{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "@id": "https://scienceinsport.com/blogs/nutrition/basketball-nutrition-101#faq",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How should basketball players fuel for a game?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Fill your glycogen stores with a carbohydrate-rich meal a few hours before, top up carbohydrate and fluid during breaks between quarters and at time-outs, pay attention to hydration in warm arenas, and recover with carbohydrate and protein afterwards."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Why does carbohydrate matter in basketball?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "The repeated sprints and jumps that define basketball rely heavily on carbohydrate. As glycogen declines through a game, players lose explosiveness and their shooting and decision-making can suffer, so full stores and maintained availability support fourth-quarter performance."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Does hydration affect basketball performance?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Yes, significantly, especially as basketball is often played indoors in warm arenas where sweat losses are high. Dehydration impairs both physical performance and concentration, so replacing fluid and electrolytes during breaks supports sharpness and decision-making."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Does nutrition affect the mental side of basketball?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Yes. Basketball is a game of quick decisions and skill execution, and both low energy availability and dehydration impair concentration and decision-making. Staying fuelled and hydrated supports your decision-making and skill reliability when the game is on the line."
      }
    }
  ]
}