The Michigan High School Athletic Association is taking the risk of heat-related illnesses during interscholastic competition very seriously.
In March at the MHSAA’s Representative Council meeting, the association discussed adopting a heat management policy for its tournaments and providing member schools a detailed model policy for suggested use during practices and regular-season competition.
The MHSAA is making this part of its focus related to heath and safety issues in school sports. The association, in making its announcement, said the model policy would not set requirements for schools but would propose action to minimize the risks of heat-related illness during interscholastic participation.
The policy would be a recommendation for regular-season practice and competition and published in the 2013-14 MHSAA handbook. Starting this fall, it would be mandatory for MHSAA tournaments.
Executive director John E. “Jack” Roberts said in a statement that the MHSAA is hoping the adoption of this “best practice” will further raise awareness of the importance of avoiding heat-related illness and would give schools a chance to adopt a standardized policy very similar to what is in place for other environmental factors such as lightning and tornadoes.
“For the past several years, we’ve used four ‘H’s’ to focus our efforts to improve the health and safety of student-athletes: Heads, Hearts, Heat, and Health Histories,” Roberts said in the statement. “To maintain momentum, we’ve identified several focus areas for the next four years: better acclimatization of athletes, better health and safety preparedness for coaches, and modification of practice policies and contest rules to reduce head trauma and the frequency of each sport’s most injurious situations.”
“There are a number of schools with solid heat management policies already in place, and as a whole we want to continue moving forward at the head of the wave,” said MHSAA spokesman Geoff Kimmerly. “We expect this model policy will raise awareness across the state and be useful both for schools that don’t have a policy in place, or others that do but would like to adhere to something more standardized. We have similar standard protocols for things like lightning and tornadoes – policies that are used by everyone – and we believe a number of schools will adopt this as well.”
Roberts said the action by the MHSAA “was significant; but it’s just the next step in a continuous series of actions being taken to make school sports as healthy as possible for students.”
The MHSAA’s heat management policy states that “temperature and humidity readings should be taken at the site of the practice or competition 30 minutes prior to its start and then 60 minutes after it has begun. Recommendations for hydration and levels of activity are suggested for each of four levels of heat index readings.”
The MHSAA announcement added that “key aspects are frequency and length of water breaks, appropriate uniforms based on heat index, and mandates on what time of day practices should be conducted and for how long.”
The policy adds that practices are suggested to be postponed or moved when the heat index measures 99 to 104 degrees, and all outdoor activity (and indoor if air conditioning is unavailable) is to be stopped if the heat index rises above 104.
Athletic directors rely heavily on their trainers and MHSAA to counsel their coaches on this issue.
“At this point, we don’t really have anything to report on yet,” said Aarron Butkovich of Beal City. “We are in the beginning process of developing policy for the 2013-2014 season.”
Kimmerly was asked if the heat problems, especially in August and September as teams are practicing for fall sports, has elevated in recent years.
“It’s difficult to say it’s become more or less of a problem because it’s difficult to find data to back up either theory,” he responded. “We simply know more now than ever before about heat-related illness, what to look for, and how to prevent it. And the subject also has received much more media attention over the last decade, furthering awareness. All are good things, and we hope this model policy is another step toward raised awareness and prevention.”
But Kimmerly did say the heat issue isn’t just a problem in August and September.
“Obviously that’s a big part because those months are the warmest part of the summer here,” he said. “But this definitely could factor in during our spring tournaments in June,” he said. “And heat index is something for our schools to be aware of for inside activities as well – it can warm up quickly in some of these facilities if air conditioning isn’t available.”