Some football teams in North Texas are suiting up for the first week of practice of the season.
At Carter High School in Dallas, the team hit the field just after sunrise to try to get a leg up on competition.
"We try to practice early, try to beat the heat,” Head Coach Patrick Williams said.
Water breaks every twenty minutes are part of the strategy. Players are also taught to drink lots of water the night before playing.
Carter High School running back Reginald Cole said he learned the hard way not drinking enough water can cost you come game time.
"Last year, I caught cramps in the middle of the game that took away from my performance,” Cole said.
This is the first week teams allowed to practice under UIL rules.
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Teams are under a four-day "acclimatization period," which means there are no pads in practice this week and teams are limited to one practice per day.
Practices this season can last three hours. New this year, water breaks and stoppages count towards your total practice time.
