Are oranges inappropriate at half time in an U10 soccer match?
A. Children are less efficient at regulating body temperature than adults. They are therefore more at risk of heat stress when exercising in hot conditions. This means it is important for children to have an adequate fluid intake during sport. Children need to have a drink before the game and during warm up. Drinks should be encouraged during any breaks in play including half-time. In very hot conditions, it can be valuable for a medically trained person to step in and modify the rules for the day to allow extra opportunities to drink. This may involve shorter playing periods or dividing the game into quarters instead of halves. This often happens in official competitions at high levels for children and adolescents – safety and enjoyment of sport should always take priority over generic rules.
