ANDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — With near-record temperatures expected for the rest of this week, high school sports teams are finding ways to keep their athletes cool and safe in extreme weather.
The TSSAA manages safety guidelines for high schools across Tennessee. Depending on the temperature, teams either can't practice outside or have to take longer water breaks. If the heat index is under 95 degrees, teams need to have at least three separate rest breaks per hour of practice.
If the heat index ranges from 95 degrees to 99 degrees, a team can practice for a maximum of two hours. All sports must provide at least four rest breaks each hour. Football players are restricted to helmets, shoulder pads and shorts when their practice doesn't involve contact. All equipment must be removed during conditioning activities when it is 95 degrees to 99 degrees.
If the heat index ranges from 100 degrees to 104 degrees, the maximum practice time is one hour. All sports must have 20 minutes of rest breaks throughout that hour of practice. No conditioning activities are permitted. For football practices, no protective equipment may be worn during practice that doesn't involve contact.
Gary Terry, the Anderson County High School athletic director, said keeping track of the guidelines and temperatures is important because temperatures can rise quickly.
"We get hung up in the day-to-day operations of a school, and then we come out here and we're ready to practice and everybody's ready to go. And you don't realize it's 104 degrees with the index, and that takes you right off the field," Terry said.
The school's athletic trainer, Alexa Rasnake, reiterated that the guidelines are a top priority.
"Following the guidelines is super important as an athletic trainer, as well as an athletic department," Rasnake said. "The main goal for us is the safety of the kids."
The high school has several precautions in place for students who might overheat during practices. A large misting fan sits on the sidelines during games and practices. It blows cold air and mist on players, keeping them cool.
A cold water immersion tub is also onsite at the high school for players to use. TSSAA policy said that a cold water immersion tub must be available to all players during warm weather practices.
If a game is scheduled when the heat index is supposed to be higher than 104 degrees, the immersion tub must be available to players. Additionally, a medical professional should also be onsite to help any players in need.