The anticipation of Friday night football games in Alabama high schools is being dampened by an increasing heatwave. Due to the excessive heat, the Alabama High School Athletic Association has recommended rescheduling game times. Columbia High School in Huntsville felt the impact of this change when their opening game was postponed to 7:30 PM, after sunset, as a way to beat the heat. This was done after some players at Columbia High suffered from heat fatigue during a Monday practice, which resulted in two of them being hospitalized.
The scorching heat has prompted officials and coaches to introduce new rules, including allowing more timeouts for hydration and rest. “We’re prioritizing the safety of our team this year, especially since several players have asthma and other health issues,” said the head coach.
With temperatures continuing to rise and a 48-hour First Alert weather warning in effect due to temperatures nearing the late 90s and a heat index close to 100, it’s crucial to start hydrating early in the day. As Columbia prepares to take on Fairview in their first game of the season this Friday, all participants in outdoor activities are urged to hydrate well.
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