FRISCO, Texas – As September brings relentless heat to the Dallas‑Fort Worth area, the Dallas Cowboys have taken a pragmatic approach to protect their players. Coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the team will continue practicing inside the 12,000‑seat stadium at the Cowboys’ headquarters rather than on the outdoor grass field.
Heat‑driven schedule changes
For the past two months the Dallas region has seen almost no measurable rainfall, and the past week has produced a string of triple‑digit high temperatures, tying a local record. With the regular‑season schedule now in full swing, the Cowboys face a critical decision each practice day: stay inside where the climate is controlled, or brave the heat for a brief outdoor session.
Schottenheimer explained that the coaching staff monitors humidity and sweat levels closely. “It’s more of the humidity and what we’re doing with the sweating. And we do all the sweat testing,” he said. “We’ve got these cool urinals. I don’t know how much they cost, but they must be expensive. It tells you whatever your urination levels are. It’s crazy.”
High‑tech urinals as a science tool
The urinals, which the team categorizes under sports‑science equipment, provide real‑time data on players’ hydration and electrolyte loss. By analyzing the output, trainers can adjust fluid replacement strategies and decide whether a particular practice segment should remain indoors.
“We’re just trying to do what we can to avoid the heat,” Schottenheimer added. “We don’t play in the heat. So right now we’re just trying to do our best to get on the grass for certain things and then be inside for certain things. And right now we just feel we can get better work done inside.”
Indoor facility details
The indoor venue is a former high‑school stadium that the Cowboys repurposed for year‑round training. It sits adjacent to the team’s locker rooms and dining hall, with the outdoor grass field a short walk away. When conditions allow, the coaching staff sometimes splits position groups for brief outdoor drills, but those sessions are limited to early‑morning hours when the heat index is lower.
Last week, the Cowboys held two short outdoor practices that began at 8 a.m., avoiding the peak‑day heat. Regular practice time is early afternoon, but the persistent triple‑digit heat index has made that slot untenable for the foreseeable future.
Looking ahead to the season opener
The team’s final full practice of the week is scheduled for Thursday, three days before the season opener against the New York Giants. Forecasts call for temperatures in the 90s with a chance of rain, but Schottenheimer indicated the Cowboys are “probably” headed for another indoor session.
He emphasized flexibility in the schedule: “I think the way the schedule’s built this year for the first couple games, we’re not going to be able to have much of a routine. So that’s why the whole live in the moment, win the day, I think matters. If I felt like the only way for us to get ready to perform well in this game was to go outside, I can promise you we’d go outside.”
Balancing safety and preparation
By leveraging technology and indoor facilities, the Cowboys aim to keep players healthy while still preparing for the physical demands of NFL competition. The approach reflects a broader trend in professional sports: using data‑driven methods to mitigate environmental risks and enhance performance.
As the heat wave continues across North Texas, the Cowboys’ strategy may serve as a model for other teams grappling with extreme summer temperatures.
Original reporting: Fort Worth, TX Sports (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
