Excessive heat later this week could result in schedule changes for OC sports

High school athletic directors and coaches in Orange County are expected to be closely following the excessive heat forecasts predicted later in the week that could affect football, tennis, cross country and water polo events.

Forecasts call for top temperatures near 100 degrees on Thursday and Friday in Orange County although cooler at night when most football games are scheduled.

A number of games are also scheduled outside of OC.

One football game, the Servite at Chaminade game on Friday, has been pushed back to 7:30 p.m. and other changes could be announced. No games have been postponed.

Woodbridge Athletic Director Rick Gibson said officials are trying to find new times and dates for lower level football games.

It’s possible that the varsity football game between Woodbridge and Irvine, scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Irvine Stadium, could be moved to 7:30 or 8 p.m. Gibson said. Irvine football coach Tom Ricci said no decision has been made yet on a kick-off time.

Northwood Co-Athletic Director Sierra Wang said Wednesday the varsity football game between Northwood and Pacifica at Irvine Stadium Thursday night has been moved from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Santa Ana Athletic Director Brian Lillie said the Saints varsity football game at Garden Grove should remain at 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday.

Crean Lutheran football coach Rick Curtis said the Saints game with Liberty is on for Friday at 7 p.m. at Crean Lutheran but lower level games would be moved to the evening.

Saddleback football coach Rob Thompson said he expects the game with La Sierra will be played, but wasn’t sure if the kick-off time would be moved. He said La Sierra’s game last week took about four hours due to mandated water breaks. High temperatures Thursday in Riverside, where La Sierra is located, are expected to be 108 degrees.

CIF Commissioner Mike West announced in the summer that the CIF would be following the Extreme Heat and Air Quality Policy, which he said came as a result of Assembly Bill 1653, passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom which affects both practices and games.

West said that the CIF needed to “develop guidelines, procedures and safety standards for the prevention and management of exertional heat illness.”

West added that the CIF State office provided grant funds to schools for heat stress trackers which will monitor the heat and humidity on the field at games.”

“We have adjusted tennis already this week and are looking for possible schedule changes for football,” Gibson said. “It’s (temperature and humidity) taken multiple times wherever we are playing or practicing. The athletic directors have been trained where and how to take those readings.”

There are four different categories for trainers and athletic officials to check. If the reading includes a temperature of 92.1 degrees or more, the wording on the chart notes: “no outdoor workouts/contests. Delay practice/competitions until a cooler WBGT is reached.”

For readings that include temperatures of 90.1 to 91 degrees, contests are allowed with additional water breaks.

“CIF gave us a bulb temperature thermometer to use to determine where the venue falls. Our athletic trainers communicate with each other during these times as well,” Gibson said.

“These measures have been implemented to assist all schools and athletic programs in protecting their athletes,” West, the CIF commissioner, wrote in the CIF newsletter in July.

This story will be updated with any changes.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com