The injury issue is the most compelling argument, especially given the recent NCAA emphasis on player safety before everything else. Apparently the NCAA is ignoring the evidence that the HUNH offense disregards their very own "recommendations" for player safety as stated in their 2013-2014 edition of the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook.
On page 39 in Guideline 2C (Prevention of Heat Illness), the NCAA lists these symptoms of "exertional heat injury": muscle cramping, decreased performance, unsteadiness, confusion, vomiting, irritability, pale or flushed skin, rapid weak pulse, high body temperature, nausea, headache, dizziness, unusual fatigue, sweating stops, disturbances in vision, and fainting. The "Warp Speed" offense guy referenced earlier stated that two of these symptoms are his goals in his offense by preventing defensive players to substitute, rest, or hydrate. So, in reality he's trying to induce "exertional heat injury" on opposing players.
On page 40, in the list of "the following practices should be observed" is "fluid replacement should be readily available". That practice cannot be observed if players aren't given enough time between plays to get hydration. On page 41, there is a summarization of the potential risk factors for heat illness and that list includes these:
1. Intensity of exercise. This is the leading factor that can increase core body temperature higher and faster than any other.
4. Dehydration. Fluids should be readily available and consumed to aid in the body's ability to regulate itself and reduce the impact of heat stress.
On page 99 is Guideline 2T regarding Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (ER), which is when muscle tissue begins to break down into its protein constituents and enters the bloodstream during extreme exertion.
The risk factors for ER are:
- Novel overexertion. This is "characterized as too much, too soon, and too fast."
- Exertional heatstroke. This was discussed above.
- Exertional collapse with complications in athletes with sickle cell trait (not the same as sickle-cell leukemia). Athletes with sickle-cell trait are more at-risk for exertion-based illnesses and death.
On page 102, still within the Guideline 2T:
I don't think that there is a more dangerous environment for ER than the quick paced offense that is created purposely to force defensive players to fatigue and dehydrate.
The NCAA had the opportunity to alleviate many of these health concerns with the 10-second substitution period between plays and their own studies showed that it really would have had little impact on their actual pace of play. The only impact it would have had was that it would have allowed fatigued and dehydrated defensive players (and offensive players as well) to substitute with a fresher player and would make the game safer. Not passing that rule seems to contradict the NCAA's self-touted concern for player safety. It will be sad if it takes the death of players to prove the likely danger of the fast-paced, no substitutions offensive style.
