Hydration key as Steers approach afternoon practice

The Steers practice schedule will change Wednesday when the team begins afternoon practices. The change is largely due to the teaching schedule that begins to ramp up leading to the school year. Davidson also mentioned that the change to afternoon practices gives players a chance to work and adapt to the grueling August heat. “It will be hot on the field at 7:30 p.m. during the first part of the season,” he said. “This is better than just throwing them into that environment without time to adapt.” Though the heat will play a bigger role when practice times change, head trainer Tom “Doc” Lewis thinks the kids are prepared. “By this time they’re in pretty good shape but we do take precautions,” Lewis said. “This heat is nothing to mess with.” Lewis and his team set up cool zones with shade tents and misters. They also allow the players free access to water at any time during practice. Lewis also has a rule that the athletes drink a gallon of water a day. “We start that the first day,” Lewis said. “They lose an average of 10 pounds a day, at least. They’re going to lose a lot of weight quick. You have to watch the salt sweaters.” “Salt sweaters” are those who leave a white stain on clothing that they sweat in. Studies find that these people lose salt at a faster rate, making them more sensitive to the heat. As for the Steers’ preparations for Friday’s home scrimmage against Wichita Falls High School, not much will change. “We might have a little shorter practice on Thursday but nothing dramatically different,” Davidson said. “We’ll be glad to get the first scrimmage out of the way after two weeks of hard practices. It breaks up the monotony a little bit for the kids and that’s a good thing.”