Heat puts first-day football practices to the test across St. Louis
· Yahoo Sports
ST. LOUIS — High school football players across the St. Louis area are back on the field for the first official practice day of the 2026 season.
But with temperatures soaring and a heat warning in effect, coaches are having to balance preparation for the upcoming season with keeping athletes safe.
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At De Smet Jesuit, about 100 players took part in the first practice of the season.
Head football coach John Merritt said the team prepared for the heat by emphasizing hydration and having cooling areas available.
“When it's hot like this, especially our big boys are the most vulnerable,” Merritt said.
The team has shade and cooling stations available and plans to take additional water breaks when necessary.
Merritt said players have to be prepared to deal with heat throughout the season.
“We know we live in Saint Louis, Missouri. It's going to be hot,” he said. “And, you know, we're going to play games and it's going to be hot. And so we have to prepare for it.”
At St. Louis University High School, the heat prompted coaches to rethink the first-day practice schedule.
Head coach Adam Cruz said the coaching staff looked at which parts of practice needed to happen outside and what could be moved inside.
“We knew with the script we had to change some things,” Cruz said.
Freshmen spent part of practice inside the gym while coaches worked on fundamentals and waited for conditions to improve.
[sailthru_widget name="Sailthru Widget Block" sailthru_list="Daily News" title="Daily News"]Cruz said the team has already built a strong foundation through spring and summer practices, allowing coaches to be more flexible during the heat.
The team is also adjusting its upcoming schedule. Wednesday's first practice in shoulder pads is planned for the morning to avoid the worst of the heat.
“We're not going to risk it with the heat,” Cruz said.
For the athletes, staying hydrated is becoming part of the game plan.
A De Smet linebacker said players were reminded before practice to drink water and look out for their teammates.
“Just make sure we hydrate,” the player said. “We talked to top players before practice, make sure we hydrate so we can stay competitive and not get outworked.”
Coaches said that message is especially important for younger athletes and other teams practicing outdoors during the heat.
Merritt urged coaches to provide plenty of water and shade and to prioritize player safety.
“Make sure you have a shade area, make sure you have plenty of water, make sure you take care of your guys and keep them safe,” Merritt said.
Coaches at both schools said they will continue monitoring the heat and adjusting practices as needed.
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