Join us at this year’s CSCCa National Conference to connect with fellow strength and conditioning coaches and sample the latest Gatorade performance products.

If you’re going to CSCCa this year, be sure to attend our exclusive pre-conference education session.

Hydration is a critical component of athlete health, safety, and performance, yet many athletes rely on outdated advice or common myths when making hydration decisions. Recommendations such as drinking eight glasses of water per day, relying solely on urine color to assess hydration, or assuming certain beverages hydrate better than others can lead to confusion when developing an effective hydration strategy.

This session will examine common hydration myths versus the current scientific evidence. Topics will include the variability in individual sweat rates and how this influences fluid needs, the usefulness and limitations of urine color as a hydration marker, the role of caffeine and whether it meaningfully contributes to dehydration, and misconceptions about beverages composition and the right type of electrolytes. The session will also address the importance of rehydration after exercise, even when cooling strategies such as cold tubs or cooling towels are implemented and discuss practical strategies to ensure adequate rehydration before subsequent training sessions.

Through an evidence-based approach, this session will equip practitioners with practical guidance to help athletes move beyond common hydration myths and implement individualized hydration strategies that support both safety and performance.

• JK Davis — Associate Principal Scientist, GSSI

• Scott Sehnert — Director of Sports Performance, Dallas Cowboys