Soccer is an outdoor sport – as a player / parent / coach, you should be prepared to play in all weather conditions including cold, rain, and heat.  The only official policy on weather is in regards to lightning detection.  See our inclement weather link.  BASC does maintain a policy that player safety is a top priority, however you can play in almost all weather conditions with appropriate clothing.

• According to official rules, the color of anything worn under the uniform should match the adjacent part of the uniform.  (Most Referees will allow black or white, but if you have on the same color as the opposing team, you may have to remove that piece of clothing before playing.)
• Zippers, drawstrings, or anything that could cause injury to player are not permitted
• Gloves with some level of grip is helpful when you do a throw in.

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• Always start with a light activity before stretching
• Dynamic stretching (exercises that stretch muscles in the course of other activities) may be more effective than static stretching
• Static stretching should be performed in short increments separated with activities to keep the body moving
• Keep stretching throughout the activity – cold muscles tighten up quickly, so any resting activity should include some stretching

• Dress in layers; from the skin out:
  • Compression garments
  • Uniform
  • Warm-ups/Sweats
  • Gloves
  • Jacket/Outerwear
• Removing layers
  • Keep the warm-ups on until the body is almost sweating
  • Keep the core/trunk of the body warm, so pants go before tops
  • At least put the warm-up jacket back on at each rest period longer than a few minutes; the body cools quickly
• Good additions
  • Beanies/knit caps are a great way to add heat; the head loses more heat than any other part of the body, especially for short hair or pony tails
  • Gloves can make a big difference; keep the extremities warm and the whole body is more comfortable
  • Additional socks – in wet weather, replacing wet socks for dry at half-time or at a break can make a world of difference in a players comfort

• Wet weather
  • Replace wet gear with dry when possible, but always keep something dry for the ride home
• Frosty
  • Keep the hat and gloves on even when the body starts to warm up, it protects the skin from frostbite
  • Plan ahead for the entire practice/game, not just the first few minutes; better to be uncomfortable for a short time and healthy afterwards
  • Better to be smart (in what you wear) than to look good.

• It is at least as important to cool down slowly in cold conditions as it is in the heat
• Dynamic stretching and light activity will help in recovery
• Put layers back on before you think they are needed

• Always drink before you are thirsty
• Drink warm water to add heat, overly hot drinks will cause the body to rollercoaster
• Remember that your clothes are soaking up sweat, so you need more fluid than you think