As a goalie in soccer, conceding a goal can be a tough pill to swallow. You work tirelessly to prevent the opposition from scoring, and sometimes, despite your best efforts, they manage to sneak one past you. It’s a frustrating experience, but it’s part of the job. And when it happens, one of the first things goalies do is reach for their water bottle.
Now, you may be wondering why they do this. After all, shouldn’t they be upset and focused on the game? The truth is, drinking water after a goal isn’t just about staying hydrated, although that is an important aspect.
In this article, you will find out a few reasons why goalies drink water after conceding a goal.
Let’s get started.
Table Of Contents
Why do Goalies drink water after a goal?
Here are the reasons why goalies drink water after a goal:
- Reset focus
- To rehydrate
- To regulate body temperature
- Maintain performance
- To prevent dehydration
1. Reset Focus
Drinking water after conceding a goal can help to reset goalies’ focus.
It’s easy to get caught up in the frustration and disappointment of conceding a goal, but taking a moment to drink some water can help to calm the nerves and refocus your mind on the game ahead.
This is the main reason why goalies drink water after a goal.
2. Hydration
Firstly, hydration is crucial for optimal performance. Just like in hockey, soccer goalies need to be quick, agile, and have endurance. Staying hydrated is crucial to achieving these qualities, and sweating profusely during a game means that they need to replenish the fluids they’ve lost. Drinking water after a goal helps to rehydrate and maintain performance levels.
3. Regulate Body Temperature
Drinking water helps to regulate body temperature. Goalies are constantly moving around the box, and all that movement generates a lot of heat.
So, drinking water helps to cool down the body and regulate body temperature, which is essential for maintaining peak performance.
4. Prevent Dehidration
Drinking water can help to prevent dehydration. Dehydration can cause fatigue, muscle cramps, and a decrease in cognitive function, all of which can impair a goalie’s ability to play their best.
By drinking water regularly during a game, soccer goalies can prevent dehydration and maintain their energy levels.
5. Maintain Performance
Being a goalie is a demanding position, requiring quick reflexes, agility, and endurance. Staying hydrated is crucial to achieving optimal performance, and drinking water after a goal can help to ensure that goalies are playing at their best for the entire game.
Now that we understand why goalies drink water after a goal, let’s talk about how much water they should be drinking.
How much water should goalies drink?
The general rule of thumb is to drink water before, during, and after a game.
For goalies, it’s recommended to drink at least 17-20 ounces of water two to three hours before a game, and then continue to drink 7-10 ounces every 10-20 minutes during the game.
After the game, goalies should drink enough water to replace any fluids lost during the game.
It’s also important to note that while water is the best choice for hydration, sports drinks can also be beneficial for goalies, as they contain electrolytes that help to replace the sodium, potassium and other minerals lost through sweat.
So, goalies may also drink other types of beverages besides water during a game.
Opposing players drinking from the other team’s goalie
You may have noticed players from one team drinking water from the opposing goalie.
Well, opposing players may sometimes drink water from the opposing goalkeeper’s water bottle if they don’t have their own bottle or if it’s not easily accessible.
While it’s not a common practice and can be seen as unsanitary, it’s generally not considered a serious issue in the world of sports.
It’s important to note, however, that some sports organizations and teams have implemented guidelines and protocols to prevent the spread of germs through shared water bottles.
In hockey, for example, goalies are not allowed to share water bottles with other players, and instead, each player is required to have their water bottle.
Ultimately, while it’s not recommended or encouraged, drinking from the opposing goalkeeper’s water bottle is generally not considered a significant issue in sports, as long as proper hygiene and sanitation protocols are followed.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, drinking water after conceding a goal is a common practice among soccer goalies. It’s not just about staying hydrated, although that is an important aspect.
Drinking water helps to regulate body temperature, prevent dehydration, and reset your focus.
So the next time you see a goalie in soccer reaching for their water bottle after conceding a goal, remember that there’s more to it than meets the eye.
Hope you have gained value from this article.
Also read: Why do goalkeepers wear number 1?
