DEATHS WORRY COACHES

The response to the heat-related death of NFL Pro Bowler Korey Stringer Wednesday has trickled down to the high school ranks.

As Missouri prep football practices begin Monday, area coaches say awareness of the heat and what it can do to players has been heightened.

"It scares me a bit," St. Vincent coach Keith Winkler said. "The NFL has all these trainers and medical personnel. At the high school level, sometimes the only medical personnel are the coaches."

"Especially with what's in the news, we want to make sure everybody knows to drink plenty of fluid before hand," Jackson coach Carl Gross said.

Heat indices in Southeast Missouri were at times more than 105 degrees in the last week, with temperatures soaring in the mid-90s.

According to Missouri State High School Activities Association rules, teams cannot practice outdoors if the heat index is above 105 degrees.

Figures from the University of North Carolina show that 18 high school or college football players have died of heat-related causes since 1995.

"Those things are going to happen," Scott City coach Stephen O'Brien said. "All you can do is make sure they get plenty of water, watch them close and know when it's time to quit."

Prognosticators say temperatures will top out in the low 90s for the first part of the week with a chance of thunderstorms, but the humidity could drop to less-sultry levels.

High school players are not allowed to go full contact until Thursday, but once they don the full gear -- which could weigh up to 20 or 25 pounds -- there will be even more caution.

The most important thing, Winkler said, is that players say something when they're feeling ill.

"If they start feeling nauseated, they need to let the coaches know right away," he said. "We also talk about watching their diet. They need to make sure they get hydrated and stay hydrated when they go home when we can't see them. They need to eat fruits and vegetables and not just junk food."

Winkler said one way his staff adapts to the heat is to schedule practices in the evening, even when school is in session.

Cape Central coach Lawrence Brookins said every coach he knows has always been concerned about players over-heating. Though Brookins said Stringer's death is unsettling, he will keep making the same precautions he has in the past.

That includes practicing without pads, if needed, or having extended classroom sessions which includes going over plays in the air conditioning.

Brookins' practice routine is one of the few in the area that goes into the afternoon. Most schools have two separate practices -- one in the morning and the other in the evening -- to avoid the heat.

Brookins prefers to have one extended practice per day, from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., with 90 minutes of relaxed classroom training in the middle.

Scott City is taking a page from Central's practice book this year and going with one extended session also.

"What we may do is go helmets in the morning, then in the second session when it gets hot just go shirts and shorts," O'Brien said.

Randy Tingwall and Rob Bunger from HealthSouth help Gross monitor the heat situation in Jackson.

"They do a fantastic job," Gross said. "I really appreciate those two. They keep a close eye on things and when they say it's time for a break, we stop right there. When they feel they need to pull somebody, they do it. They're in charge."

Practice Schedules

(All finishing times approximate)

CAPE CENTRAL

When: 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

No. of players expected: 70

Special instructions: Bring light lunch.

JACKSON

When: 9 a.m.-11; 5 p.m.-7:30

No. of players expected: 85-90

SCOTT CITY

When: 8 a.m.-10; 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

No. of players expected: 45

Special instructions: Need physicals; bring something light to eat.

CHAFFEE

When: 7:30 a.m.-9:15; 5:30 p.m.-7.

No. of players expected: 45

PERRYVILLE

When: 8 a.m.-10; 6 p.m.-8.

No. of players expected: 65

ST. VINCENT

When: 7 a.m.-9; 6 p.m.-8:30.

No. of players expected: 65

CHARLESTON

When: 8 a.m.-10; 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

No. of players expected: 50

Special instructions: Bring light lunch