Hello Everyone! After almost a year of posting and connecting with people on Gatorade Field House, I'm excited to finally introduce myself! My name is Katie Knappenberger and I'm a Program Director of Performance Nutrition with 15+ years of experience as a sports dietitian in the collegiate setting. I'm a board certified specialist in sports dietetics and a certified athletic trainer. My sweet spot is at the intersection of sports dietetics and sports medicine. I love learning about, researching, and speaking on nutrition for injury risk reduction and rehabilitation. This includes nutrition strategies for tissue repair, energy availability, fueling a return to sport, anti-inflammatory eating patters, and fostering a diverse gut microbiome. I also really love working with athletes on behavior change and setting up systems to foster the behaviors that support their goals on and off the field. A few themes/conversations that keep popping up for me over the last few months: With athletes, the biggest one I hear is "I mostly know what to do — but how do I actually get myself to do it consistently?" Within elite athletics knowledge gaps aren't always the problem. The real challenge is building sustainable habits and systems that hold up through a busy season, a tough training block, or life just getting in the way. I love working through that puzzle. I've also had conversations with athletics support staff members recently who are struggling to set up sustainable self-care systems for themselves. It's honestly hard to consistently work with athletes on recovery and performance when you're running on empty yourself. It's a conversation our field doesn't have nearly enough. I would love to connect with your all! Whether you're an AT navigating a tough rehab case and you want to chat about nutrition interventions, a clinician trying to change athletes behavior so that it better aligns with their goals, or ready to start a support group where we (practitioners) share our biggest hacks for taking care of ourselves during a crazy season - I'm here for it! Drop a question, share something you've been wondering about, or push back on something that I've said. Looking forward to continuing to be part of this community!

This really resonates. When I was a high school strength coach the football season is where I learned this the hard way. Coaches came out of camp wanting to keep the momentum going, early season lifting was heavy. Mid way through the season guys were too beat up after practice to do anything meaningful. The program got worse as the season went on. What helped change this was simplifying the program and setting up the weight room before they arrived so athletes could move through it fast with no decisions to make. Less standing around and training was more efficient. Honestly, simplifying and pulling back volume made me feel like I wasn’t doing my job. But the athletes were actually giving more intent and started showing up consistently. It all kind of clicked after that. Commitment to a lighter session beats a skipped heavy one every time. Reducing volume isn’t the failure. Ignoring your athletes’ capacity is

As strength and conditioning coaches, we all have our own philosophies, programs, and preferences when it comes to training on the road. Obviously, resources play a big role when deciding what to buy, pack, and travel with. Our travel cases have evolved over the years as we’ve added and removed equipment—our gear changes as our programs and ideas do. That said, we still rely on a few staples: PowerBlocks, various bands, a range of pads and mats, equipment to target balance and foot/lower limb strength, soft tissue tools, etc. I’m curious to hear what other coaches rely on in their travel cases. I’m also interested in people’s experiences traveling with larger pieces of equipment like the 1080, different flywheel setups, OHM, or anything in that realm.

Hey Russell - Our football program also practices in the early mornings throughout the year. Two things I'd focus on first: Educate — Make sure athletes understand what to consume before practice (easily digestible carbs + fluids) and why it matters (The GSSI resources above do a great job explaining this). Training hard in a fasted state can tank both performance and health, so helping your athletes connect those dots goes a long way. Quick verbal reminders and simple signage have worked for us. Provide options when you can — Things like Gatorade, applesauce, bananas, granola bars (low fiber, low protein, high carb), or even fruit snacks and sport chews are perfect for this window. They could start eating/drinking these items on their way to the workout. And if you're able to set food and drink out at your facility, place them somewhere athletes have to walk past on the way in or out of the locker room — that visual cue makes a big difference. That's where I'd start, but there's a lot more to dig into — what to do if an athlete says they aren't hungry, managing GI concerns, budget-friendly options when providing fuel isn't realistic, and more. Happy to keep the conversation going!

