The Phil Campbell Bobcats fight Alabama’s sweltering heat as fall practice begins.

By Bart Moss for the FCT

High school football practice began in earnest this week. While coaches will be watching and evaluating their teams to determine position assignments and assessing their strengths and weaknesses, they will also be watching the temperatures and how the players cope with the oppressive Alabama heat and humidity.

Heat illness is something the Alabama High School Athletic Association takes very seriously. This summer at the AHSAA’s annual coaches clinic, University of Alabama team physician Dr. James Robinson spoke to coaches about the dangers of heat illnesses and the warning signs.

According to Robinson, there have been 18 heat-related deaths in the last five years in high school sports. Heat illness is the third most common cause of death in high school athletes. Most of these types of fatalities usually occur in the first four days of practice while athletes are trying to get their bodies acclimated to the temperatures.

Red Bay head coach Michael Jackson said the summer conditioning program helps his players adjust to the heat.

“We condition in the summer in the same heat as the start of football practices so that our kids can handle the heat element,” said Jackson. “We stress hydration and have shorter practice times to slowly work into the season. We use mandatory water breaks every eight to ten minutes during practice time.”

Phil Campbell head coach Ryan Swinney also stressed keeping fluids available to the players.

“We just make sure and try to keep the players hydrated,” said Swinney.  “We take frequent water breaks and have water available at all times during practice.”

As closely as coaches try to watch their players, they also need the players to speak up if they feel like something is wrong.

“We have never had any serious heat situations before,” said Swinney.  “But we tell the boys to make sure a coach knows if they begin to feel sick or weak, and we will give them a break.”

Vina head coach Luke Childers said he feels lucky they have never had a serious heat issue but believes planning and preparation is key.

“We have an emergency heat plan in case a player gets too hot,” said Childers.  “We have an ice bath ready and some cooling headbands to put around them.”

According to Robinson, preventative measures like local coaches are employing is critical. Robinson said if cooling is initiated within the first ten minutes of heat illness symptoms, there is a 100 percent survival rate.