Monticello — Wayne County¹s fall sports athletic coaches have all successfully passed

the newly required online sports safety course.

The state and local requirement was prompted by the death of a

15-year-old athlete at Pleasure Ridge Park High School who suffered from

heat exhaustion at football practice.

Wayne County¹s fall coaches, as well as coaches across the state, have

taken a four-hour state mandated course on medical and safety issues.

Coaches overseeing football, volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer,

middle school football, and middle school girl¹s basketball at Wayne County

passed the test before beginning practice this season, according to Athletic

Director Rodney Woods.

³We have 166 middle school and high school students playing fall sports

at Wayne County Schools,² said Woods. ³We were happy to abide by this new

legislation because we want to insure that all proper safety measures are

taken with our students. In fact, we had already implemented the strategies

that are mandated.²

The soccer team is a new addition to the sports line up this year. The

high school team has begun their season and the middle school soccer team

will compete in the spring.

Wayne County Football Coach Shawn Thompson, who is certified in first

aid and has served as head coach for six years said his teams have not

experienced any problems with heat exhaustion because they have always

implemented the proper steps to prevent it from happening.

³We practice in the evening during the summer months. We have water

breaks and have coolers available with wet towels to be used if needed. We

also have doctors and a physical therapist on our sidelines on game nights,

as well as EMT¹s present, so we are well endowed with medical support

people,² explained Thompson.

³We are also pleased to have the best equipment on the market there for

our high school kids, so they are well protected,² said Thompson.

³It¹s good for us to be prepared for any situation,² concluded Thompson.