Staying safe in hot weather: Our guidance for players, coaches and volunteers

Written by:

England Communications

We are reminding everyone to take simple precautions to stay safe while enjoying the game outdoors.

With warmer weather and the increased likelihood of high temperatures during the summer months, we are reminding everyone involved in grassroots and recreational football – players, coaches, volunteers, parents and spectators – to take simple precautions to stay safe while enjoying the game outdoors.

Spending long periods outside on pitches and training grounds can increase exposure to UV rays and the risk of heat-related illness, particularly during peak sun hours. Our Medical FAQs, available to download here, include practical guidance on playing football safely in different weather conditions, including heat and strong sun.

Top tips for managing heat and sun exposure include:

• Schedule training and matches outside of peak UV hours where possible (typically 11am – 3pm)
• Encourage players and coaches to wear sunscreen, hats and appropriate clothing
• Ensure water is freely available and breaks are built into sessions
• Make use of shaded areas for warm-ups, briefings and rest periods
• Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, and know how to respond

Coaches and club volunteers are encouraged to lead by example – modelling good sun safety habits helps reinforce these messages with players of all ages.

For further advice on sunscreen and sun safety, the NHS has published detailed guidance, which can be found here.

Our full Medical FAQs document, covering a range of health and safety topics for those playing and coaching football, is available here

Staying safe in hot weather: Our guidance for players, coaches and volunteers

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