THE ABOLITION OF 'HELL WEEK'.

Byline: VINCENT BONSGINORE

More than 20 years later, the image still is fresh. I was a junior in high school participating in my first week of varsity football. A big defensive lineman got his leg tangled during a running play and was writhing in pain at the 50-yard line.

``Drag that (so and so) off the field all ready,'' our head coach screamed. ``We've got a scrimmage to run here.''

Two players pulled the big lineman to the sideline just as another play began.

I still remember thinking something was wrong with that picture, and how barbaric it all seemed.

More than three decades later, Ed Croson still remembers his first high school football practice in Bakersfield.

Croson, now the head coach at Birmingham of Lake Balboa, was a 225-pound freshman.

``I lost 10 pounds, easy,'' said Croson, a hint of disbelief in his voice. ``Times were different back then, that's for sure.''

Those were the days when football practices were more like Marine boot camps, the thought of taking a swig of water wasn't just looked down upon, it was forbidden, and long, two-a-day practices were designed to separate the men from the boys.

``Thankfully people learn from their mistakes and research corrects things that were probably done wrong,'' said Saugus football coach Jason Bornn. ``We do things a little bit differently now.''

During the next few weeks, high school football teams across America will begin preparing for a new season, and much of their initial work will take place in the sweltering heat.

A lot has changed since those sweaty days of my youth.

Today, conditioning is a year-round pursuit. Players report to the first workouts in better overall shape than their predecessors, and as a result, are less likely to be adversely affected by the strenuous activity. They're also more accustomed to the heat.

On the field, water is readily available, a significant difference from 20 years ago when drinking water on the practice field was looked on as less than manly.

``Hydration is critical,'' said Dr. Marjan Naraghi, a family practice doctor in the Inland Empire. ``The loss of water is dramatic under these conditions, and it's vital that the body gets re-hydrated. And that means before practice, during practice and after practice. It is literally the most important thing.''

Today, coaches and team trainers are educated on detecting the warning signs of heat-related fatigue, such as players complaining of dizziness, nauseas, confusion and weakness.

Quick detection can literally save a life.

``If a player shows signs, it's vitally important to act fast. Obviously calling 911 is first and foremost,'' Dr. Naraghi said. ``But in the meantime, getting him into a shaded area and icing him down will help. And of course, hydration.''

Bornn and his fellow coaches are all trained in CPR, and at a typical practice team trainers are always on hand.

No system is 100 percent safe, but there are improvements every year.

Another significant change is teams rarely practice twice a day anymore. With teams allowed 25 practices leading up to their first game - the first six practices in just helmets, shirts and shorts - most coaches find one-a-day workouts more conducive to preparation. Players seem more fresh and attentive and better equipped to digest information. Years ago, the first week of practice was called ``Hell Week'' because teams worked out twice a day and didn't use a football. It was just run, run, and run some more.

At least now footballs are allowed during the first week of practice, and there is more emphasis on teaching rather than running players into the ground.

``Because we train year round, we already have that conditioning base in place,'' Lin said. ``So for us, we're doing football stuff from the get go.''

Practices these days usually run one hour rather than the three-hour marathons in previous years, and they're typically divided into short, timed periods that cover specific areas of the game.

``That makes it move faster, and I just really believe kids retain things better when you space things out with crisp segments,'' Croson said. ``Their mind and body is fresh, and that helps with the learning curve.''

It also maintains a healthier approach.

Training-related tragedies will still happen, but at least now it's usually when fate intercedes rather than ill-advised decision making.