Heat Index Could Create Game Issues

Aug 20, 2014 at 01:11 pm by bryan


The hottest weather of the summer is on tap for the next several days and that could affect outdoor sports, like football. Rutherford County Schools Athletic Director Tim Tackett says when the combined temperature and humidity levels, known as heat index, are in excess of 104-degrees, schools are prohibited from practicing or competing...

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With the high school football season kicking off this week, the heat policy could play a factor...

Tackett says the heat index is highest between 2-and-6pm, so it will hopefully not affect any of the games. However, he adds the policy is clear and there will be people watching the heat index levels and taking necessary actions if it goes above 104-degrees. This could be especially problematic, since Oakland travels to Blackman Sunday for an 11am kickoff. It's a game nationally televised on ESPN2. WGNS will also be there to broadcast the game, along with La Vergne at Smyrna Thursday at 7pm and Riverdale at Siegel Friday night at 7pm.


TSSAA Heat Policy (from TSSAA.org)
The TSSAA Board of Control passed a proposal that requires a heat policy for all its member schools. The requirements of the policy include adjustments which must be made for activities depending on the heat index at the location where the activities take place.

The TSSAA Heat policy is the minimum standard that member schools must follow. The TSSAA Heat policy will prohibit schools from practicing or competing when the heat index at the location of the activity is in excess of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

http://tssaa.org/compliance-publications/heat-policy/

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