s Motivations \u0026ndash; A Double-Edged Sword\u0026rsquo;; 2) Knowledge Is Power \u0026ndash; But Only If You Apply It\u0026rsquo;; 3) \u0026lsquo;Cooking and Food Skills \u0026ndash; Failing to Prepare Is Preparing to Fail\u0026rsquo;; 4) \u0026lsquo;An Athlete\u0026rsquo;s Social Dilemma\u0026rsquo;; 5) \u0026lsquo;Nutrition Support \u0026ndash; More Than a Tick-Box Exercise\u0026rsquo;; 6) \u0026lsquo;We are All Products of Our Environment \u0026ndash; Athletes are No Exception\u0026rsquo;; 7) \u0026lsquo;Fulfilling Psychological Needs: The Athlete's Desire to Be Accepted\u0026rsquo;. Figure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e presents a visual mapping of the key themes onto the COM-B model, illustrating how various aspects of dietary behaviour change align with its components: capability, opportunity, and motivation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1.1. Athlete\u0026rsquo;s Motivations \u0026ndash; A Double-Edged Sword\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e Participants shared that their dietary choices are largely motivated by a desire to optimise their performance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Performing at a high level in my sport would really motivate me. It's probably my main motivator, because all I think about is football and how can I be better. So definitely, that's number one.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP18, Male, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMany highlighted that they construct their dietary choices around performance goals, especially in preparation for competitions or intense training sessions. Yet, they report this focus shifts in the context of reduced performance demands, such as during off-season or injury, resulting in a more relaxed dietary approach for some, while others indicated that they experience detrimental effects on their dietary choices during such periods.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants consistently identified time constraints as a significant challenge to their motivation for adhering to a diet they deemed optimal for their needs. This issue was emphasised in repeated discussions, indicating its significant impact on dietary adherence.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;So biggest thing for me is I obviously struggle with time\u0026hellip;I'm finishing work at 6 and we're training at 7, there's a very small window to get food in, and [I] don't want to be obviously getting a stitch and stuff like that\u0026hellip;and then when you get home at 9 o'clock you don't want to be eating massive dinners\u0026rdquo;.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP19, Female, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdditionally, participants expressed that their dietary motivations are fluid and evolve over the course of their careers.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Moving from [being driven by] kind of an internal motivation of 'this is what I want for me' to [considering] 'this is what I can be for others'... I think that\u0026rsquo;s... yeah, that\u0026rsquo;s been a huge, huge change... an enjoyable one, and I think I kind of like that.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP12, Male, Sub-Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, this theme aligns with reflective motivation in the COM-B model, as athletes consciously tailor their diets to optimise performance, particularly during competitions or intense training. However, this motivation shifts in response to factors like off-seasons or injury, leading to more relaxed dietary choices. Over time, athletes' motivations also evolve from personal performance goals to broader social or professional considerations, reflecting ongoing, deliberate adjustments in their dietary behaviour.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1.2. Knowledge Is Power \u0026ndash; But Only If You Apply It\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e Varying levels of confidence in nutrition knowledge were evident, with some individuals expressing a solid understanding of their overall nutritional needs, while others acknowledged gaps\u0026mdash;particularly regarding specific sports nutrition guidelines.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I\u0026rsquo;m probably not familiar with the actual guidelines, I didn\u0026rsquo;t actually realise there was any.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003cb\u003eP4, Female, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants acknowledged that applying their knowledge consistently was of greater importance to them than simply gaining a more comprehensive understanding.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;So there's lots of stuff\u0026hellip;that I don't know but I think it's the application of that knowledge, I suppose, that\u0026rsquo;s key. For like anything, implementation is what\u0026rsquo;s important, implementation and consistency. So I suppose, the knowledge I do have, I put into practice.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP12, Male, Sub-Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eApplication of nutrition knowledge varied among individuals\u0026mdash;some focused on visual plate balance, while others prioritised specific macronutrients such as carbohydrates and protein. Reported information sources were similarly diverse, ranging from informal peer discussions and online searches to a preference for advice exclusively from qualified nutritionists.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I wouldn't really trust someone else, like say someone from the club team, when they're telling me what you should be doing if they don't have the right like, if he's not in the human nutrition sort of side of the workplace. I wouldn't really trust it.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP15, Male, Sub-Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis theme reflects the psychological capability aspect of the COM-B model (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), as it pertains to athletes' knowledge and cognitive ability to apply nutrition principles in practice. Participants expressed varying levels of confidence in their nutrition knowledge, with some feeling well-informed, while others acknowledged gaps, particularly in sports-specific guidelines. Despite these gaps, many participants emphasised that consistent application of their existing knowledge was more important than gaining comprehensive expertise. This focus on practical implementation, such as prioritising macronutrients or achieving visual balance on the plate, underscores the role of psychological capability in shaping dietary behaviour. Furthermore, the sources of nutritional information varied, with some athletes relying on informal advice, while others trusted only qualified nutrition professionals, reflecting different approaches to enhancing their capability.