Are Water Breaks still an Issue in Texas?

[Favpack]

Eight years ago yesterday Korey Stringer died of heat stroke - time does fly. Selena Roberts of SI has a good backpage article in SI this week on the water break dilemma.

She states many coaches still deem water breaks as signs of weakness. Kelci Stringer, widow of Korey, aka the Gatorade Mom, is on a mission to rid this type of thinking.

So, what does the Texas coaching landscape look like on this topic in 2009?

[kbarj]

Our coaches (SA Clark) seem to understand about the need for hydration and cool down periods.

[cougardude]

They stress on the news all the time the need to stay hydrated and take cool down breaks in times of extreme heat and when it's hot in general! Coaches should be held liable if kids drop from heat stroke and exhaustion.

[Austin109]

adequate hydration is honestly the best performance enhancer out there. if the boys arent at 100% they cant learn, and play at 100%. a SLIGHT dehydrated buy has a huge negative effect on his playing.

if any coaches arent forcing their players to drink enough water they are hurting themselves. :mad::Censor:

sorry its just the aspiring strength and conditioning coach/ personal trainer in me

[SLC]

Amazingly enough a survey was conducted locally in the DF DUB by the Dallas Morning News and they reported that "most" do not follows the heat guidelines set forth by the UIL and the NATA.... The story was in todays Sunday edition of the Dallas Morning News....

Many area school districts aren't following established guidelines for keeping football players safe from the side effects of practicing in the heat, such as muscle cramps, heat stroke and, in rare cases, death, according to a survey conducted by The Dallas Morning News.

Several area varsity football teams begin practice Monday under the supervision of athletic trainers and coaches. A check of more than 40 area school districts' heat policies shows that most don't fully follow the recommendations of the University Interscholastic League and the Dallas-based National Athletic Trainers' Association.



Full Story here...... http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/sharedcontent/dws/content/topstories/stories/080209dnspohsheat.41a4148.html

[DrEdward]

Amazingly enough a survey was conducted locally in the DF DUB by the Dallas Morning News and they reported that "most" do not follows the heat guidelines set forth by the UIL and the NATA.... The story was in todays Sunday edition of the Dallas Morning News....





Full Story here...... http://www.hsgametime.com/dfw/sharedcontent/dws/content/topstories/stories/080209dnspohsheat.41a4148.html

Yet no one has even started two-a-days or any practices at all as of yet. DMN seems to be projecting the "news" that most will not follow the guidelines adequately. Surely most coaches understand the critical requirements for adequate hydration, unlike the situation in past decades.

[dragonsdaddy]

Eight years ago yesterday Korey Stringer died of heat stroke - time does fly. Selena Roberts of SI has a good backpage article in SI this week on the water break dilemma.

She states many coaches still deem water breaks as signs of weakness. Kelci Stringer, widow of Korey, aka the Gatorade Mom, is on a mission to rid this type of thinking.

So, what does the Texas coaching landscape look like on this topic in 2009?

i think water breaks will always be an issue wherever the pipes are aging. in droughty areas like sa/austin, wasting water in this fashion is real a shame.

[KT2000]

Cool down periods are necessary throughout a long practice, but the real key is that you are hydrated beforehand. Athletes need to get their fluids all day, every day and not just wait until they are active.

[SLC]

Yet no one has even started two-a-days or any practices at all as of yet. DMN seems to be projecting the "news" that most will not follow the guidelines adequately. Surely most coaches understand the critical requirements for adequate hydration, unlike the situation in past decades.



If you read the full story, its going off of information provided to them by several Athletic Directors and Athletic Trainers and it says their names in most cases as well. It would seem just from reading the full story that these are things that aren't followed yearly, so projecting they wont do what they didn't do last season, seems elementary to say the least.


In these cases they are just "recommendations" from the UIL and NATA and not mandated whatsoever, the districts are certainly free to create their own measures.

[PackAttack2005]

Lufkin has never done two a days since Outlaw arrived in 1995 and there are always plenty of water stations available at their practice. The coaches always encourage the kids to stay hydrated. With the Texas heat, it should never be looked upon as a sign of weakness or lack of toughness to relieve your thirst, that's impractical thinking. Without proper hydration, it's like trying to drive your car on the freeway without water in the radiator. Does anyone remember chewing those awful salt tablets back in the day? Yes, before Gatorade and Powerade!;)

[Allstarkaw]

Lufkin has never done two a days since Outlaw arrived in 1995 and there are always plenty of water stations available at their practice. The coaches always encourage the kids to stay hydrated. With the Texas heat, it should never be looked upon as a sign of weakness or lack of toughness to relieve your thirst, that's impractical thinking. Without proper hydration, it's like trying to drive your car on the freeway without water in the radiator. Does anyone remember chewing those awful salt tablets back in the day? Yes, before Gatorade and Powerade!;)
They Still Do It...

[Favpack]

Yet no one has even started two-a-days or any practices at all as of yet. DMN seems to be projecting the "news" that most will not follow the guidelines adequately. Surely most coaches understand the critical requirements for adequate hydration, unlike the situation in past decades.

The Selena Roberts story was pretty much the same - the assumption that most coaches simply refuse to follow standard protocol.

[SLC]

The Selena Roberts story was pretty much the same - the assumption that most coaches simply refuse to follow standard protocol.


