Varsity Football practice has been moved from after school to before school due to high temperatures. 

“We moved practices to the morning due to the extreme heat conditions during the month of August and September,” Coach Gysamuell Humes said. ¨The heat is a health concern for the students and the coaches.”

Practicing in the heat with average temperatures over 100 degrees, puts staff and students at risk of overheating. 

“I’m just glad we found a way to get our practice hours in and avoid the heat,” Humes said. The heat has activated practice restrictions in the afternoon and in some cases, practice cancellation.”

However, the team will continue to meet during their afternoon class block.

“I feel like we will do well, as long as we can stay healthy,” Humes said. ¨This is a talented group. We just lack depth in certain areas.”

Despite having to start at 5 a.m., senior Nathan Tilmon said he has to wake up at 3:45 a.m. 

“I wake up, I brush my teeth, I put on my clothes, then go to practice,” Tilmon said. “Then I have to go home, take a shower, and come back to start school. I have gotten used to waking up early, so now I like it.”

The majority of players like the change.

“I prefer morning practice because I am a morning person and it is always too hot in the afternoon,” senior Tristan Voa said. “ It’s nice that I can go home and take a shower.” 

Being late to practice has consequences.

“If you are late, you have to run a lap and you lose playing time,” Voa said. “ I also feel like it is an effective punishment because it builds discipline.”

The decision of when to hold practice is up to the head coach on each campus.

“Last year we lost padded practice time and had one practice canceled because of the extreme conditions,” Humes said. “As opposed to our competitors, who were able to have regularly scheduled practices in their indoor facilities. Passing the bond in the future for an indoor facility would give us a better option.”