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1.3. Cooking \u0026amp; Food Skills \u0026ndash; Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe importance of meal planning was widely emphasised, particularly in managing busy schedules. Approaches varied, with some describing meticulous weekly planning that included shopping routines, snack timing, and preparing meals suitable for freezing.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Planning will probably be the most important and preparing yourself especially if you wanted to shop on Sunday or a Monday, planning for your week and having a have a step by step of what you're going to eat, and you know, when you're going to eat it if your training, and how many hours are you going to eat before training, and then what you're going to eat after training, that planning would be important too.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP15, Male, Sub-Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants also highlighted that they felt a lack of preparation and planning could negatively influence their diet.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I would make sure that I have\u0026hellip; the meals planned out throughout the day because what I found is that if I don't, I end up, you know, maybe eating junk\u0026hellip;rather than eating what I probably should be.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP3, Male, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA lack of meal planning was commonly associated with poorer food choices, such as resorting to less healthy, more convenient options. While many athletes reported taking personal responsibility for cooking and meal preparation, others highlighted the role of family support\u0026mdash;often provided by female household members such as mothers or sisters. Confidence in cooking skills also varied; some expressed enjoyment and competence in the kitchen, while others relied on basic, convenient meals.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;If it was out of ten, ten being very confident, I\u0026rsquo;d be maybe a 6 or 7 and I\u0026rsquo;d probably put ten as being like a really high-level chef. Maybe it's, maybe a bit more like a 6, I can get by, I can cook some okay meals, but nothing too fancy, but I can get by well enough.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP9, Male, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis theme primarily relates to physical capability within the COM-B model (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Meal planning and preparation require both the skills and capacity to execute these behaviours consistently, especially in the context of busy lifestyles. Participants\u0026rsquo; ability to plan meals, cook, and organise their dietary intake is an expression of their physical capability to engage in health-promoting behaviour. Additionally, the varying levels of confidence in cooking skills reflect the degree to which physical capability is developed among individuals.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1.4. An Athlete\u0026rsquo;s Social Dilemma\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFamily dynamics was identified as a key influential factor on the majority of participants dietary choices, and for most the influence of family was presented in a positive and favourable way. Participants also revealed that their wider social environments, especially within team settings, influence their dietary choices and for some this fosters a collective commitment to shared dietary goals.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I think the environment that I\u0026rsquo;m involved in with the county [Elite] team is brilliant like. So for the day before a game, everyone\u0026rsquo;s messaging each other, do you want to go for a bit of lunch at a really healthy spot or do you want to come to one of the lad\u0026rsquo;s houses and he will make a bit of food or something like that.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP1, Male, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhile participants valued peer support, they also described difficulties in navigating negative social influences that hinder their dietary goals. Many expressed concerns about the impact of social media, citing misinformation, short-lived trends, and an overwhelming range of conflicting opinions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;It can be overwhelming, especially with the ease of like getting stuff [information] from obviously Tik Tok, Instagram [social media platforms]\u0026hellip;That if you were to follow everything that you\u0026rsquo;re seeing on that as well like they\u0026rsquo;re going to be different opinions and then you can kind of end up in a rock and a hard place wondering are you doing anything right at times and that\u0026rsquo;s something like with the ease of access to all these different kinds of opinions it can get hard.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP19, Female, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e The role of alcohol in deviating from healthy dietary choices was also acknowledged by participants, particularly in celebratory contexts or when socialising with peers that were not teammates and didn\u0026rsquo;t have shared goals.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;The biggest negative influence [on dietary choices] would probably be alcohol\u0026hellip;any sort of big win with the group, our management are big believers in you know, we celebrate together\u0026hellip; I\u0026rsquo;ll see myself having 2 or 3 drinks, and then, you know, you have that craving were, ah I\u0026rsquo;ll get a chippy, or I\u0026rsquo;ll get a pizza.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP20, Male, Sub-Elite\u003c/b\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis theme primarily relates to social opportunity within the COM-B model (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Participants highlighted how their family dynamics, team settings, and wider social environments shape their dietary choices, both positively and negatively. The influence of peers, collective dietary goals, and social norms within athletic teams foster a supportive environment, while negative influences such as social media misinformation and alcohol consumption in social settings present challenges. These social factors create the opportunity for behaviour change, either enabling or hindering adherence to dietary goals based on the social context.