Monday’s death of Jackson Prep High School football player Walter Wilbanks has caused significant worry for parents whose children play sports, and rightly so.

Wilbanks became sick during his team’s ballgame last Friday night and was taken to an emergency room where he reportedly suffered a seizure. He had been in critical condition at a Jackson hospital until his death on Monday.

Wilbanks’ illness and untimely death was caused, his doctors said, by a freak occurrence in which his sodium levels plummeted.

While doctors may not seek to tie his death to the heat, many parents, coaches and fans wonder if the physical exertion of football coupled with the sweltering August temperatures may have been a contributing factor in Wilbanks’ illness.

Closer to home, a Franklin County player required intravenous fluids because of dehydration during his ballgame Friday night.

Traditionally, football is considered a fall sport. However, the start of school and thus the football season seem to back up a little more into summer each season.

Youngsters go through pre-season training in brutal temperatures. And the risk of such activity in sweltering temperatures isn’t limited to football players. Band and drill team members can often be seen dropping like flies on the first days of practice for the upcoming season.

Cathedral coach Ron Rushing said he supports a later start to the football season. He urged that in every decision, the needs and welfare of children should come first.

That’s a good rule of thumb all would do well to remember. After all, these are our children. The physical and mental welfare of each should be our top priority. Sometimes our enthusiasm for sports overshadows what is best for youngsters.

Perhaps it’s time to stop, step back and re-evaluate the beginning of football season and practice before the season, as well as the start of school.

Maybe slowing things down a bit, delaying the start of school and football season, would be the best way we can serve our children.