How would you know if a player is dehydrated?

The correct answer is monitoring hydration status through urine color and frequency, as these indicators provide tangible and specific insights into a player’s hydration level. Urine color is a reliable measure; darker urine typically indicates dehydration, while light, pale urine suggests adequate hydration. Additionally, the frequency of urination can help determine hydration status; infrequent urination may signal dehydration, particularly in an athletic context where fluid loss occurs through sweat.

While assessing energy levels, checking pulse rate, and looking for visible signs of fatigue can offer some information about a player's overall condition, they are not direct measures of hydration. Energy levels can fluctuate for various reasons unrelated to hydration, pulse rate can change due to many factors including fitness levels and stress, and visible fatigue may arise from exhaustion or overexertion rather than a lack of fluids. Therefore, urine color and frequency provide a more accurate and objective assessment of dehydration.