The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors voted to enact new heat safety guidelines, for all IHSA postseason contests, beginning with the 2016-17 school year. The new comprehensive policy was approved at the Board of Directors meeting on Monday, June 13, 2016. It can be viewed by clicking here.
“Heat-related illness and death is 100% preventable,” said Northwestern University Associate Athletic Director and Director of Athletic Training Services Tory Lindley. “Trainers are now armed with the support needed to direct and educate athletes, coaches, and administrators on who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related issue.”
The policy applies only to State Series contests (Regionals, Sectionals, Super-Sectionals, State Finals, Football Playoffs.) But the IHSA Board of Directors, Staff, Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, and Illinois Advisory Council on Player Safety encourage all member schools to use the policy as their minimum standard, for managing heat at athletic competitions.
“According to the CDC, heat illness during practice or competition is the leading cause of death among U. S. high school athletes,” said Lindenwood University Department of Athletic Training Chair William Dill. He is a member of the IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. “The first step for player safety is always prevention, and this policy aims to prevent exertional heat illnesses, by modifying competitions based on the WBGT. Hopefully, this policy will also raise awareness that exercising in the heat can be dangerous, but good policies can go a long way in protecting student-athletes.”
The policy is built upon Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) readings, which take into account factors such as humidity, wind speed, sun angle, cloud cover, and air temperature. This is considered the most effective way of judging dangerous conditions by the Korey Stringer Institute and other industry experts.
The IHSA piloted the policy during the IHSA Class 3A and Class 4A Baseball and Softball State Finals, on Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, at Silver Cross Field in Joliet , IL, and the Eastside Centre in East Peoria, IL, respectively. The IHSA altered game times to avoid playing during the hottest hours of the day. They added in ice towels and water breaks, among other measures, as the WBGT dictated.