INTRODUCTION: Recently, the UEFA expert group highlighted that nutritional support plays a key factor for junior football players and will help to optimise growth, health, performance, recovery, training adaptations and body composition (Colllins et al. 2020). Although, young players may have different nutritional needs from those of adults the expert group stated that carbohydrate (CHO) and protein (PRO) needs are similar to those of senior players and Urine specific gravity (USG) can be a useful indicator of hydration status suggesting euhydration of USG <1.020. Data on nutritional status in junior football players are still rare, therefore this observational study focus, whether academy players follow the UEFA nutrition guidelines on training and match days.METHODS: In total, 55 male junior football players (15 ± 0,8 yrs; 176 ± 8 cm; 63,9 ± 8,6 kg) from 3 academy teams (Under 17, 16 & 15 yrs) of a German professional football club were asked to weigh and record their food and beverages consumed on five consecutive days as well as their activities. These included training days (TD1 - TD3), pre-match day (MD-1) and a match day (MD). MD Kick-Off time was between 11am-1pm. Dietary protocols were analysed based on the German food database (BLS 3.1) using Ebispro Software. On each morning, urine samples were collected and analysed for urine specific gravity (USG).RESULTS: On TDs mean PRO 1.7 ± 0.7 g/kg/d and CHO 4.7 ± 2.1 g/kg/d intake was within the recommended guidelines. In 21% of all TDs PRO intake was <1g/kg and for CHO <3 g/kg (22%) respectively. Mean MD-1/MD PRO intake (1.6 ± 0.7 g/kg/d) and CHO intake (4.4 ± 2.0 g/kg/d) was similar to TDs. However, 78% of the players are below the recommended CHO intake (6-8g/kg/d) on MD-1. On MD pre-Match CHO Intake (<4 hrs before Kick Off) was 1.5 ± 0.8 g/kg. Depending on the team and Kick-Off time 20% - 38% of the players consumed CHO <1 g/kg. Mean total water intake (TWI) on TDs was 4.0 ± 1.8. L (63 ± 29 mL/kg) and 3.8 ± 1.9 L (60 ± 30 mL/kg) on MD-1/MD. Mean morningUSG on TDs was 1.022 ± 0.008 (30% <1.020 and 32% >1.025), on MD-1 1.023 ± 0.008 (26% <1.020 and 38% >1.025) and on MD 1.023 ± 0.006 (32% <1.020 and 41% >1.025).CONCLUSION: In the present study, PRO and CHO intake of German Junior Football Players were within the recommended guidelines on training days, but not for CHO on MD-1 and MD. A relatively high number of players have had a low CHO intake and a morning USG >1.025 before Kick-Off on MD, assuming that they were not well prepared for competition. These data suggest that young academic football players need more information regarding a sport specific diet and timing of nutrient intake during trainings days, but specifically on match day.Reference:Collins J, Maughan RJ, Gleeson M, et al., UEFA expert group statement on nutrition in elite football. Br J Sports Med 2021; 55:416–442