Palm Harbor University High School Football Team Tackles The Heat

The scorching summer heat is always an area of concern when August football practices begin, and is taking every precaution to ensure the safety of its players.

Last week, with temperatures hovering in the low to mid 90’s, the PHUHS varsity football team began preparing for the upcoming season.

The state requires that for the first three days of practice, players wear shorts and no pads or helmets. This helps players get used to the heat.

Keeping athletes hydrated is also an essential part of training for PHUS coaches.

“I tell the players to make sure they hydrate the night before and the day of practice,” said 1^st year Head Coach Matt LePain. 

“I want to see my players walking around during the day with a gallon jug of water prior to practice.”

Coach LePain says the team practices five days a week, with two practices per day on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Practices are in the early morning and late afternoon when temperatures are a bit cooler. The practices can last 2 ½ hours, so coaches make sure players get regular water breaks about every 20 minutes.

LePain says that every once in a while a player may feel the effect of the heat during practice. If this happens, players are immediately sent to a well-shaded area where they're monitored by a trainer.

The players then rest, hydrate, and can resume practice when the trainer gives the okay.

“There has been a dramatic change in way we handle the heat and hydration.” said LePain, “Fifteen, twenty years ago, we would have very few water breaks during practice, Now players can have water anytime they need it.”

Individuals with heat exhaustion tend to have symptoms such as profuse sweating, weakness, muscle cramps, headache, nausea, and vomiting. As dehydration increases from the loss of body water, lightheadedness and fainting may occur especially, if the affected individual stands up quickly.  A low grade fever also may be present.

“I got dizzy and saw lights,” said John, a tenth grade offensive player. “The coach told us up front not to risk it, so I came right over to the trainer.” After a 15 minute break in the shade and plenty of water, John was back on the field practicing.

Parents are satisfied with the supervision their student athletes are receiving. “I’m not worried about heat exhaustion,” said Don Hartwell, the father of a 14 year-old freshman. “My son has played football since he was eight. The PHUHS coaches have stressed safety and they had a hydration meeting.”   

Hillary King, another parent watching practice said coaches have educated parents and players about heat exhaustion,  “Early on, the coaches stressed that the kids needed to hydrate before, during and after practice. The before is the most important.”

It is evident that the PHUHS football program is taking every precaution when it comes to preventing heat exhaustion.

When school opens,  you will be able to spot the football players immediately. They will all be carrying around a one gallon jug of water, courtesy of Coach LePain.

The Florida High School Athletic Association website has more information about preventing heat exhaustion in athletes.