Summer football tournaments are usually an
enjoyable way to spend a day - even if your team doesn't get past the
qualifying rounds!
However, even the most well run
tournament will present some risks to the
health and safety of your players. As coach it's your responsibility
to make sure everyone is aware of these risks and takes sensible
precautions.
One of the most significant risks (even
on a cold day) is dehydration. It might seem obvious to you and me but you
need to make sure that the children in your team bring plenty of
drink (at
least two litres of water or isotonic drink per person) and enough
energy rich food to
last the day. Not a couple of cans of fizzy pop and some crisps!
**make
your own sports drinks
Another potentially serious risk is
sunburn. I always tell my parents to make sure their children put on sun
block before they arrive and bring some more to apply during the day.
By the way, don't offer your own sun block to your players - they might be allergic to
the ingredients.
Take a gazebo or tent so that players can
have somewhere to rest out of the sun (or rain). And make sure someone
knows how to put it up!
If the worst comes to the worst and you
suspect one of your players has been adversely affected by the sun, follow
the advice below (provided by
St John Ambulance)
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