What extra precautions apply to football, especially linemen?
Guideline- Football
- USA
- NFHS
- NFHS SMAC position statements
- Heat illness
- Hydration
- Youth and high school sports
- Summer sports
- 2025 guidance
- Coaches
- Parents
The NFHS heat statement (October 2025) says football has the highest rate of exertional heatstroke of any American sport. According to recent reports it cites, 100% of high school and college football heatstroke deaths happened during conditioning sessions, and linemen made up 97% of football heatstroke deaths. Linemen heat up faster and cool down more slowly than other players.
NFHS recommendations:
- Make all training and conditioning position-specific, and train linemen for what games actually demand.
- Modify activity for the heat load.
- Never use exercise as punishment.
- Drop conditioning tests, serial sprints and other reckless drills that aren't appropriate for linemen.
- Consider air-conditioned venues for linemen during hot practices.
- Recognize that some players have a "do or die" attitude that overrides their own safety.
- Bring in helmets, shoulder pads and other gear gradually over the first several practices.
Updated 21 Oct 2026