Forum Topic

Oh no,drinks break

Ive just noticed Bundesliga 2 have implamented world cup drinks breaks. Bundesliga 1 and La Liga will also have drinks breaks. Hydration breaks for EFL ties and National League at the weekend. We will wait for D1, D2, and the Championship. Who knows, might end up having 20-25-30 min half-times

Julian Pavey ● 4d29 Comments

Games may have been more frenetic 30 or 40 years ago from the perspective of the ball which was pinged around the pitch but this does not mean it has got easier for the players. On the contrary they cover about 15-20% more ground and sprint about 30% more than back in the day and at significantly faster rates. The figures might not be exact because the current technology used to track players was not available but a lot of work has been done examine old footage.The quick transition high pressing game of today also has increased player injuries with the instances of serious ACL damage up by close to 20% compared with 20 years ago although, thankfully this is no longer necessarily a career ending injury.I'm not sure coddling is the right word for the medical support these players get as most teams currently have about 10-15% of their squad out of action by the latter half of the season due to the physical wear and tear.

Mark Evans ● 1d

I met Jimmy Greaves briefly at the end of 'An Evening with'style event also featuring Ron'Chopper'Harris some years ago.Both were excellent raconteurs and had some very amusing tales to tell.Harris was one of those players,like Nobby Stiles,Norman Hunter and Tommy Smith,who were excellent footballers and as hard as granite.They would have had the likes of Vinny Jones as an aperitif before breakfast.

Keith Iddon ● 2d

Greaves would have scored hatfuls in any era. He was clinical, even playing on mud baths with defenders trying to cripple him half the time.Lineker relied on his speed, but he knew where the goal was. Like Greaves, he had to be given the ball in the right areas to use it.Comparing modern players to past ones is a bit pointless, as Sir Alex Ferguson has said. But his opinion was that certain players would have flourished in any era based on their mental adaptability and high football IQ. Lineker and Greaves were both possessed of those qualities.They were both excellent players, though Greavsie was by far the more interesting to talk to.

Simon Hayes ● 2d

You presume that I think hydration breaks are unnecessary in extreme heat. No, I didn’t say that. But it’s unusual for temperatures to reach the threshold during the English football season.I don’t presume that professional sports people are immune to dehydration but their bodies are conditioned to cope with extreme physical exertion so they are rather better equipped at the top level than your average joe. They are also not just taking on water, rather fluids that replace salts and other metabolic necessities. Hyponatremia caused the death of a runner in the London Marathon some years back.There seems to be an inclination that football players are running at full pelt for 90 minutes. Watching a match you will note that much of the game is played at walking pace with occasional bursts of energetic activity. It’s much less frenetic now than thirty or forty years ago. Most players can cope with that, even in current weather conditions.I saw the inside operations of a Premier League club for close to a decade. The level of medical support players receive now is phenomenal and physically they are all supreme athletes. Maybe they are coddled, but then they are expensive assets for clubs now and need to be looked after.At least they don’t light up in the dressing room these days. Bobby Charlton had a half-time smoke during the 1966 World Cup final, while Johan Cruyff was a chain smoker who only paused while playing. Neither was a bad player.

Simon Hayes ● 2d

I am not so sure that the great Jimmy Greaves was anywhere near as much of a goalhanger as Lineker.I think the main comparison between the two is that they both played for Spurs and England.All of his goals and many of Lineker's were scored before the change to the offside rule in 1990.Both were excellent goalscorers who often played sligtly behind the last defender in order to stay onside,so I wonder how many more goals both of them would have scored under modern rules when being level with the last defender means you are onside.

Keith Iddon ● 2d

Sir Alastair Cook famously barely sweated at all during a long illustrious career.In Adelaide 2010, after batting for seven hours in 40-dgree heat he walked off the pitch looking remarkably dry and cool.

