Spring practice is going on right now in a lot of places. Then we will have summer practice getting ready for the season. Here in Georgia, we had a high school player die this week during practice. The authorities are unsure of what happened. They believe it had something to do with his heart; but, since he was a healthy kid, they are not sure why this tragedy happened. So, I am going to give you a few tips on how to keep your players safe during practices and games.

The main thing is to keep the players hydrated. Make sure they are getting enough water because they are sweating all the fluid out of their bodies. Heat stroke is a major problem, especially in southern states where it can be 80 degrees in March and April. Practice should be in the early morning and late afternoon. If the coach has the players on the field at noon, he is putting the players at unnecessary risk. During the heat of the day is a great time to do weights and go over plays. Games are also started later in the evening around 7:30 or 8:00.

Make sure the players are eating. When the players don't eat, their bodies are missing out on nutrients that they need to perform. Even if the body is getting water, it still needs to get food to function. Not only is it important to eat for performance, but it can prevent serious damage to the body. This can put a player out for the season.

The players should know that if they are not feeling well to let someone know. The coach should be told immediately that the player is sick. The player can be observed and treated for whatever is wrong. The player should know that being sick is not a sign of weakness. This could be the difference between life and death.

Doing these simple things won't stop all players from dieing during an activity. Some kids have medical problems that are not caught during a physical. You can always take your children to your own personal doctor for a more thorough physical before they play, but that doesn't guarantee their safety. Make sure they know they need to take care of themselves nutrition-wise and conditioning-wise as well.