Our year is all about sports. In fall it is football and volleyball. In winter it is karate and volleyball. In spring it is lacrosse and volleyball. And in summer it is swimming with a little volleyball. With swim season ending July 31 and football practice beginning on August 1, we have absolutely no break from sports.
We keep uniforms washed, pads of all kids stored in sports bags, shoes thrown all over the makeshift mudroom in the garage, and cold drinks in the fridge. With three sporty kids and one sports mad husband, we go through many, many cold drinks. Cold drinks refresh and revive our kids. Hydration is a number one priority for our family.
Like other protective equipment, proper hydrating and fueling have a major impact on an athlete’s safety and performance, especially with heat waves. To help keep athletes safe and performing their best during the hot summer months, Gatorade and the NFL created “Beat The Heat,” an educational program focusing on the dangers of heat-related illness and the importance of taking the proper steps to reduce the chance of illness and injuries. This information is especially important for Moms because children have an increased risk of dehydration and exertion-related heat illness due to their size and other factors.
Our son is a new football player. His uniform and helmet is dripping with sweat at the end of a long practice. A sports drinks allows him to stay cool and refreshed during practice. Our girls play indoor volleyball. No heat issues, but both play all-day tournaments. A refreshing sports drink gets back in the game.
I remind my kids to bring a water bottle to ever sports practice and event. Water does not replace the electrolytes and sodium lost in sweat, so it isn’t enough to protect kids against the summer heat and humidity. The right sports nutrition and hydration, including Gatorade, can play a vital role in helping young athletes get the hydration and fuel they need to stay safe and perform their best.
You can help. Download a free Gatorade Heat Safety Kit found at www.nfl.com/trainingcamp. For every unique download Gatorade will donate $1 to “Beat the Heat” charities up to $20,000.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gatorade’s “Beat the Heat” campaign and received Gatorade samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.
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