Softball, traditionally being a summer sport, faces environmental challenges such as overheating and dehydration. Softball can also be played in winter thus exposing the body to heat loss and muscle tightness. To prevent injury, understanding temperature regulation, climatic conditions, the guidelines for fluid intake, and acclimatisation is essential.
Temperature Regulation
There are four ways that heat can be lost in the body. These are:
Knowing these four ways that heat can be lost in the body should be known by the athlete so that they can reduce the risk of hypothermia. If one can wear a long sleeve shirt or skins underneath their uniform, then heat can be retained.
When the body is in hot conditions, heat stress can create cardiovascular stains and can lead to thermal injuries, such as heart cramps, heat exhaustion, or even a heat stroke. Hydration is important to regain the fluids lost in sweating that little bit more. As the uniform can not be changed to fit hot conditions, one should seek to find shade and always wear their hat when playing.
- Convection: where movement of air and water around the skin, and cool windy conditions cause the loss of heat
- Conduction: direct contact with a cold substance such as snow or rain
- Evaporation: body heat is lost when sweat vaporises
- Radiation: heat is transferred from the body to the surrounding environment
Knowing these four ways that heat can be lost in the body should be known by the athlete so that they can reduce the risk of hypothermia. If one can wear a long sleeve shirt or skins underneath their uniform, then heat can be retained.
When the body is in hot conditions, heat stress can create cardiovascular stains and can lead to thermal injuries, such as heart cramps, heat exhaustion, or even a heat stroke. Hydration is important to regain the fluids lost in sweating that little bit more. As the uniform can not be changed to fit hot conditions, one should seek to find shade and always wear their hat when playing.
Climatic Conditions
Throughout the year, there are many different climatic conditions that can affect the performance of a softball athlete. These include:
Before participation commences, these levels should be assessed and it should be determined whether play should continue.
- Temperature: when a game is played in cold conditions or hot conditions, the risk of different injuries increases. The athlete should look for ways in which to reduce to risk of these injuries such has layering clothing or staying in the shade
- Humidity: this can affect the athlete's body temperature and performance. It increases the amount of sweat the body creates which leads to dehydration
- Wind: this can decrease the temperature and make the conditions colder. Wind, when strong, can move dust and other small objects into the eyes of the players which can lead to injury as they can not see properly.
- Rain: it can cause the grounds to be slippery and muddy which can lead to injury. Rain can also obstruct one's view.
- Altitude: being in a higher atmosphere, the air is thinner and if an athlete is not used to these conditions, they will struggle to breath properly and perform at a high level.
- Pollution: it creates irritation in the respiratory system. This makes it harder for athletes to breath and also, as they are breathing unclean air, internal ailments can arise.
Before participation commences, these levels should be assessed and it should be determined whether play should continue.
Guidelines for Fluid Intake
Hydration is essential to replacing lost fluids when participating in softball. When the conditions are hot, there is more fluid lost, therefore, the athlete needs to replenish those stores even more. If one does not hydrate, they can dehydrate and this can then cause complications. To rehydrate, water is the most recommended source. Drinking during the game and after is the way to do this. Sports drinks such as Gaterade and Powerade can prove affective also. For more information specific to softball, in terms of hydration, visits this site <http://www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition/factsheets/sports/softball>
Acclimatisation
When an athlete is travelling from cold conditions to hot conditions or visa-versa, a period of acclimatisation should be included. The body does this naturally but by having an adequate warm up and cool down can benefit in this process. Appropriate clothing is also detrimental to the acclimatisation process. Regular exercise and repeated exposure to the condition that play will be performed with also aid in the athlete's ability to acclimatise. If acclimatisation is not achieved, the athlete is more at risk to injury as the body is not prepared to perform and is not stable enough to perform. Care should be taken by both athlete and coach.