Sports Hydration Center

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Expert Tip

  • When to Modify or Cancel Practices Because of the Heat

    Because children tolerate heat and humidity less well than adults, there may be times when it will be necessary to modify or even cancel practices due to extremely hot or humid conditions.

    Modify or cancel practice based on the air temperature and the humidity (apparent temperature), which can be measured with a wet bulb thermometer available at hardware stores:

      1. For wet bulb readings below 66 F (or when the relative humidity is 95% or higher, regardless of wet bulb reading), no precautions are needed, but watch closely children who are prone to heat illness.

      2. If the wet bulb temperature is between 66 F and 78 F (or when the relative humidity is 95% or higher, regardless of wet bulb reading), be cautious. Insist on unlimited amounts of water (preferably iced), and that all athletes be monitored closely for symptoms of heat illness.

      3. For wet bulb temperature readings above 78 F (or when the relative humidity is 95% or higher, regardless of wet bulb reading), modify practice because there is a real danger for serious heat illness. Keep practice light, modify or eliminate some drills, and allow athletes to work out in minimal gear. Water breaks in the shade should be mandatory. Do not allow children who lose weight during exercise to participate.

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Young boy drinking from water bottleWhen you are watching your favorite sports team on TV, have you ever noticed that the first thing the athletes do when they get to the sideline or dugout is get a drink? Whether on their own or from the hand of a trainer, they drink constantly every chance they get throughout the game. That is how important hydration is to athletic performance.

Proper hydration is just as important to athletic performance as the food your child eats, and more important to his safety. An athlete who becomes dehydrated is at risk of a heat illness, among the most dangerous sports injuries, as well as the most preventable.

To find information on a sports hydration topic, click on a topic in which you are interested. You will be sent to a list of articles, videos and blogs on that topic. If you are unable to find the sports hydration information you are looking for on the topics page, please e mail us your request or pose the question to the MomsTeam community of parents and experts (of which you are an important part) by clicking on the Forums tab at the top of the page, finding a forum in which to ask your question or start a new discussion thread.

Together, we can go a long way towards making sure youth athletes are properly hydrated and to eliminating heat illnesses in youth sports.

 

 

 

 

Featured Articles

  • Recognizing the Warning Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration in Youth Athletes

    It may be hard to believe, but while you are standing on the sidelines bundled in a sweater on a crisp fall day watching your child running up and down the soccer field, she may become dehydrated. Dehydration can begin when an athlete loses as little as 1 percent of body weight. In a 70-pound child, that is less than 1 pound of weight lost through sweat. As little as a 2% decrease in body weight from fluid loss (e.g. 1.2 lb for a 60-lb athlete) can lead to a significant decrease in muscular strength and stamina. If your child tires easily and repeatedly in practice and appears irritable, and her performance suddenly declines, dehydration, and/or inadequate calorie intake may be the cause.

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  • Heat Illness Prevention and Treatment in Youth Athletes

    In addition to educating young athletes about both the importance of hydration and the dangers of heat-related illness, ensuring that they drink enough fluids, and taking precautions to reduce the risk of heat injury in children in hot and humid weather, you need to watch your child for symptoms of impending heat illness.

    Read more »

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