Florida’s high school football programs are rethinking practice schedules as heat indices regularly climb above 108°F, prompting the Cocoa Beach Minutemen to move their sessions to the cool of early morning.
The team now practices twice a week before sunrise, a change designed to avoid the peak heat of the day and reduce the risk of dehydration and heat‑related illness among players.
Head coach and athletic director Ted Kimmey reported that between 60% and 70% of summer practices were either canceled or altered before the first game week, highlighting the severity of the heat challenges.
Dr. Kevin Farmer, chief of sports medicine at the University of Florida, explained that younger athletes have a smaller surface area relative to their body mass, making it harder for them to dissipate heat and increasing their vulnerability to heat‑related illnesses.
Safety Measures on the Field
Graham Kimmey, a defensive tight end, suffered a heat‑exhaustion episode during a June training camp, requiring medical attention after drinking large amounts of water without adequate electrolyte replacement.
Brevard County logged 41 heat‑related emergency calls in July alone, including four cases of heat stroke, underscoring the growing public‑health concern for young athletes.
Athletic trainer Johnny Morales advises coaches to limit practices to helmet‑only sessions with frequent water breaks and shaded rest periods, a strategy aimed at keeping players safe while preserving training intensity.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts above‑average temperatures across Florida from August through October, suggesting that the early‑morning schedule may need further adjustments as the season progresses.
Coaches are balancing the desire to maintain traditional afternoon practices with the imperative to protect player health, a shift that reflects a broader trend toward heat‑aware sports policies in the region.