MAYFIELD, Ky. — The fall semester is quickly approaching, and many school sports teams are starting to practice outdoors. However, these groups will have to deal with extreme temperatures this week.
On Monday, July 29, WPSD-TV issued a Heat Warning for much of western Kentucky, including the Paducah and Mayfield areas. The heat index is around 105 degrees, with temperatures expected to rise to 110 degrees in some areas.
Symptoms of heat-related illness include heavy sweating, a fast but weak pulse, moist or dry skin, headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and fainting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
McCracken County Schools, Paducah Independent Schools, Mayfield Independent Schools and Graves County Schools all have protocols in place for outdoor conditions that are not suitable for practice.
McCracken County Schools head football coach Tyler Brooks said Monday-through-Friday practices for high school teams, which began July 10, were an “acclimation process” designed to help students adjust to the summer season. Hot.
The process requires a different series of heavy equipment every five days—a helmet, a shoulder scale, and finally a complete pad. Before student-athletes participate in a game or scrimmage, they must complete three drills in full protective gear.
The initial training time was from 7 am to 11:30 am, but to “escape the heat”, it was later changed to 5 pm to 8:30 pm.
“Anytime in July and August, training times are based on weather conditions,” Brooks said.
Brooks said another step taken to protect students from heat stroke is weighing them at the beginning and end of practice to track water weight loss. If there is a large enough discrepancy between exercises, the student will be barred from participating and must recover with water, food, and rest.
He noted that small black particles in the turf attract extra sunlight and intensify the heat.
“We have these rules for a reason,” Brooks said. “If you don't take this seriously, you have a child's life on your hands.”
Brooks recommends other student-athletes playing outdoor sports such as football, baseball and softball take their own acclimatization process to prepare their bodies for the heat. He said they should expose themselves to outdoor temperatures and engage in physical activity beyond practice, rather than just sitting indoors for long periods of time.
Sean Thompson, head football coach at Paducah Tillman High School, a division of Paducah Independent Schools, said his team's field has a special infield that is 20 degrees cooler than standard turf. He said this amenity, along with “many precautions,” can keep people healthy during harsh temperatures.
Practice typically takes place from 4 to 7 p.m., but can be rescheduled to 8 p.m. to accommodate extreme temperatures.
“We want our kids to stay healthy and at the top of their game,” Thompson said.
When temperatures get too harsh, they move indoors to an air-conditioned facility, Thompson said.
Thompson emphasized the importance of water in mitigating the effects of intense heat. He said it is available to student-athletes at any time, and they are allowed and strongly encouraged to rehydrate at any time. A cold pool is also available for students to rejuvenate.
“We did a good job at practice giving the kids access to water and rest,” Thompson said.
Thompson emphasized that these precautions ensure students maintain normal function and avoid injury and illness.
“You don't want to put any kid in this situation,” Thompson said.
Todd Hatchell, athletic director at Mayfield Independent Schools, outlined the district's sports activity policy as one that “goes beyond” protecting the well-being of children. Hatcher said the department will check temperatures daily and plan accordingly.
When temperatures reach 104 degrees, all outdoor activities must cease. Rest breaks are required every 30 minutes starting at 100 degrees; helmets, padding, and other heavy equipment need to be removed. It is continuously monitored every 30 minutes when the temperature is between 95 degrees and 104 degrees.
To avoid heat spikes, MIS high school football, soccer and marching band practiced outside in the morning, the middle school baseball and softball teams practiced outside in the evening, and then the football team practiced again. Hatcher said practice is five days a week and averages about two hours a day.
Hatcher explains that to mitigate and prevent heat-related illnesses, cold compresses, cold towels, water and ice buckets are always available. The latter lowers core temperatures when students are submerged.
In severe cases, football teams use Polar Pods, portable cooling devices that can be used at away games.
“We do everything we can to protect our student-athletes this time of year,” Hatcher said.
Khristain Elliott, athletic director for Graves County Schools, said his district adheres to heat index tables for outdoor training.
Amid 99-degree heat, the department stepped up precautions such as frequent water shutoffs and the use of cooling towels. Take off heavy equipment such as helmets and padding when the temperature reaches 100 degrees, and stop all outdoor activities when the temperature reaches 105 degrees.
Elliott noted that football, baseball, softball and football teams practice for several hours in the morning and evening to prevent heat-related illnesses. Elliott said the football team practices five days a week starting at 6 a.m.
“There's nothing we can do about the heat, but we're going to work on it,” Elliott said.
