When it’s extremely hot, schools like South Pasadena High take every precaution to protect student-athletes.
During heat advisories, SPHS Athletic Director CB Richards can be found inside Ray Solari Stadium on campus using a special thermometer, which measures temperatures by using a special bulb exposed to the air, helping provide key information when severe, scorching weather conditions hit the region.
Simplified, Richards says the hi-tech wet bulb thermometer is a new device used to register not only the temperature, but also the humidity, the wind, or breeze, any possible cloud cover and the heat index.
Along with CIF guidelines for extreme weather risk to student-athletes, Richards brings out his wet bulb thermometer to get an exact reading in an effort to protect those engaged in outdoor sports when it comes to uses of the school’s field for practices and games.
“It takes in all those categories and kicks out a new temperature reading that we use to decide if we can do outside activities safely,” Richards explained.
Looking out for the health of student-athletes, Richards said he got ahead of a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) mandatory change, and made the decision to switch the kick-off times for both the frosh/soph and varsity football games this week. The Tigers’ frosh/soph contest against Crescenta Valley, originally slated for 4 p.m. on Thursday, was moved to Wednesday at 6 p.m., and Friday’s varsity game between the two teams was backed up, from 7 to 7:30 p.m. to help avoid the heat.
“CIF didn’t tell us to push things back or change dates but they have strict health heat prevention rules which we have to check using the wet bulb thermometer, and go off their readings if it’s too high,” said Richards, noting it aids significantly in restricting outside competitions.
The school’s AD anticipated CIF would eventually step in and push for mandatory time changes as a result of the sizzling heat, and stayed out front of the agency’s action. “So, instead of waiting for the day of (the games) and having to move everything back in the chaos of that with the teams and the fans, I got out ahead of it and just made the change and went through with it.”
Richards stressed the importance of health and safety, ensuring that the school will take every measure not to put student-athletes in harms way. “Even on Friday, leaving the (varsity) game at 7 p.m. might be okay, but the warm-ups would be at 5:30 p.m. when the temperature reading says it’s going to be 104 degrees (is dangerous),” he noted. “So, anticipating the warm-up time for the players, I moved it back a half hour so they can come out at about 6:15 p.m., when it might be better for their safety.”
When the weather turns hot, Richards must follow outdoor activity guidelines, which call for additional hydration breaks, proper rest and limited practice times. In addition, no protective equipment may be worn during practice, and there may be no conditioning activities.
“As the athletic director, I kind of anticipated the health risk,” continued Richards, regarding Friday night’s football game, “and moved back the time in agreement with the athletic director from Crescenta Valley. So CIF didn’t tell us to move it, but they do have criteria of not playing in certain conditions. They won’t tell you to move it until you are in those conditions. I was just anticipating those conditions are going to be in place. So, I got out ahead of it so everybody can adjust early, making life easier and safer.”
