St. Louis high school football teams adapt first practices to sweltering heat
High school football squads in St. Louis began season workouts under a heat warning, with coaches adding water breaks and shade to protect players.
The opening day of the 2026 high school football season in St. Louis unfolded amid a heat advisory, prompting coaches to prioritize player safety. De Smet Jesuit fielded roughly a hundred participants, with coach John Merritt emphasizing extra water stops and designated cooling zones for the team’s larger players. Meanwhile, Adam Cruz at St. Louis University High School restructured the practice agenda, shifting freshman fundamentals to the gym and scheduling the first padded session for a cooler morning slot.
A linebacker from De Smet reminded teammates to stay hydrated and watch each other. Both schools said they will continue to assess the weather and modify drills to avoid heat-related risks.
Why it matters
Ensuring safe conditions during extreme heat protects the health of student athletes and sets a precedent for school sports programs.
In this story