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Adie Blanchard | 2014-06-11 08:22:01
With the World Cup ready to kick off, spare a thought for the athletes who are preparing to compete in sweltering temperatures, which are rarely reached in many of the colder competing countries. Not forgetting the officials who also have to perform at their best while the rest of the world watches on.
Athletes and officials alike are now more prepared than ever when it comes to competing in hot climates, due to the ever expanding knowledge surrounding optimised sports performance. Methods of preparation have included training in climate chambers to replicate the heat and humidity of Brazil and working with practitioners to design optimal hydration formulas for each player. Cooling techniques have also been investigated where cold water hand immersion is likely to be used to help cool players down, especially in the hotter venues in the north of Brazil. Mental preparation is also crucial, where athletes and official need to cope with the heat and maintain focus throughout the game and coaches may even look to identify heat-susceptible players prior to team selection.
FIFA state that players need three days minimum to acclimatise to the heat, although 14-21 days is most ideal. The England team headed to Portugal for their World Cup training camp before travelling to Miami for two pre-tournament friendlies, in the hope to aid acclimation efforts. The team trained in heat chambers and were even made to train in three layers of clothing on a cooler than expected day so staff could assess the squad’s response to sweating.
Well-known official Howard Webb is no stranger to the World Cup, having refereed the 2010 final in South Africa. However he too has been training in a heat chamber in the hope to improve his performance, albeit in officiating. It is expected that he will burn over 3000 calories and lose around 10 pints of sweat per game!
The climate of the country hosting the World Cup (or any sporting event for that matter) has always caused controversy. There’s no doubt that teams originating from a country with a similar climate will be at an advantage, whilst those from different climates are at a disadvantage and may even be forced to change their style of play as a result. Even the stats prove this, where the previous seven World Cups held in the Americas have only been won by South American teams (Argentina, Brazil or Uruguay!)
Nevertheless – come on England!
Adie Blanchard – Researcher
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