Denis I. Fox ● 2d

I think we all agree that rehydration breaks for all games is a terrible idea and the US precedent should not be repeated. It's not just us but also UEFA and all major leagues.Although dehydration breaks have been around for over a decade in the Premier League, there was a sum total of zero last season as pitch temperatures never met the threshold. There were breaks for players on a Ramadan fast.There are dehydration breaks taking place in matches across Europe at the moment because of the very hot weather. There will be none in the Premier League unless these thresholds are reached. The way it is calculated means that the temperature may rise to 35 degrees but there might be no break if there are other mitigating factors.It is wrong to presume that fitness makes professional sports people immune to the effects of dehydration. Although they are some benefits this is offset by them sweating more efficiently than an unfit person meaning their fluid loss is greater. When you are dehydrated chemical processes in your body stop working properly and a high level of fitness is not a full protection against that.The game I referred to earlier was a lesson learned but thankfully the parents didn't sue. I now recall it was actually in October not September and we were aware it was going to be unseasonably warm but it didn't occur to us that we would encounter such issues with the temperature just over 20 degrees. You may feel this makes it a good thing that I have no more day to day involvement in youth sport - you may be right.I detect a desire to make an issue of something out of nothing here. Nobody in football wants mid-half break. FIFA compromised for the World Cup for financial reasons but I don't think this will be repeated. Under normal circumstances players are allowed to take on water as the game progresses and this has been the situation for half a century.If you believe that even in extreme temperatures hydration breaks are unnecessary, you are probably wrong. The water replacement necessary in such conditions is measured in litres. Marathon runners and cyclists can take this on progressively as needed but footballers do need a dedicated break to ensure they are able to get the fluid they need. If you think that makes them coddled then I suspect there is nothing I could say to make you change your mind.

Francis Rowe ● 2d

Watching my football at Loftus Road , the same as at every EFL match in the country , the ref.signals the players to take a drinks break when theres a lull in the match , it's done very quickly and is finished in a matter of minutes and nothing like the organised break as happened in the World Cup. There's a lot of " in my day comments " but play is faster these days and since the Christian Erikson incident there is greater concern for the safety of players.It is also noticeable that players do take advantage of this going down clutching their faces owing to the ref.having to take notice of possible head injuries . Such cheating known as "shithousery " to supporters. As for Jimmy Greaves , one of the greatest. Jimmy was not known for exerting himself being more of a goal poacher similar to Lineker. Unfortunately Jimmy's " thirst" grew when his career was over.

David Burke ● 2d

Jimmy Greaves was very thirsty but it didn’t detract from what he did on the pitch.You are correct, Keith. The hydration breaks during the World Cup were thinly disguised advertising slots. Since many stadiums were air conditioned and closed there was no issue with heat or humidity. Even the commentators were joking about wearing jumpers at games because the air was actually a bit cold.Maybe if they want hydration they could do it while play was in progress. Marathon runners and elite cyclists rehydrate on the hoof. Why not footballers too?

Simon Hayes ● 2d

The breaks are for advertising and revenue,end of.I have followed the game all of my life and have never seen or heard of a dehydrated player in top level English football.When a player goes down injured you will often see others who a bit thirtsty taaking on fluids whilst the player is treaated.To interrupt the flow and momentum of a game detracts from its essence too much.

Keith Iddon ● 2d

I’m not denying that dehydration can make one ill, but your evidence that it’s a problem with Premier League, and all professional leagues, is non-existent. There are multiple factors that contribute to players missing games. Considering all clubs have nutritionists and other dedicated medical staff looking after the players I’d say that hydration isn’t particularly a problem on most match days.Amateurs and junior levels are a different matter. If those running games aren’t prepared then the games shouldn’t be played. But it’s not that difficult to look at a weather forecast in advance. You would check for rain or snow so why not high temperatures?