Loved the tools we got in the presentation! I always look forward to seeing what others are doing to maximize hydration for their athletes! #ESSAThleticTraining @EBPcentral @GPPartner @GatoradePerformancePartner @Gatorade

Join us May 11-14, 2026 in New Orleans, LA for the opportunity to gain insights and speak with leading experts in the sports dietitian industry. MAY 12 From Brain Health to Metabolic Management: Expert Insights on Three Game-Changing Topics in Sports Nutrition 8:15-10:15 AM CDT Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans | Elite Hall B This pre-conference brings together the latest research from leading scientists on three of the most talked-about topics in sports nutrition today. Attendees will learn strategies for bridging research to practice while learning about: Session 1: Creatine for Brain Injury & Cognitive Function Speaker : Darren Candow, PhD, CSEP-CEP, Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology & Health Studies, University of Regina Session 2: Nutrition Strategies and Updates for the Pregnant/Postpartum Athlete Speaker: Margie Davenport, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation - Academic Programs Session 3: Continuous Glucose Monitors for Athletes With or Without Diabetes Speaker: Dr. Michael Riddell, PhD, Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Science and Muscle Health Research Centre at York University Moderator: Taylor Hughes, MA, RD, CSSD Attendees will have the opportunity to earn complimentary continuing professional education units. RSVP Here Expo Hours 2:30 PM–5:30 PM CDT Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans | Elite Hall A MAY 13 Expo Hours 8:00 AM-4:00 PM CDT Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans | Elite Hall A SNIP Posters 9:45 AM-11:00 AM CDT Location: Hyatt Regency New Orleans | Elite Foyer Support the next generation of sports dietitians by engaging with the 2025-2026 Gatorade Sports Nutrition Immersion Program Fellows as they present case studies from their experience and answer questions.

Join us in Fort Worth, Texas May 4-6 to gain insights and speak with leading experts in the collegiate strength and conditioning industry. MAY 4 Hydration Myths vs. Truths 3:00-4:30 PM CDT Location: Convention Center | Ballroom B This session explores common hydration myths and the latest scientific evidence on fluid needs for athletes. Topics include individual sweat rate variability, the reliability of urine color as a hydration marker, caffeine’s impact on hydration, and misconceptions about beverage composition and electrolytes. The discussion will also cover effective rehydration strategies after exercise—even when cooling methods are used—and practical ways to ensure athletes are properly rehydrated before their next training session. Speakers : JK Davis — Associate Principal Scientist, GSSI Scott Sehnert — Director of Sports Performance, Dallas Cowboys RSVP Here Expo Hours 4:30-7:00 PM CDT Location: Convention Center | Exhibit Hall A-C Opening Coaches/Exhibitor Social 5:00-6:30 PM CDT Location: Convention Center | Exhibit Hall A-C MAY 5 Early Bird Workout 6:30-8:00 AM CDT Location: Convention Center | Exhibit Hall C Female Strength Coach Breakfast 6:45-7:50 AM CDT Location: Convention Center | Room #202 Topic: How Everyday Steps Lead from Sweatpants to Owning Your Seat at the Table Speaker: Sarah Ramey Expo Hours 8:00 AM-5:00 PM CDT Location: Convention Center | Exhibit Hall A-C Master Strength & Conditioning Coach Dinner & Young Achievement Award 6:30-9:00 PM CDT Location: Omni Hotel | Texas Ballroom Master Strength & Conditioning Coach Social 9:00-10:00 PM CDT Location: Omni Hotel | Texas Ballroom Foyer MAY 6 Minority Strength Coach Breakfast 6:45-7:50 AM CDT Location: Convention Center | Room #202

When athletes are properly hydrated — with the right balance and amount of electrolytes, especially sodium — they’re able to perform at their best. Explore hydration research and access hydration tools from GSSI below. Science of Hydration.pdf Understanding Electrolytes and Hydration.pdf Fluid Loss Calculator

Proper recovery ensures athletes run stronger, faster, and more resilient. Find insights on recovery – from a full athlete-centric plan to the role of nutrients – from the scientists at GSSI. Sports Recovery Toolkit.pdf Science of Carbohydrate.pdf Science of Protein.pdf

Supplements can play a role in performance, recovery, and individual athlete goals goals. Expand your knowledge with science-backed resources from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute to help guide safe and informed supplementation strategies. SSE 243: Use of Buffers in Specific Contexts: Highly Trained Female Athletes; Extreme Environments; and Combined Buffering Agents SSE 247: No Guarantees! Supporting Athletes to Reduce the Risk of Unintentional Doping from Supplement Use Sports Nutrition and Hydration for Female Athletes - Chapter 12.pdf