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec19\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1.5. Nutrition Support \u0026ndash; More Than a Tick-Box Exercise\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants shared diverse experiences of nutritional support. Some were very grateful for the personalised attention and meal provision that they have received.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Yeah, I think our one\u0026rsquo;s [nutritionist] brilliant now to be fair. I reached out to him... last week... to get things back on track after a few months of downtime, and he was straight away happy to analyse and help. But at the same time, he does let you enjoy your own food... he is not going to hold you back and make you eat everything and anything to enhance performance.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP1, Male, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhilst others expressed dissatisfaction and frustration with the inconsistent nutrition support, they had experienced.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;To be honest, no, I didn\u0026rsquo;t take anything new from the person [nutritionist, albeit credentials questioned by the participant]. Like I don\u0026rsquo;t even actually, to be honest remember them, so that just tells you like, you know, they didn\u0026rsquo;t really have much impact.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP4, Female, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRemaining participants highlighted that they had no experience of formal nutrition support. Among those who had, experiences varied: some reported regular provision of supplements and meals on match and training days, while others had to source these themselves. Several participants felt that one-off group education workshops were insufficient and lacked impact, and some questioned the credibility and experience of those delivering nutrition support.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Obviously, it's a group setting you're not sitting down one to one, talking about a food diary to the nutritionist at the time. It was a lot more, obviously the nutritionist at the time, they were only new into their professional careers aiming to get experience. Some of them were obviously only just out of college or doing work placements and stuff like that.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP6, Male, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis theme primarily relates to social opportunity within the COM-B model (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The participants\u0026rsquo; experiences with nutritional support reflect how their access to external resources\u0026mdash;whether through personalised attention, meal provision, or formal education\u0026mdash;shapes their dietary behaviours. Positive social opportunities, such as personalised guidance from a qualified nutritionist, were appreciated and contributed to improved dietary practices. In contrast, inconsistent or inadequate support, including one-off workshops or inexperienced providers, hindered participants' ability to effectively utilise nutrition advice. The theme highlights the role of professional support and social structures in enabling or limiting behaviour change.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1.6. We Are All Products of Our Environment \u0026ndash; Athletes Are No Exception\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants revealed that their dietary choices are often influenced by the cost and availability of food. They described making pragmatic decisions to obtain more affordable food options, such as purchasing workplace lunches or items from nearby supermarkets. Yet, they also reflected on the trade-offs involved, expressing that they felt having to make such choices could compromise their overall dietary quality.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;My closest shop is an Aldi [discount supermarket], and sometimes I feel like they don't have all the ingredients that you might want. So I might change what I'm going to make, or just like, buy more convenience foods that are there just because Aldi is closer and there is like Super Valu and Dunnes Stores [Supermarket chains], they usually have a wider range of ingredients, but I just wouldn't go to them as much, because they're a bit further away, and I suppose a bit more expensive and stuff as well\u0026rdquo;.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP13, Female, Sub-Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eConversely, participants who described themselves as financially secure, expressed that they prioritised making healthier dietary choices, despite potentially higher costs, sharing that they viewed the additional expense as a worthwhile investment in their health.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I can understand how some people might struggle to be like really healthy if they're in a kind of lower earning job, or if they're student and stuff like that, but I think since I started working, I definitely have gotten healthier again because I have the means to do it and like that, if you go out for a meal, sometimes the healthier options are a bit more expensive as well. So yeah, I'm just lucky that I have the kind of means to do it, which is a really good help.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP19, Female, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCooking at home was widely seen as a cost-effective strategy; however, some participants noted that challenges such as broken appliances or limited kitchen space, often due to shared living arrangements, made this more difficult. Those affected by such barriers reported a greater reliance on convenience foods or eating out. Eating outside the home was generally described as an occasional treat, with most participants prioritising enjoyment over nutritional considerations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Definitely in a restaurant setting, you wouldn\u0026rsquo;t really be thinking, oh, how many calories have I eaten already to how many can I eat now for this kind of meal. It definitely wouldn\u0026rsquo;t even be a thought in our family, you're there to kind of go out and enjoy yourself in that kind of sense\u0026rdquo;.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP6, Male, Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, a select few did share that they would adopt a more strategic approach to dining out and attempt to carefully select options from the menu that best meet their nutritional needs for optimal performance and recovery.