How To Become a Sports Dietitian and Launch Your Own Practice
Being a Registered Dietitian allows you to do SO many jobs. It’s such a versatile career path that you can easily take in any direction you want. After you’ve been an RD for a while, your dreamy client that you're most passionate about helping becomes obvious. That can set a fire in your belly to create a dedicated business that offers nutrition services just to that specialty. Yes, I am talking about opening your own online nutrition practice!
Today, I’m going to focus on sports dietitians! If your mission as an RD is to help athletes stay healthy or elevate their performance, this post is to help you embrace that calling, help your dream client, and thrive with a private online nutrition practice. Here’s how to do it:
How To Become a Sports Dietitian and Launch Your Own Practice
Step 1: Learn more about sports nutrition.
Even if you’re stuck in a 9-5 that doesn’t bring you a lot of joy and fulfillment in terms of your passion for sports nutrition, no one is stopping you from learning and growing on your own. As Registered Dietitians, we love to expand our minds, so investing in your education and experience by researching on your own time will keep you focused on your goals and remind you why you love what you do!
If you know what category of sports nutrition you’re most interested in, spend your time there. If you’re not sure, research things like hydration, supplements, recovery strategies, macro and micronutrients, energy balance, nutrition periodization, body composition, and athletic performance nutrition for different sports. Hopefully, as you learn, something will really pique your interest and you’ll find which area or perhaps even a specific sport, or level of athletics that you would like to focus on!
Step 2: Consider if an additional certification for sports nutrition is right and aligned for you.
Once you have a clearer view of your most dreamy client within the sports world and desired specialty, you will then be able to niche down and market to these individuals in your practice. I want to be crystal clear here, you do NOT need additional certifications in sports dietetics in order to pursue sports nutrition in your private practice. As an RD you already have enough knowledge to serve and support others in a variety of areas of nutrition, and this includes sports. Remember, the thing that really sets you apart as an RD over a nutritionist is your extensive education, your lengthy vetting process, and all your credentials!
With that said, the world of sports dietetics is fairly small. You may feel a pull to continue learning and attain additional credentials, As RDs continuous learning is something we are constantly doing and it is a beautiful thing. As long as you don’t allow attaining extra credentials or certifications to get in your way of pursuing your dreams.
Remember that you are allowed to learn and grow while you actively help people! If getting another credential or certification feels right for you I highly suggest you go after your dreams and build your practice while you pursue the additional certifications you desire.
As RDs we take nutrition and dietetics seriously likewise, the athletes and teams we work with take their health VERY seriously. That means this client base typically values and cares deeply about improving their performance through their health, and doing so with someone like yourself who is qualified to help them!
Here are some certifications that may be useful to your pursuits:
Step 3: Network with coaches, teams, athletes, other sports professionals and past connections.
One of the best tools for growth as an RD are referrals. However, when you’re just starting out, you have to acquire those first few sports clients without the testimonials (as every RD in private practice does in the start). But, this won’t be as hard as you think!
Don’t discount your EXPANSIVE knowledge, passion, and experience in the RD field (even if it’s in another specialty.) You know you have the tools to help your dreamy client, so have all that confidence as you talk with sports teams, athletic departments, athletes, coaches, and any other sports professionals to establish relationships and hopefully gain clients!
Every life you impact whether it is someone you know or a stranger are equally valuable. In the start your first few clients might be a referral from a friend or connections from a past job or experience in the sports world. These clients are incredibly valuable and will also lead to testimonials, additional referrals and more connections. Every connection you make is an important one. This can be done online on social media and beyond.
Step 4: Continue your education in sports nutrition.
By now, you may be getting your first few clients as a private practice side gig. CONGRATS! This is an essential first step to a career in sports nutrition and dietetics! Continue gaining experience and networking by attending conferences, workshops, and webinars. These events can be an incredible way to stay up to date on information and also network and connect with people in the field. Identify where your needs are and what you think is crucial to leveling up in the field and gaining more dreamy clients. Be picky with your time and where you’re spending it. You don’t need to attend every single event, rather, choose the ones that make sense for you. These can be virtual live events or pre-recorded opportunities or classes. You can also check to see if the continuing education you’re interested in is approved for CEU’s so you can submit them for your RD continuing education requirements..
Step 5: Determine your sport dietitian niche.
You may have already had an idea of the specialty you wanted to work within, but now that you’ve worked with some clients and have been immersing yourself in the world of sports dietetics you should have a really good idea of what sports dietitian niche suits you best.
You may be thinking, “Why would I niche down when I can cast a wide and get more clients?” Well, it simply doesn’t work that way. Focusing your attention in one area allows you to be a LEADER in that speciality and clients perceive you as an expert! That means they’re more likely to come to you with any of their needs. You gain influence over that whole category of sport nutrition and stand out among the other dietitians and nutrition focused businesses, because what you do is SPECIAL and FOCUSED. None of your dreamy clients will have to wonder if you’re right for them, because your job description will make it clear that you can help them better than anyone else, since it's your niche!
Here are some sport dietitian specialties you may consider:
Endurance Athletes (marathons, triathlons, cycling, long-distance swimming), you can get even more specific and choose one of these sports to focus on.
Strength and Power Sports (weightlifting, powerlifting, and bodybuilding)
Team Sports (soccer, basketball, football, rugby), perhaps there is a specific team sport or level of this sport you would like to work with feel free to get even more specific.
