Sports players sometimes spit out water because they are trying to cool their mouth, rinse their mouth, or quickly manage hydration during competition without swallowing a large amount of liquid. It can look strange to spectators, but there are several practical reasons athletes may spit water out during a game or race.
In many cases, athletes take a quick drink, swish the water around their mouth, and then spit it out. Other athletes simply spit because they do not want to swallow while running or playing. The reason depends on the sport, situation and individual athlete.
Sometimes Athletes Are Simply Rinsing Their Mouths
One of the simplest explanations is that an athlete wants to rinse their mouth.
During intense exercise, the mouth can become dry. Breathing heavily, especially through the mouth, can make that feeling stronger. Taking a small amount of water can provide temporary relief.
An athlete may swish the water around the mouth and spit it out rather than swallowing it.
This can be particularly convenient during a short break when the athlete does not want to drink a large volume of fluid.
Why Athletes May Not Want to Swallow a Lot of Water
Drinking too much at once during intense exercise can be uncomfortable.
A full stomach can feel heavy or cause sloshing, particularly when an athlete is running, jumping or making rapid movements. Some athletes therefore prefer taking small amounts at frequent intervals.
Spitting out excess water can also help an athlete avoid drinking more than they want at that particular moment.
This does not mean athletes should avoid hydration. During prolonged or intense exercise, replacing fluids lost through sweat is important. The appropriate amount depends on factors such as exercise intensity, duration, temperature and individual sweat rate.
Mouth Rinsing Can Be Used During Endurance Exercise
There is another interesting reason athletes sometimes put a carbohydrate-containing drink in their mouth and spit it out.
Researchers have studied carbohydrate mouth rinsing, in which an athlete swishes a carbohydrate solution around the mouth for a short period before spitting it out.
Studies suggest that carbohydrate exposure in the mouth can activate receptors associated with the brain’s reward and motivation systems. In some exercise situations, this may temporarily improve perceived effort or performance without requiring the athlete to swallow the carbohydrate.
The effect is generally more relevant to short, high-intensity or endurance efforts where athletes are trying to maintain performance while avoiding the gastrointestinal discomfort that can sometimes come from consuming carbohydrates.
It is not the same as getting the full nutritional benefit of drinking a sports drink.
Do Athletes Get Energy From Spitting Out Sports Drinks?
Not in the same way they would from swallowing the drink.
When an athlete drinks a carbohydrate-containing beverage, carbohydrates can be absorbed and used as an energy source. When the athlete only rinses and spits it out, they are not consuming the drink in the normal sense.
Research into carbohydrate mouth rinsing suggests that the mouth itself can detect carbohydrates and send signals to the brain. However, the athlete does not receive the same amount of carbohydrate, calories or fluid that would come from swallowing the beverage.
This is why mouth rinsing should not be viewed as a replacement for normal nutrition and hydration.
Why Do Soccer Players Spit So Much?
Soccer players are especially noticeable because they spend a long time on the field and frequently have opportunities to drink water or sports beverages.
A soccer match involves repeated running, sprinting and changes of direction. Players can become thirsty while continuing to compete.
Some players drink quickly and continue playing. Others may take a small amount into their mouths and spit it out.
There is also a simple cultural factor: spitting has become common in many outdoor sports. A player may spit because of saliva buildup, dry mouth, mucus or the physical effects of intense exercise.
Not every instance of spitting is related to drinking water.
Why Do Football Players Spit?
American football players may spit for similar reasons.
Players wear helmets and other protective equipment, and they can spend long periods breathing heavily during intense activity. Saliva can build up, and players may spit simply because it feels more comfortable.
Football also involves frequent stoppages, giving players opportunities to receive water or sports drinks.
If a player takes a drink and spits some of it out, it does not necessarily indicate a special hydration technique. Sometimes the player simply took more fluid than they wanted.
Why Do Basketball Players Spit?
Basketball players also sometimes spit during games because they are exercising intensely while breathing heavily.
The mouth can become dry, and saliva production and consistency can change during exercise. Players may also spit to clear saliva before continuing to play.
Basketball has frequent breaks and substitutions, so players have opportunities to drink fluids.
If they take only a small amount of water, they may swallow it normally. If they are simply trying to wet their mouth, they may spit some of it out.
Does Spitting Cool an Athlete Down?
Spitting water out does not provide the same cooling effect as drinking enough fluid to replace sweat losses.
However, having water in the mouth can create a temporary cooling or refreshing sensation. This can make an athlete feel more comfortable, especially during hot conditions.
Athletes also use other strategies to manage heat, including drinking appropriately, cooling the skin, using ice or cold towels, seeking shade when possible and adjusting activity when conditions are dangerous.
For actual hydration, the important factor is fluid absorption rather than simply putting water in the mouth.
Why Do Athletes Spit During Hot Weather?
Hot weather increases the challenge of exercise because the body has to remove more heat.
