socmom3 wrote:

jimulon6 wrote:it was exactly the same last year, and most likely the years before. It's August in Texas. I'd be more worried about the older, out of shape, unacclimated parents on the sidelines.

Does it suck? Yes. Do I understand your concern? Absolutely. Water and supervision. Getting in the first weekend is huge. Hopefully your coach has had the boys practicing 2 or 3 times a week outside. The boys DO adjust somewhat to the heat.......

It's this way every year...it's part of what seperates the "wheat from the chaff" so to speak amongst these teams. I've had three BBs play in the QT over the last 6 years and everyone survived and for the most part all the teams ended up where they should. Just think of it as another part of the "tryout process"....Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and hydrate some more. My oldest will be out there this weekend officiating and he started hydrating last week!

Actually the average high is 94 so we are twelve degrees warmer than average. It is always hot here in August, just not this hot for this long.

soccerdad1 wrote:The referee's will give a water break for each half. Hopefully, the teams will have players that can sub.

With the money grab that just occurred by allowing the clubs to increase the roster to 18, there will be plenty of subs on most of the club teams! The bigger question is whether the coaches will play the "extra" kids more than 5 minutes a game.

It actually is a big deal. A huge deal. All the suggestions made hear are good stuff. Everyone needs to be on the look out for those who are less informed because this type of heat is very serious and dangerous for any player not properly prepared and there will be some of those. I had my own son fall out a year ago in U19 rec. It was not even 90 degrees. He thought he was hydrated enough, should have known better. The biggest issue was, put simply, that his natural athleticism and endurance wrote a check his fitness level could not cash. We are talking about a 19 year old 10 year soccer vet who had played in much hotter weather. Ended up almost stopping breathing and spending a night at Baylor. This is very, very serious business playing in this extraordinary heat. Many of these kids are very competitive and do not want to go down. They have not learned to listen to their bodies. I implore all to watch very carefully all the players for any sign of heat exhaustion and be ready to act quickly.