Youth Athletes (does your niche, play a specific type of sport and how advanced are they?)
Tactical Athletes (military, police, firefighters)
Recreational Athletes and Fitness Enthusiast
Special Populations in the world of sport (diabetes, celiac, vegetarians, etc.)
Traveling Athletes (time zone changes, travel)
E-Sports Nutrition for Professional Gamers
Weight management for Weight Loss or Gain (for a specific sport or performance goal)
Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition
Step 6: Develop your program and brand.
You now have all the tools you need to continue to grow your own online nutrition practice! Get creative and put your passion on paper by developing your brand. Think about things like your business name, your personalized approach, your marketing strategy, and your signature program! Not everything needs to be completely fleshed out, but vision casting for the future will help you create action steps to make your dream a reality! One of the most impactful and helpful ways to practice your marketing and messaging is on social media.
Step 7: Register and license your business.
You may have already registered your business in order to get started and open your private nutrition practice, if you haven’t done so already - then you will need to decide on your business entity and register it with the state. You’ll have to do some research on this in your specific area to understand what you need to do and where you need to go. This isn’t always the fun part of the process, but it makes your business official, which is pretty exciting!
Step 8: Get the right support and safeguards.
Anytime you’re dealing with health and wellness you have to be very careful to maintain the ethics and appropriate business practices to protect yourself and your clients. Of course, as an RD you already know this! Your number one priority is your client’s well-being, so you know that this is an important step. Here are some things to get in place:
Insurance (potentially professional liability insurance, general liability insurance, etc.)
Legal Support (I recommend Sam Vander Wielen)
CPA/Accounting (I recommend Megan Naaz)
Website Expert (I recommend Jess Creatives)
Step 9: Make a plan for growth.
Next, the question is, how are you going to grow your business? Love, you do not need to do TikTok dances or post funny nutrition memes to get clients if that’s not your thing! Social media is a great tool, but it is not the only tool. I highly suggest pursuing only one social media platform that is aligned with your business to start. How do you choose which one? I would ask yourself “which social media platform is where my most dreamy client is spending their time looking for nutrition information” and I would start there. Remember, to use your own personal strengths and uniqueness when you show up on social media. Leave the perfectionism behind and share in a way that feels aligned and ethical for you. Remember that social media is one piece of the puzzle and a beautiful way to grow your online digital presence and practice your heartfelt marketing and messaging. You can also make incredible connections on social media with other businesses and allied providers that align with your practice.
There are lots of ways to grow an online private nutrition business! Some other ways to get more clients with a sports nutrition business include networking at local gyms, sports clubs, and fitness centers. You can also connect with these types of businesses in other states as well online and virtually. You can offering free resources, workshops, nutrition plans, or helpful PDF downloads; sharing information on a blog; and encouraging referrals from current clients!
Step 10: Collect testimonials, referrals, and feedback.
Testimonials and referrals are great for growing your client base, of course, but it’s also great for establishing credibility, building brand awareness, and boosting confidence! They’re like little affirmations you can go back and read when things get tough! You also want to regularly collect feedback from past and present clients to know what’s working with your practice and what’s not. This praise and criticism will be so helpful for you as you refine and grow your business!
Step 11: Hire a nutrition business coach.
If you want to give your online nutrition private practice the best chance of succeeding, a dietitian business coach can be tremendously helpful! You need someone like me, who is already an RD, has already built her own private practice, and has helped hundreds of other RDs build a successful nutrition practice.
There’s no reason to blaze the trail yourself when someone else can guide you to the mountaintop! At this stage in your business, I recommend applying to join us in The Rise™ to see your business elevate to totally new heights!
Step 12: Stay focused on your goals and build your client base.
Keep focused on your goals and drive toward those with everything you’ve got! Refine your strategy, reach more people, and never forget the importance of your impact. You can achieve a private sports nutrition business in your dream specialty and reap all the benefits of having your own practice.
Step 13: Quit your day job and fully commit to your online practice.
You’ll know when it’s time (or I’ll help you decide in The Rise™) when it is the right moment for you to quit that 9-5 and commit 100% to your business. Then, you can finally focus on the sports niche you’ve always dreamed of and work on your own terms! Relocate where you want, work when you want, help who you want, and live the life you always wanted, on your terms! You deserve the business and personal life you’ve always dreamed of!
Sports Dietitian vs Sports Nutritionist
The big differences between sports nutritionists and sports dietitians are the qualifications and credentials. Nutritionist’s requirements vary greatly from state to state. In some states you have to have some sort of certification or training whereas others require nothing to claim the title “nutritionist.” That means a “sports nutritionist” may not have any formal training, evaluation, education, or certifications.
Sports dietitians, on the other hand, have to uphold a TON of standards and certifications to legally hold that title. There are numerous checks and balances that vouch for the qualifications of the sports dietitian an athlete works with. This distinction is SO important. An athlete’s health and performance are everything to them, so the approach to their nutrition MUST be safe, research-backed, and extremely intentional. That’s what you can do as a sports RD!
Here’s more on the differences between Registered Dietitians and nutritionists.
You can have your own private sports nutrition business with this guide!
If you have a passion for sports and nutrition and always dreamed of combining those passions by opening your own private online nutrition business, the time is now!
There’s never been a better time to reach people about their nutrition and athletes want specialized nutritionists more than even the average health-focused person. Apply to work with me today and let me help you realize your full potential as a sports dietitian!