ajcsportstalk

By Dan

August 3, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this

It is hard for schools to do anything to prevent incidents like this. Coaches must provide ample water breaks, but in most cases they do. It is on the players to make sure they properly hydrate before practice and eat right.

14-18 year olds want to eat what they want and do what they want, but they must understand that this is in their best interest to take care of their bodies. My junior year of high school when we were having two-a-days in the Atlanta heat two players had to go to the hospital to get fluids because of severe dehydration. In both cases the guys were drinking sodas and eating junk food between practices and thats not good for you.

It needs to be a group effort. Coaches need to meet with players and parents to explain the severity of the situation and work together to prevent tragedies like the one in Rockdale. Hopefully increased education on the subject can prevent this from happening.

By Debbie

August 3, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

Having had two children in the public school system, both who played sports, I can tell you that the word “voluntary” is not part of their vocabulary if they want to be part of a team. If they want a good team, they have to practice. But, that practice should not have to include harming a child’s life!

With that said, I think it is everyone’s responsibility to safeguard these children. The coaches or schools say they are taking proper precautions. What precautions could they posibly be taking in this heat? My children came home hot and sweaty even when they practiced or played in normal temperatures. The only sure precaution would be to not hold a practice in weather reaching over 100 degrees with the heat index! These coaches, school principals and the school boards should be looking at this as a true health issue and put their pride for having a winning team aside.

Parents should refuse to send their children in this heat, and the players themselves, all high school level, should be intelligent enough to just say NO!

I don’t understand why the schools don’t hold their practices after 9:00 p.m. They are dealing with high school aged children, not elementary level. The temperature has dropped down into the 80’s by that hour, and the sun isn’t beating down on these kids.

Or, why not just push the sporting calendars back a month? They play other schools in the same state, so all schools are dealing with the same temperatures. This not only holds true for football, but for soccer as well.

Every person who has condoned these practices and continue to do so, thinking they are taking proper precautions, should all be ashamed of themselves!! How many kids have to collapse or die before it becomes a real issue!!!

By PoliticalMan

August 3, 2006 12:44 PM | Link to this

Of course high schools are not doing enough to prevent players collapsing or dying. But of course they are all sorry if a player succombs. Isn’t that just a bit late?

Hydration and other dietary are important. But they are not the sole factors. When the temp reaches a heat index approaching 100, heat dissipation becomes difficult and core body temps rise. And that can happen even if the player hydrated.

Basically it is just plain stupid to take an entire squad with a whole range of heat coping capabilities and conduct practice under severe conditions. That’s just Russian roulette. That’s what we want: a bunch of fat, ignorant football coaches playing roulette with kids lives? That’s now the situation. Actually it is pretty cynical to be sorry for a kid’s death afterwords.

One commentator is correct. It is not right to put the burden on the kid. The kid wants to play and will be ostracized it he complains about the heat. It is the coach’s responsibility to act intelligently.

By BG

August 3, 2006 12:55 PM | Link to this

Why would an adult take a group of kids out in this weather and run them until they drop? They are liable! In military BASIC training, you did not do PT when the temperature reached a certain level! I guss Uncle Sam has more of an investment in it soldiers than high school football coaches have in their players. It’s incredible.

By Street

August 3, 2006 12:58 PM | Link to this

Today’s McKids do not have the proper nutrition, sense, or year-long activity level to cut it in this heat. If parents are not feeding their kids properly or monitoring their activity levels and habits daily, what’s a coach to do?

By chris

August 3, 2006 01:03 PM | Link to this

i think the schools could do more. when i played in the late 80’s early 90’s we got very few water breaks. when my father played in the late 50’s they didnt get water breaks. now kids spend more time in the air conditioning than they do outside so their bodies dont get adjusted to the heat. but i do believe that they shouldnt practice when its 90 plus outside . we have to remember its just a game and take every precaution availible to keep these things from happening again. my prayers go out to the davis family and anyone who has ever had to deal with anything like this

By Rock Preston

August 3, 2006 01:10 PM | Link to this

If 2-a-days are a must, start the 1st at 7:30 or 8 until 10:00, and then start the 2nd one at 7:00 until 9:00.

By Carl Henderson

August 3, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this

The procedure that can be taken is the use of the HydroMax system. HydroMax is a hydration system that allows football players to drink water while they are on the football field. This accessory mounts to any size shoulder pads, from little league to the Pro’s. A few NFL players are wearing it. Available at eastbay.com, Academy, Sports Authority, and Barcelona Sports. Visit HydroMaxsystem.com

By akb

August 3, 2006 02:20 PM | Link to this

I believe that the coaches should be responsible and the school. We can but that responsiblity on the kids they just want to play. The coaches don’t make it easy for players to admit something is wrong when they tell the players that they must be at practice no matter what if they want to play. Coaches need to revise their practice schedule when the temperature is above 90, inmates don’t even have to work in that kind of heat. Saddly to say that it happen to a member of my family but when is enough is just that enough. Who’s responsible does mean anything to the families that have lost love ones until someone have some back bone and make a stand to do something about this serious problem. Let’s lay a side winning and pride and find some answers.

