Overview:
Many SYA travel teams continue to train outdoors throughout the winter months. The following guidelines are for the safety of both coaches and players and should help determine whether sessions should be modified or canceled.
Factors to Consider:
Cold Weather Attire:
SYA encourages all players and staff to dress appropriately. In cold weather, warm-up pants, jackets, sweatshirts and UnderArmour are recommended. Additionally, gloves or mittens and hats, scarves, or ear-bands are suggested as the head and outer extremities are among the first areas to lose body heat.
Coaches are encouraged to speak to any players who are not appropriately dressed and determine whether they should be dismissed for safety’s sake.
Hydration plays a role in preventing hypothermia, as dehydrated bodies cannot regulate temperature in cold weather in the same sense that dehydration causes problems in extreme heat. Teams should take regular water breaks no matter the temperature.
Practices may be shortened at the coach’s discretion. All warm-ups should be of appropriate length to fully prepare players for training, and sessions should include minimal periods when players are not moving.