Photo via swimming.org

It’s that time of the year just about everywhere in the country when most days are overly warm and humid. With those extreme temperatures come the decision by parents of how active their kids should be when they have sports events later in the day.

Whether it's a game or practice, the amount of physical exertion outside during the day should be monitored.

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Are you the parent of a youth, middle school or high school football player who’s looking for more tips or resources? Check out our Parent Guide, Parents 101 course, nutritious recipes and more.

I’m not a doctor or nutritionist, but like most of you, I try to be a responsible parent when it comes to this subject, especially regarding these three things:

1. Pool time

I decided with my first child that swimming the afternoon of a big game wouldn't completely destroy his performance at night ... but doing it for too long might. The simple rule we had – and maintain to this day with our other boys – is you can swim the day of a game or practice, but not more than 90 minutes, and it has to end at least three hours before the evening sports activity.

2. Sun and heat

As parents, we often assume if our kids aren’t in the pool, they aren’t wearing themselves out. But sun and heat can be just as physically exhausting as swimming in a pool, and sometimes worse. I use the same time constraints for being outside on a hot day as with pool time. This ensures my boys can recover from any overexertion placed on the body before they have to perform on the field. 

3. Fluids, fluids, fluids

Again, I’m not an expert, but when my boys are in the pool or outside, I make them drink a 12-ounce bottle of water every hour, and then do the same between pool/outdoor time and their game or practice. If they hem and haw about drinking plain water, try sugar-free lemonade or a low-sugar sports drink. It’s not always what they drink that’s most important, but that they're hydrating.

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Summertime evening sports activities shouldn’t ruin daytime fun. Follow these three simple rules, or just use them as a template to develop your own, to help keep summer fun without impacting evening sports activities on the hottest days.

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years, originally as a coach and board member with his now-adult son and most recently "just as a dad" with his 8- and 10-year-old sons. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.