I've mentioned before how I coach girls softball and boys baseball, with the weather turning hot this week, I want to make sure your kids are prepared.

It is hard for the body to adjust when you go from tempertures in the 50s and 60s to 80 degrees and humid. I had a player suffer dehydration this week to the extent that we called EMS to come to the field.

I cannot stress enough the need for kids to drink and to drink WATER. I have a number of players who come to the field with those sports drinks, but I have always been a big believer that those drinks are fine after the game when you need to replenish what you have lost and the loss of electrolytes. But during the game, you cannot have anough water.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests during exercise that children between the ages of 9 and 12 drink 3-8 ounces every 20 minutes. Adolescents should have 34 to 50 ounces per hour. Young atheletes also need to prepare. The AAP recommends 16 ounces one hour before workout or game time, 4 to 8 ounces every 15 minutes and 16 ounces one hour after.

The warning signs are nausea, headache, being light headed and watch to see if the player has stopped sweating. And one of the simplest tests is if your young athlete is not peeing, they're not drinking enough

[Source: Web MD]

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420