Rainy weather occurs for much of the year in the United Kingdom and northern Europe. If you want to play football at a high level, then you will need to get used to training and playing matches in rainy conditions. Building up your mental and physical toughness to the elements can make you a better footballer.

If you plan to train or play a match in rainy weather, here are some tips to improve your performance. Being prepared for rainy weather will enable you to feel more comfortable outside in the elements. Don’t miss our tips for winter/cold weather clothing. 

Dress in layers

If it is cold and rainy, you should wear layers of clothing. The layer closest to your body is the most important of all. You should wear a technical fabric like a base layer.  A base layer will wick water and sweat away from your skin. Your outer layer should be a wind- and water-resistant piece of clothing. A jacket or gilet is ideal. Don’t forget to add a beanie to your head to keep the heat from escaping your body.

Change clothes immediately after training or a game

You should change clothes quickly after training to remove the wet items you trained in. Your risk of hypothermia increases after training if you remain in your wet, cold clothing. Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature lowers considerably. Always have an extra set of training clothing with you when you train on a rainy day. An extra pair of socks and another pair of boots can be very helpful.

Clean your boots

You never leave your wet football boots in a bag after a rainy training session or match. You need to clean your boots after the session or game to ensure they latest. Water, dirt, and mud can reduce the life of your football boots. Cleaning them can extend the life of your boots. Boots are not cheap and the price of buying new boots every six months adds up. One trick to drying out your boots is to place crumpled up newspaper inside them to soak up the moisture. In addition, do not leave them on or next to a heater or radiator. The heat can dry out the leather (or other material) causing the boots to crack.