We knew it was going to be hot this weekend, but playing today in the Texas Summer Classic was one of the hottest days I have ever experienced. The number of people that were suffering from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, cramping, and dehydration was horrible at the FSC fields. I think I saw 12 to 15 people treated by paramedics and many taken away to the hospital due to the excessive heats. For hours the paramedics from the surrounding towns were coming to the fields to remove people in stretchers.
I saw Referees who just sat down in the middle of the field and we had to put cold towels on them and pour cold water on their heads. Linesman sitting under our tents to stay cool during breaks, players laying on the field because they were so hot. Parents collapsing in chairs passing out from the heat - it was very scary and dangerous situation.
Our last game tonight had half our team cramping and many unable to walk. They hydrated for days before the tournament, but nothing can prepare you for the 115F heat index and these oppresive conditions. I hope nobody got seriously hurt from the heat and I wonder what can be done in the future to help the participants and spectators??

I agree. They have lights...why not have night games.

What can be done is that people have to use a little common sense and take care of themselves. It was no secret that it was going to be deathly hot and you have to prepare for that. Bring coolers with water, gatorade, and icy towels. Bring handheld fans - you can get them at Dollar Tree. And don't go out and have big burger and fries and chocolate shake and then come back and bake in the sun for an hour. I'm sorry for anyone who was wilting out there in the heat, but with a few simple steps and precautions then you can survive just fine.

In the very worst case, sit in the car and watch the game inside the A/C. it's nice

TxHunter wrote:We knew it was going to be hot this weekend, but playing today in the Texas Summer Classic was one of the hottest days I have ever experienced. The number of people that were suffering from heat exhaustion, heat stroke, cramping, and dehydration was horrible at the FSC fields. I think I saw 12 to 15 people treated by paramedics and many taken away to the hospital due to the excessive heats. For hours the paramedics from the surrounding towns were coming to the fields to remove people in stretchers.
I saw Referees who just sat down in the middle of the field and we had to put cold towels on them and pour cold water on their heads. Linesman sitting under our tents to stay cool during breaks, players laying on the field because they were so hot. Parents collapsing in chairs passing out from the heat - it was very scary and dangerous situation.
Our last game tonight had half our team cramping and many unable to walk. They hydrated for days before the tournament, but nothing can prepare you for the 115F heat index and these oppresive conditions. I hope nobody got seriously hurt from the heat and I wonder what can be done in the future to help the participants and spectators??

It is very simple, don't play in a August tournament in Texas
The kids don't need to play 2-3 games a day in August. They certainly don't need to play 5 games in two days.
Play one friendly game on Saturday and one on Sunday.
These tournaments are ridiculous. They consume your WHOLE weekend.
The ref's and kids take a beating.
The parents can always find some air conditioning or shade.

THE NEEDLE wrote:It is very simple, don't play in a August tournament in Texas
The kids don't need to play 2-3 games a day in August. They certainly don't need to play 5 games in two days.
Play one friendly game on Saturday and one on Sunday.

I'm OK with that idea too!

Exactly-let your coach know as a team you would prefer to stay away from a tournament in August and to just set up scrimmages.

It was very hot. Paramedics came three times from friday through sunday. Twice for parents and once for an official. While there for the official, the keeper for the Titans dislocated his finger and they assisted him as well.

dan-in-texas wrote:I agree. They have lights...why not have night games.

This makes a whole lot of sense. If they have lights schedule night games. You can always start games around 7 or 8 when the sun is descending.

Ya peeps complaining about the heat must not be from 'round here. There are ways to deal with it, such as staying properly hydrated, eating light during the day, grabbing shade as much as possible, AND SUCKIN' IT UP AND FIGHTING THROUGH IT!!! There are American football teams (i.e. local high school and on up) having camps right now wearing full pads enduring 3-a-day practices. I endured 3-a-days back in the day and it only made us stronger as a team. The heat is managable, you don't have to run and hide from it.

Took a U-12 Boy off in ambulance this afternoon at Plano qualifying tournament had heat exhaustion while playing a game.

forbin wrote:Ya peeps complaining about the heat must not be from 'round here. There are ways to deal with it, such as staying properly hydrated, eating light during the day, grabbing shade as much as possible, AND SUCKIN' IT UP AND FIGHTING THROUGH IT!!! There are American football teams (i.e. local high school and on up) having camps right now wearing full pads enduring 3-a-day practices. I endured 3-a-days back in the day and it only made us stronger as a team. The heat is managable, you don't have to run and hide from it.