Sweating is one of the body’s main cooling mechanisms. Sweat that evaporates from the skin helps transfer heat away from the body.
When athletes lose substantial amounts of fluid through sweating, replacing fluids becomes important.
A player who is hot and thirsty may repeatedly take small drinks. Some water may then be spit out because the athlete does not want to swallow all of it at once.
However, persistent or excessive fluid loss can become dangerous. Athletes participating in prolonged exercise in hot conditions need an appropriate hydration strategy rather than relying on mouth rinsing.
Is It Better to Swallow Water or Spit It Out?
That depends on why the athlete is drinking.
If the goal is hydration, swallowing the appropriate amount of fluid is what allows the body to absorb it.
If the goal is simply wetting or rinsing the mouth, spitting it out can accomplish that without adding much fluid to the stomach.
For prolonged exercise, athletes may also need carbohydrates and electrolytes in addition to water. The appropriate strategy depends on the duration and intensity of the activity, environmental conditions and the athlete’s individual needs.
There is no universal rule that athletes should either swallow or spit out water.
Can Spitting Water Prevent Stomach Problems?
It can potentially reduce the amount of fluid sitting in the stomach because the athlete is not swallowing everything they put in their mouth.
However, this should not be confused with preventing all exercise-related stomach problems.
Gastrointestinal discomfort can have many causes, including consuming too much fluid at once, consuming concentrated drinks, eating immediately before exercise, intense exercise itself and individual tolerance.
Athletes who repeatedly experience significant nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or other concerning symptoms during exercise should discuss the problem with a qualified healthcare professional or sports dietitian.
What About Sports Drinks?
Sports drinks can contain water, carbohydrates and electrolytes.
During longer or harder exercise, these ingredients can be useful because athletes may lose both fluid and electrolytes through sweat and may use carbohydrate as fuel.
But drinking a sports drink is different from simply rinsing the mouth.
If an athlete drinks and swallows it, the fluid and nutrients can be absorbed. If the athlete spits it out, the hydration and carbohydrate contribution will be much smaller.
Some athletes may deliberately use a carbohydrate mouth rinse in specific circumstances, but this is generally a performance strategy rather than a basic hydration technique.
Is Spitting Water During Sports Bad?
Not necessarily.
Occasionally spitting water during exercise is not inherently harmful. An athlete may be rinsing the mouth, removing excess fluid or simply choosing not to swallow a particular mouthful.
The more important question is whether the athlete is replacing enough fluid when fluid replacement is needed.
If someone repeatedly spits out nearly everything they drink during a long workout or competition, they may not be adequately replacing fluid losses.
This becomes especially important during prolonged activity, high temperatures or heavy sweating.
Why Do Athletes Spit Even When They Are Not Drinking?
Athletes do not always spit because of water.
Intense exercise can cause athletes to breathe through their mouths, which can change how the mouth feels. Saliva may become thick or uncomfortable. Dust, grass, mucus or other material can also irritate the mouth or throat.
There is also a behavioral element. Spitting is simply common in some sports, particularly outdoor sports.
For spectators, repeated spitting can therefore look like a deliberate performance technique when it may simply be a normal response to intense physical activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do sports players spit water out?
Players may spit water out to rinse or wet their mouths, remove excess fluid or avoid swallowing more than they want during competition. In some endurance situations, athletes may also use carbohydrate mouth rinsing as a performance strategy.
Does spitting water hydrate you?
No. Hydration occurs when fluid is swallowed and absorbed. Simply putting water in your mouth and spitting it out does not provide the same hydration benefit.
Why do athletes rinse their mouths with sports drinks?
Some athletes use carbohydrate mouth rinsing because carbohydrate receptors in the mouth can send signals to the brain that may influence perceived effort and exercise performance. The athlete does not receive the same nutritional benefit as someone who swallows the drink.
Do soccer players spit water out?
Yes, some soccer players do. They may rinse their mouths, take only a small drink, or spit because of saliva or discomfort during intense exercise.
Is it bad to spit water during exercise?
Not necessarily. Occasional spitting is generally not a concern. The important issue is maintaining appropriate hydration during activities where significant fluid is lost.
Should athletes always drink water during exercise?
Not always. Hydration needs depend on the activity, duration, intensity, weather and individual sweat losses. During longer or very intense exercise, an athlete may need fluids containing electrolytes and carbohydrates rather than water alone.
The Bottom Line
Sports players spit out water for several reasons. They may be rinsing their mouths, trying to feel refreshed, avoiding an overly full stomach, or using a carbohydrate mouth-rinsing strategy during certain types of exercise.
Spitting water out is not the same as hydrating. If an athlete needs to replace fluid lost through sweating, the fluid generally needs to be swallowed and absorbed.
The habit is therefore not necessarily strange or unhealthy. In many cases, it is simply a quick way for an athlete to manage how their mouth and stomach feel while competing. The exact reason varies from one athlete and sport to another.