Simon Hayes ● 2d

"Francis, can you point us in the direction of instances where PL players have become ill due to dehydration?"Perhaps it would be easier for you to speak to someone with a medical background and they will explain to you that dehydration makes you ill.For Premier League players, dehydration is rarely the only factor in them missing a subsequent fixture but it does happen. The only example I can find where it was the sole reason for a player being unavailable for this reason was Jermaine Defoe back in 2009 but there are multiple other examples of it being a contributory factor. This is despite Premier League players being put on a IV drip after a game if they are believed to be severely dehydrated.For non-professionals, I can give you lots of examples. I was helping out at a youth fixture some time ago. It was in late September and we hadn't prepared properly not anticipating the heat. The game was played at noon and in full sunshine although the temperature was probably only a few degrees over 20. We ran out of water by half time and several of the boys were very unwell by the end of the game - with bad headaches and a number had to miss school the next day (these were boys who would be looking for an excuse to do so).On the 1970s World Cup, it should be remembered that, although hydration breaks were not introduced, it was the first time water bottles were allowed on the pitch.  I am too young to have seen any of these games live but even from the highlights you can see the intensity and pace of these games is well below the way the game is currently played. The ball in play time is also well below current levels because refs were much laxer on time wasting so an England game in 1970 was actually much shorter than an England game in 2026 perhaps by as much as 15 minutes when you take into account not as much injury time being added in those days. True, there was only one sub but even so - this is not a like for like comparison.

Francis Rowe ● 2d

I wonder which matches those are. There are certainly no mandatory hydration breaks in Premier League games that I’ve been to. Players will grab a drink during an injury stoppage but on the whole our climate isn’t so wildly hot during the football season that the game needs to be stopped every 20 minutes or so for a drink. Maybe early and late season there will be a need, but not during the bulk of the season. Same applies to EFL. It’s always at the referee’s discretion and entirely down to factors on the day of the game.There are enough interruptions with VAR reviews. What next? Strategic time outs?Francis, can you point us in the direction of instances where PL players have become ill due to dehydration?

Simon Hayes ● 2d

I wonder which matches those are. There are certainly no mandatory hydration breaks in Premier League games that I’ve been to. Players will grab a drink during an injury stoppage but on the whole our climate isn’t so wildly hot during the football season that the game needs to be stopped every 20 minutes or so for a drink. Maybe early and late season there will be a need, but not during the bulk of the season. Same applies to EFL. It’s always at the referee’s discretion and entirely down to factors on the day of the game.There are enough interruptions with VAR reviews. What next? Strategic time outs?Francis, can you point us in the direction of instances where PL players have become ill due to dehydration?

Simon Hayes ● 2d

Bobby Charlton once lost 10lbs (4.5kg) of bodyweight playing against Brazil.I believe that was the same match Gordon Bank's made that wonderful save from Pele.

Denis I. Fox ● 2d

Although I know nothing about second tier German football I do attend and watch on TV a good number of Premier League and Championship matches. Anyone who does will tell you that hydration breaks have been a feature of games for over 10 years. For those that have been introduced to the concept by watching the latest World Cup, I can offer some comfort. The breaks are determined by analysis of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature which takes into account humidity, wind speed, direct sunlight etc. When this gets to 32 degrees, hydration breaks are mandatory in the Premier League but the referee also has the discretion to introduce them.Because they are not applied to all games, advertising space cannot be sold for these breaks so you will end up listening to punditry.UEFA has confirmed there will be no mandatory hydration breaks for any of its forthcoming competitions and, while that does not prevent local associations introducing them - as far as I am aware none have.The spectacle of men who haven't kicked a ball for decades and probably then never particularly effectively dismissing the need for hydration in extreme heat is not an edifying one. I know from youth sport that even in games with far less intensity and considerably lower heat, if players don't hydrate - they get ill. Football isn't meant to be a test of endurance but a test of skill and if allowances for exceptionally high temperatures are not made you will end up watching a poorer quality game.

