I'm surprised we didn't have more guys dropping back when I played in HS in late 70's early 80's. Two-a-day practices began in August and most showed up out of shape or at least with little training over the summer. We were limited to only a few water breaks (you know, H2o in 90 degree heat with high humidity for guys in helmets and shoulder pads is for p#ssies). Always ended practices with running "Steelers" or "Gassers". And if even one teammate (usually an OL) missed the time, we had to run extras... Ugh!
Back when I was in high school, we practiced like hell but had regular water breaks. Then for my first 2 years in college, had an old school coach who didn't believe in breaks, then for my last 2 years I had ex- PSU running back Klingensmith as coach ... he always had water, oranges and candy bars on the sidelines and encouraged us to make use of it as needed. I guess coaches all have different ideas on how to toughen up a team.
My response to our office safety administrator:
Very good information Ivie,
During my high school days in the 60’s I played baseball and football & Rec basketball. As a Junior I was a very good athletic and respected in our league. I remember playing our football game in the afternoon with the temperatures in the 90’s and the humidity also in the 90’s.
I played receiver on offense and free safety on the defense. Our team and the opponent’s team were getting gassed midway thru the second quarter.
On both teams The running backs didn’t want to run, the offense line didn’t want the running plays because the had to run downfield on each play,
the QB didn’t want to run because the line was gassed.........SO I was running my a$$ off on offence running pass plays and on defense running my
a$$ off on defensive pass coverage.
During half time the coaches provided salt pills and oranges, I passed out along with dozen other guys in the locker room.
The ambulances were busy that day taking players from both teams to Nesbit Hospital.
According to the temp vs humidity chart included in your safety letter sending .....that should have happened, and it did.!
The Forgotten History of Early Football Hydration Practices
“When Water Was Considered a Weakness
The early days of football reveal a startling truth about hydration: it was often actively discouraged. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coaches commonly withheld water from players during practices and games, believing that drinking water caused cramping and showed weakness. Players would rinse their mouths with water and spit it out rather than swallow. This “toughening up” approach seems unimaginable today, but it was standard practice when football was establishing itself as America’s favorite contact sport. Trainers sometimes offered players salt tablets—with no water—a practice that likely worsened dehydration rather than helped.”
www.espn.com
