Tips for clubs and coaches during Ramadan

Our Community Engagement Manager, Asma-Ajaz-Ali, observes Ramadan each year. Drawing on her experiences in the world of sport, here’s some of her top tips to help you make some inclusive changes.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours. This means we don’t eat or drink anything during our fast. As well as fasting, Muslims observing Ramadan also fit in more spiritual devotional acts such as prayer, giving charity, and strengthening family ties.

In the UK, Ramadan is expected to start on the evening of Sunday 10 March and end on Tuesday 9 April. You can find out more about Ramadan here.

Clubs

• Review your session timetable

Are there any sessions that you can move to happen earlier in the day?

• Ensure plenty of food and drink is available for members after iftar (the meal eaten after sunset)
• Ensure rooms are available for prayer.

If you don’t already, try and allocate a suitable room for prayer. Prayer is an important part of Ramadan.

• Keep your facility at an appropriate temperature.

To avoid players overheating and becoming dehydrated it may be best to keep your facility at a cooler temperature.

• Give your players options.

Allow your players to make the decision of whether they want to train during Ramadan or not. As a club you are there to support the needs of your athletes; if your players feel as though they can train during Ramadan, then please support them in doing so.

• Offer extended opening hours.

Ask your members who are fasting during Ramadan if they would like the option to train during the hours they are not fasting to allow them to refuel after training.

Coaches

• Know your players

Remember, as coaches our duty is to safeguard and support all our players. If you notice someone struggling, don’t be afraid to step in and ask them to sit out and have a breather for a couple of minutes.

• Time for Technique

Ramadan can be demanding on the body and your athletes may lack energy at times. When coaching your players during Ramadan, it’s perhaps a good time focus on technique (rather than strength, speed etc.). Your players may also be dehydrated and lacking nutrients, which could make them more susceptible to injury.