Football is a global game. As a result, it is played in a wide range of environmental conditions. These factors can both affect a player’s performance and make them more likely to become unwell. This module will focus on four common environmental factors and how they may impact on football. These factors relate to extremes of temperature (both hot and cold), altitude and lightning.
Prevention is a key focus of this module. Careful preparation and an awareness of the various medical conditions which can be induced by extreme environmental conditions should significantly limit the risk of players and team officials becoming unwell. As with all areas of medicine, prevention is truly better than a cure.