High temperatures and humidity resulted in Grand Forks public schools dismissing students in the early afternoon Tuesday and again today. The heat hasn't shut down athletics, but it has resulted in adjusted schedules.
Grand Forks athletic director Mark Rerick mandated for all athletic teams that morning practices had to conclude by 8 a.m. and afternoon practices couldn't start before 7 p.m.
That came after the North Dakota High School Activities Association on Monday required mandatory heat-related extra timeouts for water breaks in football and soccer contests. The breaks will come near the middle of quarters or halves of contests.
"We sent messages to our coaches to implement what the activities association suggested," Rerick said. "We did this over concerns that coaches would use that time (after early school closings) in the afternoon for practices. For us, this is a safety precaution.
"It would probably be more convention to practice right after school. But we want things moved to where it is cooler."
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Grand Forks football coaches said mandates to avoid the high afternoon heat were positive moves.
"It's a good idea," Grand Forks Central coach Bill Lorenz said. "The heat is something that is scary. You want to keep everybody healthy. You adjust -- you run through drills without equipment, you take a lot of water breaks, things like that."
Said Red River coach Vyrn Muir: "We're not used to functioning in heat like this. We have done it before; two years ago, we played a game in Dickinson where it was 97 degrees at kickoff. We've had warm games here, too. It's a situation you deal with."
Staying hydrated
East Grand Forks Senior High hasn't made extra stipulations on when teams can practice. The Green Wave football team began practice Tuesday at 3 p.m. But, coach Scott Oliver said, adjustments were made. Practice was 20 minutes shorter than it's been. And that included more water breaks.
"We let kids take helmets off when they weren't in drills," Oliver said. "And we frequently told them to go get some water. They were told if it wasn't a break but they needed a drink, then go get one."
Senior High athletic trainer Brent Parsons said things like cramping, heat exhaustion and heat stroke all are concerns in this hot weather.
While temperatures are hot, Parsons said, "things aren't in a danger zone where kids shouldn't be out there. It's not ideal weather when it's this hot, but with the proper water breaks it isn't dangerous conditions.
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"The coaches are excellent. They've preached to the kids about proper hydration from Day 1 of practices. They get them ample water breaks."
Both Rerick and Parsons said they aren't aware of any athletes suffering heat-related health incidents.
The hot weather has affected some starting times. The starting time of Red River's soccer game at Fargo Davies on Tuesday was pushed back, and the Red River tennis dual at Valley City on Thursday will begin a half hour later than scheduled. As for the continuation of Grand Forks' practice regulations, that will depend on the heat index.
"It's for Tuesday and Wednesday now," Rerick said. "We'll keep an eye on the heat conditions and determine things as the days go along. That's all we can do."
DeVillers reports on sports. Call him at (701) 780-1128; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1128; or send e-mail to gdevillers@gfherald.com .
