DALLAS — Texas high school football is just around the corner, and teams are already on the field training amid the consecutive days of triple-digit heat.
The hot temperatures have forced some teams to change their workout routines, but football camps are continuing for the most part, mainly in the evenings or early mornings.
At Sachse High School, the abnormal heat wave is helping to build team morale while weeding out student-athletes who no longer want to compete. Dozens of players on junior varsity and varsity are waking up early ahead of the season to lift weights and condition before it gets too hot.
"If it was easy, everyone would be doing it," said Jaron Counts, a senior defensive tackle. "It's not easy, and everybody is not doing it. It's the fact you get to work out with your friends, your brothers. It just makes the whole experience better."
Counts said the adversity of the heat is showcasing emerging leaders who are willing to lead their team through difficulty. As coaches and athletic trainers do their best to make sure no one suffers from heat exhaustion, athletes are encouraging each other to brave the elements in order to get better for their upcoming season. The team begins its camp early before 8 a.m. to avoid the heat of the day.
"I just deal with the heat like everybody else would," said Counts. "You don't have a choice. It's either deal with it or quit the team."
The players are encouraged to maintain hydration when off the field. Along with training, strength and conditioning, Coach AJ Roland tells his players to drink plenty of water and electrolytes while staying away from fast food. Luckily, there hasn't been any heat-related injuries, but coaches are relying on players to be disciplined about their health and how they're feeling.
"My responsibility, number one, is to keep these kids safe and do no harm," said Coach Roland. "I have to know how they're acting normally, and if they're not right that day, I have to make sure that I address it. They have to be able to trust me, saying, coach I'm not feeling right today."
Counts said having an open relationship with their coaches is crucial. He pushes his body to the limit nearly every day, but knows he's surrounded by a team of hard working athletes and coaches who are holding each other accountable while looking for signs of a heat illness.
"I thought because I lived in Arizona, it was going to be an easy change. The heat wasn't going to be too much," said Counts. "I was sorely mistaken. Everything with the heat, Texas is a beast."
The team has a goal of winning a state title in football, and they're not letting the heat hold them back from reaching their aspirations.
"We are in the business of developing great young men, and two things you have to learn as a young man is to be on time and be accountable," said Roland. "This heat is a challenge, but we're managing through it and getting better."