Aspetar Magazine 2026

139 ASPETAR MAGAZINE HEALTHY TIPS Supporting Performance Through Preparation Environmental challenges rarely occur in isolation. Teams that integrate heat management, altitude preparation, air quality awareness, and travel planning into a single strategy are best positioned to protect player health and maintain performance across demanding tournaments. Proactive preparation allows athletes not only to cope with chal lenging environments but to perform confidently and consistently when it matters most. Professor Hugh Fullagar Scientific Researcher & Dr Chris Esh Post Doctoral Reasearcher Reference: Esh, C., Carter, S., Bougault, V. et al. (2026). Evidence-based guidelines to protect player health and performance from environmental challenges. Sports Medicine. Monitoring Air Quality Air quality varies significantly between host cities and may change quickly due to weather or environmental factors. Poor air quality can increase breathing discomfort and reduce exercise tolerance. Helpful approaches include: • Monitoring air quality alongside weather conditions • Identifying players with respiratory sensitivities • Modifying training exposure when air quality declines Managing Travel and Jet Lag Long-haul travel and time-zone changes can disrupt sleep, recovery, and cogni t ive performance. Structured routines remain the foundation of s u c ce s s f u l t ou r namen t preparation. Recommended habits: • Plan travel and arrival schedules early • Establish consistent sleep routines • Individualise light exposure and recovery strategies • Monitor sleepquality throughout competition