College football coaches should cease using exercise as a punishment for poor athletic performance, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA)urged at their annual conference this week.
NATA speakers said heat stroke, complications stemming from sickle cell and cardiac problems were the three leading causes of athlete death over the past 12 years. In the past decade, there have been 21 athlete deaths during practice sessions.
"These deaths have gotten a little out of hand and we wanted some level of control," Douglas J. Casa, who spearheaded the study and planned the statement, said in an interview with USA Today.
Strength and conditioning sessions are particularly dangerous, because they combine out-of-shape students, hot weather and impatient coaches. However, doctors also cautioned it would not be fair to hold coaches responsible for player injury during these sessions.
"It's not inappropriate to suggest that a coach be charged with manslaughter because it's preventable," Dr. Jay Hoffman of the National Strength and Conditioning Association told CBS News.
by RTT Staff Writer
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