Another drop of sweat curls its way down my face, into my eyes, drenching my shirt. I feel the pull in my hamstrings, the dizziness, the fatigue. Having played sports my whole life, I’ve experienced a share of drenching days out on the field, and it can be dizzying (literally) to think about what athletic directors sitting in the AC are willing to put us through.
Seventeen-year-old Georgia teen Zyrees Oliver was hospitalized with water intoxication after consuming four gallons of fluid on Aug. 11. Oliver had just gotten home from a blistering afternoon football practice. Feeling extremely dehydrated, he drank two gallons of Gatorade and two gallons of water to make up for fluids lost during the workout. He was declared brain dead just days later and doctors took him off life support soon after that.  Oliver is an extreme case,  yet his death boils down to  what some coaches would take  for granted: just another steamy afternoon practice.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) deems if the heat index is between 95 and 105 degrees, activities should be altered to accommodate the heat. This can include more water breaks and stoppages of play.  If the temperature is above 105 degrees,  activities must  be either postponed  or rescheduled.
Despite laws enacted for athlete safety, if it is 104 degrees, kids should not be forced to endure relentless thirst or cramps. Such intense, direct sun not only puts players at risk for sunburn and dehydration, but for more dangerous conditions such as heat stroke and exhaustion. The humidity in Missouri is such that when exercising outside  the muggy air can hamper one’s  ability to evaporate sweat.  According to princeton.edu, this   eliminates the body’s  ability to  cool  itself  off, leading  to possible overheating.
Morning practices provide the answer despite early hours because the sunlight isn’t nearly as direct. This makes for a much cooler workout. Teams also need to build chemistry in order to succeed, and while other schools may have the day off because of afternoon heat, even a short morning practice is enough to keep consistency and help a team gel.
So the next time you step outside between classes and complain about how uncomfortable it is, think about the students outside giving their all because cancelling practice isn’t an option. Think about Zyrees Oliver and his family. Was it worth it, coach?