Newarcher Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Okay, I am climbing on my soapbox here but every single year we hear stories--and there is not telling how many we miss--about high school football players dying of heat stroke. It is a 105+ heat index and they are running these kids in full pads. We had a 15 year old die this week at a local high school. How many kids will it take before we stop this nonsense and legislate that practices must be early in the morning or must be called off it is over 90 degrees? This is rediculous New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids I agree. I have my serious doubts about letting my son practice right now. It's crazy hot here, and they're still practicing the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids I agree but they've been doing it this way for many many years. You ever read about Bear Bryant when he coached in Texas? They even made a tv movie about it on ESPN. Rough stuff. I don't know why they insist on doing it that way. I think they think they're determining the men from the boys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotHead Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids Before I get started let me just say this, I am a football coach and a youth league organization and yes, we have started practice just this week. Now to address the main issue here (heat) we have pushed our times back to late evening. We start at 7:00 and go to 9:00 and that does seem to help some. We also run very strict timelines for conditioning and cool-down periods. It's hot this time of year, it was hot this time last year as well as the past few years, so far we haven't lost one single kid and we don't plan on it either. Football is tough people and conditioning is a part of the game. It does seperate the men from the boys but it also get's them into shape for playing games and is a necessary part of practice. As for legislating athletics, don't you think enough legislation has gone on? Politics have taken physical education out of school systems and we wonder why our kids are fat and lazy. There are those out there that think all athletics should be banned from educational facilities - great, even more fat and lazy kids. How about a strickter guideline on school athletics concerning practice? Govern yourself before you bring fat and lazy politians into the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids ParrotHead.............I think that's what Newarcher meant. No one wants athletics removed. Just practice when it isn't so hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotHead Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids Yeah maybe, but when you start a conversation with "Killing our kids" and in that conversation suggest "legislating" things then some people can take you literally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids My brother played in high school and he went thru heck. Guys puking and passing out. I know how rough it is. My boys play little league but it's always at night ( practices). To me it's no different than the basic training a soldier goes through. As long as the coach is responsible and holds his practices at reasonable times when it isn't 5000 degrees outside....then that's great. If I had been born a boy.....I would be out there running and puking with the best of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids [ QUOTE ] Before I get started let me just say this, I am a football coach and a youth league organization and yes, we have started practice just this week. Now to address the main issue here (heat) we have pushed our times back to late evening. We start at 7:00 and go to 9:00 and that does seem to help some. We also run very strict timelines for conditioning and cool-down periods. It's hot this time of year, it was hot this time last year as well as the past few years, so far we haven't lost one single kid and we don't plan on it either. Football is tough people and conditioning is a part of the game. It does seperate the men from the boys but it also get's them into shape for playing games and is a necessary part of practice. As for legislating athletics, don't you think enough legislation has gone on? Politics have taken physical education out of school systems and we wonder why our kids are fat and lazy. There are those out there that think all athletics should be banned from educational facilities - great, even more fat and lazy kids. How about a strickter guideline on school athletics concerning practice? Govern yourself before you bring fat and lazy politians into the mix. [/ QUOTE ] You don't consider the survivors men and the dead ones boys. The problem isn't that these kids are lazy or fat.....I am talking about a kid that died of a heat stroke directly from practicing on a gosh aweful hot day. Yes, I think there should be legislation by State for when practices must be called off. To some kids, towns, and especially football coaches.....Friday night football is all they are about. I have no problem with being consumed by it but there are many many kids who would be alive if not pushed by coaches who separate 'the men from the boys'. Sounds like you already self-regulated. Many however, refuse to move practices to early mornings or late evenings when they aren't going to be killing kids. One kid is too many for the coaches to earn their stripes in a march to a college coaching career or to entertain the masses on a Friday night. JMHO. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYBUCK Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids A lot of times the reason that these kids have problems is because they had some physical aliment in the first place. Another reason is that because like Parrothead stated, cutting of physical eduction, you have lost a lot of qualified coaches. You have people who were high school football or other sport stars that take over a program and don't have the proper training. They are "win at all cost" mentality becasue they have watched to many movies on TV and they do not know any better. Moving practice to cooler times, more cool down periods and unlimited water breaks are little things that can help prevent such tragedies. Bottom line it is really sad and my heart goes out to those effected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchies Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids There has to be a time where the parents step in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids good point New. Even a real man can die when he's busting his hump and the heat index is 104. now, maybe you should change the title to "killing muggs' blood pressure" because how anyone can go off on a tangent based on the rationale of this post is beyond me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids Well, I am not saying that all coaches should be fired or anything like that. But I am saying that if we knew how many actually died country wide during a summer, we would be astounded. But because it is only local news, generally, we don't know. I bet it is in the double digits each year. Some because of unknown medical problems but I am just talking heat strokes. One is too many IMHO. Some of these coaches and programs are so critical that they just refuse to stop. That is where I think legislation would be effective.....and I am typically against the govt interfering in our daily lives. Sometimes, the stubbornness of a few necessitate it. Puking and passing out are NOT NORMAL ACTIVITIES or SHOULD NOT BE for high school or college kids. