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Post by coachmoore42 on Aug 6, 2007 23:09:13 GMT -6
Our HC told me the heat index is going to be 105 tomorrow, and 107 Wednesday. He questioned me about going into the gym for practice and what I felt we could do in there.
We've got about 60 players so space would be an issue. I'd probably have to take our JV guys into another part of the gym while the HC has the varsity on the court.
I'm looking for thoughts on the call of bringing them into the gym. If you wouldn't bring them inside at those heat indexes, how hot would it have to be before you did so?
I'm also looking for ideas for what to do if we have to be in there. Both group stuff (OL and backs) and conditioning stuff.
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Post by larrymoe on Aug 6, 2007 23:18:06 GMT -6
Our HC told me the heat index is going to be 105 tomorrow, and 107 Wednesday. He questioned me about going into the gym for practice and what I felt we could do in there. We've got about 60 players so space would be an issue. I'd probably have to take our JV guys into another part of the gym while the HC has the varsity on the court. I'm looking for thoughts on the call of bringing them into the gym. If you wouldn't bring them inside at those heat indexes, how hot would it have to be before you did so? I'm also looking for ideas for what to do if we have to be in there. Both group stuff (OL and backs) and conditioning stuff. Stay outside. Give them a ton of breaks. Scale down conditioning a little. Take extended breaks. You'll still get more done outside with a very conservative schedule than you'll ever get done inside. Plus it's football. Things aren't supposed to be easy.  |
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Post by ocinaz on Aug 7, 2007 2:51:32 GMT -6
Couldn't agree more....It gets a little hot here in AZ, we just always have water available, a few more breaks...Have never had any issues...
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Post by ajreaper on Aug 7, 2007 7:25:00 GMT -6
The most critical thing is you must stress that they arrive to practice very well hydrated- they must drink all day not wait until they are thirsty at practice. Then make sure there is plenty of water available and that they can drink whenever they need- we have water bottle carriers that go with each group as they move through practice and they drink whenever they want to. Do that and you'll be able to get through practice outside with out a problem.
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Post by coachorr on Aug 7, 2007 7:53:57 GMT -6
Why not practice under the lights and practice once a day. Say 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM
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Post by knight9299 on Aug 7, 2007 8:01:28 GMT -6
Why not practice under the lights and practice once a day. Say 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM Good lord man 4 am?  We're running 2 a days from 8-10 am and then 6-8 pm. It's hot but not oppressively hot at those times. |
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Aug 7, 2007 8:09:12 GMT -6
Why not practice under the lights and practice once a day. Say 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM
That's kind of what we do... except it is 6:30-10:00.
I agree with others... get outside and have a lot of breaks for water. We have to do this some once school starts (we'll have high heat indexes through early Sept... we even get out of school for heat- might not now that we have air conditioning... which is good for FB practice).
Just thinking about this- years ago when I coached in the mountains of Wyoming, we had the state rules meeting and discussed heat issues at length. We practiced at 7 AM there. First day of practice, I drove by the bank on my way to school at 6:00... temp was 18 degrees. Of course it got warmer later. By the end of the week, we saw it go up to 23 in the morning.
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Post by spartancoach on Aug 7, 2007 8:21:03 GMT -6
We are doing 7:30am-9:30am and 6pm-8pm to combat the heat. Plus, a lot of water flowing, as others have said.
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Post by larrymoe on Aug 7, 2007 8:46:28 GMT -6
Senator- where in Wyoming were you and how late did you start practice? 18 seems pretty chilly.
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Post by kcbazooka on Aug 7, 2007 9:56:23 GMT -6
Coach Moore - I know some school districts in our area that do not allow you practice if the heat index is too high. I agree that if possible you go outside but if you can't there are things you can get done inside. You can always condition inside - same types of conditioning drills as basketball -- running is running. When we practiced inside we had our skill people inside and we would do receiving drills, lots of fundamentals. Linemen were still able to do their birddog drills. We used the time to do team walk thrus. We also put in time to teach PAT and Punt team alignments as the gym was actually quieter than it would have been outside. Obviously you can't hit but you can get a lot of stuff done.
We may be in that situation today - supposed to be 107 heat index. with no signs of it getting any better during two-a-days.
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Post by jhanawa on Aug 7, 2007 11:12:31 GMT -6
107 is a nice day, at least here in AZ. We just make our kids drink water all day until they are peeing clear, and give them three 5 minute water breaks during a 2 hour practice. In addition to that, they can get water at anytime during practice. After practice gatorade type stuff is ok.
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Post by coachmoore42 on Aug 7, 2007 16:34:48 GMT -6
Thanks for all of the responses.
The HC made the call to keep them inside. 105 heat index (muggy North Georgia), temp itself was like 98-100. We were able to do our outside conditioning circuit in the gym with minor adjustments. The gym was almost as hot as it normally is outside this time of year (80-90 heat index), which made for good conditioning. After that, we took them into separate areas to go through plays. Linemen went through assignments while our backs practiced reading inside veer (they looked a lot better than they did yesterday which will build them some confidence...and we need it).
