With the conclusion of winter sports, spring sports have officially started, but compared to winter sports the spring snow can’t be avoided by indoor gyms.

    Weather has a huge impact on spring athletes, mentally and physically. Cold weather can be intense, and with the unpredictability of Ohio weather, athletes can struggle to prepare for what’s next. 

    Although it is preferable to play sports during the fall, summer, or even indoors, practices in the cold won’t be as physically risky if athletes know the best way to cope with the cold. It is essential to warm up. According to Live Science, athletes should warm up for at least an hour, or two hours, with some sort of cardiovascular exercise. 

   Warm-ups may include a light walk, a low-intensity bike ride, and stretches. When athletes warm up outside, with something as simple as a stretch after a warm-up, the athlete’s sweat freezes, and they are at risk of decreasing body temperature too much.

   Athletes also need to be well-educated about what to wear to practice in the cold, because different types of clothing can potentially be harmful instead of helpful outside in 20 degree weather for hours daily. 

    Lots of athletes tend to wear cotton sweatshirts and garments in thoughts that it would help them stay warm, in reality, cotton only draws in more chills. 

“Cotton garments allow moisture to stay on the skin, which will draw heat away from the body” according to Live Science. 

Clothes that athletes should wear include synthetic materials. Synthetic materials will repel moisture from the skin, instead of the liquids stuck on the individual’s body to freeze. 

    Masks don’t only protect individuals from COVID, nose and mouth coverings can also warm the air an individual breathes. When a person runs in the cold, their body has to put in extra effort to warm up the air going into the body, and face masks can ease this process.

   With proper preparation for the cold weather, an athlete’s performance and health will improve drastically. Bundle up!