July is typically the hottest month of the year in the Valley. It can get dangerously hot. And, with it hitting 110 degrees or more just about every day, Arizona high school football teams are finding ways to beat the heat and get ready for the season.
For 2A school Phoenix Arizona Lutheran Academy, athletes work out indoors three mornings a week, inside "The Den," an indoor facility near the football field that has enough space for agility and sprint work with weights at the other end.
"We come in and once we get ourselves warmed up, we continue our progression," coach David Peter said. "They're working on the calves and the Achilles to try to avoid those injuries. Then, we get into core for a few minutes. Then, we get into our sprint workout.
"Our sprint work is 10 to 12 yards. We keep going with the conditioning and try to get the reps in as much as we can. We avoid the heat. It's also convenient, because we're able to go from this room to the weight room on the far end of this building. We've got them in here for an hour-and-a-half, three times a week. It's not overkill. We're just trying to let these kids have a summer and our staff have a summer, and do what we can to get them ready,'' he said.
"We're never going to have them run around the track five times, because it's never going to do them any good."
Arizona Lutheran senior running back Elijah Harris, who has been rehabbing from an injury suffered last football season, said that the indoor summer workouts have been good preparation for the season.
"As we transition farther into the season, we'll go outside," Harris said. "We do sprints and different agility things.
"We know that it can get hot out. Coach gives us our water, but we work hard at the same time."
Small schools (3A through 1A) start formal Arizona Interscholastic Association football practices on July 29. Big schools (6A-4A) start the following Monday, Aug. 5. The first small-school games start Aug. 22. The first big-school games start Aug. 29.
Following AIA heat guidelines
The Arizona Interscholastic Association has in its bylaws a heat acclimatization policy that all football teams must follow to prevent potential heat stroke. For the first five days of formal practices, there can only be one practice a day. Practice time shouldn't exceed more than three hours in one day. In addition to the practice, a one-hour maximum walk-through is permitted during the first five days. Walk-throughs are defined as having no contact with other individuals and without sleds, dummies, or shields.
During the first three days, the helmet is the only protective equipment allowed. During days four through six, shoulder pads can be worn, and contact with blocking sleds and tackling dummies can be initiated.
Dr. Jimmy Nguyen, medical director of Dignity Health Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, is a former Chandler Seton Catholic football player. He said precautions need to be taken during hot weather workouts to prevent heat exhaustion, which can lead to fatal heat stroke.
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, exertional heatstroke is the leading preventable cause of death among high school athletes, leading to thousands of emergency room visits nationwide.
"We are seeing an uptick in heat-related illnesses," Nguyen said. "It affects all sports, but I do think it's affecting high school football more just because they're wearing their pads, their gear. It increases their chances of getting heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke."
Nguyen said that between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. are times to avoid outdoor workouts because midday heat is starting to build. He said it's best to have workouts early in the day, preferably before 11 a.m. It's important to hydrate 24 hours beforehand, he said. And to avoid soda and caffeine.
He suggests drinking 12 to 14 cups of water, replenishing when needed and slowly getting acclimated. It's important to know the signs of heat exhaustion before heat stroke develops.
Nguyen warned against taking strength- and muscle-gaining products, such as creatine, because, he said, it can potentially put the athletes at risk for heat-related illness due to fluid shifts in the body.
"The biggest signs for heat exhaustion is people will start having increased thirst, they'll start feeling nauseous, getting headache, feeling weakness and fatigue," Nguyen said. "During that time, people need to loosen up their clothing, go to a cooler area, drink water. If those symptoms don't improve, they need to seek medical attention. Things we worry about when they progress to heat stroke is when they get confusion, whether they become unresponsive. That's a medical emergency and they need to come to the emergency department immediately."
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Frequent water breaks, being smart
Many high school football teams in Arizona are conducting July conditioning workouts in the morning, some as early as 6 a.m.
When school starts, Avondale St. John Paul II coach John Padilla said, his team has to practice right after school, because his field has no lights. That tends to be the hottest part of the day.
"Last season, one of our parents constructed a PVC kiddie carwash that we used to cool down the kids," he said.
American Leadership Academy Queen Creek has a field house that has turf for agility and sprint work. Coach Rich Edwards said that he makes sure the kids get water breaks every 15 minutes, but added they can get water any time needed.
"We have a cooler with ice water and towels in it that they use during breaks," Edwards said. "Other than that, we just try to be wise. If it is extreme, we just go in the gym or to our indoor field house turf."
New Phoenix Bourgade Catholic football coach Chris Crockett said that he will have indoor work after school, such as weight training, chalk talk, film, and study hall. By 5 p.m., they'll go onto the field. He said he'll keep his players in shorts until it gets cooler, before putting on full pads during the season.
Phoenix Brophy Prep coach Jason Jewell feels the players have the resources, and that the coaches have the knowledge to avoid a heat-related medical emergency.
"We have great athletic trainers and coaches that continuously educate our kids on the importance of nutrition, hydration, sleep, etcetera," Jewell said. "They get daily and weekly reminders and tips."
During this month, Brophy players get in and out from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., for conditioning work on the field with mandatory water breaks.
"Our coaches have been trained to monitor our players closely to look for signs of heat exhaustion," Jewell said. "This has also come through coaches' education from our athletic trainers. We have a protocol we follow when we observe signs of heat-related illness."
New Scottsdale Saguaro head football coach Darius Kelly said there are cooling areas with fans and shade for football players. The staff members are constantly monitoring the weather conditions and heat index to ensure it is safe enough to practice outside. If they have to reschedule, they'll do so.
The intensity of workouts gradually increases over time, allowing players to acclimate to the heat.
Kelly said players are educated on symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and they are encouraged to speak up if they don't feel well. Having medical personnel on-site during workouts provides immediate assistance if a player shows signs of a heat-related illness.
"By implementing these measures, we aim to protect our players from heat exhaustion and ensure they can train safely throughout the summer," Kelly said.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Extreme Phoenix area heat puts high school football teams on alert
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