I have been researching the Georgia High School Association Heat Policy and they do have one. By-Law 2.67 is for

their Institutional Heat Policy. The interesting thing is that it talks about being for practices and scrimmages only and not games. Their reasoning:

 

"The researchers who conducted the 3-year study on heat illness agreed with the GHSA administrators that there are enough built-in opportunities for players to get rest and hydration breaks during the course of a game. Everyone on the team is not participating intensely at one time. Officials and coaches are available to monitor 22 players in a game setting, while coaches may have 100 or more players to monitor during a practice setting."

 

There you go!

 

I am actually ok with not having a heat index for games.

I have been researching the Georgia High School Association Heat Policy and they do have one. By-Law 2.67 is for

their Institutional Heat Policy. The interesting thing is that it talks about being for practices and scrimmages only and not games. Their reasoning:

 

"The researchers who conducted the 3-year study on heat illness agreed with the GHSA administrators that there are enough built-in opportunities for players to get rest and hydration breaks during the course of a game. Everyone on the team is not participating intensely at one time. Officials and coaches are available to monitor 22 players in a game setting, while coaches may have 100 or more players to monitor during a practice setting."

 

There you go!

 

Georgia and many other states also use a different standard. KY uses the heat index standard, and Gerogia uses the WGBT. WGBT is used by OSHA and the military, and gives a little more leeway as to what is "safe". If southern, and southwestern states used the same standard as KY, there would be no outdoor high school sports.

Georgia and many other states also use a different standard. KY uses the heat index standard, and Gerogia uses the WGBT. WGBT is used by OSHA and the military, and gives a little more leeway as to what is "safe". If southern, and southwestern states used the same standard as KY, there would be no outdoor high school sports.

 

Kentucky's heat rules are Draconian and an example of what happens when politicians insert themselves in matters they don't comprehend.

Georgia and many other states also use a different standard. KY uses the heat index standard, and Gerogia uses the WGBT. WGBT is used by OSHA and the military, and gives a little more leeway as to what is "safe". If southern, and southwestern states used the same standard as KY, there would be no outdoor high school sports.

 

I just finished vacation in Florida. Was walking in a park when I saw a youth football camp going on. Actual temp was 97. From a cursory look I saw several coolers of drinks of some sort as well as an ambulance and tent for the medical personnel. That wouldn't happen in KY, most times those things are after thoughts. I know Jim's comments were tongue in cheek but unfortunately that attitude still exists.

Kentucky's heat rules are Draconian and an example of what happens when politicians insert themselves in matters they don't comprehend.

 

I do not think people believe how hot 105 is. Meaning, 105 is hot but on a 94 degree day it does not take long for it to reach a 105 heat index.

 

I am going to digress here but I also think it is ridiculous to start fall sports on July 10. Move it to August 1 like most states and go from there. I know part of it is probably heat acclamation but start August 1 or the last week of July with 3 days of shells then go full pads. For those kids that played in the final week of baseball, like Bullitt East, St. X, Campbell County & Clark County those kids have 3 weeks off, that is not long. We wonder why kids are getting more injuries, here is your sign.

I do not think people believe how hot 105 is. Meaning, 105 is hot but on a 94 degree day it does not take long for it to reach a 105 heat index.

 

I am going to digress here but I also think it is ridiculous to start fall sports on July 10. Move it to August 1 like most states and go from there. I know part of it is probably heat acclamation but start August 1 or the last week of July with 3 days of shells then go full pads. For those kids that played in the final week of baseball, like Bullitt East, St. X, Campbell County & Clark County those kids have 3 weeks off, that is not long. We wonder why kids are getting more injuries, here is your sign.

 

With KY's standards, if the temp hits 94, unless there is very little humidity, you're not going to be practicing. Using the heat index only takes humidity and air temp into account. The WGBT is a more complicated, thorough index. It takes into account solar radiation (both visible and infrared) and, wind speed (wind chill). So if the sun is low in the sky (either morning or late afternoon), or if you have a breeze, these conditions will give you a lower reading, even if the temp and humidity are fairly high. It also helps lessen the impact of field turf on your readings. I'm not sure why KY adapted Heat Index over WGBT which is used by OSHA and the Military.

I just finished vacation in Florida. Was walking in a park when I saw a youth football camp going on. Actual temp was 97. From a cursory look I saw several coolers of drinks of some sort as well as an ambulance and tent for the medical personnel. That wouldn't happen in KY, most times those things are after thoughts. I know Jim's comments were tongue in cheek but unfortunately that attitude still exists.

 

You also have to understand the athletes in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and other hot states, are better acclimated to the heat than we are, and are thus better able to handle extreme temps. If it's always 95, then it's not as big of a deal as a place where the average temp is 85.

