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Westfield State University athletic trainer beats the heat

With a potential heat wave possible this week, it’s important to remember to take it slow outside. 22News talked to the Westfield State University’s football team to see how they are handling the heat and the humidity during preseason.

Athletes not only train themselves physically, they train themselves mentally and they understand the importance of taking care of their body on a hot preseason day.

22News got to Westfield State University mid afternoon Sunday to find the football players taken their day break. And to a meteorologist that’s good news, because temperatures were forecasted to be near 90.

22News talked to Cheryl Lee, Head Athletic Trainer at Westfield State University, to learn how their athletes train under such hot and humid conditions.

“The collegiate season for division 3 we have a 5 day climatization rule, so two days of helmets, 2 days of what we call shells, it’s just shoulder pads and a helmet, for another 2 days and the fifth day is all full pads so than they go double session, single session, so there is no consecutive double sessions as preseason goes.”

22News also talked to two seniors who know the ropes on how to take care of their bodies during long, hot days of practice.

Greg Sheridan, from Burlington, told 22News, “Coaches give us water breaks after every period and than trainers come around and they put little rags into ice buckets and put them on our necks.”

Also a senior at Westfield State University, Marcus Pettigrew from Auburn, added about the importance of taking care of your body off the fields too, “You gotta stay in cool places as much as possible obviously you have to drink a ton of water that’s the most important thing, stretch out, roll out, do what you gotta do.”

Whether your an athlete getting ready for preseason or just taking your workout outside, remember your limits, your body will thank you.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://wwlp.com/2015/08/16/athletes-in-the-heat/