Hot and muggy days are always a concern for local high school student athletes.
Earlier this week, school certified athletic trainers and athletic directors were busy monitoring weather conditions to keep the athletes safe.
All three county schools rely on technology in the form of an instrument called a Kestrel meter. The handheld object is usually monitored by the athletic trainers. The meter can measure a variety of conditions including wind speed, temperatures, humidity, and pressure.
After taking a reading, an athletic trainer can determine how often athletes need to hydrate and when conditions are unhealthy for exercise.
Some practices and golf meets were delayed this week due adverse conditions caused by the heat and humidity.
An athletic trainer must monitor more than one team or facility. While the cross-country team would be running on grass, the soccer team might be practicing on a turf field which has a hotter surface. Tennis court surfaces also can measure hotter and become more troublesome to athletes.
Isaac Hook, an athletic trainer at North Montgomery High School, explained how the certified trainers monitor the weather conditions.
“The biggest precaution we do is limiting environmental exposures based of the Wet Bulb Global Temperature,” Hook said. “The Korey Stringer Institute and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association have created categories of outdoor sport participation based off your location within the country. The higher the WBGT is, the less time and more breaks are implemented.”
Hook said the staff starts monitoring the forecast at the beginning of the week, communicating, and working with coaches on what the expected weather is and what modifications are needed for practice times and locations.
Southmont A.D. Aaron Charles said his teams were also guided by weather forecasts early in the week.
“We decided early we weren’t going to practice between noon and 6 p.m.,” Charles said. “Monday we were still delayed by 30 minutes. Tuesday made a quick turnaround, and we were able to get outside right at 6 p.m.”
All the athletic directors recognize that extreme temperatures can impact athletes and they appreciate what the trainers do in hotter weather.
“Our athletic trainers do a great job in communicating with athletic directors and our coaches about what restrictions we may be dealing with during hot days,” Crawfordsville Athletic Director Bryce Barton said. “Our coaches know to be flexible in start times, length of practices and how many water breaks are needed.”