By PoliticalMan

August 3, 2006 02:46 PM | Link to this

Well, Street, since parents don’t feed their kids right then I guess it is okay for a coach to run the kids in the ground until they drop or die. What a concept.

By Cougar Mom

August 3, 2006 02:49 PM | Link to this

Everyone seems to want to jump on the coaches and school administration and place all of the blame on their shoulders. Ultimately the parents are responsible for their child’s wellbeing. A parent cannot expect a child that has not been conditioning all summer to step onto a football field in 100+ degree temperatures without the child suffering side effects. My son plays on Alexander High School’s football team in douglas County. Absolutely to a science, the children that were having problems yesterday were the children that chose to skip summer workouts and agilities. People don’t get up off their couch and go run a marathon. They TRAIN for it. They PREPARE for it. These Student-athletes should be expected to train and prepare as well. We have taught our son how to properly hydrate and the inportance of hydrating. We follow up and make sure he is consuming the proper amounts of fluid over the course of a 24 hour period. We give him the tools that he needs to be healthy….the coach gives him the tools to succeed at his chosen sport. A staff of 6 - 8 coaches simply cannot oversee the conditioning and hydration of 100 + or - young men when those young are not in thier care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All of the coaches in the greater Atlanta Area that have been reported on are doing everything within their scope to ensure the boys safety and wellbeing. I am not a doctor, but all of my research shows that the very first and most important thing to do in order to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke is hydration. Hydration simply does not take place on the field….if you wait to try and hydrate at the point of exercise - you are simply too late. I tip my hat to all Coaches - expecially ours at Alexander. We love you guys, keep up the GREAT WORK!

By Jon

August 3, 2006 02:59 PM | Link to this

This is completely stupid. I use to play competitive tennis all throughout the hottest days of the year which requires more cardio on a hotter surface than any football practice and I nor anyone I know ever “collapsed”. If most of these coaches had some sort of education other than the fact that they played football at some high school and graduated, we would not have these problems. Yes you can blame it on the kids, but it should be a coaches job to educate the kids, and variabalize their practices based on the heat. But I would bet most of these coaches don’t know what that word means. I bet most high school football coaches don’t know how much hydration an athlete needs under different heat conditions and the type of practice they are holding. Especially since most of these kids probably eat like crap during the day which dehydrates them even more. I’m a pretty recent high school graduate and I think some of the dumber teachers were in fact the athletic coaches. Sorry to any coaches out there that are educated, this is a general statement as to what I have seen. Notice how Private High Schools do not seem to have as big as a problem as public. Coincidence? I think not.

By Cougar Mom

August 3, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this

Football field = 120 yards by 53 1/3 yards 1/2 of a tennis court = aprox. 15 yards X 14 yards

Football player wears 20 plus pounds of equipment Tennis player wears shorts / tank and carries a graphite racket that might be 2 pounds

Football game = 3 hours Tennis Match = 20 minutes?

By mike

August 3, 2006 03:44 PM | Link to this

LOOK, NOT TO BE INSENSITIVE TO ANYONE, BUT EVERY YEAR THIS HAPPENS. 1 KID DIES, 30 OTHER SUFFER EXHAUSTION. ITS NOTHING NEW. TO THOSE WHO HAVE LOST, IM SORRY… I TRULY AM. BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR YEARS IN THE SOUTHERN HEAT!!! PARENTS, IF YOUR KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN SPORTS, HAVE A GALLON OF WATER A DAY ATTACHED TO THERE HIPS. THEY CANT GO ALL DAY DRINKING SOFT DRINKS AND MILK, AND THEN EXPECT TO GET ON THE “FIELD” AND HYDRATE AS THEY GO. THE BODY DOESNT WORK THAT WAY!!! WHEN I PLAYED HIGHSCHOOL BASEBALL, I KEPT A FULL WATER BOTTLE AT ALL TIMES, AND A GATORADE OR 2 THROUGHOUT THE DAY! IF THEY’RE NOT WILLING TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY, THEY HAVE NO BUISNESS ON THE FIELD. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE NON-MANDATORY CONDITIONING STARTS 4 WEEKS BEFORE THE MANDATORY STUFF STARTS, GET THEIR A*******ES OUT THERE!!! THIS SHOULD IN KNOW WAY BE THE COACHES OR PROGRAMS FAULT. QUIT LOOKING FOR EXCUSES AND SCAPEGOATS TO TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT ITS THE PARENTS FAULT!!!

