History & Advocacy

In 2009, the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association was formed and immediately began to advocate for registered dietitians to be hired into full-time positions while also advocating for much needed feeding and recovery changes within the NCAA rules and regulations. CPSDA members provided a strong and unified voice in acquainting key stakeholders on the importance of feeding, recovering and overall-health of athletes. 

In 2024, the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association members voted to change the organization’s name to the American Sports and Performance Dietitians Association. The choice of “American” reflects our aspiration to elevate ourselves as the national leader in our field. “Sports and Performance” acknowledges the diverse range of practicing members, many of whom identify as Sports RDs or Performance Dietitians. Lastly, “Dietitian” reinforces our commitment to our profession as the vast majority of our members are registered dietitians and this is the clearest way to distinguish us from the plethora of nutrition gurus.