Juan Millian running at Aurora invite. Photo courtesy of Jim Fielder
On August 19, 2023, the Nebraska heat wave began. With temperatures reaching up to 104 degrees almost every day from Saturday, August 19, all the way to Thursday, August 24, coaches of Hastings High sports teams have a choice to make, deal with it, or make significant changes to their practices.
There are five outdoor sports in the fall at Hastings Senior High, Cross Country, Football, Tennis, Softball, and Golf. The NSAA has some recommendations on how to go about these practices, but they are just that, recommendations.
“They are looking out for the best of the kids, the NSAA [rules are] not a requirement, but it is a recommendation they put out to make those adjustments to practice,” Tiger football head coach Charlie Shoemaker said.
The Tiger football team made the correct adjustments by shortening and changing practice times and ended up getting a win in their first game on Friday, August 25th, finishing the last quarter on Saturday the 26th, after a storm delay.
“We shortened up practice, reduced the time obviously, today we moved it back a little bit… we are gonna stick with going reduced schedule right after school or go in the evening.” Shoemaker said.
Blake Marquardt, Tiger Softball head coach notes the student-athlete aspect of this situation, but also understands the importance of being able to adjust to the heat for games that need to be played outside. The Tigers canceled their games Tuesday, the 22nd, against Grand Island Senior High due to the heat, but still hold a 3-0 record on the season.
“Your body needs to adjust to some degree, you need to get to that point, but we also got to understand that [these kids] are students first,” Marquardt said.
While practices can be easily changed, games can be hard to postpone or cancel when they need to be played.
The student-athletes are the most affected by this weather. While coaches may have to change their practice plans, players and runners have to adapt their bodies to this heat.
“Most young kids in any sport are pretty good at adapting [to the heat],” Tiger Cross Country coach, Christy Rickert said.
Student-athletes are good at persevering through this weather. Cross Country’s home scrimmage which was supposed to be held Thursday, August 24th, but was canceled due to the heat.
The Tigers ran in and won their first meet on Friday, September 1st.
While the coaches have to change their practices, the most important person involved in deciding these practices is head athletic trainer, Ashley Conrad.
Ashley and athletic trainers across Nebraska use this thermometer to tell coaches what practices should look like, including length, amount of equipment used, water breaks, and more.
“[The] wet bulb globe temperature, it is a thermometer… it tracks the RealFeel outside,” Conrad said.
Ashley says she gives recommendations to coaches based on the NSAA recommendations to ensure athletes’ safety. Recommendations from Conrad helped keep HHS athletes safe over the course of the week.
“The Tigers look forward to the rest of the fall season,” and are looking for more already found success as they started with much success.
“As a team we execute plays pretty well and now we passed Seward [in the state rankings], so I hope we keep going up,” says Tiger Softball lone senior, Emma Landgren.
