Advice around Ramadan and Eid please?

[cunoyerjudowel]

I have a girl in a sports class I teach (she is 14 ) who is currently fasting for Ramadan.
It is close contact martial art so my women's only class is the only training she can do within this.

The class is at 630pm for an hour and is usually intense (usually it's her and one to two others) but she is the only one fasting.

She struggles with migraines occasionally and these can flare when fasting

Is there anything I can do to support or amendments I can make to help? I have asked her dad and he really doesn't want her fasting to impact the class but without her the class isn't the same and I would love to support it.

I have a few options:

Making the class more technical and less intense
Altering the time of class
Bringing snacks / drinks incase her fast ends during the class (I don't know what time this is)
Offering to show up at a weekend day clas with my daughter whom she trains in my class usually if this would suit her more (Sundays at 1030)
Just going with her dads offering keeping the class the same

What do you guys think? I don't want to be too much or look ignorant by offering something which would be inappropriate

Then also I would like to get her a gift / card for Eid - something small but to mark the occasion as I am aware the club does loads for Xmas

Well Dad has already told you the answer. Which is he doesn't want the fasting to impact it. If you made the class a bit more technical for the next few weeks then that sounds like the best compromise. She may not want or wish to make a big deal out of it.
She can obviously break the fast once it's dark so depending on what time the sun sets she may be able to have a snack too. But allow her to make those decisions.

In terms of Eid, usually food is a thoughtful gift. Something sweet is often given.

Carry on as normal. She's the one who'll make adjustments. It's only 4 weeks so she'll be back to normal soon.

I understand that you don't want her to be ill, but fasting isn't compulsory if ill. If she urgently needed to drink water, eg. if in danger of fainting, she would.

The whole point of fasting is to continue as normal and do it on top of everyday activities. It's meant to be challenging, and sort of defeats the object if lots of adjustments are made or leeway in usual responsibilities is given.

Ah thanks for the advice- it does make sense not to change things too much- I'll make it a bit more technical as suggested and get some a sweet foodie gift for the present.

I never thought about the embracing the challenge part of it, so thanks so much for that perspective.

Iftar (when she can start eating) is at about 545, or even earlier if you're further north. So she should have eaten or drunk before the class!

I wouldn't change anything, unless she really needs it. It's a bit patronising to do that, especially when you you've been told it's not needed.

It's tricky as she has had to miss some because she as the fasting makes her feel really ill and can't train occasionally - hence why I was asking.

Her dad gave me the heads up about how she struggles with it so many not be in (to which I said no worries at all- can I help in any way)

The class is literally her and my daughter the majority of the time with others popping in and out. The only reason I keep doing it is to give her an option to train- my daughter trains elsewhere the rest of the week. So cancelling the class would suit me more but it is the only option for her. Only female led class in the area at her level.

It was not meant to patronise at all.

Make the class more technical and bring snacks. Tell the girl the snacks are there and leave it up to her of she wants to eat them or not. Make sure you give her absolutely no pressure on accepting them.

Also after Ramadan if there is something in women's sport in general e.g. training and competing around periods that affects your daughter then do some research and have a general discussion with both of them there about managing things like this. This includes asking for help from club mates if they don't think the coach will understand.

I don't think the idea of offering snacks when you wouldn't usually is a good idea. It's her religious belief and means a lot to adhere to fasting.
To 'tempt' Muslims with food during fasting isn't appropriate.
Plenty of food is eaten after dark and I don't think any extra attention needs to be drawn to it in class.

OP did say that would be for when the fast ended actually. She wasn't disrespecting it at all.

As the pp said, fasting will have ended by the time the fast starts. I would just make sure she keeps well hydrated. Presumably if she has a migraine she won't attend. It's really nice that you're being considerate of her needs.