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis theme primarily relates to physical opportunity within the COM-B model (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Participants\u0026rsquo; dietary choices are influenced by external factors such as the cost and availability of food, which affect their ability to access healthier options. Pragmatic decisions based on convenience, affordability, and accessibility often lead to compromises in dietary quality, especially when individuals face financial or logistical constraints. Conversely, participants with greater financial security reported prioritising healthier food choices, highlighting how material circumstances can either facilitate or hinder the opportunity to maintain an optimal diet.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1.7. Fulfilling Psychological Needs: The Athlete\u0026rsquo;s Desire to Be Accepted\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants shared that their dietary choices are often shaped by body image goals.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;If I had a holiday coming up, I would be thinking, I\u0026rsquo;d like to feel a bit leaner for my holiday. So like on the days I'm not training, I would be more conscious of maybe trying not to eat as much carbohydrate then just probably body composition would be more focused at that time.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP13, Female, Sub-Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiscussions with participants highlighted a complex interplay between societal expectations of body image and the dietary behaviours that support athletic performance. Participants described a tension between making dietary choices for aesthetic purposes and those for optimising sporting performance. Despite the challenges, many participants emphasised the value that they place on maintaining autonomy and control in their dietary choices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;You just don\u0026rsquo;t want the feeling of not making your own food, at least you know what\u0026rsquo;s going into it and you can dictate what you\u0026rsquo;re getting, it feels cleaner or something.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP10, Female, Sub-Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMany participants expressed a strong preference for managing their own dietary choices, favouring homemade meals they could tailor to their tastes and nutritional needs, even when time-constrained. Those with a greater sense of self-accountability also reported making more proactive and health-conscious dietary decisions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I think it keeps you kind of focused\u0026hellip;because it's ultimately up to you to kind of plan, prepare your food, and then ultimately\u0026hellip;cook it and eat it\u0026hellip;I think that piece is positive, you're not depending or relying on\u0026hellip;somebody else. So you've got, I guess, a bit more control over what you're putting into your body and the makeup of your various meals.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u003cb\u003eP16, Male, Sub-Elite.\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis theme relates to both reflective and automatic motivation within the COM-B model (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Participants\u0026rsquo; dietary choices are consciously shaped by body image goals and performance optimisation, reflecting deliberate decision-making. The tension between aesthetic aims and athletic performance highlights the role of reflective motivation, where individuals actively adjust their diets to achieve specific outcomes. However, aspects of automatic motivation are also evident, as habitual responses to societal pressures and internalised body image ideals influence dietary behaviours, such as reducing carbohydrate intake before a holiday. Additionally, participants emphasised the importance of autonomy and self-accountability in meal preparation, which reinforces both their conscious efforts and ingrained behaviours in maintaining control over their dietary choices.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec22\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2. Integration of Quantitative and Qualitative Findings\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e Integration of the quantitative and qualitative data provided a comprehensive view of participants\u0026rsquo; dietary behaviours. Key areas of convergence were observed across nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills confidence, and dietary intake. For example, participants with lower food skills confidence scores commonly described minimal involvement in meal preparation, while those with gaps in sports-specific knowledge expressed similar uncertainty during interviews. Discrepancies in carbohydrate and protein intake were also reflected in qualitative accounts of time constraints, fluctuating motivation, and competing social influences. These integrated findings informed the application of the COM-B model explored in the discussion.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis mixed methods study explored the behavioural determinants of dietary intake among Gaelic football players, using the COM-B model to guide interpretation. By integrating quantitative measures of nutrition knowledge, cooking and food skills confidence, and dietary intake with in-depth interviews, the study provided a richer understanding of how individual capability, environmental and social opportunity, and motivation interact to shape dietary practices in this population. Key findings revealed that dietary choices were primarily driven by performance goals, with participants valuing practical nutrition knowledge and expressing a clear need for meal planning skills to support their intake. Challenges related to conflicting advice, inconsistent access to nutrition support, and limited autonomy in food-related decisions were also highlighted. Many participants emphasised that greater control over dietary choices enhanced their sense of self-agency, while some described the influence of body image and social acceptance on their eating behaviours.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants\u0026rsquo; average nutrition knowledge score (54.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.5%) was classified as \u0026lsquo;average\u0026rsquo; and exceeded previously reported values for male (44.