New heat guidelines go into effect for high school student athletes

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A new law recently went into effect that says high school student athletes can’t practice or play games if it’s too hot outside. The new CIF guidelines require most schools to alter practice and games times if temperatures are 86.2 degrees or warmer.

In Lakeside at El Capitan High School, practices have been changing weekly ahead of the school’s first season football game opener.

“It’s not fair. We play teams that get to practice every single day,” said head coach Ron Burner.

Burner says the new guidelines have forced his teams to practice later in the evening or first thing in the morning at 6:30 a.m. before school begins. In those cases, student athletes are coming to school to practice then showering in the locker rooms and changing for class at 8:30 a.m.

“It doesn’t work for us here in East County, we are never going to be below the heat index that they require,” said parent Kellee Turpen.

Turpen’s son has been going to sleep at midnight many nights because his football practice has been pushed back several hours.

“My concern is his sleep will get docked,” Turpen added.

Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley falls in Category 2 meaning temperatures must be 89.9 degrees or cooler. That’s the only school in the county that falls under that category.

“To me it’s beyond ridiculous,” Burner said. “We have to come up with a solution knowing what our temperatures are here. What are we going to do, start canceling sports because it’s hot. That doesn’t make sense.”

Burner agrees that all schools east of the 15 freeway should fall under Category 2 allowing for more flexibility.

“It could be Poway, Ramona, all of us. Just look at the weather report, it’s called coastal and Inland for a reason, it’s different. We grew up here, this is what we do,” Burner said.

Parents who spoke to FOX 5/KUSI in Lakeside shared similar sentiments saying there’s never been an issue and coaches are good about giving athletes breaks and plenty of water during practices and games.

“I understand the health part of it,” Burner added. “At some point don’t you have to trust your coaches, they’re doing the right thing.”

Category 3 schools must be 92 degrees or cooler. Nine desert schools fall under that category.

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