Canberra United coach Elisabeth Migchelsen wants Football Federation Australia to overhaul the rules for drinks breaks during games after a draining W-League match at McKellar Park on Sunday.
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United suffered its first defeat of the season when it lost to the Brisbane Roar 1-0.
The home side failed to capitalise on ample opportunities to win and missed a penalty shot in the first half that would have levelled the score.
Migchelsen said her team was not aggressive enough in a high-tempo opening and errors ruined Canberra's chances of victory.
Migchelsen insisted the weather was not an excuse for Canberra's below par performance, but hopes officials change the drinks break rules to protect players from exhaustion.
''In this heat, there should be a water break in the first and second halves. At the World Cup in Brazil they're already speaking about water breaks for the men,'' Migchelsen said.
''The FFA should be doing something about it. The girls are human, it's healthy to have that break.''
Canberra asked officials before the game whether they would be allowed to take a break 20 minutes into the first and second halves.
The request was declined because of FFA guidelines.
Canberra's ambient temperature hit 28 degrees during the round-three clash, but FFA guidelines use a wet bulb measure that takes humidity, wind and radiation into consideration before allowing teams to take extra drinks breaks.
The wet bulb temperature must be approaching 28 degrees before drinks breaks are used. It was around 26 in Canberra on Sunday.
Officials said they were happy that players weren't in danger. Players appeared drained, but Canberra's Lori Lindsey said it wasn't an excuse.
''The heat wasn't too bad, there was a breeze. It wasn't enough to affect either team. It's just a bummer because we needed that win,'' Lindsey said.
Former Canberra star Hayley Raso terrorised the United defence and she set up Elise Kellond-Knight for the only goal of the match in the ninth minute.
Canberra had a chance to hit back just minutes later when Ashleigh Sykes won a penalty shot.
But US import Lindsey's shot hit the left post and Brisbane held on for the rest of the match to secure a vital win.
''We should have at least got a tie. But we weren't at our best today,'' Lindsey said.
''We should have capitalised on our opportunities. We set quite high standards and we didn't meet them today. We have to go back and regroup. Everyone just seemed a little off … I'm disappointed I missed that penalty kick because that would have got us a draw.''
BRISBANE ROAR 1 (Elise Kellond-Knight 9m) bt CANBERRA UNITED 0 at McKellar Park on Sunday. Crowd: 803.
