International Federation of American Football

By Kristen Shilton

It’s been a record-breaking summer temperature-wise across the United States, but as the calendar gets closer to fall, football’s regular rituals are starting back up again.

As cities across the country report their highest-ever number of 90-degree days, youth football practices and scrimmages carry on as scheduled.

And while there is increased concern for player safety when the mercury rises, doctors and coaches alike see no reason to keep players off the field – as long as the proper precautions are taken.

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New Pickens football coach Chris Parker says the GHSA’s new heat guidelines and education helped last week when one of his players was hospitalized after practice because of a heat illness.

The player, a starter on the defensive line, was released over the weekend, although he might not return to practice until next week, Parker said.

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As football teams return to practice during the next few weeks, coaches will pay attention to many things – effort and execution among them.

Lisa Heaton of Gatorade Sports Science Institute wants coaches to add another item to their watch lists.

Heat indexes.

Heaton spoke Thursday during the NFL/USA Football Youth Summit in Canton, Ohio, urging 150 youth commissioners and high school head football coaches in attendance to become as familiar with hydration and heat preparedness as they are zone blitzes.

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The most dangerous time for amateur athletes may not be during the heat of the game or even in rigorous practices. A total of 21 college football players have collapsed and died during conditioning workouts since 2000 — many on the first few days, when even the fittest players are often pushed too hard.

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Players aren’t the only ones needing proper hydration during hot months.

Coaches experience the same high temperatures as their players during practices. Most of the time, they do similar exercises as their players, such as throwing and running. This means they have to be just as cognizant about hydration as their players.

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Youth sports programs need to have guidelines to protect young athletes against heat illness, says an updated policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Click here to read more.

Top help prevent illness and dehydration during record-setting heat waves sweeping across the nation, the NCAA is providing parents, players and coaches with good advice to combat high temperatures.

The NCAA has released three posters that are free and available to download from the Internet. The posters warn athletes and coaches about the dangers of the August heat and how to prepare for it. They feature slogans such as “Beat the Heat” and “Tackling Two-a-days” and list a number of ways to cope.

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If you are sweltering in the stands at a youth sporting event, imagine what it's like for the athletes. Learn who's at risk of dehydration - and how to prevent it.

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As football practices continue through the dry, hot month of August, coaches across the nation were reminded of the dangers of asthma following the tragic death of a young player.

Elbert Jovante Woods, the son of former Cincinnati Bengals running back Ickey Woods, died Aug. 14, three days after suffering an asthma attack.

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As the summer sun continues to bear down, the dog days of August and preseason football are just around the corner.

Many youth leagues and high schools across the country will begin preparations for the 2010 season with two-a-day practices filled with conditioning drills, play installation and fine-tuning fundamentals. The physical and mental grind will be at a high, meaning proper hydration will be paramount.  

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