A conversation on fueling youth athletes, building longevity, and mastering the fundamentals of performance.

Hosts

Megan

Liam

About This Episode

In Episode 32 of The Soccer Ladder, we’re joined by Dr Marc Bubbs (@Drbubbs), a performance nutritionist working with professional and Olympic athletes across elite sport, including @canadabasketball, @usmnt, and @underarmour.

With over 20 years of experience, Dr Marc Bubbs breaks down what truly matters when it comes to fueling development, recovery, and long-term performance — especially for young athletes navigating today’s demanding schedules.

From under-fueling and match day nutrition to supplements, habits, and cutting through online noise — this episode is a masterclass for players and parents alike.

In This Episode

Dr Marc Bubbs’ journey from athlete to elite performance nutritionist
What surprised him most inside professional team environments
Why nutrition and recovery weren’t always prioritized in sport
The biggest fueling mistake youth athletes make today
Why under-fueling is more common than people think
How busy schedules impact youth athlete nutrition
Smart snack strategies for pre-training and post-training
The difference between fast vs slow carbohydrates (and why it matters)
Simple, effective fueling ideas for tight time windows
What separates athletes who last 10–15 years
Why patterns and habits outperform short-term strategies
How to properly fuel on match day (timeline + structure)
Growth spurts and what parents need to know nutritionally
The role of protein, carbs, and total energy intake
Supplements: what actually matters vs what’s noise
How to filter misinformation in today’s nutrition landscape
The importance of sleep, recovery, and consistency
Why fundamentals still drive 80–90% of performance results
Inside ProBio Nutrition and how it supports athlete health

Key Takeaways

✔ Most young athletes are under-fueling, not overeating
✔ Total daily energy intake is the foundation of performance
✔ Fast carbs are critical around training and games
✔ Consistency beats perfection — build patterns, not quick fixes
✔ You don’t need trends — you need fundamentals
✔ Sleep, nutrition, and habits drive long-term success
✔ The best athletes master the basics repeatedly

Notable Mentions

Canada Basketball
U.S. Men’s National Team
Under Armour
Elite athletes across multiple sports
Youth athlete development systems

Connect

Dr Marc Bubbs
📸 Instagram: @Drbubbs
🌐 Website: www.drbubbs.com

ProBio Nutrition
🌐 Website: www.drbubbs.com

(Co-Founder @probionutrition)

🎙 Hosted by @meganlinkeofficial & @liamlinke18
🎧Listen now on The Soccer Ladder