Francis Rowe ● 2d

Simon, I was witness to a tea break at Twickenham, 1986- England vs Ireland.The weather was so cold my orange squash was just a block of ice at half time and for the first time ever seen at the national stadium, the referee took the players off the field for 10 minutes for a warm cuppa.Rugby of course was an amateur game in those days and players made do with a slice of orange and a good talking-to from their captain, all over in five minutes.

Denis I. Fox ● 3d

Strangely enough, it's the USA, the only country in the world where the MLS hardly kicks off at the official start time, and it's not to do with the weather. Talking USA, it's been kicking off for months now in the WNBA. Trans, white privilege, the whole shenanigans. Black women have anchored the WNBA for years, and suddenly the top players are white and pull in the bucks. Others don't like it, so it's getting messy. Even violent on the court of play. As they say, only in the USA

Julian Pavey ● 3d

They are called hydration breaks but are really advertising breaks for broadcasters. There’s no need for them, especially when the weather turns colder - unless they are all going to stop for a quick cup of tea every 20 minutes or so.It’s all part of the gradual infiltration of football by the US, which has finally woken up to the commercial possibilities the game offers. Have you wondered why English clubs are being bought up by US investors? Even middling Championship clubs like Birmingham City have US backers (Tom Brady, no less). They’ve spotted the revenue stream offered by the Premier League and all want a slice of that global market.Local fan bases are already being sidelined, notably at Man United, in favour of football tourists and promotion of clubs as global brands. An overseas PL fixture is only a matter of time, as happens with the NFL. There’s even the possibility of some clubs effectively becoming franchises and moving out of their homeland permanently if the commercial opportunities are right.Money always talks.

Simon Hayes ● 3d

You'd better plan for P breaks too

Peter Milligan ● 3d

There have been many such instances and the idea that a highly trained and extremely fit young person can't run around for 45 minutes in hot weather,as has been so forever,is ridiculous in the exterme.What are they going to do when it's cold,have a tea break?

Keith Iddon ● 3d

Well if we're talking about human sporting endurance, you won't surpass the great Australian batsman Dean Jones who in the Madras Test match in 1986 amassed 210 runs in temperatures exceeding 45 degrees coupled with extreme humidity.They breed their sportsmen tough in Melbourne.It's worth saying Dean Jones, after his epic innings spent a week in an Indian hospital on an intravenous drip.

Denis I. Fox ● 3d

What about the Tour de France? I know they have water bottles but ride for hours at a time. They also carry on with injuries sometimes.

Nicholas Beard ● 3d

I think you are probably right Colin.Money men and the big football clubs will wish for the  commercialism the drinks breaks and longer half time intervals bring in.IFAB (International Football Assoc Boards) require a 3/4 majority to enable new rulings and amendments to be passed in the game.The only opposition to the changes will come from a British Association but should the trials being undertaken now in the lower leagues go without too much ado the changes will I'm sure become the norm.The World Cup was a huge success (Argentina apart) and we tend to follow successful American inventions.

Denis I. Fox ● 4d

I am dead against any such chsnge,these breaks are completely unnecessary.

Keith Iddon ● 4d

Surely this practice originated in the US World Cup series where people like Trump, who neither knew nor cared what football was, used it as a way of creating more TV ad breaks for his media chums. If Gianni Infantino, another of Trump's buddies, has his  way, it's probably here to stay.

Colin Jordan ● 4d

1 goal down with 25 to play, a drinks break can make all the difference, and that's not including team orders put out to the players

Julian Pavey ● 4d

Football fans will detest hydration intervals brought into our game every 20 minutes or so.Rugby League players play a faster, physically intense game of two halves during the summer months without any health mishapsInterrupting football matches unnecessarily cuts a team's momentum which is hard to pick up after a drinks break, giving the defending team an unearned advantage.

Denis I. Fox ● 4d

Perhaps they are having difficulty turning the heating down?

Philippa Bond ● 4d