NCHSAA REMINDS SCHOOLS TO TAKE CAUTION REGARDING HEAT AND HUMIDITY

CHAPEL HILL – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has issued a reminder to its 386 member schools to take extra caution regarding heat and humidity as schools began practice for fall sports.

Deputy executive director Que Tucker, in a memo to athletic directors across the state, noted that a Kentucky high school football player died last week due to dehydration and heat stroke on the second day of organized practice and with a temperature of just 75 degrees. “We urge you to overemphasize the necessity of fluid intake, especially water, by your student-athletes. This is especially relevant for all outdoor sports athletes, not just football,” she said.

Additional detailed hot weather guidelines, including a chart for temperature and relative humidity and potential practice adjustments, are on the NCHSAA web site at www.nchsaa.org and also are found in the current edition of the NCHSAA Handbook.

In addition, after consultation with the NCHSAA Sports Medicine Committee, an additional rule has been adopted in football. If schools opt for a second light workout, which is allowed beginning with the first day of contact practice and up until the beginning of the 180-day school year, it must be limited to a maximum of 90 minutes. The time limitation on that second workout is in effect immediately.