skip navigation

The Importance of Hydration for Youth Athletes

By Jeanne Goodes, Breaking Muscle, 04/17/18, 12:00PM PDT

Share

For coaches and trainers, I offer this: Make it mandatory that your athletes have at least 32 ounces of water at every practice or game (or as weather conditions dictate), as well as have a cooler of water readily available to your athletes.

The importance of hydration for good health and properly functioning body systems cannot be overstated. As the warmer months approach and outdoor activities increase, special attention needs to be given to proper hydration and to the prevention of heat illnesses for all, but especially for young athletes.

Because the body cannot store water, we must constantly provide and supply it with water to maintain our body’s many functioning systems.