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotHead Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids [ QUOTE ] Puking and passing out are NOT NORMAL ACTIVITIES or SHOULD NOT BE for high school or college kids. [/ QUOTE ] Obviously you didn't attend UGA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids I played football last year. We about died. It was fun but people got sick alot. But to me thats part of the game. My parents are always saying this stuff i know you guys are right. But to me its just part of it. We ran last night in 100 degree weather and will tonight. And tomorrow. Really fun once you get use to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotHead Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids Ok lets play devils advocate here - what if we have already put into place all the legislation we could and as a result of that, only 1 kid a year died? That in the past there were many more but because we have put certain practices into place, we're down to 1 a year.....would that be exceptable? Obviously 1 is too many but 1 is ALWAYS going to be too many. One kid is one too many - one college player is one too many - one NFL player is one too many - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggs Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Puking and passing out are NOT NORMAL ACTIVITIES or SHOULD NOT BE for high school or college kids. [/ QUOTE ] Obviously you didn't attend UGA [/ QUOTE ] hmmm...passing out because you've had to much fun at a bar or passing out because your body is over-heating and your nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems are reacting...I see the similarities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids Dont look for changes any time soon, no matter the reason or stand by the coaches. I played football, ran track, and wrestled. Talk about brutal, wrestling is about as bad as it gets. In all honestly I lived for weeks on green beans, toast, and water to drop weight. The problem was I only weight in at 122 my freshman year. I was to drop to 118 (If I remember correctly). I was picked for state champ in the weight class and therefore went through a lot of pain to make weight. I would run in the wrestling room every evening with the heater on and dressed in full sweats. I wore sweat bags and wrapped up in Mats. Etc. It was really a bad deal. Wrestling is over the top IMHO. I was a 122lb kid and they were trying to get me to drop weight. I finally made weight and won some matches. I then had my jaw bone cracked. My coach wanted to strap on head gear really, really tight and keep me out there. When I refused he threw a hissy and started training another kid for my place.... Our school produces many wrestlers that go state every year. Many have full rides in college and one good friend of mine (the coaches brother) had an offer to go to the Olympics. Its a big deal at our school and as long as they are getting praise, it wont change..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids You know, Thats why most school systems now have Air Conditioned training facilities. Before school even ends, our coaches gave us certain times to come in everyday throughout the week. If you condition yourself before hand and get used to being in the heat, then them practices dont even phase you. I remember my Freshman and JV years, I would go to practice, come home and puke then go back and do it all over again. If I couldnt handle it, I would go take a breather in the shade and the coaches wouldnt have a problem with that. But before my first year on varsity, I remember how misserable them practices were so I got myself in shape. And I tell you what, practices were easy compared to the workouts I put myself through. If these kids are too lazy to get themselves conditioned before practice starts, they dont even need to be out there. And yes, the coaches do need to have them out there in this heat exercising. When you dont have them grueling practices, come game time, that when kids get hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Re: Killing our kids well, they don't make kids like they used to.... we just sucked it up and paid the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasDeerHunter Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: Killing our kids I played high school ball back in the '80s in Texas for a hard core coach. We practiced twice a day in the heat, but always had plenty of water and gatorade. We also were conditioned well and not afraid to sit out if we felt sick. I don't recall ever hearing of a player falling dead back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowhntr Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: Killing our kids "Coach! There is a thin line between tough and insane, and you're flirting with it" Anyone see "Remember the Titans"? I think enough is enough and I agree in this heat that practices need to be suspended. Someone mentioned airconditioned training facilities in most schools today. Maybe in that area....in my area our CLASSROOMS still don't have AC and classes start in a week. Killing kids at practice is terrible but what about killing their education while trying to hold class in a hot box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: Killing our kids Really is crazy. Sure players need conditioning, but coaches should be better able to judge the kids and how they are dealing with the heat. They should also recognize that if there are heat adivsories that they should push the practices back to a time when it is not as hot. Coaches in my opinion do need to use good judgement. All that said, I do think kids nowadays are not the same as they were when I was a kid, so not all the blame lies on the coaches here. Too much high cholestoral fast food, laziness laying around watching the tv or playing video games, kids just dont seem to be as active as they were when I was a kid at the high school age. Then is it also possible that global warming could also be a factor in this. Seems football practices are starting earlier and earlier as time goes on too. Cannot remember when I was a kid football practices ever starting this early in the summer. Cannot remember it ever being as hot as it is when football practices were going on either. Guess all in all, if the coahes are better trained to watch for kids showing signs of over exhaustion and show more repsonsibility for their players, this type of problem may possibly be able to be reduced or avoided all together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted August 3, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: Killing our kids Well, here in GA.....AT THE SAME SCHOOL THE VERY NEXT DAY, they had the track team out beating it on the track during the hottest part of the day on the hottest day of the YEAR. There is a lot of outrage as yet another player went down the day after this 15 year old died.....he was treated and released. The school boards are now getting involved completely from a legal defense standpoint because many of these coaches aren't self-regulating like Parrothead. The kids won't do it or aren't educated enough....look at the completely assonine things teens will do that get them killed or close to it. You can't leave it to a machismo teen to sit himself out if he feels bad. It looks like we are heading to some common sense changes around here. On the news last night, they were saying that not only could the school system be liable for the death, the coach could be brought up on criminal negligence charges. I would hate to see one more kid die or a coach charged. BTW, the stat is that somewhere beteen 3 and 10 kids die each year just from heat stroke alone...no medical problems what so ever. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: Killing our kids dieing over practicing to win in football? Sad state we are in when winning is more important than a young person's life! You have guys in the pros that collapse and die in training camp, shouldn't that make coaches wake up!!!!!???????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted August 3, 2006 Report Share Posted August 3, 2006 Re: Killing our kids Nick you talk about a/c areas to practice in. Heck they turn the heat on down here half the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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