Until today, I agreed that we should go outside and tough it out. They seemed to pick the stuff up better without the heat beating down on them. I know they'll have to do it in the heat when it counts, but it will not be this hot. The non-air conditioned gym with the fans going was a pretty good substitute.
In my opinion, our HC made the right call (although I disagreed initially). We got a lot done, including some conditioning, and nobody fell out.
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Post by airman on Aug 7, 2007 16:41:44 GMT -6
we go 4 to 5 , 1.5 hr practices with 1 hr in between. we stretch inside and then go outside. we make them drink and eat in between practices.
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Post by coachmoore42 on Aug 7, 2007 16:58:04 GMT -6
School has already started so we're confined to four hours between 3:18 and 7:18.
We can't really depend on the kids drinking enough water. We stress it daily, but with some middle school kids it's in one ear and out the other. They don't drink enough away from practice so we continue to stress drinking every chance you get, even when you're not thirsty. Given all of that, we still have to protect them to some degree. But rest assured, it was as hot in that gym today as it will be at our first game...and they thought that they were in heaven because it was scorching and muggy outside.
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Post by phantom on Aug 7, 2007 17:36:28 GMT -6
Here in Virginia we had an 108 degree heat index- 96 degrees and 70% humidity. We're in the south, though, so you have to expect that in August. If we kept them in every time it's hot we'd never practice. Morning defensive practice was OK but offense in the afternoon was a bear. We tried to be smart about it. We allowed (encouraged) them to drink water any time they weren't actively involved in a drill. The trainer took out pails of water and sponges to mop their heads off. We also cut down on some reps and the intensity. Lots of walking and talking through assignments.
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Post by coachdawhip on Aug 7, 2007 19:17:19 GMT -6
In High School the GHSA said NO outside practice for us this week until after 6pm, we can't go full pads and we can only be outside for 90 minutes.
So we have had practice in the gym for 90 minutes every day this week and weight-lifting & film.
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trojan
Junior Member
[F4:wingtcoach.com] [F4:wingtcoachdon]
Posts: 494
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Post by trojan on Aug 8, 2007 18:16:40 GMT -6
We can't really depend on the kids drinking enough water. We stress it daily, but with some middle school kids it's in one ear and out the other. They don't drink enough away from practice so we continue to stress drinking every chance you get, even when you're not thirsty. Given all of that, we still have to protect them to some degree. Amen brother! I've been teaching middle school for a decade and coaching them for eight years. Telling them to drink water outside of practice is like telling them to go home and study before a test. Even so, I think that you are exactly right about the fact that we need to protect them. We know that a fair amount will not be responsible, so we have to take up the slack. Can't go up to a heat stroke victim and yell, "Told ya' to drink more water!" In any case, I love it  when a kid is obviously not hydrated, but claims they've had plenty of water. Tough crowd. I'm in Cincinnati, by the way. Temps in the upper 90s with higher heat indexes lately. |
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Post by utchuckd on Aug 9, 2007 14:39:44 GMT -6
We got shut down today til Monday. Everything outside is suspended so we'll be in the gym today and tomorrow. Sucks cause we need live reps at our new veer!
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Post by phantom on Aug 9, 2007 17:57:43 GMT -6
We got shut down today til Monday. Everything outside is suspended so we'll be in the gym today and tomorrow. Sucks cause we need live reps at our new veer! Put them in pads and sneakers, then. We've done that in the past under similar circumstances. Obviously you can't go full live but you can go hard enough to work on the reads. |
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Post by carookie on Aug 9, 2007 21:39:22 GMT -6
I played near Palm Springs, CA about a decade ago and we'd go 5:30 AM- 11 and call it a day (during two-a-days. It can get upwards of 120 out here and it doesnt drop below 100 til after midnight. I know its a dry heat, but once you start sweating it aint dry no more. I coach about 30 miles away now, and it aint much cooler. We go early morning and evening lots of water and just pay close attention. I hate to say it but last year we had a kid start throwing up due to form running, so with athletes like this you gotta keep em hydrated. You AZ guys can relate im sure
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mojoben
Sophomore Member
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Post by mojoben on Aug 10, 2007 10:23:22 GMT -6
We start practice on Monday here in Kansas and it is expected to have 110+ heat index. I think Sunday is suppose to be between 100-105 without the heat index. We have already told our kids to drink a LOT of water this weekend to get a head start for Monday.
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Post by dubber on Aug 10, 2007 10:40:12 GMT -6
I give my kids a bunch of salt tablets
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We're running 2 a days from 8-10 am and then 6-8 pm. It's hot but not oppressively hot at those times. 
when a kid is obviously not hydrated, but claims they've had plenty of water. Tough crowd.
