This fall, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) implemented new heat acclimatization policies that have limited LAHS sports practices and games. The policies introduced a new tool for measuring heat, along with heat limits for specific regions and high schools throughout California.
CIF now requires schools to measure temperature with the WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). Unlike the heat index, which takes into account shady areas, the WBGT only measures direct sunlight. CIF believes that it provides a better assessment of heat-related conditions in sports environments. This means that the WBGT will read differently from the weather reported by the weather app. As a result, coaches can’t know if their sports are required to cancel practice until the Athletic Trainer reports the WBGT readings.
CIF also divided schools into three regions, which dictate under which temperatures each school is allowed to hold practice. CIF believes that the diverse climates of California can be effectively encompassed under three categories.
LAHS falls into Category 1. This means that whenever the temperature is between 84.2 and 86.0 degrees Fahrenheit, outdoor sports practices and games are allowed to last 1 hour at maximum, with rest breaks throughout. When the temperature is above 86.2 degrees Fahrenheit, teams must cancel or delay all activities. Beforehand, protocols were up to the discretion of individual schools.
As most LAHS sports have two-hour practices, many student athletes and coaches find the regulations troublesome.
“We have to wait on our athletic trainer all day to tell us whether or not we are able to have a practice or match,” varsity tennis captain senior Tyra Bogan said. “The inconsistency is very frustrating when the coaches are trying to map out practice plans.”
“My feelings around the new regulations are mixed,” varsity football captain senior Miles Field said. “It is important to make sure everyone is safe and healthy, however I don’t like not being able to practice when it is really important that we do.”
“While it’s important to follow these rules, they sometimes hinder the flow of practice, especially when we’re trying to build endurance and resilience,” varsity water polo Head Coach Seth Tasman said. “So far, they haven’t significantly affected any games, but as athletes adjust to shorter, regulated training sessions, we might see some impact on performance in future competitions.”
The zoning has also created issues, with some coaches believing that the threshold for certain areas are too low. There has also been feedback that zones are too generalized, as certain geological factors aren’t accounted for in some areas — such as coastal proximity.
“Climate in our area, to me, indicates Category 2 at least,” JV football Coach Keith Mello said. “Coaches need to give more breaks and be educated in heat dangers, but, honestly, we have missed far too many practices from being in red or black.”
“I’ve talked to coaches from way down south, like the San Diego area, they’re also in Category 1,” Athletic Trainer Lucas Okuma said. “Their school is way inland and they’re in black all the time, but we still share the same thresholds. The bigger the area, the more vague the rules become, so maybe it’s up to us to figure the thresholds out.”
“I anticipate the zones continuing to complicate practice and match scheduling and also giving certain geographic regions major disadvantages when it comes to training time,” Tyra said.
Additionally, synthetic turf fields get significantly hotter than other surfaces like concrete and natural grass. When temperatures get too high, LAHS field sports move practices indoors to stay in accordance with CIF regulations. However, limited indoor availability poses a separate challenge.
“It’s like playing chess with moving pieces,” Athletic Director Michelle Noeth said. “It’s a challenge when you’re communicating with Varsity and JV teams, looking at the facilities calendar to make sure there’s not a rental in there, or make sure there’s not another meeting that’s been set up.”
“In the black zone, which is above 86.2 WBGT, we must have indoor practice only,” Mello said. “This is tough with the other teams, like flag football and field hockey who need to be indoor at that level as well.”
CIF also requires football to follow a special acclimatization procedure at the beginning of the season. Instead of practicing in full gear right away, athletes are required to build up to it over a five day period. On the first three days, only helmets are permitted. On the fourth day, shoulder pads can be added. It’s not until the sixth day that athletes are allowed to practice in full gear.
“If the heat index drives a reduction in full practice attire, then we can teach skills but we can’t practice on physical skills, for example tackling,” varsity football Head Coach Mark Adams said. “Ideally, we teach early in the week and work on physical prep later, but the heat regulations can impact that schedule.”
For aquatic sports, regulations stay the same. Even though these athletes spend the majority of their time in water, which has a higher specific heat, they are required to follow the same heat regulations as land sports. Water polo was the first aquatic sport affected.
“It’s concerning that the CIF hasn’t created specific regulations for water polo,” Tasman said. “We’re dealing with a different set of physical demands than other sports, especially with the risk of overheating in aquatic environments. This gap leaves us coaches to interpret general rules that might not perfectly fit our sport, which can lead to inconsistent practices across different schools and teams.”
“I’ve been talking to other athletic trainers in the general area and the water regulations have been impacting other schools too,” Okuma said.
That said, Noeth believe that the regulations are helpful by establishing uniform guidelines across all schools and sports.
“By taking some of the common sense and putting it in writing and making guidelines, it’s helpful for everybody, including brand new coaches, brand new athletic directors, brand new principals, and brand new superintendents,” Noeth said. “The consistency across California is helpful because it helps take some of the burden off of people when making decisions.”
As sports navigate through the new regulations this Fall, LAHS staff has been helpful in aiding coaches. They are hopeful of changes and improvements in later years too.
“It has been tough, but Lucas has been amazing keeping us informed early, and Noeth has been helping teams get indoor space when we are in the black zone,” Mello said. “My fellow coaches have been extremely flexible and supportive so we can all do what’s safest for athletes, while continuing to improve and prepare for contests.”
“It’s the first year that these regulations have been implemented, and it’s a learning experience for not just us, but all of CIF,” Okuma said. “I’m sure they’re going to get a lot of feedback, and I’m sure adjustments will be made in the following years.”
“For the most part, everybody’s been very accommodating and very flexible,” Noeth said. “When you start something different, you’re going to have some bumps along the way. With different sports, everybody has different wants, different needs, and pushes for their own agenda items, but them being open to feedback is helpful.”