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.7%) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e] and female (46.0\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;12.0%) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e] Gaelic football players. This may be partially explained by the higher proportion of elite-level players in the present study, a pattern also observed among female athletes in earlier work [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. Despite this, several participants described uncertainty around sports-specific nutrition guidelines and expressed reliance on informal sources such as peers or social media. Others emphasised the importance of implementing what they already knew, rather than acquiring additional theoretical knowledge. Overall, athletes demonstrated a preference for practical, actionable information that could be integrated into their existing routines, which has been associated with more effective translation of nutrition knowledge into sport-specific dietary behaviours [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e]. These findings suggest that while foundational nutrition knowledge may be present, confidence in applying that knowledge consistently is variable. Addressing this implementation gap is essential to ensure that educational strategies translate into effective behaviour change.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCooking and food skills emerged as key components of participants\u0026rsquo; physical capability and environmental opportunity to support healthy eating. Quantitative scores for cooking (62.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;18.9) and food skills confidence (84.2\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;22.6) were comparable to those previously reported among Irish team sport athletes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e], but lower than those observed in broader demographic groups [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. Female participants reported higher confidence scores than males, a pattern consistent with general population trends [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e]. This was reflected qualitatively, with many male participants receiving support from female family members for meal preparation, revealing a persistent gendered division of cooking responsibilities, similar to broader societal patterns in Ireland [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR63\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e63\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Participants generally expressed a pragmatic approach to cooking, often viewing their skills as adequate for meeting basic dietary needs, although the definition of \"basic\" varied between individuals. Rather than aiming for culinary expertise, athletes prioritised planning, routine, and the ability to tailor meals to personal preferences, goals, and available resources, a behaviour consistent with findings in both athletic and general populations across the Island of Ireland [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e]. Environmental factors such as food cost, access to kitchen facilities, and shared living spaces also influenced participants\u0026rsquo; reliance on convenience foods or family-prepared meals, mirroring patterns reported in Irish and U.S. populations [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR64\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e64\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrevious research has highlighted the importance of food-related competencies such as shopping, budgeting, and preparation for supporting optimal dietary intake in athletes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR65\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e65\u003c/span\u003e]. Despite this, research specifically focused on culinary nutrition in athletic populations remains limited, underscoring the need for further investigation into how practical food skills influence performance and health outcomes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR66\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e66\u003c/span\u003e]. Given the gendered disparities observed and the moderate confidence levels reported, there is a clear need for interventions that strengthen culinary competencies, particularly among male Gaelic footballers. Programmes that combine practical, face-to-face education with cooking demonstrations, food tasting, and guided practice may enhance both skill acquisition and intrinsic motivation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e67\u003c/span\u003e]. However, current initiatives tend to rely heavily on online delivery or offer limited hands-on food preparation activities, suggesting an opportunity to better align programme content with athletes\u0026rsquo; behavioural needs and preferences [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e67\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR68\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e68\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDietary intake data in this study were broadly aligned with previous research on Gaelic footballers [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR13\" citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Mean carbohydrate (3.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9 g/kg/day), protein (1.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5 g/kg/day), and fat (31.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.8% of total energy intake) intakes mirrored prior findings, though notable individual-level discrepancies were observed. Only three of seventeen participants met the recommended carbohydrate intake of \u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;5.0 g/kg/day, all of whom were male elite-level players. In contrast, all participants met the minimum protein recommendation of 1.2 g/kg/day, with five exceeding the upper limit of 2.0 g/kg/day [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. This may reflect a prioritisation of protein, which was also evident in participants\u0026rsquo; narratives. Fat intake exceeded the recommended 20\u0026ndash;35% range [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e] in six participants, many of whom described time constraints or low food skills confidence. These findings point to inconsistencies between dietary goals and intake, often shaped by fluctuating motivation, limited planning, and environmental constraints\u0026mdash;all of which align with the COM-B model domains.