By YMA

August 3, 2006 04:23 PM | Link to this

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: IN AUGUST IT IS TOO DARN HOT TO HAVE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND PRACTICING IN SEVERE HEAT. WE NEED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL WHEN THE REST OF THE NATION GOES BACK—-IN SEPTEMBER—WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS MILDER AND COOLER. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY IN GEORGIA THE STUDENTS ARE OUT IN MAY BACK IN AUGUST? THIS SCHEDULE IS CERTAINLY NOT HAVING AN EFFECT ON TEST SCORES, SINCE AS A STATE WE ARE ALWAYS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST!

By ks

August 3, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this

Ever notice that it’s larger football players and not the smaller cross country athletes that are affected by the heat? What have the kids done during the summer to acclimate to the heat? As a runner I see the cross country teams practicing all summer long with little effects from the heat, so I’m left wondering if some of the players are just simply “practicing” their John Madden football skills then expecting to jump into real training. Parents encourage your kids to go outside and sweat a little. They won’t melt.

By Debbie

August 3, 2006 06:57 PM | Link to this

Response to Cougar Mom - I agree with you on the size of the field, the amount of clothes worn and amount of time on the field in comparison to that of a tennis play - but then you said the first thing to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke is to hydrate you weren’t quite right. The first thing is to NOT go out and run around that entire football field with that extra 20 pounds of gear for 3 hours when it’s over 100 degrees!!!

I don’t care how much you hydrate, 100 degrees is 100 degrees! And our children shouldn’t be asked to “practice” in that condition!!!!!

I was in my own yard yesterday at 3:00 p.m. for about an hour. I was watering plants in pots, along with a few other non-exertive chores.I had been drinking water all day. By the time I finished outside, I was soaking wet!! I went inside and felt shakey and sick to my stomach - all heat related!! I was hydrated and I was only wearing a sleeveless top and light weight cotton pants.

Please folks - stop repeatedly saying hydrate, hydrate, hydrate … Just move the practices to late evening hours and the problem goes away!

By Paul Gaither

August 3, 2006 07:02 PM | Link to this

Jon—-Football players always could and always will be able to whip tennis player’s butts in a fight.

Paul

By Paul Gaither

August 3, 2006 07:06 PM | Link to this

KS,

Footballers can beat up cross country runners too.

Paul

By Paul Gaither

August 3, 2006 07:07 PM | Link to this

Mike,

Same for baseball players.

Paul

By PKB

August 3, 2006 09:05 PM | Link to this

Please see www.coolshirt.net there is a cooling system that DOES work to help eliminate heat induce fatigue. Football players can benefit. Racecar drivers use it and surgeons in the operating room use it.

By pkb

August 3, 2006 09:07 PM | Link to this

please see www.coolshirt.net something is out there to help with this heat.

By pkb

August 3, 2006 09:08 PM | Link to this

their is something out there. Personal cooling systems Cool Shirt dot net. Please look it up.

By Greg

August 3, 2006 11:14 PM | Link to this

I am a certified athletic trainer for a high school in South GA. I and the entie coaching staff have been reminding the athletes to be sure that they drink plenty of fluids and about how to properly hydrate. I have gone over and sent handouts home to parents on how to train for the beginning of fb practice. Yes there are some who take training seriously and those who do not. Today I spent time with those who have not put forth the effort to train properly. Thank goodness they recovered quickly and there were no furhter problems. Our staff here goes to great length to make sure the kids are hydrating properly. Yeah it would be great to buy all the top of the line hydrating equipment but how many parents or school systems are going to go out and buy the for each kid on the team. Coaches out there are doing everything possible to make sure the kids are taking care of themselves, they are the last ones that want something to happen. It is a respknsibility on all paties involved (1) the parents, (2)the athletes, (3)the coaches, (4) the administration,(5) the GHSA, and (6) the certified athletic trainers . All working together will ensure the safety of the athletes.

By KevinP

August 3, 2006 11:27 PM | Link to this

The hypocritical stance of the GHSA on this heat issue is astounding. The reason football starts so early is so they could add layers of playoff games and still play the championship games before the winter break and so they can have pre-season scrimmages,charge money and make money. Every decision they make is based on money, not on the welfare of the athletes. Go back to the days of a two week pre-season practice schedule starting in mid-August with early morning and late evening practices, do away with the pre-season srimmages( Colleges don’t do it ) and make it where only region champions make the playoffs which would shorten the playoffs and you could possibly solve some of the problems that plague high school football which has become a full time commitment for both coaches and players. As a former coach, I lost many players who were not willing to give a year-round commitment to what used to be a seasonal sport. It has gotten way out of control and the egotistical coaches( most of whom were only marginal players as high schoolers ) and parents are the ones to blame.