You also have to understand the athletes in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and other hot states, are better acclimated to the heat than we are, and are thus better able to handle extreme temps. If it's always 95, then it's not as big of a deal as a place where the average temp is 85.

 

I grew up in Texas and it isn't who is acclimated or not, it is simple do not sit inside all day and play video games, watch tv and/or lay on the couch. Go outside and do stuff. If kids want to play they will do what needs to be done. This is just an excuse in my opinion. I understand what you are saying about temperatures but it still does not make much of a difference. If all a kid is lay around all summer (what summer they have now) and does nothing, then they will suffer with the heat. They go out even though it is 85 they are still acclimating themselves to the temperatures.

Lets also keep in mind that the last two deaths of KY athletes in practices came when the weather was in the low 70's and heat index was not an issue in any way.

I grew up in Texas and it isn't who is acclimated or not, it is simple do not sit inside all day and play video games, watch tv and/or lay on the couch. Go outside and do stuff. If kids want to play they will do what needs to be done. This is just an excuse in my opinion. I understand what you are saying about temperatures but it still does not make much of a difference. If all a kid is lay around all summer (what summer they have now) and does nothing, then they will suffer with the heat. They go out even though it is 85 they are still acclimating themselves to the temperatures.

 

Most athletes aren't laying around on the couch all day, or playing video games all day.

Most athletes aren't laying around on the couch all day, or playing video games all day.

 

...and I did not say that (most athletes, I said if an athlete). My point was if a kid is outside doing things he is acclimating himself to the weather if it is 85 or 95. He/she is still outside doing something instead of laying on the couch.

OLD SCHOOL!!!! Run till you puke, pansies! That's how winners are made.

 

God knows how we survived. I've tried to paint a picture for my son and his friends and it's beyond them. Two a days started at 8a and went to 11:30a in full pads. We took a 2 hr break and went shoulder pads and helmet during the heat of the afternoon with water breaks 2-3 times an hour based on temps from 1:30 to 4p. Skeleton O & D, technique drills with limited contact in the afternoon sessions.

 

No one died, no one fell out. We ate better, drank plenty of liquids the night before practice and knew we needed to take care of ourselves to meet the physical demands placed on us.

 

Not so much today. Kids, parents, and coaches have been careless resulting in the current format and regulations. Yes The Nanny culture is alive and well... and yes Jim Schue whether you were being facetious or not. The current generation would benefit from some OLD SCHOOL!

...and I did not say that (most athletes, I said if an athlete). My point was if a kid is outside doing things he is acclimating himself to the weather if it is 85 or 95. He/she is still outside doing something instead of laying on the couch.

 

I understand. My point is that the standards are bound to be different in southern states, simply because it's hotter. Here in KY, 90+ with high humidity is the exception. In Florida, that's norm...hence different heat standards.

God knows how we survived. I've tried to paint a picture for my son and his friends and it's beyond them. Two a days started at 8a and went to 11:30a in full pads. We took a 2 hr break and went shoulder pads and helmet during the heat of the afternoon with water breaks 2-3 times an hour based on temps from 1:30 to 4p. Skeleton O & D, technique drills with limited contact in the afternoon sessions.

 

No one died, no one fell out. We ate better, drank plenty of liquids the night before practice and knew we needed to take care of ourselves to meet the physical demands placed on us.

 

Not so much today. Kids, parents, and coaches have been careless resulting in the current format and regulations. Yes The Nanny culture is alive and well... and yes Jim Schue whether you were being facetious or not. The current generation would benefit from some OLD SCHOOL!

 

Old school is what got us to the current rules. We also didn't have spring football, 7 on 7's, or June practices in the old days. Summer baseball would end in early July and we'd get almost the whole month off before football started on August 1st, and our first contact wouldn't happen until around August 10th. So while two a days are rare, I'd say football is more demanding and more of a year round commitment now then it was in the old days.

Old school is what got us to the current rules. We also didn't have spring football, 7 on 7's, or June practices in the old days. Summer baseball would end in early July and we'd get almost the whole month off before football started on August 1st, and our first contact wouldn't happen until around August 10th. So while two a days are rare, I'd say football is more demanding and more of a year round commitment now then it was in the old days.

 

I think your stated increased schedule demand is the greatest contributor to the current guidelines and regulations not old school approaches.

 

Please note there have been examples of poor coaching, bad judgement, and mis-diagnosed medical conditions that have at worst contributed to loss of life and that is a tragedy when it comes to summer football practices.

 

I was one of many kids in the 80s who were guided by common sense, sound leadership, discipline, hard work, ....and again we survived 6 hours of heat a day in August in the Ohio Valley without many issues.

 

A big difference then vs now is the lack of natural gas! Add 10-20 degrees to field surface temps if not more...