It’s August, the month of scorching heat and hard-hitting plays on the practice field.
Football is back in action. The wait is over for local athletes like Brookville High School defensive end Danny Adcock.
“This is the work you have to put in for Friday nights to really pay off,” said the senior.
This month isn’t just a pay off for the players on the gridiron, there’s also work on the sidelines beyond the plays. The water girls fill up the coolers, while head athletic trainer Breanne Piatt is out gauging the temperature. The temperature on Monday, she says, is 89 degrees.
The real feel? 91.
“We got a nice little breeze out here,” said head coach Coach Jonathan Meeks. “Compared to last week, this is a bit of AC for the guys.”
“It’s very good that it’s not hotter than it was or that I anticipated,” says Piatt, “but it also tells me that if I’m in street clothes and I’m feeling this way, than my kids that are working out are still going to psychologically think that it is hotter than what it is.”
Piatt says while players learn routes and formations, they’re also educated on their bodies and the effects of heat, heat illness and dehydration. She’s still monitoring the temperature outdoors every hour, while keeping a close eye on each kid. Water breaks are also mandatory throughout practice, says Piatt.
The eight-year athletic trainer at Brookville checks on two varsity football players who were pulled on Friday.
“We’re not going to have this issue this year, right?” Piatt says to the player as he downs a drink of water. “You’re looking dehydrated already.”
Piatt says, if it gets too hot, they’ll start telling coaches to take off pads, helmets, have extra water breaks or take practice inside
“Feeling fatigued is normal, but if you feel like you’re dragging through the mud, you can’t sweat, you’re getting confused, you’re excessively thirsty and you’re wanting water, then you’re already dehydrated and we need to start catching you up on that.”
ORIGINAL ARTICLE:
http://www.wset.com/story/29700699/brookville-athletic-trainers-keep-cool-eye-on-players-during-hot-practices