Western Carolina player dies in offseason workout

[Bornthrilla]

Western Carolina player dies in offseason workout
Thursday, July 9, 2009
By The Associated Press

CULLOWHEE (AP) — A junior defensive back at Western Carolina, Ja'Quayvin Smalls, has died after participating in a voluntary offseason workout.

Western Carolina spokesman Daniel Hooker says Smalls collapsed Wednesday and was pronounced dead about 7:30 p.m. at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva.

The school says he collapsed while running during an evening workout session. Observers said Smalls had complained of cramps at the beginning of sprint exercises and had been removed from the lineup to stretch.

The workout was the first for Smalls, who enrolled in Western Carolina's summer school. He had transferred from Georgia Military College, where he ranked second in tackles.

Athletic director Chip Smith says Smalls' death was especially tragic, since he was so young.

[Bigboy]

It seems like every year at some college a player dies during these so-called voluntary workouts. How long before these so-called voluntary workouts are outlawed? Probably never!!!!

[aggielove]

They probably won't outlaw them, but they should require a medic on hand that is familiar with heat related illnesses to, hopefully, stem this.

[Bornthrilla]

Two-a-days becoming more a memory than a rite of passage
Saturday, June 27, 2009
By Tom Keller

Any veteran football player worth his salt can tell you a good war story from "two-a-day" summer practices.

Eastern Guilford head coach Scott Loosemore, who played high school ball for now-Ragsdale head coach Tommy Norwood more than two decades ago, still seemed out of breath while recounting the gauntlet he once endured.

"Boy, it seemed like we were out there for four hours at a time sometimes," Loosemore said.

But now, with rising concerns about player safety and an increasing number of offseason practice opportunities for high school players, many schools seem to be abandoning the iconic baptism-by-fire sessions.

"As I've gotten older, I don't know if I've gotten easier on myself or my team, but I've tried to be a little smarter about it," said Northeast Guilford head coach Tommy Pursley, who jettisoned two-a-days altogether two years ago.

The National Athletic Trainers' Association recommended last week that schools eliminate two-a-day practices during the first week of August, when heat-related illness is particularly threatening. Since 1995, at least 39 football players across all levels have died from heat-related causes, including one from Chapel Hill High School last August.

That rule is essentially already in place in North Carolina, where official practice begins Aug. 1 and teams can't run two-a-days for their first six sessions. Players can't wear pads for the first three practices and can't do any contact drills for the first six.

Read more:

www.news-record.com/content/2009/06/27/article/two_a_days_becoming_more_a_memory_than_a_rite_of_passage

[truthseeker]

my heart goes out to the family... you're in our prayers...