Yes...Almost exactly the same....Oh, well, except for actually talking to and naming the people that the DMN talked to and they plainly and simply said this was the case...Other than that...Yes, "pretty much the same".

[33Blood]

The Dallas Morning News must be planning on running a story on water breaks and the heat. They called the fieldhouse inquiring on if there was a procedure in place for water breaks and how to deal with the heat.

[Maroondog]

Lufkin has never done two a days since Outlaw arrived in 1995 and there are always plenty of water stations available at their practice. The coaches always encourage the kids to stay hydrated. With the Texas heat, it should never be looked upon as a sign of weakness or lack of toughness to relieve your thirst, that's impractical thinking. Without proper hydration, it's like trying to drive your car on the freeway without water in the radiator. Does anyone remember chewing those awful salt tablets back in the day? Yes, before Gatorade and Powerade!;)

Practically MADE us do it. That, along with virtually no water breaks,(water makes you weak, remember?) it is a wonder people didn't keel over on a daily basis.

Looking back on it now, I don't know how we survived.

[JagFan]

Cool down periods are necessary throughout a long practice, but the real key is that you are hydrated beforehand. Athletes need to get their fluids all day, every day and not just wait until they are active.

:notworthy:notworthy They can give you all the water breaks you want but if you go into practice dehydrated it will not help.

One way for athletes to see if they are getting enough fluids 24/7 is to check their urine. When they use the restroom it should be clear. Any dark color or strong order you are not getting enough!!

Sorry to be crude but this is what my boys doctor and our dietitian have said for years. It is a simple way for them to see if they are drinking enough.

[DrEdward]

The bands started practice today as well as some of the teams. They were taking water breaks frequently this morning. Surely the football coaches and trainers know as much about this as the band guys.

[yallerjacket2]

Lufkin has never done two a days since Outlaw arrived in 1995 and there are always plenty of water stations available at their practice. The coaches always encourage the kids to stay hydrated. With the Texas heat, it should never be looked upon as a sign of weakness or lack of toughness to relieve your thirst, that's impractical thinking. Without proper hydration, it's like trying to drive your car on the freeway without water in the radiator. Does anyone remember chewing those awful salt tablets back in the day? Yes, before Gatorade and Powerade!;)

When Outlaw was in Sherman, he had the reputation of being the exact opposite. At least in Denison. :D I always heard he was so hard on the kids and so tight with the water, it hurt his team on the field.

[Wypirates03]

The bands started practice today as well as some of the teams. They were taking water breaks frequently this morning. Surely the football coaches and trainers know as much about this as the band guys.

My brother is in the Wylie band, and they made them all bring their gallon water jugs that they provided to all the members. I know they take frequent breaks.

[Favpack]

With band - I almost worry more about the first game than first practice - although both are bad. We still have the old, wool uni's - yuck. Last year, they didn't wear them until the second game.

[Firebird]

This was a problem for us, but that was back in the mid to late 90s. The way it worked was that the varsity got the breaks first, then the jv, then the fish. Often times there would be none left in the coolers by the time the fish break came around. Also, usually you were limited to the one small dixie cup.

[biggolfdad]

Lufkin has never done two a days since Outlaw arrived in 1995 and there are always plenty of water stations available at their practice. The coaches always encourage the kids to stay hydrated. With the Texas heat, it should never be looked upon as a sign of weakness or lack of toughness to relieve your thirst, that's impractical thinking. Without proper hydration, it's like trying to drive your car on the freeway without water in the radiator. Does anyone remember chewing those awful salt tablets back in the day? Yes, before Gatorade and Powerade!;)

I remember those things.. one before and one after each practice... they looked like horse pills

[biggolfdad]

This was a problem for us, but that was back in the mid to late 90s. The way it worked was that the varsity got the breaks first, then the jv, then the fish. Often times there would be none left in the coolers by the time the fish break came around. Also, usually you were limited to the one small dixie cup.

We always had a pipe setup.. One for the varsity, one for the JV, one for the sophomores, and one for the freshman.. worked out good..

Now a lot of teams use a hose hookup to a cooler..

[ken-in-rockwall]

Here's what I have done for my son and it has worked out pretty well..

Have the kid stay away from sodas 3-4 days before 1st practice, then totally stay away from them. Water or power/gator-ade only. (got this from the Boy Scouts as they see this due to all their summer camps - stay away from sodas for 1 week.)

I have him mow the yard at 4-6pm (do this a couple of times before 1st practice). This is the same time they will be practicing before and after school starts.. You can watch him, give fluids and watch how he handles the heat..

I get home and then make him go for walks with me (6-7pm) at least 3-6 blocks with water so he is getting out in the heat, and humidity. Doesn't hurt the old man from walking either :D

[Favpack]

Here's what I have done for my son and it has worked out pretty well..

Have the kid stay away from sodas 3-4 days before 1st practice, then totally stay away from them. Water or power/gator-ade only. (got this from the Boy Scouts as they see this due to all their summer camps - stay away from sodas for 1 week.)

I have him mow the yard at 4-6pm (do this a couple of times before 1st practice). This is the same time they will be practicing before and after school starts.. You can watch him, give fluids and watch how he handles the heat..

I get home and then make him go for walks with me (6-7pm) at least 3-6 blocks with water so he is getting out in the heat, and humidity. Doesn't hurt the old man from walking either :D


Alterior motives? Hey, whatever works! :D