In light of the record temperatures many parts of the country are seeing, it brings up a question. Most leagues will leave the cancellation of practices up to individual coaches, except in the case of severe weather (lightning, snow/ice, etc.) where the league will cancel everything. But is there a point where it’s too hot to practice that you would cancel all practices for your league? If so, what is it? NOAA Heat Advisories (Heat Index 105-114) or an Excessive Heat Warning? (Heat Index of 115+)? Some other set temperature or forecast Heat Index? If so, what’s your threshold? We don’t have a hard and fast temperature scale for canceling practices and haven’t ever discussed the implementation of one for high temperatures. But with temperatures that seem to go higher and higher every year – is there a point where you just have to keep everyone home indoors? Even after dusk we’ve seen temperatures well above 95 – even through 8PM. So the sun may have set, but the heat is still hanging around.

For now we’re leaving it up to the coaches and making sure they take frequent water breaks. So far they’ve done very well with that and the kids have been fine. But heat stress is cumulative, so the second practices in a week may be more critical than the first, especially if this is the first week of practice. We’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on things.