1. You can not suck it up and fight through dehydration. Period.
2. Across the country there are deaths from 3 a day football every year.
3. The heat IS managable; DON'T play 3 games a day in 105 degree heat. The risk is not worth it.

My best wishes for the boy taken off . Went thru that with my 18 year old last spring; terrifying.

BUSTER wrote:Took a U-12 Boy off in ambulance this afternoon at Plano qualifying tournament had heat exhaustion while playing a game.

What do you mean... You took one off in an ambulance personally? Don't know what to tell ya. I have lived here my entire life, played sports growing up, my kids are now playing sports in the heat and we have never seen an incident where heat brought someone down to where they had to have medical assistance. Maybe we have been lucky, but I tend to believe we are doing the right things regarding hydration and diet (critical factors in this heat) AND we have been blessed with coaches that are mindful of the heat as well.

I hope the player you mentioned is okay.

my2cents wrote:

forbin wrote:Ya peeps complaining about the heat must not be from 'round here. There are ways to deal with it, such as staying properly hydrated, eating light during the day, grabbing shade as much as possible, AND SUCKIN' IT UP AND FIGHTING THROUGH IT!!! There are American football teams (i.e. local high school and on up) having camps right now wearing full pads enduring 3-a-day practices. I endured 3-a-days back in the day and it only made us stronger as a team. The heat is managable, you don't have to run and hide from it.

1. You can not suck it up and fight through dehydration. Period.
2. Across the country there are deaths from 3 a day football every year.
3. The heat IS managable; DON'T play 3 games a day in 105 degree heat. The risk is not worth it.

My best wishes for the boy taken off . Went thru that with my 18 year old last spring; terrifying.

2cents, I agree, you cannot fight through dehydration and no one should try. Being properly hydrated is something that happens prior to a game and includes a good nights rest the night before. Once someone is dehydrated they need to be off the field until they are better. My comments regarding sucking it up were misguided, and I guess were more in reference to all of the parent grumbling about the heat.

Try the new Gatorade series.
Pre game, During Game and after game.
My son thinks they're awesome

forbin wrote:

my2cents wrote:

forbin wrote:Ya peeps complaining about the heat must not be from 'round here. There are ways to deal with it, such as staying properly hydrated, eating light during the day, grabbing shade as much as possible, AND SUCKIN' IT UP AND FIGHTING THROUGH IT!!! There are American football teams (i.e. local high school and on up) having camps right now wearing full pads enduring 3-a-day practices. I endured 3-a-days back in the day and it only made us stronger as a team. The heat is managable, you don't have to run and hide from it.

1. You can not suck it up and fight through dehydration. Period.
2. Across the country there are deaths from 3 a day football every year.
3. The heat IS managable; DON'T play 3 games a day in 105 degree heat. The risk is not worth it.

My best wishes for the boy taken off . Went thru that with my 18 year old last spring; terrifying.

2cents, I agree, you cannot fight through dehydration and no one should try. Being properly hydrated is something that happens prior to a game and includes a good nights rest the night before. Once someone is dehydrated they need to be off the field until they are better. My comments regarding sucking it up were misguided, and I guess were more in reference to all of the parent grumbling about the heat.

The football teams with pads are a little different than when I was a teen. We used to do our 3 a days in the heat of the day - have just a very few water breaks during them. Now days, they are much more conscious of the heat - they have very regular water breaks. The two-a-days are during the early hours or very late hours of the day (not in the middle of the heat) - I was talking to a coach yesterday who schedules his at 7:30am, 10:30am, and then 6:30pm to avoid the heat. He says you just don't get as good work out of the kids when they are getting beaten down by the heat.

Just seems like moving some of the 2-5pm games back to 6:30-8:30pm in the middle of the summer would be a good idea. I know baseball has night games all the time, even during school months, even during weekdays during school months when the heat isn't that bad - so it can be done.

Super Crack wrote:Try the new Gatorade series.
Pre game, During Game and after game.
My son thinks they're awesome

Plenty of water with the gatorade too. Too many electrolights can cause serious problems too. My son swears by Cliff Bars inbetween games.
Forbin,with you on the parent sentiment. Sad they can't hydrate enough to watch for an 60 t0 90 minutes.

my2cents wrote:

forbin wrote:Ya peeps complaining about the heat must not be from 'round here. There are ways to deal with it, such as staying properly hydrated, eating light during the day, grabbing shade as much as possible, AND SUCKIN' IT UP AND FIGHTING THROUGH IT!!! There are American football teams (i.e. local high school and on up) having camps right now wearing full pads enduring 3-a-day practices. I endured 3-a-days back in the day and it only made us stronger as a team. The heat is managable, you don't have to run and hide from it.

