It takes time to warm up your body when playing football, especially if you're not dressed appropriately. Young children are less likely to recognise that they’re cold and this means they can lose body heat quickly. In order to fully enjoy their football during the cold months of the year, it’s important that the players stay warm.
So what can they wear to counter the cold?
Here are some ideas:
Stock up on compression clothing. These can include leggings, shorts, tops and underwear. Made from a spandex-type material, compression clothing has become increasingly popular among young and old athletes. Compression clothing hugs your body, keeping it warm while wicking sweat away from your skin.
The beauty of children's football training at Kiddikicks is that there are no rules about what you can and cannot wear (although many of the kids do love the Kiddikicks outfit that’s provided!). When it’s particularly cold, consider a lightweight (and preferably waterproof) training jacket to shield the child from the elements, and combine it with some tracksuit trousers for extra warmth. These are thin but effective layers that can be easily transported, worn, removed and washed and dried. Welcome pieces of kit for all those reasons!
You'll be amazed by the difference that accessories such as gloves and hats make - they can help keep your entire body warm. Most people don’t realise that it’s possible to lose as much as 10% of your body heat through your head, so something as simple as a hat on a chilly day can make a remarkable difference!
And at Kiddikicks we don’t forget about the loyal parents watching from the sidelines! Here is a reminder of how to support your children when the elements are against them.
Bring some wellies. The ground may be cold, wet and muddy - a pair of wellington boots with some thick socks will keep your feet warm and dry and you won't worry about getting them messy! Have a spare pair of shoes in the car so you can whip your wellies off if they're covered in mud and stick them in a bag for washing when you get home. For children a Croc type shoe is useful to slip on when the studs have come off. They are easy to put on, easy to wipe clean and pretty indestructable.
A thermos flask is a must. A warm drink can often go a long way and it can make you feel a whole lot better when you’re cheering your child on from the sidelines. Hot drinks are welcome but must stay off the pitch and on the sidelines.
Never forget your umbrella! As you'll likely know too well the weather in England is somewhat unpredictable. The skies can open up at any moment and having something to help protect you from the elements will make all the difference.
If you need any advice of where to buy this type of kit, get in touch here and we'd be happy to direct you.
Or if you'd like to share your solutions for keeping your player or yourself warm we'd love to hear from you on our Facebook or Twitter