Greensboro Day School Athletic Department

Updated: July 2011

Heat Acclimatization Procedures

            Based upon the 2009 guidelines established by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association, Greensboro Day School has adopted the following procedures regarding heat acclimatization and pre-season practice for our sports programs.  These procedures are intended to promote proper training protocols to minimize the risks of heat related illnesses and/or injuries to our athletes as they prepare themselves to compete.

Practice Procedures:

1)      During the first 5 days of the heat-acclimatization period, athletes may only participate in 1 practice per day.

a.       If inclement weather (e.g. lightning or high temperatures) causes an interruption to a practice, activity shall resume once conditions have been determined to be safe.  Total practice time for the day must still be 3 hours or less.

b.      1 walk-through session per day is also permissible during the first 5 days.  The practice and walk-through session must be separated by at least 3 hours of recovery time.

c.       During days 1 & 2, sports that utilize helmets and padding may only wear helmets.  During days 3-5, helmets and upper body padding may be worn.  Full padding may not be worn until day 6.

2)      Beginning on day 6-14, 2 practice sessions may be held per day.

a.       Neither practice session may exceed 3 hours.

b.      Total practice time for the day may not exceed 4 hours.

c.       A minimum of 3 hours of recovery time is required between sessions.

d.      If walk through time is utilized, it counts towards the total practice time for the day.

e.       A double practice day must be followed by a single practice day.  1 walk-through is permitted for single practice days.  The practice and walk-through session must be separated by at least 3 hours of recovery time.

f.       If a double practice day is followed by a rest day, a double practice day is permissible after the rest day.

3)      Temperature Guidelines (see chart for reference only)

a.       If air temperature values or heat index values are between 85-90 degrees, caution should be exercised in determining the length and intensity of practice.

b.      If air temperature or heat index values are between 90-99 degrees, limitations on practice time will be instituted by the sports medicine staff and more frequent water break time will be required.

c.       If air temperature or heat index values are 100+ degrees, practices will be cancelled.

 Definitions:

Heat-acclimatization period:  the first 14 consecutive days of practice completed for all athletes.

1)      This period begins on the first official day of practice.

2)      All athletes must complete the 14 day period.  If an athlete reports for the first time after the first official day, their 14 day period starts on the first day that he/she participates.

3)      If practices are conducted on 6 consecutive days during this period, the 7^th day must be a full day of rest (no training of any type).

4)      Rest days or days missed by athletes (due to illness, injury, etc.) do not count towards the completion of the period.

Practice:  the period of time an athlete engages in supervised, approved, sport or conditioning related physical activity.

1)      Including warm-up, stretching, and cool down activities, no practice may exceed 3 hours in length.

2)      Weight room workouts, conditioning sessions, agility/plyometric training, etc. are all considered practice sessions.

Walk-through:  a teaching activity when athletes do not wear protective equipment (e.g. helmets, pads, shin guards), or utilize other sporting equipment (e.g. balls, sticks, cones).

1)      A walk-through session may not exceed 1 hour in length per day.

2)      Weight room workouts, conditioning sessions, agility/plyometric training, etc. cannot be counted as walk-through sessions.

Recovery:  the time between the end of a practice or walk-through and the start of the next practice or walk-through.

1)      Athletes should rest in a cool environment during this time.

2)      No practice or walk-through activities are permitted.

3)      Treatment with the sports medicine staff can occur during recovery time.