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese intake patterns must also be understood within the broader context of performance-driven motivation, which strongly influenced participants\u0026rsquo; dietary behaviours. Although athletes frequently described tailoring their intake to align with training or match demands, the majority did not meet key dietary recommendations\u0026mdash;particularly for carbohydrate intake. This disconnect suggests that performance motivation alone may not be sufficient to drive optimal dietary behaviours, especially when capability or opportunity is lacking. Similar patterns have been observed among New Zealand elite male rugby players, where awareness of the benefits of healthy eating shaped food choices leading up to competition [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e69\u003c/span\u003e]. While this type of goal-oriented motivation can support dietary adherence, excessive focus on performance has been linked to risks such as disordered eating behaviours [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR70\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e70\u003c/span\u003e]. As with UK Olympic, Paralympic, and professional athletes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e], motivation among Gaelic footballers to maintain optimal dietary intake often declined during off-season periods or injury, highlighting a reliance on short-term goals. Participants also identified time constraints as a consistent barrier to dietary planning and adherence. Similar patterns have been documented among New Zealand rugby players, with 57% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;17) reporting time management and meal preparation as principal barriers to healthy eating [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e]. These findings point to a need for support strategies that help athletes sustain healthy dietary behaviours beyond the immediate performance context, while managing competing demands\u0026mdash;an issue also raised in studies of collegiate and student athletes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e71\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e72\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeyond individual motivation and planning constraints, the social and informational environment also shaped dietary behaviours in complex ways. The interplay of family, peer, and digital influences often presented conflicting messages, creating confusion and uncertainty in food-related decision-making. Similar dilemmas have been documented in the literature; for instance, a study of New Zealand rugby union players found that 55% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;11) identified peers as facilitators of healthy eating when they themselves practiced and supported healthy habits. Conversely, 75% (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15) perceived peers as impediments when their own dietary choices were unhealthy, presenting a source of temptation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e69\u003c/span\u003e]. The credibility of nutrition information disseminated via social media was raised as a concern by several participants, with many expressing confusion over conflicting advice. This reflects broader issues reported in the literature; for instance, an analysis of UK social media influencers' weight-management blogs identified significant concerns with the quality and integrity of information provided [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR73\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e73\u003c/span\u003e], highlighting the potential risks for athletes who rely on these platforms for dietary guidance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAthletes also expressed mixed feelings about the effectiveness and accessibility of nutritional support, with many characterising it as merely a formality, or 'tick-box exercise,' rather than a substantive resource. This perception points to an overarching need for more consistent and tailored nutrition support. Research underscores the significance of a strong athlete-nutritionist relationship as a catalyst for dietary adherence [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e]. Similarly, over 88% of 135 Australian athletes have emphasised the value of personal rapport with their coaches, equating it in importance to technical expertise [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR74\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e74\u003c/span\u003e], a sentiment that likely extends to other support staff, including nutritionists. Nonetheless, the definition of a 'good working relationship' likely varies by individual, suggesting that personalised approaches are essential to fulfil each athlete's unique needs and preferences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBeyond practical guidance, the quality of nutrition support may also influence how athletes manage broader psychological and social tensions. Participants reported a conflict between choosing diets for aesthetic reasons and for enhancing sports performance, illustrating a challenge in reconciling personal and societal standards of appearance with athletic demands, as has been noted in previous research [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e]. This conflict suggests a need for social acceptance and relatedness. Additionally, coaching staff may inadvertently reinforce misconceptions about food and body weight [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e]. Such misinformation, combined with athletes' own body image concerns, could hinder adherence to nutritionally adequate diets. Therefore, future interventions could benefit from providing education that enhances support staff's awareness and sensitivity regarding these issues.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAutonomy was also a recurring theme: players in this study viewed control over their dietary choices as empowering and central to their sense of agency. Yet, in structured settings such as training camps, autonomy was often limited. This aligns with findings from UK Olympic, Paralympic, and professional athletes who reported restricted control over food environments at team venues [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e]. Reduced autonomy may impair self-regulation and engagement with nutritional strategies, both of which have been previously identified as barriers to adherence [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e]. Creating space for skill-building and decision-making may therefore enhance both competence and motivation. For example, experiential interventions used in high school soccer players, combining face-to-face sports nutrition lessons, hands-on learning, and team-building, have been shown to significantly improve knowledge and performance-focused dietary motivation during camp settings [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR75\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e75\u003c/span\u003e], suggesting a promising model for broader application.