LEWISVILLE ISD HEAT POLICY

Section 1- Chain of Command

The following chain of command will occur:

Notification of Temperature

• Staff Athletic Trainer will obtain a weather report from the National Weather Service daily.
• The Head Coach will be informed of the weather before the afternoon practice.

• The temperature of the day will dictate which protocol will be followed.

• Daily temperature reports will be on file in the Athletic Trainers office.

• Weather reports are not required on days where the temperature falls between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.

Enforcement of Policies

• Head Coach/Staff Athletic Trainer will monitor time of exposure.

• Staff Athletic Trainer will meet with Head Coaches.

• Violation of policies will be reported to the District Athletic Director in writing.

Section II-Heat Policy

Specific heat conditions will determine activity restrictions during practice according to the following:

100 degree temperature and/or a heat index of 110 degree

Football

• Football teams will be in shorts and shoulder pads, with water breaks occurring every 30 minutes.  Each break will be 5 minutes of total rest time with helmets off.  Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.  Open water policy during the entire practice.

• Full pad workouts will have water breaks every 20 minutes.  Each break will be 5 minutes of total rest time with helmets off.  Practice will not exceed 1.5 hours of total heat exposure per day.  Open water policy during the entire practice.

• Athletes should be allowed to remove helmets while not in contact drills.

Cross Country Workouts/Men’s and Women’s Track

• Long distance runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can be seen by the coaches.  Athletes cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running.  Water breaks will occur every 30 minutes with a 5 minute total rest time.  Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

• Track and field athletes will take a 5 minute break every 30 minutes and athletes should be off their feet.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

• Players will be required to take a water break every 30 minutes with 5 minutes of total rest time.  Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Off-Season Programs

• 45 minutes of total heat exposure per day with 1 water break during this time.

105 degrees or 115 heat index

Football

• Shorts and shoulder pad practices only.  Breaks will occur every 20 minutes.  Breaks will be 5 minutes of total rest time.  Workout will be 2 hours of total heat exposure.

• A 1 minute “station break” will be given every 10 minutes.  Athletes will stay at the station they are working and athletic trainers will provide water.

Cross Country Workouts/Men’s and Women’s Track

• Runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can b e seen by the coaches.  Athletes cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running.  Water breaks will occur every 20 minutes with a 5 minute total rest time.  Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

• Players will be required to take a water break every 20 minutes with 5 minutes of total rest time.  Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Offseason Workouts

• 30 minutes of total heat exposure per day with 1 water break during this time or
• 45 minutes of total heat exposure per day with 2 water breaks during this time.

107 degree or 117 heat index

Football

• Shorts, shirt and helmets only.  Breaks will occur every 20 minutes.  Workout will be limited to 1.5 hours of total heat exposure per day.  Open water policy during the entire workout.

Cross Country Workouts/Men’s and Women’s Track

• Runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can be seen by the coaches.  Athletes cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running.  Water breaks will occur every 15 minutes with a 5 minute total rest time.  Practice will not exceed1.5 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

• Athletes will be required to take a water break every 20 minutes with 5 minutes of total rest time.  Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Off Season Workouts

• 30 minutes of total heat exposure per day with 1 water break during this time or 45 minutes of total heat exposure per day with 2 water breaks during this time.

110 degree or 120 heat index

• No outside practice allowed in any sport.

Key Terms and Definitions:

Heat Cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pain and spasm due to heavy exertion and dehydration.  Heat cramps usually involve the abdominal muscles or legs and it is generally thought that dehydration is the issue.

Heat Exhaustion: Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a warm, humid environment where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating.  Fluid loss causes blood flow to decrease in the vital organs, resulting in a form of shock.

Heat Stroke:  Heat stroke is life threatening.  The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working.  The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.  Any heat stroke victim must be quickly cooled and referred for advanced medical attention.

Dehydration: When fluid loss exceeds fluid intake.

Effects of Dehydration:

• Dehydration can affect an athlete’s performance in less than an hour of exercise, sooner if the athlete begins the session dehydrated.
• Dehydration of just 1%-2% of body weight (only 1.53 lbs for a 150 lb athlete) can negatively influence performance.
• Dehydration of greater than 3% of body weight increases an athlete’s risk of heat illness (heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke)

Warning Signs of Dehydration

Recognize the basic signs of dehydration:

• Thirst
• Irritability
• Headache
• Weakness
• Dizziness

• Cramps
• Nausea
• Decreased performance

Fluid Guidelines

Before exercise

• 2-3 hours before exercise 17-20 oz of water or a sports drink
• 10-20 minutes before exercise drink another 7-10 oz of water or sports drink

During exercise

• Drink early-even minimal dehydration compromises performance
• Drink every 10-20 minutes, at least 7-10oz of water or sports drink.  To maintain hydration, remember to drink beyond your thirst.  Optimally, drink fluids based on the amount of sweat and urine loss.

After exercise

• Within 2 hours, drink enough to replace any weight loss from exercise.  Drink approximately 20-24 oz of sports drink per pound of weight loss.

Rehydration:  An athlete’s hydration status can be monitored by:

• Body weight after exercise vs. before (weighing in)
• Urine color (i.e. urine color chart per Internal Journal of Sports Nutrition)
• Urine volume
• National Athletic Trainers’ Association Position Statement: Fluid Replacement for Athletes.