SYLVANIA, Ohio — Coaches of the Sylvania-Northview varsity girls soccer team want to ensure players stay cool in the heat of competition — and the heat in general.
"We're always worried about how our athletes are taken care of, right, the safety of them," said head coach Allen Newbold.
Temperatures across the area are expected to reach near triple digits next week, leading to athletes experiencing excessive sweating and the need for proper hydration.
Kelsie Koop, a senior on the team, knows the players' safety is the coaching staff's top priority.
"They're very considerate of us and it's nice to feel like they care for us," she said.
The team cut practice short on Thursday due to the heat.
For proper hydration, the Cleveland Clinic recommends that the best way to replace fluids is to drink water. Pickle juice and sports drinks can help replenish lost electrolytes.
Athletes, like Kelsie, recognize this and make an effort to be extra safe while on the field.
"We always make sure to drink a lot of water and eat healthy, eat something," she said. "When I'm out there it helps, but it gets pretty exhausting."
From there, coaches are recommended to prioritize safety above all.
The American College of Sports Medicine says that outdoor athletic activities in the heat should be appropriately modified for safety in relation to environmental conditions. This can include lowering the intensity and duration of activities and increasing the frequency and duration of breaks to rehydrate and cool down.
These precautions may seem like common sense, but they can be forgotten in the heat of competition.
"I just think that it is something that should be considered more," said Justine Bowser, a little league baseball coach in Sylvania. "It's just one of those things that I think the safety of the kids should always come first, even if it means we've got to go through the headache of rescheduling games."