Workout limits aren't necessary

A warning from the National Athletic Trainers Association about two-a-day workouts for high school football teams in the heat of August seems to be a bit of a generalization. It is, in effect, a one-size-fits-all suggestion for a much more complex issue.

Indeed, two-a-day workouts offer a chance for athletes to gradually get into top shape under controlled conditions and prepare them for the rigors of actual game conditions. And in West Texas especially, many of the early games will be played in sweltering heat.

From a local standpoint, both Permian and Odessa High coaches and trainers have been dealing with 100-plus temperatures in August workouts for years. They schedule practices to avoid the hottest part of the days. And they make sure that their charges are taking the proper steps to protect themselves, including being fully hydrated before taking the practice field.

And let's face it, the University Interscholastic League limits practice periods to the point that coaches have to make the best of every day. And if they were limited to one practice a day during early training, a certain amount of physical conditioning would be sacrificed. That might prove to be even more dangerous if football players weren't in top conditioning when games begin.

No doubt, the call for limiting summer practices came with the best of intentions. The concerns are very real, as a number of football players across the nation have died from heart-related or heat-related causes in recent years.

But the best way to deal with such issues is on an individual basis. Coaches and trainers in hotter regions, such as West Texas, make the schedules to fit the circumstances. And the diligent staffs, which make up the vast majority, make sure their players are totally prepared to deal with practice conditions.

So it's best to rely on the status quo. That way, precautions that fit the circumstances can be taken by those who deal with workouts on a daily basis.