As temperatures soar with a relentless heat index consistently exceeding 100°F, students, coaches, and directors face challenges giving their all during after-school practices.
With just over 400 kids in the Homewood Patriot Marching Band and numerous athletes having after-school practice, it is essential to ensure every student isn’t getting too much sun.
Band director Chris Cooper is taking precautions, one thing Cooper does is keep the band out of the heat in the middle part of the day. This was a new thing the band started doing this year during band camp week, while in previous years, the band would practice in the afternoon.
Homewood athletic trainer Ed Harris said the coaches follow protocols once the heat index reaches over 104°.
“For our weekly practices, the hot one for us is 3:45 to 5:30, and we take about three to four breaks,” Cooper said.
The half-time show requires a lot of time to learn. Extra water breaks take time from practice, but Cooper says the band is learning faster than expected.
Harris claims the Homewood football game against John Carroll on Aug. 25 is the hottest high school football game he has seen in a while. The game got pushed back an hour later because of the heat.
Cooper’s technique he used during band camp was what he described as “Sip and Set.”
“Sip some water, then set some pages of drill. I thought that helped a lot,” he said.
He says that because of this method, the band is ahead of schedule and not being slowed down by the heat.
Harris also has to worry about making sure the athletes get enough water.
“We let them get water whenever they need it.,” he said.
The precautions taken by Harris, and the technique “sip & set” from Cooper have kept the negative effects of the heat to a minimum.
