Leland A. Winston, MD, orthopedic surgeon and team physician, Rice University, Houston. We weigh players before and after practice. It can't hurt them, and it certainly makes them feel better. Brent S. E. Rich, MD, ATC, family physician in Phoenix and team physician at Arizona State University, Tempe. Water caddies are available next to each group during the entire practice.
Athletes have unlimited access to cold water and can partake after each play, if they wish.
We encourage athletes to prehydrate right before practice, while they are in their position meetings. We have ice tubs on the field if an athlete starts to get in trouble. Probably the best strategy is encouraging athletes to stay around Tempe during the summer. There are conditioning activities that take place in the heat of the day to acclimatize the players and prepare them for game conditions. We make sure players prehydrate right before activity, whether they're thirsty or not.