Reflecting on the second workshop I conducted for the Junior A Athenry Football team, which focused on hydration, offered further insights into effective ways to engage and educate athletes. Building on the experience from the first workshop, I made several adjustments to enhance interaction and learning.

For this session on hydration, instead of relying solely on a digital presentation as I had previously, I decided to print out the slides and distribute them as hard copies to the players. This approach seemed to facilitate better engagement right from the start, with 11 participants joining promptly. The rest of the team, along with the coach, joined in later. This time around, the participants appeared more confident and were more willing to ask questions and interact, which was a significant improvement from the initial workshop. I intentionally kept the information very simple and basic. This decision was based on my observation that a straightforward and uncomplicated presentation of material seemed to resonate more effectively with the participants, sparking more interest and interaction. This approach aligns with educational strategies that emphasize clarity and accessibility, especially when introducing foundational concepts to learners. Unfortunately, the space constraints remained an issue. I had requested to use the hall, which had proper tables and chairs and was typically used by the management for their meetings and workshops, but it wasn’t available—or perhaps there was a reluctance to allow the players to access it. Consequently, I had to make do with the same space as the first workshop, which was less than ideal. To ensure the players had ongoing access to the information, I also sent the slides to the team’s WhatsApp group. This method proved to be an effective way to keep the educational content accessible and reinforced the learning points discussed during the workshop. Moreover, I found using printouts in such a space, considering the level of knowledge of participants on sports nutrition, to be much more informal and easier. This adjustment not only catered to the physical constraints of the venue but also suited the informal and interactive style that seemed to work well with this group. One significant change I implemented in this second session was the duration; the workshop only lasted 20 minutes, whereas the first session had extended over 45 minutes. I found that the shorter duration kept the players more interested and focused throughout the presentation. The concise format helped maintain their attention and ensured that the key messages were delivered effectively without losing their interest. The feedback from this workshop reflected that the changes I implemented—simplifying the content, providing physical copies of the materials, leveraging informal communication channels like WhatsApp, and shortening the duration of the session—were well-received and beneficial. These strategies enhanced participants’ engagement and made the workshop more interactive and responsive to their needs. However, one aspect I realized was lacking both times was the documentation of the event. Capturing the workshop through photos and videos is crucial for a practitioner to have records of engagement and effectiveness. Reflecting on this, I plan to bring someone along specifically to handle photography and videography for future workshops. This would ensure that once I start presenting, the visual documentation is taken care of without distraction, allowing me to focus fully on delivering the content and engaging with the participants.

Reflecting on both workshops, it’s clear that adapting to the needs and feedback of the participants, as well as the constraints of the physical environment, is crucial for successful educational outcomes. In future sessions, I will continue to refine these methods and seek even more effective ways to facilitate learning and engagement. Ensuring accessibility to appropriate spaces and maintaining flexibility in presentation and distribution methods will be key priorities to enhance the overall effectiveness of these sports’ nutrition workshops.