Fall sports coaches scramble and adapt to heat limits

Salem-Keizer Schools are cutting off sports practices at noon due to 100 degree temps

Athletes preparing for the fall sports season locally had to get up real early today—and will likely be repeating it most of this week due to forecasts of 100 degrees or more each day.

The announcement made by the Salem-Keizer School District online placed straight-forward restrictions on all practices:

• There will be no outdoor practices or activities, or facility rentals after 12 p.m. (noon).

• All practices and events will follow OSAA heat index and guidelines.

• Coaches will provide updates to students and families if there are any changes to practice schedules.

For Sprague High’s football team, that meant giving up a mid-practice slate for a 7:30 am start time on Monday, and plans for a 7:00-10:00 am practice on Tuesday.  Other grid coaches started at 7:00 am today, while others ran from 8:30 -10:30.  Afternoons were set aside for team meetings and some weight training.

One unnamed coach did admit that the staff was “working on tweaks (to their schedule),” but admits that they had been in “in a holding pattern.”

School and OSAA officials take high temperatures seriously for athletics. 

Dr. Mick Koester, the OSAA’s Chief Medical Advisor, says workout intensity needs to be lowered dramatically when the mercury rises to near 100 degrees, and more frequent water breaks are a must.

A release from the OSAA reports that 18 prep sports-related deaths were reported nationwide last year, including 15 alone in the sport of football.

OF NOTE: the heat issue is impacting the video coverage of football by yours truly. A medical appointment today ruled out any coverage under the temperature limits.  Later in the week, work begins on my beautiful daughter’s wedding this weekend. Add it all up, and the video briefs will be finished sometime NEXT WEEK.

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