Football season is just around the corner, and for some of us it begins this weekend. There’s nothing like game day for college students — ritual chants, getting decked out in school colors, sitting front row with your friends. However, game days are long. Very long. When you have to get up early for ticket distribution and the game isn’t until later that evening, game day is an all-day event. Here is a guide to help you avoid being wiped out before halftime.
1) Know the dress code. If you are in the student section, you must be wearing the right color. If your school colors are maroon and gold, but you wear maroon instead of gold, you will stick out like a sore thumb. This is not the way you want to show your uniqueness. Wear a funny hat or some cool socks. But. You. Must. Wear. That. Gold. Shirt. Sometimes the dress code changes, like for black-out games, so make sure you stay updated. Usually this information will be posted on Twitter or sent in an email.
2) Hydrate! Football season usually begins in late summer, meaning the sun is still beating down on us mercilessly. Since the body is about 60 percent water, it is of the greatest importance to drink water all day. North Carolina Testing Program says the body must process 2.4 liters of water each day, whether through food or liquid, otherwise you can become dehydrated. When dehydrated, the heart has to work even harder to get oxygen to your muscles, and you can end up experiencing headaches, dizziness, exhaustion and nausea.
3) Wear sunscreen. Unless you attend a university in a cloudy climate, it is likely the sun will be shining down on you. Because you want healthy skin, you definitely need to lather yourself up with sunscreen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should wear broad spectrum protection sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of at least 30. SPF 30 will shield you from 97 percent of rays. Whether you burn easily or brown like a sausage, the sun can harm your skin. Make sure to apply every two hours!
4) Remember you’ll be standing all day. When you go to bed that night, you won’t want to be startled awake by a leg cramp. Take a note from the football players and wear some athletic shoes. Football games usually last about three hours, and that doesn’t even include pre- and post-game day activities, so you’ll want to wear comfortable shoes. Standing for five hours can lead to lower-limb muscle fatigue and back pain. In addition to good shoes, you can relieve your body by stretching or sitting every once in a while.
5) Don’t forget to eat. The body needs fuel. When a game gets intense or you’re having fun with your friends, it can be easy to forget to eat. Before heading into the stadium, make sure you’ve had a well-balanced meal. So that you don’t get hungry during the game, pack something to munch on. Most stadium usually allow small snacks. Pack yourself some granola bars, Clif bars, fruit, carrots and any other snacks you know you love to have around.
Reviewed September 2, 2016 by Michele Blacksberg RN Edited by Jody Smith