Kansas City area youth soccer association enacts excessive heat policy after criticism
A Kansas City area youth soccer association has set new guidelines for playing in the heat after some parents criticized the decision to continue with games last weekend during an excessive heat warning.
The Heartland Soccer Association, the largest soccer league and tournament in the country, published the guidelines on Facebook Wednesday night after kids played during temperatures of upwards of 100 degrees.
“We want to acknowledge and validate concerns regarding player safety and the exceptionally hot weather experienced this past weekend,” the association said. “Having been present at the fields during that time, we understand your apprehensions about the playing conditions.”
Future games will be canceled when there is a wet bulb globe temperature of 92 degrees and higher, a measurement that takes into account ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and sun exposure to gauge playing conditions.
When readings are between 89.6 degrees and 91.9 degrees, officials said a heat schedule with shortened games and added water breaks will be implemented. The new guidelines are in line with national recommendations set by U.S. Soccer.
Heartland said it understood parents’ concerns, as young athletes played shortened games Saturday, when temperatures were over 100 degrees and a high dew point made it feel like 107 degrees.
Parents said their kids threw up and showed other signs of heat-related illness after playing in the heat. A field marshal told one parent that the temperature on the turf was 128 degrees when her 11-year-old fell sick.
After criticism from some parents and coaches for continuing with games, the Heartland Association canceled games after 1 p.m. on Sunday, shortened playing periods and added a water break.
In the past, the association said excessive heat has been uncommon during its playing seasons and those incidents were handled by shortening games and adding water breaks.
The new policy will be implemented at all four of Heartland’s playing complexes across the metro.
