Heat and Hydration at Football Tournaments: A Guide for Clubs

Why heat matters more for young players

Children running around in the sun for several hours lose fluid through sweat, often without noticing they are thirsty. They are also less likely to stop by themselves when they feel unwell, especially in a match they care about. A tournament adds to the risk: several short games, long gaps standing on an open field, and adults busy with fixtures and results.

The FA's hot weather guidance for grassroots football asks clubs to plan sessions and matches around four points: timing, water and breaks, shade, and knowing the signs of heat illness. Nottinghamshire FA's guidance for sporting events goes further and says children should not take part in vigorous physical activity when temperatures exceed 30°C. Other County FAs publish similar advice, so check yours.

In England, the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office issue heat-health alerts (yellow, amber and red). An amber or red alert on tournament weekend is a clear sign to review the plan. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own public health advice.

Planning a summer football tournament around the heat

Timing

The FA suggests scheduling outside peak UV hours where possible, typically 11am to 3pm. For a one-day festival this usually means starting early, running the youngest age groups first, and keeping the middle of the day for presentations in the shade or a long lunch break. Splitting age groups into morning and afternoon sessions also reduces the time any one child spends on site.

Match length and the daily limit

The FA's 2026/27 youth rules already cap total playing time per day, tournaments included: for example 60 minutes at U7–U9, 90 minutes at U10–U11 and 120 minutes at U12–U13. On a hot day, plan below that maximum. Shorter games with longer gaps between them are better than long games back to back.

A tool that builds the schedule automatically makes it easier to change kick-off times at short notice. Whatever you use, publish the timetable early and tell teams that times may be adjusted for the weather.

Heat and hydration: water breaks and drinking

The FA asks clubs to make water available to everyone and to build breaks into sessions. Nottinghamshire FA's event guidance suggests a water break every 10 to 15 minutes during games in hot weather. In practice, a short drinks break in the middle of each half works well for most tournament formats. The FAI in Ireland has recommended breaks of up to one minute midway through each half during very hot weekends.

• One named bottle per child. Sharing bottles spreads illness and makes it hard to see who has drunk enough.
• Refill points on site. Check the venue has a reliable supply of drinking water. If not, bring large containers.
• Drink little and often. Remind players to drink between games, not only when they feel thirsty.
• Plain water is enough for most children. The NHS notes that an isotonic drink or oral rehydration solution can help someone recovering from heat exhaustion, but it is not needed as a routine for short games.
• Food matters too. Fruit with a high water content, such as oranges or watermelon, is a sensible snack between games.

Shade, clothing and sun protection

Most grassroots venues are open fields with little natural shade. The FA recommends using shaded areas for warm-ups, team talks and rest. If trees are not available, gazebos or pop-up shelters near each pitch make a large difference. Put them where teams wait for their next game, not only by the organisers' table.

• Encourage sunscreen, hats and light clothing between games. Nottinghamshire FA suggests at least factor 15 with UVA protection for outdoor play longer than 20 minutes.
• Allow teams to remove training tops and wear light kit. Dark heavy bibs in direct sun are worth avoiding.
• Shorten warm-ups. Five to ten minutes of light movement with the ball is enough on a hot day.
• Coaches and volunteers should model the same behaviour: hat, water bottle, standing in the shade between games.

Heat exhaustion in children: the warning signs

The NHS lists the following as signs of heat exhaustion, and notes that they are often the same in children and adults: tiredness, dizziness, headache, feeling sick or vomiting, heavy sweating with pale clammy skin, cramps in the arms, legs or stomach, a high temperature, intense thirst and irritability.

If a child shows these signs, the NHS advice is to:

1. Move them to a cool place.
2. Remove unnecessary clothing such as jackets or socks.
3. Give them plenty of water to drink.
4. Cool their skin by spraying or sponging with cool water and fanning them. Cold packs wrapped in cloth can go under the armpits or on the neck.
5. Stay with them. They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.

Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Call 999 if the child is still unwell after 30 minutes of cooling, has hot skin that is not sweating, a fast heartbeat, fast breathing or shortness of breath, confusion or poor coordination, a seizure, or loses consciousness. Do not let the child go back on the pitch the same day after heat exhaustion.

What the organiser should prepare

• A weather check the day before and on the morning, including any heat-health alert, with a named person who decides whether to shorten games or stop.
• A first-aid point in the shade, with a qualified first aider, cold packs, water and a place for a child to lie down.
• Water supply and refill stations, ideally one between every two pitches.
• A rest area with shade for each age group.
• Clear communication to clubs before the day: bring named bottles, hats and sunscreen, and expect drinks breaks.
• A plan B: an earlier finish, cancelled final rounds, or a shorter format if temperatures rise during the day.

Most of these are part of good tournament planning anyway. For a full checklist, see how to organise a football tournament, and remember that County FA tournament sanction rules may set further requirements.

Frequently asked questions