Time to Cut Back on the Two-a-Days?
July 9th, 2009 by nathan joyceThat’s what a researcher says needs to happen to limit heat-related problems…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A top
researchers on heat-related illnesses called on high schools to cut
back two-a-day preseason football practices the way the NCAA forced
college teams to do six years ago.
Douglas Casa co-authored a study from the National Athletic
Trainers Association released earlier this year. He spoke Thursday
to about 250 college and high school athletic trainers at South
Carolina Athletic Trainers Association.
The NCAA adjusted its football practice guidelines in 2003 to
mandate five days of single-session workouts to acclimatize to
sweltering summer heat.
College “coaches were screaming about that before it happened,”
Casa said. “You don’t hear anything about that now. They’ve found
players are healthier, fresher and perform better during the
season.”
At least 29 high school players have died from heat-related illness
since 1995, sometimes, Casa says, because coaches and personnel
don’t react quickly enough to the symptoms. “Coaches think someone
didn’t do the proper conditioning over the summer or that they’re a
wimp, that they’re no good for the team,” he said.
The NATA guidelines call for five days of single-session practices.
Once two-a-days start, they should be followed by a single-day
session. The recommendations cover the first 14 days of
practice.
Casa told the crowd that he watched one TV report about last
month’s release — and cringed when a Texas coach said while such
suggestions might be necessary in other areas, they were not needed
in the Lone Star State where teams sometimes go through three-a-day
sessions with just an hour break between.
“If there’s one message you should take back, it’s please keep the
coach away from my sick child,” Casa said.
Casa is consulting in the lawsuit for the mother of Max Gilpin, the
15-year-old football player in Kentucky who died last August three
days after collapsing at practice. The coach, David Jason Stinson,
pleaded not guilty to reckless homicide. A trial is scheduled for
next month.
The hotel conference hall was packed with trainers and health
professionals eager not to join the ever-increasing list of
summertime tragedies. Just Wednesday, a junior defensive back at
Western Carolina died after collapsing during an offseason workout.
The school said Ja’Quayvin Smalls took part in his first workout
and complained of cramps at the beginning of sprints.
Sean Hoppe, head athletic trainer at Ridge View High School in
Columbia, was texting his athletic director during Casa’s
presentation about upgrading their policies and plans to be ready
for summer workouts.
Hoppe said administrators, coaches and training staff are all on
the same page about keeping players safe during grueling sessions.
He was unsure if Ridge View would adopt NATA’s call for
acclimatization.
“There are a lot of things here that can help,” he said.
Casa knows too well that his biggest barrier will surely be
old-school coaches, who believe two-a-days toughen a team.
“I don’t buy it,” Casa said. “Why can’t you win a championship
starting two-a-days on day six instead of day one?”
Casa counseled trainers to have a policy in place should
heat-illness strike. Quickly identifying the problem and taking
proper steps to reduce a player’s temperature is essential.
Casa would know: Twenty-four years ago he collapsed of heatstroke
close the finish of a 10K race near Buffalo. Watching coverage of
his ordeal on the news that night set off a single-minded passion
to prevent heat-related deaths. “That kind of burns in your brain,”
he said.
He recommended using a rectal thermometer for the most accurate
temperature reading and full-water immersion as soon as
possible.
Casa understands things won’t change overnight. “It’s going to be
at least 10 years until we make some progress,” he concluded. “But
you’ve got to start somewhere.”
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
August 1st, 2009 at 9:43 am
It’s not just the idea of two-a-days. It is also length of practice and sound conditioning practices. If we really cared about the health of our athletes, we’d institute more of an NCAA structure, where athletics time during a week is limited (20 hours?).
If you get rid of two-a-days, all you will see is one practice lasting 3 to four hours. Two-a-days isn’t the problem. The problem is that too many HS coaches have forgotten that these are still HS kids and not the NFL.