California bill seeks changes to heat guidelines impacting local high school athletes

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) -- As high school sports return across the Coachella Valley, student-athletes are once again facing one of their biggest opponents - the heat.

California Interscholastic Federation guidelines require schools to monitor environmental conditions and heat stress using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT, to help determine when outdoor practices and competitions can safely take place.

Most local schools now use Perry Weather systems on campus to provide real-time readings and help athletic programs determine if conditions are within the allowable threshold.

California divides schools into three heat categories based on region. The Coachella Valley falls into Category 3, the highest heat category.

Under the current guidelines, outdoor practices and competitions must be stopped when the WBGT reaches 92 degrees until conditions cool.

While the guidelines are designed to protect student-athletes from heat illness, some local coaches and school officials say the rules can also create significant challenges.

“A lot of people think it’s the heat. It’s actually the humidity, and it takes that measurement," said Estevan Valencia, Palm Desert high school athletic director. “And so for us, the wet bulb keeps those kids from being out in a lot of the humidity, and basically keeps us safer.”

The issue has now reached Sacramento.

Assemblymember Greg Wallis authored AB 2503, a bill that would require the CIF to review and update its heat-illness prevention guidelines, with special consideration for regions of California that experience higher average temperatures.

Wallis said the current guidelines can create challenges for student-athletes who already have long school and practice days.

“When you’re looking at kids who have to get to school by 8 a.m., if they’re there till 8-9 p.m., it takes away from family time, studying time,” Wallis said. “And what we want is well-rounded student athletes.”

Wallis said the goal is to create guidelines that continue to protect student-athletes while recognizing the unique climate in the desert.

The issue also goes beyond scheduling.

Local teams can find themselves at a competitive disadvantage when extreme heat prevents them from practicing or competing while schools in other parts of Southern California, operating under the same regional category, are able to continue.

“If you go over to Redlands or Yucaipa or Riverside, their teams are getting a chance to play or practice while we’re not,” Valencia said.

Wallis notes that some local programs have seen a significant percentage of practices canceled because of the heat restrictions.

“Obviously we want to protect our student athletes. We want to make sure that they’re safe out there,” Wallis said. “But we also want to make sure they’re able to get out on the field. We’ve seen in certain sports up to 40% of practices canceled, and that’s just not the right thing to do,” said Wallis.

AB 2503 passed the California Assembly and later advanced through the state Senate. The measure would direct the CIF to review and update its heat-illness guidelines, including consideration of regions with higher average temperatures.

For desert schools, the debate comes down to finding a balance between protecting student-athletes from dangerous heat and allowing them the opportunity to practice and compete.

For more information on AB 2503, click HERE.

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for continuing coverage of local high school athletics.