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TERRELL COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) – Extreme heat and football gear is a risky combination. As high school football players take the field this week for their first full padded practices of the season, teams like Terrell Academy are focused on keeping their athletes safe.
“You shouldn’t have to ask for water. If you want water, you get water,” Head Coach Jack Harris told his football team.
Practice on July 29 tested more than just strength and stamina – It also tested heat safety protocols. With hotter days ahead, Terrell Academy coaches said their focus stays on three things: hydration, recovery and keeping their guys safe.
Because school isn’t in session just yet, the football team is allowed to practice in the mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. to keep cool. Once school starts, that timeslot won’t be available, but Coach Harris said he plans to schedule late night or early morning practices to beat the heat.
“We’re always gonna air on the side of safety,” he said. “Safety is always the most important thing. So, it will be a day-to-day thing. We’ll plan and make sure we do everything we can to make sure our kids stay safe.”
The entire coaching staff at Terrell Academy is well aware of the signs of heat stroke and sickness. They are trained to look out for symptoms like cramping, cold clammy skin, dizziness and lethargic behavior.
“It’s important. You got to be able to see those signs. And once again, if we can keep them hydrated – The more hydrated they are, the more opportunities they have, the less likely we are to get into those situations,” Coach Harris said.
When scheduling practice, the coaching staff looks at the wet bulb temperature, which measures how hot it feels when taking humidity into account. If that number is 92° or higher, practice will have to wait.
Athletic Trainer Will Sells said that measuring the heat this way helps staff determine whether or not they can wear full gear for practice or if they can practice at all.
Researchers at the University of Georgia found that Georgia has led the country in heat-related deaths of high school football players since 2009. South Georgia schools have tried to limit heat illness by emphasizing the importance of pre-hydration and recovery.
“It’s water, water, water,” Dylan Harden, a member of the football team, said. “Sometimes we pull people when we are doing a drill, and we’ll be like, ‘Aye. Come hydrate yourself. Get some water.’ And right after this, I’m finna get me an ice bath to cool off a bit.”
Barring the extreme heat, high school football in South Georgia will be back on August 15.
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