In addition to treating injuries and taping ankles, Miles and his staff are also in charge of keeping players hydrated, no small feat in the summer heat of South Georgia, where the temperature has gotten over 100 degrees at times this summer.

“You have to keep players hydrated, whether it’s water or Powerade or some kind of liquid,” Miles said. “If the players aren’t participating in a drill, they have the coaches’ permission to go get water. But we emphasize that they have to do it.”

Another thing the training staff is in charge of is the lightning detector. When there is the potential for lightning in the area, Miles hands the hand-held lightning meter to one of the VSU trainers, who is constantly watching it. If lightning gets within 12-20 miles, the coaches are alerted. If it gets much closer, everybody is taken off the field.

Miles and trainers like him have many duties, and they do all of them to help keep the players healthy and safe.

“When an athlete is out here practicing or playing in a game, we are essentially those kids’ guardians for that period of time, and we have to do our best to take care of them,” Miles said.