Facing the Heat

Over the past few days, Harvard-Westlake’s middle school campus has faced powerful heat waves, with a high of 104° on Thursday, Sept. 5. This places pressure on the athletics department, as they must follow the state laws and the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) new guidelines regarding practice and gameplay in extreme heat. 

The CIF policy that went into effect on July 1 requires schools to have a “written emergency action plan” concerning medical emergencies like heat illness. The temperature at Heat Category 2

schools like HW must be 89.9 degrees or cooler, measured by a wet-bulb thermometer.

Athletic Director Darlene Bible said the heat wave has harmed the athletic department and their schedules.

“It is negatively affecting the sports program because we have to adhere to the new criteria,” Bible said. “CIF has ensured we all have wet-bulb thermometers, and there is a mechanism on the roof of Munger at the high school. Even though the high school and middle school are 15-20 minutes apart, we have been taking some of the same precautions.

 Bible says the system, operated by Perry Weather, provides the athletic trainers with the information they need to set limitations on the duration and intensity of practices. 

“Yesterday, we were lucky enough to be able to have practices,” Bible said. “They were limited to how much protective gear athletes can wear. Football was supposed to wear nothing more than helmets. What’s unusual is how hot it is on the Westside because it has been nearing the temperatures in the Valley.”

Student-athlete Milan Ramesh ’29 says the heat at the upper school during preseason training and at the middle school during physical education has been extreme.

“It is really bad,” Ramesh says. I want to be able to practice, but the heat drains me. I don’t have enough energy during practice, so it makes everything a lot harder.”

Football players felt it was unjust that the field hockey and cross country teams at the middle school were permitted to practice, but they weren’t. Some athletes decided to stay after school anyway and run. 

“I think it’s good that they’re putting in the work, but I think they shouldn’t be practicing in this heat,” Ramesh said.

Bible advises players to take precaution before practicing without the team. 

“I’d say to check in with the athletic trainer. He would tell them what the rules and limitations are,” Bible said. “I think that’s great. I’m glad that they want to work out, but they need to take precautions and talk to our athletic trainer, Alex Calderon.”