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Coaches, trainers, physical educators, dance teachers, and related professionals have the unique opportunity to promote the physical and psychological development and well-being of young people. They should emphasize health at all times and recognize that student athletes are complex psychological beings who manage many stressors. To achieve this, the following recommendations are made:

·        Coaches, trainers, and physical educators should receive education on the nutritional needs of athletes due to the stress of their training and competition.

·        Coaches, trainers, and physical educators should be trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of eating disorders and to understand the potential effect sports may have on such problems.

·        Coaches, trainers, and physical educators should identify and refer student athletes for assessment and treatment of eating disorders and should work cooperatively with student and clinical personnel to assure full recovery of eating disordered athletes.

·        Coaches, trainers, and physical educators should emphasize the physical risk of low weight, particularly when female athletes have menstrual irregularities or amenorrhea. Medical assessment should be obtained in such cases.

·        Coaches, trainers, and physical educators should actively discourage dangerous weight control techniques including restrictive dieting.

·        Coaches, trainers, and physical educators should consider the health, physical and emotional safety, and self image of athletes when making decisions about inclusion and exclusion on teams.

·        Coaches, trainers, and physical educators should provide information via guest speakers and educational activities and materials to inform athletes and their parents about the dangers of restrictive dieting and maintaining an artificially low body weight, the importance of appropriate nutrition, and the principles of set-point theory.

·        Coaches, trainers, and physical educators should encourage a positive self image and self-esteem in athletes and should understand the importance of their personal and professional role to communicate respect and validation to student athletes.