California governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill requiring the California Interscholastic Federation to adjust its heat illness prevention guidelines, allowing some districts to compete and practice in higher temperatures.
According to Ed Source, previously, CIF used Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WGBT) to measure heat and humidity, determining the highest heat at which practices and athletic competitions could still be safely held. In the coastal region of the state, that maximum temperature was 86.2 degrees; inland it was 89.9 degrees; and in the desert regions it was 92 degrees.
But Assembly Bill 2503 will cause CIF to revise the guidelines in the desert region of the state, allowing competition and practice up to 93.5 degrees.
“High School sports practices have been forced late into the evening or early morning to meet compliance,” said Assemblyman Greg Wallis, R-San Bernardino. “Long days have disrupted family routines, created logistical and transportation issues, led to burn out and fatigue, and negatively impacted student-athlete academic and athletic performance. Living in California’s desert communities presents a unique kind of acclimatization. A one size fits all threshold does not work for my communities.”
As many state associations grapple with rising temperatures and fight to reduce the risk of heat-related illness among student-athletes, this decision by California’s government appears to be in opposition to the trend proliferating in other areas: move practice inside, adjust practice times, avoid high heat.
In raising the maximum allowed WGBT, the law will require hydration breaks every 15 minutes, reduced practice intensity and duration, onsite monitoring by athletic trainers, added shade and enhanced acclimatization protocols.
Said Wallis, “[The bill] better reflect desert athletes' ability to perform in extreme heat. The bill pairs this adjustment with strong safety provisions, including cold-water immersion tubs, mandatory water breaks, on-field shade, and light equipment requirements during high-heat conditions. This is a commonsense fix for the students these guidelines are meant to protect.”
