Athletic Training News

The first reference is the NATA's Preseason heat-acclimatization guidelines for secondary school athletics (2009).
The consensus statement lists seven key recommendations for a 14-day heat- acclimatization period prior to full-scale athletic participation by secondary school students, as follows:

During the first five days of the heat-acclimatization process, athletes may not participate in more than one practice per day.
If a practice is interrupted by inclement weather or heat restrictions, the practice should recommence once conditions are deemed safe, but total practice time should not exceed three hours per day.
A one-hour maximum walk-through is permitted during the first five days of the heat- acclimatization period; however, a three-hour recovery period should be inserted between the practice and walk-through (or vice versa).
During the first two days of the heat-acclimatization period, in sports requiring helmets or shoulder pads, a helmet should be the only protective equipment permitted (goalies, as in the case of field hockey and related sports, should not wear full protective gear or perform activities that would require protective equipment). During days three through five, only helmets and shoulder pads should be worn. Beginning on day six, all protective equipment may be worn and full contact may begin.
Beginning no earlier than the sixth day and continuing through the 14th day, double- practice days must be followed by a single-practice day. On single-practice days, one walk-through is permitted, but it must be separated from the practice by at least three hours of continuous rest. When a double-practice day is followed by a rest day, another double-practice day is permitted after the rest day.
On a double-practice day, neither practice's duration should exceed three hours total, and student-athletes should not participate in more than five total hours of practice. Warm-up, stretching, cool-down, walkthrough, conditioning and weight- room activities are included as part of the practice time. The two practices should be separated by at least three continuous hours in a cool environment.
Because the risk of exertional heat illnesses during the pre-season heat- acclimatization period is high, the consensus statement strongly recommends that an athletic trainer be on site before, during, and after all practices.

The complete document is available on the NATA's website at the link above.

Each of the following topics will be featured in future newsletters.

Managing Prescriptions and Non-Prescription Medication in the Athletic Training Facility (Jan. 2009)

Appropriate medical care for secondary school-age athletes (Feb. 2003)

Inter-Association Recommendations on Emergency Preparedness and Management of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in High School and College Athletic Programs (March 2007)

Inter-Association Task Force on Exertional Heat Illnesses (June 2003)

Prehospital Care of the Spine-Injured Athlete (2001)

Sickle Cell Trait and the Athlete