The purpose of this study was to determine whether high-school football players showed risks of fluid deficits during two-a-day training (Part 1), and whether implementing a drinking strategy could acutely improve the markers of hydration (Part 2). In Part 1, pre-training urine specific gravity (USG) and pre- and post-training body weight were measured at the morning session for 5 consecutive days of two-a-day practices to monitor the hydration status of 13 varsity players. The mean pre-training body weight was consistently lower (mean decrease of 0.5 kg, p<0.05) following the first day of measurement. Pre-training USG values remained consistently high each day (range for daily means: 1.022+/-0.003 to 1.024+/-0.005). Part 2 consisted of assessing hydration status in 46 varsity and junior varsity players prior to morning training during two-a-day training before and following implementing a drinking strategy. In association with the strategy, mean body weight increased 0.5 kg (p<0.01) and mean USG decreased from 1.021 to 1.016 (p<0.01) following the drinking protocol. The slight decline in body weight and consistently high USG (Part 1) suggested that standard fluid replacement strategies were less than optimal for a majority of the players. Implementing a drinking strategy appeared to improve hydration status based on changes in body weight and USG (Part 2).

0372 Dehydration can adversly affect athletic performance and capacity. In sports where multiple practice sessions and/or competitions occur, inadequate hydration can be a concern. In preliminary studies on high-school football players during two-a-day training, we observed chronically high values for urine specific gravity (≥1.02 g/mL in 60 to 80% of players) prior to the morning practice session. PURPOSE: The present study was designed to determine if simple drinking strategies could improve indicators of hydration status in the players. METHODS: Study participants were 46 male high school football players. Body weight (BW) and urine specific gravity (USG) were measured on two consecutive mornings prior to the morning practice of two-a-day sessions. After measurements on Day 1 were taken, participants were asked to consume 20 oz of fluid in the time after dinner but before bed, and 20 oz of fluid after waking but before practice. Differences in BW and USG were assessed using a paired t-test. RESULTS: Mean BW on Day 1 was 81.2 kg and on Day 2 81.7 kg. On Day 1 the mean USG was 1.021 g/mL and 1.016 g/mL on Day 2. There was a significant increase in body weight from Day 1 to Day 2 (p < 0.01) and a significant decrease in USG from Day 1 to Day 2 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A simple drinking strategy was beneficial in improving markers of hydration in a group of high school football players during two-a-day practices. Further research needs to be done to see if improvement in these measures translates into better performance.