Gatorade supports Women's EURO match officials in 'world first' training programme

Gatorade supports Women’s EURO match officials in ‘world first’ training programme

7th July 2022

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Sports drink brand Gatorade has collaborated with UEFA to ‘optimise’ female match officials’ health during the Women’s EURO.

The ‘world first’ training programme intends to help female match officials with a range of personalised consultations on hydration, sports nutrition, and menstruation.

Gatorade Sweat Patches will also be used during games for continued assessment and data.

To tackle the lack of support female match officials receive compared to professional players, the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) is providing them with access to a range of educational tools in sports nutrition.

Earlier this year, referees and lines-women including Stéphanie Frappart, Rebecca Welch, Cheryl Foster, Kateryna Monzul, Esther Staubli, Jana Adámková, Riem Hussein and Lina Lehtovaara were provided with practical sports nutrition advice through bespoke one-to-one sessions hosted by GSSI scientists.

Sweat testing was also carried out to track individuals’ fluid loss, sweat rate, and sodium loss during exercise to monitor hydration and help advance performance.

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“We support everyone who wants to play and this goes beyond just players on the pitch, but everyone in the sport, including the elite match officials who put themselves through the same rigorous training. Utilising our heritage and the expertise of GSSI we can help nurture and enhance performance to help take the game to new heights,” PepsiCo chief marketing officer and senior vice president, Mark Kirkham, said.

The officials were also provided with education around menstrual cycles with relation to physical performance.

UEFA sports scientist and training expert, Prof. Werner Helsen added: “The female match officials are the unsung heroes of elite football and we are grateful that through our ongoing partnership with Gatorade, they are getting access to expert knowledge and advice to help advance their skills and performance on the field.”