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings of this study should be interpreted in light of several limitations. The purposive sampling approach and small sample size may introduce participation bias and limit generalisability, particularly for the quantitative data. While 17 of 20 participants completed the prospective food records, these self-reported tools are prone to under- and over-reporting [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR76\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e76\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR77\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e77\u003c/span\u003e], and no gold-standard method for estimating energy intake in free-living athletes currently exists [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR78\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e78\u003c/span\u003e]. Although the study adopted a mixed methods approach, the primary aim of the quantitative data was to complement and contextualise the qualitative findings, rather than to generate population-level inferences. Additionally, while the COM-B model was used to structure and interpret behavioural determinants, further theoretical insights could be gained by mapping findings to frameworks such as the Behaviour Change Wheel [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e] and the Theoretical Domains Framework [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR79\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e79\u003c/span\u003e]. These models have been successfully applied in related research [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e51\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR80\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e80\u003c/span\u003e], and future studies should consider their integration to support intervention development, implementation, and evaluation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on the findings of this study, several practical recommendations can be made to promote positive dietary behaviour change among Gaelic football players using the COM-B model that could be transferable to a number of other sports. This model emphasises that effective behaviour change requires psychological and physical capability, appropriate opportunities, and sufficient motivation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e]. These recommendations are summarised in Table\u0026nbsp;2, outlining key strategies aligned with the COM-B components to facilitate sustainable dietary improvements.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"No\" id=\"Taba\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"2\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePractical Recommendations for Dietary Behaviour Change in Gaelic Football Players Based on the COM-B Model\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCOM-B Component\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRecommendation\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eReflective Motivation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExplore additional motivators beyond performance, particularly outside competition periods, to enhance athletes' engagement in positive dietary behaviours.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhysical \u0026amp; Social Opportunity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnsure athletes have the time, resources, and support to integrate positive dietary behaviours into their routines, making healthy choices more accessible. \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUse training camps as structured environments for teaching cooking and nutritional management skills, improving players\u0026rsquo; self-efficacy and ability to make positive dietary changes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial Opportunity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePromote positive peer support while providing guidance on managing negative social media exposure to encourage healthier dietary behaviours. \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eImprove support staff\u0026rsquo;s knowledge on sensitive topics, such as weight management and distinguishing bodyweight for performance versus aesthetics, to create a more supportive environment for athletes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePsychological Capability\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDeliver tailored nutrition education that is practical and applicable to athletes' daily lives to support better dietary habits.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn conclusion, this study highlights the importance of a holistic, context-sensitive approach to promoting dietary behaviour change among Gaelic football players, guided by the COM-B model. Effective behaviour change requires not only strengthening physical and psychological capabilities but also fostering supportive environments and addressing key motivational drivers. Expanding motivators beyond performance, implementing structural changes that accommodate athletes' lifestyles, strengthening social networks, enhancing support staff knowledge, and incorporating practical education within settings such as training camps are key strategies to influence dietary behaviours. While these recommendations are particularly relevant for Gaelic football players, they may also inform the development of nutrition interventions for other amateur and high-level recreational athletes, such as endurance runners and multisport competitors, who face similar challenges in balancing training, competition, and occupational commitments. Given the broader relevance of this approach, future research should explore its implementation and effectiveness across diverse athletic populations.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics Approval:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe study adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was granted by the Technological University of the Shannon Research Ethics Committee, Ireland (Approval Number: 20230403).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent to Participate:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten and verbal informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe principal investigator was supported by a Presidential Scholarship from Technological University of the Shannon, which covered tuition fees and provided a monthly stipend. No additional external funding was received for this research.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting Interests:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors declare no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors would like to thank all participants for their time, participation, and engagement in the study.