A recent post on the Korey Stringer Institute/University of Connecticut's web site compares the heat acclimatization policies of all 50 states to that of their own recommendations. Not surprisingly, most states did not comply with their guidelines. What is interesting is that many southern states, where the heat lasts longer into the season and is more intense, have not complied with these guidelines.
For Ohio, where it affects me, I am aware that the Ohio High School Athletic Association considered these guidelines, but rejected them. Their argument, from what we were told, is that our region of the country does not experience the same kinds of weather conditions as the southern states do. I agree that we don't have the issues as far into the season since the temperatures usually moderate by the 3rd week of the season in early September, but these guidelines weren't meant to control practices after the start of the regular season. These guidelines are meant to govern the two a day sessions that fill the first 2-3 weeks of practices. During that time, we often do have temperatures that can be threatening. But even this is not consistent. The most common weather pattern is to have 1-3 days of hot temps followed by up to a week or more of moderate temps and occasionally even have some really cool days thrown in the mix. Some years we never see a temperature above 80 with very low humidities. To comply with these rules with the wide variance in local weather patterns would, at times, be difficult to explain. Therefore, I think the better solution is to have a certified athletic trainer at every school that can make these recommendations based on their education and experience. I would advocate for the OHSAA to mandate every school that fields a collision sport has a licensed AT on staff. Currently, it stands as a "strong recommendation."
I guess I could be waiting a while van this one.
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