High temperatures during the hot season make it easier for our bodies to lose fluid. Dehydration can cause serious illness, so sports teams must always be prepared for this during summer.
Here are some ideas to help your sports team beat the heat!
1. Watch the Weather Forecast
Coaches and game organisers should always check the weather forecast before finalising a training or game schedule.
Be aware of any excessive heat warnings. In these cases, be conscious that it may be too hot outside. If the forecast is terrible, you may need to plan like timing your practice or sporting event right or having cold towels on hand.
2. Bringing a Water Container
On hot days, water bottles are essential. Custom drink bottles with your team’s logo can be an excellent way to promote your team and engage fans.
If you’re looking for custom drink bottles, pick those with features that can assist the user in staying hydrated and beating the heat. Some bottles, for example, keep your drinks cooler for extended periods and have convenient storage compartments.
3. Consume Sports Drinks
Sports drinks can be highly beneficial for your sports team. They can rehydrate players more efficiently than water does. Water is essential to human life, but your body needs more than just water when playing a sport.
This is where sports drinks come in. If you are playing a sport with high intensity, be sure to have some on hand for your team.
4. Wearing Lightweight Uniforms
Your sports team should wear lightweight uniforms that allow cool comfort and not cling to the body too tightly.
Anything too thick or made out of a material that absorbs heat will be terrible for hot days.
Lightweight uniforms can also affect the players’ performance, so it is essential to ensure that your custom teamwear is made from lightweight and hot weather-friendly fabrics.
5. Stay Active Indoors
Some sports teams are training outdoors, so it is crucial to have some indoor regime.
During the summer, your team can train indoors. This will allow them to stay active while dodging heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
It is also better to train in air-conditioned facilities with cold snacks and drinks as it will be easier for the players to stay hydrated and nourished.
6. Be Aware of Heat Exhaustion Symptoms
When playing sports in high heat, your body can quickly become dehydrated, which means you could have heat exhaustion symptoms such as:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
If your sports team is affected by any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is crucial that they stop what they are doing and go into a cool place and drink lots of fluids or cold water.
Have your first aid kits ready and if their symptoms persist, seek immediate medical help.
7. Be Aware of Heat Stroke Symptoms
Heatstroke happens when your body temperature is too high, which can be very dangerous. Symptoms include fainting, red skin, seizures, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, muscle cramps, nausea/vomiting/diarrhoea, disorientation/confusion, and unconsciousness.
If your sports team experiences these symptoms, call emergency services as heat stroke is severe and can lead to death if left untreated.
8. Keep Cool with Ice Packs
If you train outside on hot days, you must always stay hydrated and cool by using ice packs. You can make ice packs by freezing water bottles or even putting a cold wet towel around your neck to cool down.
Ice packs are necessary for the sports teams’ post-training recovery and can help with any possible swelling or inflammation. It can also keep the athlete safe from dangerous conditions because of the high temperatures.
9. Take Breaks
Playing sports in extreme heat can be a hazard, so your team should take more breaks than usual if the weather is too hot outside. Pauses should last at least 10-15 minutes, and everyone on the team should have a chance to cool down and hydrate.
If you are outside playing sports, ensure that your team is equipped with ice packs, cold towels, and customised water bottles to keep cool during breaks.
There may be times when the weather may be too overbearing, even for breaks, so it would be best to either postpone or cancel practice altogether until the next day.
If you decide to stay active outdoors and cycle, you can feel better if you try biking with the help of the electric bicycle kit.
10. Have Your Sports Team Train in the Morning or Evening
The primary issue with taking sports training outdoors is that it will be much too hot out to do anything productive during peak hours of sunlight.
It would be best to train in the morning when it is cooler outside or at night when it is more bearable. There will also be less sun exposure, thus lessening the overall sensation of heat.
Beat The Heat And Improve Your Performance
As the weather heats up, so does the competition on the playing field. With summer sports leagues in full swing, athletes and coaches are looking for any competitive edge they can find. There are ways to improve performance and beat the heat – you just need to know what to do.
Stay hydrated, wear light clothing, and use cooling methods during breaks to keep your energy high and body temperature down. Don’t let the heat stop you from winning!