Key Inquiry Question 4:
What impact does sleep, nutrition and supplementation have on movement and performance?

In this key inquiry question, you will explore how sleep, nutrition, hydration and supplementation affect movement quality, recovery and performance. These factors should not be treated in isolation. NESA teaching advice emphasises their interconnected nature, meaning that performance is shaped by how well they work together across training, competition and recovery. You will use research to compare sporting contexts and judge how different athletes need different approaches.

4.1 – Using research, analyse the dietary requirements, pre, during and post performance needed and fluid intake requirements of athletes from different sports

You will begin by analysing the dietary and fluid requirements of athletes from different sports. This includes what is needed before, during and after performance, and how these needs vary depending on factors such as intensity, duration, body composition goals and environmental conditions. Analysis requires you to break these requirements down and show how they relate to the demands of the sport, rather than simply listing foods or nutrients. Athletes in endurance-based sports, repeated-effort sports, strength-based sports and multi-day events may all require different approaches to energy intake, recovery nutrition and fluid replacement.

4.2 – Explain how sleep, nutrition and hydration can be used to reduce fatigue and positively influence movement and injury prevention

You will then explain how sleep, nutrition and hydration help reduce fatigue and support better movement and injury prevention. The syllabus directs attention to guidelines, planning, routines and monitoring, which means you will look at how athletes manage these factors over time, not only on competition day. Strong sleep patterns, appropriate fuelling and adequate hydration can improve concentration, reaction time, coordination, tissue recovery and decision-making, all of which influence movement quality and injury risk. Poor management of any of these can reduce performance quality and place greater stress on the body.

4.3 – Discuss the use of supplements, micronutrients, protein, caffeine and creatine products for improved performance

Finally, you will discuss the use of supplements, micronutrients, protein, caffeine and creatine for improved performance. This involves considering where these products may be useful, where they may have limited value, and why they should never replace an evidence-based food and hydration plan. Their usefulness depends on the athlete, the sport, the training phase, the dose, the timing and the quality of the evidence supporting the product. You will also need to recognise that performance benefits must be weighed against practical, health and ethical considerations.

By completing this key inquiry question, you will understand that performance is strongly affected by recovery habits and fuelling choices. You will be able to analyse how different athletes need different nutritional approaches and discuss supplementation in a balanced, evidence-based way.