By Rodney

August 4, 2006 07:28 AM | Link to this

The problem is that our schools have taken the chance for two a days practices with the year round calenders.Schools are starting the first week of August and the first day of football was August 2.The school leadership needs too realize that this is part of the problem also.Schoolleaders and coaches must work together too create a safer situation for these students.

By Cougar Mom

August 4, 2006 08:32 AM | Link to this

Response to ill-informed Debbie.

Call your Doctor, or a certified athletic trainer, or browse the medical webites. I am EXACTLY right. What you fail to factor into this equation Debbie is that these boys CHOOSE to play football. Nobody forces them. The point that I was making - that you COMPLETELY chose to ignore to try to make your uneducated opinion - is that football is a very physically and mentally demanding sport that REQUIRES conditioning. Regardless of what anyones opinion is of the sport, the bottom line is that football is rigourously more strenuous and physically demanding than most sports. I have a vested interested in this subject and have for 10 years now. My son is a football player. I am VERY proud of him. I know EXACTLY how much work and effort he puts into this endeavor. Quite frankly, it pisses me off that there are kids (AND THEIR PARENTS) out there that sit on their butt all summer long, that are out of shape that step into the football field in August without conditioning that get into physical trouble and then they want to blame EVERYONE else but themselves. The perameters of the game are what they are….in order to play the game, you have to work within those perameters. ALL high schools have a summer weight program for a reason. ALL high schools have summer agilities for a reason. If the player chooses to NOT condition - how is that the coaches fault, or the GHSA fault, or the athletic trainers fault, or the school administrations fault? It isn’t, but in our society when tragedy strikes, we must have SOMEONE to blame. The high schools HAVE changed their practice times, they DO use wet bulbs, they OFFER (they are not allowed to REQUIRE!) weight training and conditioning over the summer, they have watering stations and misting stations, they monitor fluid loss, they teach and preach conditioning and HYDRATION (again, I am correct about this)the bottomline is that if you have a child that is out of shape and is not conditioned for this level of physical ativity - he is going to encounter problems.

By RodB

August 4, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

Kevin nailed the problem to a tee. When GHSA decides to stop being so hypocritical and actually addresses the problem will be when money is a problem. GHSA could mandate changes but they do not have the heart, guts, fortitude nor the integrity to make change. They take the path of least resistance because it is the easy way…They talk a good game about being in charge but in actuality the last time somebody was in charge was when Mr. Fordham was the executive director. (Get rid of the preseason scrimmages, move the practices to early morning and late evening)Either you are in charge of the rules are you aren’t. Quit passing the buck GHSA and stand for something beside the almighty dollar. Kids are in trouble because you(GHSA) have no integrity to step up to the plate and mandate healthy change. You won”t stand up to the Coaches because you(GHSA)are afraid they will be unhappy with you. You ask the kids to play by the rules. Why don’t you protect them from their idiot coaches who you oversee with rules in your White Book? Any choach who had practice between 4 and 7 during these hot days is an idiot. The games during the season are played at night starting at 7.30 or 8.00. Common Sense is sorely lacking and some people you have to regulate. Do your job GHSA? That is why you exist or is it to simply make money off high school kids?

By Trojan Mom

August 4, 2006 01:33 PM | Link to this

Amen Amen AMEN Cougar Mom!!!!! I am from Flordia. Workouts are completely different and MUCH harder than those here in Georgia. The weather in Florida is also worse in central FLA. I know all of this because my husband played college (in the south) and professional (all over). IF your son (or daughter) CHOOSES not to following ALL instructions giving regading diet and workouts, THAT’S YOUR FAULT. YOU ARE THE PARENT AND SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHAT YOUR CHILD IS DOING OR NOT DOING!

By Trojan Mom

August 4, 2006 01:58 PM | Link to this

Also. My kids run summer track (the hottest days of the year). Practice is 6:30pm to 8:30pm (the hottest time of the day). You don’t hear about heat exhaustion or dehydration with these kids. It’s not what they wear on the outside, it’s what they put (or don’t put) on the inside. AGAIN, it’s a parent thing!

By fballplayer

August 5, 2006 12:52 AM | Link to this

by the time practice starts players should already be in shape from summer workouts if they are dedicated, but a lot of kids aren’t and they are the ones that suffer