1. You can not suck it up and fight through dehydration. Period.
2. Across the country there are deaths from 3 a day football every year.
3. The heat IS managable; DON'T play 3 games a day in 105 degree heat. The risk is not worth it.

My best wishes for the boy taken off . Went thru that with my 18 year old last spring; terrifying.

There are slightly less than 3 heat related deaths per year accross the country and that is ALL heat related deaths not just sports. Heat is managable but is done days before. Proper hydration is the key and has to happey before. You are right that you cannot fight thru dehydration and once the symptoms start you have to just stop playing, get cooled off, and hydrate. Hydrate your kids and have them prepared for the heat. Don't leave it to them or the coach. If he is looking sluggish, confused, etc. have the coach bring him off. Don't leave it to the coach or to the kid.

go99 wrote:

my2cents wrote:

forbin wrote:Ya peeps complaining about the heat must not be from 'round here. There are ways to deal with it, such as staying properly hydrated, eating light during the day, grabbing shade as much as possible, AND SUCKIN' IT UP AND FIGHTING THROUGH IT!!! There are American football teams (i.e. local high school and on up) having camps right now wearing full pads enduring 3-a-day practices. I endured 3-a-days back in the day and it only made us stronger as a team. The heat is managable, you don't have to run and hide from it.

1. You can not suck it up and fight through dehydration. Period.
2. Across the country there are deaths from 3 a day football every year.
3. The heat IS managable; DON'T play 3 games a day in 105 degree heat. The risk is not worth it.

My best wishes for the boy taken off . Went thru that with my 18 year old last spring; terrifying.

There are slightly less than 3 heat related deaths per year accross the country and that is ALL heat related deaths not just sports. Heat is managable but is done days before. Proper hydration is the key and has to happey before. You are right that you cannot fight thru dehydration and once the symptoms start you have to just stop playing, get cooled off, and hydrate. Hydrate your kids and have them prepared for the heat. Don't leave it to them or the coach. If he is looking sluggish, confused, etc. have the coach bring him off. Don't leave it to the coach or to the kid.

Actually the ten-year average for heat-related deaths in the US is 117 per year....

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hazstats.shtml

Along with a two-quart jug of water, I drink Pedialyte just before a game & then at halftime at this time of year. Gatorade has other stuff in it that leaves me w/ cotton-mouth where the Pedialyte does not. It doesn't taste as good but the orange or grape is drinkable (yes, the entire big bottle). It's also better cold. Preparation is the key. If you are playing a game Saturday, you better begin hydrating by Thursday.

This stuff seems to work pretty good too.

http://www.puresport.com/

Made in Dallas and formulated by John Ivy, PhD, UT Austin.

[quote="R1"]

forbin wrote:

The football teams with pads are a little different than when I was a teen. We used to do our 3 a days in the heat of the day - have just a very few water breaks during them. Now days, they are much more conscious of the heat - they have very regular water breaks. The two-a-days are during the early hours or very late hours of the day (not in the middle of the heat) - I was talking to a coach yesterday who schedules his at 7:30am, 10:30am, and then 6:30pm to avoid the heat. He says you just don't get as good work out of the kids when they are getting beaten down by the heat.

Wow I wouldn't expect this comment from most coaches but it's nice to see common sense applied.

There is a key element so many miss in this annual August debate and that is hydration vs. replacement. Don't confuse the 2 things. As stated over and over drinking WATER is key for hydration, not replacement drinks. As an example here is a link that shows so much in the area of replacement ... stuff:

http://www.trisports.com/nutrition.html

This is just an example, and is why the debate always gets muddled.

I too have been a Texan for some time and I can tell you living here all these years doesn't help me personally with managing the heat. Heat acclimation is basic, it takes a several weeks of adjusting and you will be much better able to get out in the terrible Texas summer and exert. From there it is really more an individual thing about how well you can handle the heat. I sweat buckets and so I must work extra hard to maintain proper hydration.

Anyways, so I always make sure my boys drink plenty of WATER before practice and games. No need to modify the diet much although try to eat lighter and not too soon before heavy exertion begins. Save whatever replacement product your boy prefers to after the match or between matches in tournaments to help quickly replace glucose stores.

Hope this helps.