Environmental Considerations
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Temperature Regulation
Children generally have a higher core temperature than adults; this is due to a number of factors such as sweating less, and reduced sweating mechanisms. This means when children and young athletes exercise in the heat, they overheat more easily. Coaches and Parents should ensure that kids get regular breaks preferably in the shade as well as regular sips of water and appropriate clothing. Children are also more susceptible to the cold; this means that coaches and parents should ensure that appropriate clothing is worn to keep them warm. Temperature regulation only affects adult athletes in extreme heat or cold. As adults have a developed seating mechanism and can more readily rid the body of heat and more readily take up heat (in cold situations).
Climatic Conditions
In Athletics, in NSW and all across Australia, athletics competitions are only ever stopped or called off, if there is lightening. Even at this stage it is up to the organisers of the met/competition to say when the track is no longer safe to compete on.
There are 6 main climatic conditions they are;
Temperature
Temperature can affect muscle performance through muscle temperature. In cold whether there is an increase in possible injury, as surface tears become more prominent. The cold also affects the amount of blood flow there is to the muscles. High heat, means copious sweating and therefore possible dehydration.
Humidity
Humidity can affect the performance of an athlete greatly. High humidity, means promotion of sweat which slows the cooling of the body and can also end in dehydration. It is harder for athletes to breathe as the air is thicker. Low humidity means that athletes will find it hard to breathe because they air is too dry.
Rain
High amounts of rain assists in the heat loss in the body with athletes. Rain also affects running tracks and fields, making it hard to slow down to a stop.
Wind
Head wind, will make an athlete use more energy to complete the same task. Head winds will generally slow a runner down. Where as Tail winds will assist with an athletes run allowing them to possibly run faster than they would if there was no wind.
Altitude
With less oxygen available to the body, there will be a reduce in cardio vascular output, although there can be an increase in red blood cell count if staying at high altitude for long periods of time. Immunity decreases, and the body will not be able to perform at the same intensity, and because of loss of apatite, there can also be problems with energy output, as there is less energy input.
Pollution
Pollution can evoke asthma and asthma attacks, this inhibits performance of an athlete, as the pollution can irritate the respiratory system
Children generally have a higher core temperature than adults; this is due to a number of factors such as sweating less, and reduced sweating mechanisms. This means when children and young athletes exercise in the heat, they overheat more easily. Coaches and Parents should ensure that kids get regular breaks preferably in the shade as well as regular sips of water and appropriate clothing. Children are also more susceptible to the cold; this means that coaches and parents should ensure that appropriate clothing is worn to keep them warm. Temperature regulation only affects adult athletes in extreme heat or cold. As adults have a developed seating mechanism and can more readily rid the body of heat and more readily take up heat (in cold situations).
Climatic Conditions
In Athletics, in NSW and all across Australia, athletics competitions are only ever stopped or called off, if there is lightening. Even at this stage it is up to the organisers of the met/competition to say when the track is no longer safe to compete on.
There are 6 main climatic conditions they are;
Temperature
Temperature can affect muscle performance through muscle temperature. In cold whether there is an increase in possible injury, as surface tears become more prominent. The cold also affects the amount of blood flow there is to the muscles. High heat, means copious sweating and therefore possible dehydration.
Humidity
Humidity can affect the performance of an athlete greatly. High humidity, means promotion of sweat which slows the cooling of the body and can also end in dehydration. It is harder for athletes to breathe as the air is thicker. Low humidity means that athletes will find it hard to breathe because they air is too dry.
Rain
High amounts of rain assists in the heat loss in the body with athletes. Rain also affects running tracks and fields, making it hard to slow down to a stop.
Wind
Head wind, will make an athlete use more energy to complete the same task. Head winds will generally slow a runner down. Where as Tail winds will assist with an athletes run allowing them to possibly run faster than they would if there was no wind.
Altitude
With less oxygen available to the body, there will be a reduce in cardio vascular output, although there can be an increase in red blood cell count if staying at high altitude for long periods of time. Immunity decreases, and the body will not be able to perform at the same intensity, and because of loss of apatite, there can also be problems with energy output, as there is less energy input.
Pollution
Pollution can evoke asthma and asthma attacks, this inhibits performance of an athlete, as the pollution can irritate the respiratory system