SIOUX CITY, Iowa -
With football season right around the corner, players are now lacing up the cleats and strapping on the shoulder pads for summer camps and "two-a-days."
But with one of the hottest summers on record, players are beating the heat.
And with high school football less than a month away, coach's like Sioux City East's Bob Goodvin are preparing for the upcoming season.
Though the focus lies on his Black Raiders making another playoff appearance, the East High coaching staff makes sure their players get something other than sore legs and words of encouragement; plenty of water.
Bob Goodvin, East High football coach said, "It's not just drinking water at practice, it's drinking water 24/7."
Whether it's guzzling straight from the cooler or out of a milk jug, players take the water whatever way they can get it.
Joe Liewer, a Mercy Physician said, "Athletes really need to pay attention to how much they drink in terms of just either water or sports drinks to keep well hydrated. You really need to drink more than you think you do."
Because hydration is the real name of the game.
"Obviously it's warm so you're going to feel hot but then you kind of get behind the curve as far as keeping hydrated so you have to be proactive and make sure you're drinking enough fluids," said Dr. Liewer.
Check that one off the clipboard for the Black Raiders.
Goodvin said, "We give them Gatorade before practice, give them Gatorade after practice and we're very contentious."
And when needed, they don't hesitate to take a break.
"We tell our kids that, we want them to be tough but at the same time if you need to take a break, let's take a break," said Goodvin. "We're all very well trained in it. We've all been to workshops."
So East has the hydration part of it down. Now, are the Black Raiders ready to tackle the football season?
Sioux City East kicks off the season August 24th when they play at Heelan.
