It was the homecoming football game at Salem (N.J.) High School, and the school's athletic trainer, Heidi Bower, ATC, was holding her breath. As Bower looked on, Lamont Robinson, the school's blue-chip linebacker and running back, made his 2004 season debut.

Each year, the largest sports medicine organization in the world gathers to discuss the latest research in a variety of areas, including exercise physiology, medicine, rehabilitation, and nutrition. With thousands of attendees from around the world, the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) proved to be another exciting gathering. In the following, we report on three research presentations from the convention that focus on nutrition and competitive athletes.

Complying with NCAA bylaw 16.5.2.g, which restricts what supplements schools can distribute to its athletes, is complicated. Understanding the ingredients and the 30-percent protein rule are key.

Coaching great, natural athletes is not as easy as it seems. They often need to be challenged and communicated with in unique ways.

In the NBA, players are often pushed to their physical limits. When one player complained of hamstring pain, it took a specialized reconditioning program to get him back to full strength.

Today's parents are more overprotective, vocal, and involved when it comes to their kids. And today's high school athletic trainers need to deal with them.

A meticulously planned, year-long strength program helped Arizona State finish third in the College World Series last spring.