The sweltering summer has forced many football squads across the River Region to move their drills to the early morning hours, sidestepping the peak heat that can push field temperatures beyond 100 degrees.
Morning Practices Become Standard
At Pike Road High School, the coaching staff has installed a suite of protective tools: misting fans that create a fine spray over the field, shaded tents for players to retreat to, a refrigerated tub filled with ice for quick cooling, and a network of water stations staffed by volunteers.
Tyler Killingsworth, the school’s head athletic trainer, says the goal is simple: make heat‑related injuries a thing of the past. “We’ve built an emergency action plan that can be activated in seconds,” he explains, noting that cold water, towels and rapid ice immersion are all part of the protocol.
Head Coach Granger Shook adds that the plan is rehearsed weekly throughout the summer and into the fall, ensuring that every coach knows exactly how to respond if a player shows signs of heat stress.
State health officials from the Alabama Department of Public Health have issued reminders about the warning signs of heat exhaustion — heavy sweating, pallor, muscle cramps — urging coaches, parents and athletes to stay vigilant as temperatures climb.