Weather Policy

LISD/FMHS Weather Policy

We utilize Perry Weather for constant updates on inclimate weather including lightning, storms, hot and cold conditions at athletic facilities. 

Decisions about weather related changes to scheduled practices and games will be based on the LISD policies that read as follows:

LEWISVILLE ISD COLD WEATHER POLICY

Cold exposure can be uncomfortable, impair performance and even become life threatening. Conditions created by cold exposure include frostbite and hypothermia. Wind chill can make activity uncomfortable and can impair performance when muscle temperature declines. Frostbite is the freezing of superficial tissues, usually of the face, ears, fingers, and toes. Hypothermia, a significant drop in body temperature, occurs with rapid cooling, exhaustion and energy depletion. The resulting failure to the temperature regulating mechanisms constitutes a medical emergency. Hypothermia frequently occurs at temperatures above freezing. A wet and windy 30-50 degree exposure may be as serious as a sub-zero exposure. For this reason Lewisville ISD is developing a cold policy using the wind chill factor not the ambient temperature. Wind speed interacts with ambient temperature to significantly increase boy cooling. When the body and clothing are wet (whether from sweat, rain, snow or immersion), the cooling is even more pronounced due to evaporation of the water held close to the skin by the wet clothing.

Clothing is one of the most important parts of keeping the athlete’s body warm. Athletes should dress in layers and try and stay dry. Layers can be added or removed depending on temperature, activity and wind chill. Athletes should layer themselves with wicking fabric next to the body, followed by lightweight pile or wool layers for warmth. Athletes should use a wind block garment to avoid wind chill during workouts. Heat loss from the head and neck may be as much as 50% of total heat loss; therefore the head and neck should be covered during cold conditions. Other extremities should be covered at all times to protect from the wind chill.

COLD EXPOSURE:

CHAIN OF COMMAND:

THE FOLLOWING CHAIN OF COMMAND WILL OCCUR:

NOTIFICATION OF TEMPERATURE

· Staff athletic trainer will obtain weather report from National Weather Service and email current temperature, wind chill and precipitation to all outdoor sport head coaches.

· Weather reports are not required on days where the temperature falls between 45 degrees and 90 degrees.

ENFORCEMENT OF POLICIES:

· No outside exposure

WIND CHILL FACTOR LESS THAN 40 DEGREES WITH PRECIPITATION: · No outside exposure

HIGH SCHOOL:

WIND CHILL FACTOR OF LESS THAN 25 DEGREES:

· No outside exposure

WIND CHILL FACTOR LESS THAN 40 DEGREES WITH PRECIPITATION:

· No outside exposure

GAMES:

The home team head coach and campus athletic coordinator will decide whether to play or call a game due to inclement weather by 1:00 pm on game day.

· Wet clothing must be changed during halftime when wind chill temperatures are less than 40 degrees.

SCHOOL DAY CANCELLATION:

· No travel or practice unless approved by the Athletic Director, Athletic Coordinator and Principal.

SCHOOL DAY EARLY DISMISSAL/DETERIORATING WEATHER CONDITIONS:

· Practice must be approved by the Athletic Director, Athletic Coordinator and Principal. 

LEWISVILLE ISD HEAT POLICY

Section 1- Chain of Command

The following chain of command will occur:

Notification of Temperature

· Football teams will be in shorts and shoulder pads, with water breaks occurring every 30 minutes. Each break will be 5 minutes of total rest time with helmets off. Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day. Open water policy during entire practice.

· Full pad workouts will have water breaks ever 20 minutes. Each break will be 5 minutes of total rest time with helmets off. Practice will not exceed 1.5 hours of total heat exposure per day. Open water policy during entire practice.

· Athletes should be allowed to remove helmets while not in contact drills.

Cross Country Workouts/Men’s and Women’s Track

· Long distance runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can be seen by the coaches. Athletes cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running. Water breaks will occur every 30 minutes with a 5 minute total rest time. Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

· Track and field athletes will take a 5 minute break every 30 minutes and athletes should be off their feet.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

· Players will be required to take a water break every 30 minutes with 5 minutes of total rest time. Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day. 68

Off-Season Programs

· 45 minutes of total heat exposure per day with 1 water break during this time.

105 degrees or 115 heat index

Football

· Shorts and shoulder pad practices only. Breaks will occur every 20 minutes. Breaks will be 5 minutes of total rest time. Workout will be 2 hours of total heat exposure.

· A 1 minute “station break” will be given every 10 minutes. Athletes will stay at the station they are working and athletic trainers will provide water.

Cross Country Workouts/Men’s and Women’s Track

· Runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can b e seen by the coaches. Athlete cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running. Water breaks will occur every 20 minutes with a 5 minute total rest time. Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

· Players will be required to take a water break every 20 minutes with 5 minutes of total rest time. Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Offseason Workouts

· Shorts, shirt and helmets only. Breaks will occur every 20 minutes. Workout will be limited to 1.5 hours of total heat exposure per day. Open water policy during entire workout.

Cross Country Workouts/Men’s and Women’s Track

· Runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can be seen by the coaches. Athlete cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running. Water breaks will occur every 15 minutes with a 5 minute total rest time. Practice will not exceed 1.5 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

· Athletes will be required to take a water break every 20 minutes with 5 minutes of total rest time. Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure per day.

Off Season Workouts

· 30 minutes of total heat exposure per day with 1 water break during this time or 45 minutes of total heat exposure per day with 2 water breaks during this time.

110 degree or 120 heat index

· No outside practice allowed in any sport. 69

Key Terms and Definitions:

Heat Cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pain and spasm due to heavy exertion and dehydration. Heat cramps usually involve the abdominal muscles or legs and it is generally thought that dehydration is the issue.

Heat Exhaustion: Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a warm, humid environment where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Fluid loss causes blood flow to decrease in the vital organs, resulting in a form of shock.

Heat Stroke: Heat stroke is life threatening. The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Any heat stroke victim must be quickly cooled and referred for advanced medical attention.

Dehydration: When fluid loss exceeds fluid intake.

Effects of Dehydration:

· Dehydration can affect an athlete’s performance in less than an hour of exercise, sooner if the athlete begins the session dehydrated.

· Dehydration of just 1%-2% of body weight (only 1.53 lbs for a 150 lb athlete) can negatively influence performance.

· Dehydration of greater than 3% of body weight increases an athlete’s risk of heat illness (heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke)

Warning Signs of Dehydration Recognize the basic signs of dehydration: