TACKLING THE HEAT COACH KEEPS WATCH ON PLAYERS' HEALTH.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY- It takes more than near-century-mark temperatures to keep football players from the field, and Thursday's unhealthful air was no barrier either.

Meteorologists said an unusual pattern of weather is resulting in violations of air quality standards, but that the southerly wind flow should clear the air for a good holiday weekend.

While observers complained about the heat, the players at Canyon High School, sans shoulder pads and uniforms, practiced their skills on the new artificial turf in preparation for today's scrimmage. The team will play its first game of the season Sept. 10 against Leuzinger High.

The heat emanating from the ``grass'' exceeded the heat from the track, most likely due to the reflective nature of the synthetic blades.

With 31 years of coaching experience under his belt, Canyon coach Harry Welch is used to the fluctuations in temperatures and conditions on the hillside field.

``Yesterday, we didn't start practice until 5 p.m. because of the heat,'' Welch said. ``And we don't make them practice in full pads or helmets when it's hot.''

Green-and-gold metal water ``troughs'' built by football program supporters were scattered along the sidelines, hooked up to hoses that allowed the players to douse themselves between workouts. Welch turned up the pressure to shoot water halfway across the field, giving some of the players a pleasant surprise.

``The entire time we're practicing, the kids can get a drink,'' he said. ``We try to offer the coaching and caring and love to the kids that their parents would want them to get in this program. I think our equipment and services are superior to some colleges out there.''

Phil Eddy, a chiropractor who regularly attends practice and works on the players, said when he played football in high school things were very different.

``We never got a drink until we did good things and it was at the end of practice,'' he said, laughing.

Eddy, whose son played football under Welch's tutelage, said Welch is very aware of both the weather and its effects on the kids and takes precautions to avoid heatstroke, which killed 21 high school players across the nation from 1995 to 2001.

``If any one of them shows the symptoms, the protocol is to get inside, get them in the shade and get water into them,'' he explained. Eddy's son, Chris, has since graduated from chiropractic school and helps his father serve the team.

Team managers Renee Erwing and Tiffanie Rini are part of the preparedness squad, bringing ice to the field for every practice and making sure the players have enough to drink.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Canyon High varsity players line up for a drink during football practice Thursday, when temperatures topped 100.

(2) Canyon High defensive back Joe Serrano waters up at the ``trough'' during football practice in triple-digit heat Thursday.

(3) Canyon High varsity players go shirtless during practice Thursday. The triple-digit temperatures are keeping coaches especially alert for any signs of heat exhaustion from their young charges.

David Crane/Staff Photographer