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contributions:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eResearch concept and design by MR, COC, FL, NNC and DK; data collection by MR; data analysis and interpretation by MR, COC, FL, NNC and DK; initial draft of the manuscript by MR; reviewing/editing of the manuscript by MR, COC, FL, DK and NNC. All authors approved the final version of the paper.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability Statement:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author (MR), upon reasonable request.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReilly T, Collins K. Science and the Gaelic sports: Gaelic football and hurling. European Journal of Sport Science. 2008;8:231\u0026ndash;40.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeasley KJ. Nutrition and Gaelic football: review, recommendations, and future considerations. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2015;25:1\u0026ndash;13.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKeane A, Scott MA, Dugdill L, Reilly T. Fitness test profiles as determined by the Eurofit Test Battery in elite female Gaelic football players. 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Diabetic Medicine. 2024;41:e15179.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"performance-nutrition","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Performance Nutrition](https://performancenutrition.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"44410","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44410/3","title":"Performance Nutrition","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Gaelic Games, Dietary Intake, Nutrition Knowledge, Cooking Skills, Sports Nutrition, Dietary Assessment, Mixed-Methods, Dietary Behaviour, Behaviour Change, Intervention Design","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6693988/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6693988/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBackground\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGaelic football is a high-intensity, intermittent team sport played at an amateur level, though its training demands often resemble those of professional sport. Previous research has indicated suboptimal energy and carbohydrate intake among players, which may impair performance and recovery.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eObjective\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study aimed to explore the behavioural determinants of dietary intake in Gaelic football players, using the COM-B model to identify modifiable factors to inform future nutrition interventions.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethods\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA mixed-methods, cross-sectional design was used. An online questionnaire captured sociodemographic data, nutrition knowledge, and cooking and food skills confidence. Semi-structured interviews explored dietary influences, and a 5-day estimated food diary assessed dietary intake. Data were integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of dietary behaviours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResults\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA purposive sample of 20 players (mean age 27.1\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.5 years) participated. The mean nutrition knowledge score was 54.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;10.5%, cooking skills confidence was 62.3\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;18.9, and average daily energy intake was 2482\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;788 kcal. Carbohydrate intake averaged 3.8\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.9 g/kg/day, protein 1.9\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.5 g/kg/day, and fat 31.7\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;4.8% of total energy. Thematic analysis identified seven key influences on dietary behaviour, including performance-driven motivation, variability in applying nutrition knowledge, time and resource constraints, and the influence of social and environmental support.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusions\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFindings emphasise the need for holistic, context-sensitive strategies to improve dietary behaviours. Recommended approaches include enhancing food skills, tailoring support from nutrition staff, and integrating practical education into training settings. These findings may apply to other amateur and high-level recreational athletes.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Dietary Behaviors in Gaelic Football: A Mixed-Methods Exploration of Physical, Psychological, and Environmental Influences","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-16 08:55:34","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6693988/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-06-27T09:33:59+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-26T19:38:07+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-06-17T11:15:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"239613019900443535802092954571983809244","date":"2025-06-16T07:36:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"213935190031528034030266455503809848104","date":"2025-06-12T10:57:10+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-06-12T10:39:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-05-19T10:24:23+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-05-19T08:33:21+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Performance Nutrition","date":"2025-05-19T00:37:06+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"performance-nutrition","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Performance Nutrition](https://performancenutrition.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"44410","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44410/3","title":"Performance Nutrition","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"337b4758-6bf7-4b2e-8872-f5b53c2325a1","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 16th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"in-revision","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-17T19:53:28+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-16 08:55:34","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6693988","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6693988","identity":"rs-6693988","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}