As the temperatures rise, so do precautions at high school athletice practices, events

Posted July 27, 2016 at 1:38 pm

In the past couple of weeks, summer has shown its true colors with heat and humidity soaring to record levels over much of the state.

In Clinton County, the heat index has taken its toll on several of the fall outdoor sports, including golf, soccer and football.

Rules that deal with the heat index are put into play by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. Each coach for soccer, cross country, golf and football has to watch closely in order to abide by these rules and keep their players from overheating during the late summer months.

If the heat index is above 104, all sports are required to stop all outside activity, including practices and playing games and stop all inside activity if air conditioning is unavailable.

If the heat index is above 99 degrees and below 104 degrees, all sports should make water available and athletes should be able to take in as much water as they desire. Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes for 10 minutes are required and towels with ice shall be provided if needed.

Teams are also recommended to alter their uniform, for example, football can remove pads and helmets in order to keep players cooler during practices.

Coaches also have the choice to postpone practice or games until later in the day.

Coaches have to re-check temperature and humidity every 30 minutes to monitor for changes in the heat index.

If the heat index is 95 degrees to 99 degrees, the same rules apply concerning water breaks and providing towels and ice for players. For contact sports, helmets and other equipment should be removed when an athlete is not directly involved with competition, drill or practice and is not otherwise required by rule.

Coaches should consider postponing practice or reducing the time of outside activity.

For days under the 95 degree heat index, all previous water rules apply, but equipment regulations are not monitored as closely. Full contact sports are able to practice or play with full equipment when the heat index is under 95 degrees.

“We had to call off practice Friday,” Head Golf Coach Nick Irwin said. “We’ve only been able to play three full rounds without stopping every 15 minutes for water breaks.”

Irwin also said they have started practice at 7:30 each morning in order to get practice in before the heat rises to unacceptable levels.

Other practice schedules have been made for other sports, including soccer. Head Coach Greg Cummings has moved his practices to 8 p.m. When asked what he does to protect players from the heat he replied with “water.”

“Water … when it’s real hot you have to take breaks every 30 minutes. We make sure the kids stay cool and keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t overheat,” Cummings said. “We’ve been doing practice in the mornings and we changed it last week to 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., but it just got too hot.”

Cummings said practicing later of a night has been better for the kids.

With the football team, students have been practicing in the heat all summer. Players were advised last week to drink a gallon of water each day in order to prepare for the camp they are traveling to this week.

Monday afternoon, the football team was practicing in shorts and t-shirts with helmets instead of the normal practice with full pads. Water was readily available for those who needed it. According to the Kentucky Mesonet weather sight, temperatures have been in the range of 87 degrees to 90 degrees. That combined with a high percent humidity, above 97 percent for most days, is the reason most teams have had to keep watch during practices.

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C.C.H.S. Soccer Coach Greg Cummings prepares for a recent late evening practice scheduled when temperatures are cooler and safer for athletes.

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Above, a Bulldog football player takes one of many water breaks given during a recent practice. Football practice has been without pads and with players in t-shirts and shorts during times when heat index levels were extremely high.