Water is the key to being a winner. Lately in Sacramento the weather has had a dramatic increase in temperature, causing it to be in the high 90’s low 100’s. Most people go home or hang out in a nice shady spot. Imagine, instead of going out and drinking an ice cold soda or a refreshing glass of water, you’re wearing shoulder pads, football pants, and more pads that cover your thighs, knees, and tailbone. Football players wear pads and practice in immense heat with easy access to water but is that truly enough? And is it enough not only to survive, but also to win?
According to a study made by the Gatorade Sports Science Institute the average American Football player can sweat around 1.6-2.3 liters an hour. McClatchy’s Head Coach Malcolm Floyd (a former NFL football player) hydration is an important aspect to succeeding in not just football but in any other sport you may be losing a lot of fluid in. Coach Floyd said, “Hydrating is important not just during practice but also after practice.”
Everyday during practice he makes sure water in easily accessible during practice so that his players can stay in a constant state of cognition and possess a stronger will to keep on pushing. Some symptoms of dehydration include; a dry mouth, headache, cramping of the muscles, dry skin, dizziness, being tired or sleepy, and a lack of cognition.
The consequences of not staying hydrated presented themselves at a recent game against Rio Americano. During the JV game that started at 5, about 7 of Rio Americano’s players fell down on the field with painful cramps. These painful cramps result from dehydration. It’s important to remember to hydrate, especially when you are exercising.
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