Summer Ramadan Makes Sports Practices Difficult

From Dearbornistan, MI:

Illuminated by the night lights on the football field, Adnan Restum joined a scrum of teammates at the end-zone water fountain, taking a break from a grueling preseason workout to guzzle a drink.

In just a few hours, he wouldn't be able to take a sip. But the 17-year-old defensive tackle could rehydrate guilt-free during the 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. practice, and succumb to tempting boxes full of granola bars and chocolate milk, too.

The moonlight practice is tailored for Restum and fellow Muslim teammates who make up a majority of the Fordson High School squad in the large Arab community of Dearborn. It's a way for the players to practice football and their faith, and balance the fasting common during the 30-day holy month of Ramadan that started last week.

"It feels really great," said Restum, who has been fasting since he was about 10. "If we're doing it during the day, we wouldn't have water and it would be really hot and everything."

A few years ago Ramadan came a little later in the year (it moves up about 11 or 12 days each year because the Muslim calendar is short that many days) and it hit during the Marching Band season when we had a couple of Muslim students in the band. Those poor kids had to go all day to school, and then take part in a grueling marching band practice in the afternoon...all without food or water. Once sundown occurred the kids would run up to the stands where their parents had food and drink for them. I actually felt kind of sorry for them. I admire their adherence to their belief system, but it could be little dangerous this time of year when the weather's so hot.