High school coaches, athletic directors explain what goes into adjusting schedules based on hot weather

MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) — The hot temperatures this week aren’t fully stopping high school athletes. Many schools are adjusting their practice schedules to accommodate the weather.

Westville’s football team, and many others, shifted practice to the morning.

“It’s a big adjustment, there’s a lot of things we would normally do after school that we’re not able to get done in the morning because our time is limited,” Guy Goodlove, the head coach, said.

While Monticello’s changes are dependent on the sport. Dan Sheehan, the school’s athletic director, said some teams are moving inside, other teams are adjusting what they can do at practice, and others, like golf, had to cancel their match.

But, behind each adjustment is a piece of technology educators are grateful to have, and doctors are thankful to see — a wet bulb.

“It takes into account the cloud cover, wind speed, the sun,” Sheehan explained. “There’s more variables than just the temperature and the heat index.”

He is the one using it now, but in October, a new element will be added. The “Perry Weather” app is a site many athletic departments are using, including in Monticello.

“We’ll have a weather station on our school grounds that’ll make the decisions versus coming out here, running to the various sites and checking it,” the director said.

Besides encouraging a good diet, hydration, and getting enough sleep, it’s another tool to keep his athletes safe.

“As soon as we get into a danger zone or a no practice zone, all of our coaches will get alerts,” Sheehan said.

Hearing that is music to Dr. Faheem Ahmad’s ears.

“It’s highly appreciated on different levels,” the OSF doctor said. “It makes me feel comfortable. Also, the need for medical personnel to intervene significantly goes down when you identify those risk factors.”

When it comes to exercising in the heat and knowing when to take a break, he wants everyone to keep a few risk factors in mind. Dr. Ahmad knows preparation is key, and encourages hydrating throughout the day. He said you will dehydrate while in the heat, which could cause heat-related problems.

Pre-hydration starts about four hours before your game or practice. Dr. Ahmad encourages starting to drink clear liquids at that point before spending time outside.

“As you go continuously, you hydrate yourself during the practice or season itself,” he added.

Dr. Ahmad also recommends adding electrolytes and some carbs if you’ll be participating in a sporting event for more than one hour. Drinks like Gatorade can help.

He also wants to remind everyone to remember that the UV index, dry air temperature and humidity all impact how you’re feeling too.

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