Running off the field for water too often would be considered malingering but water breaks were usually every half hour or so in my experience. Wind sprints were always the last thing in practice but the idea that they would continue (without hydration) until someone quit the team sounds a little sick to me.

There was some thinking in the old days that water was bad for you and there would be no water on the field for the entire duration of practice. I'm sure that some coaches are tougher than others but the situation you describe with a water break at one hour doesn't sound too bad. Also, we are talking about the deep south where August practice is often in over 100 degree temps and high humidity.

In the game we did use the squirt bottles and the water boys were usually on the field at every time out