The current spate of hot weather is impacting schedules for high schools statewide, just as their athletic schedules ramp up for games and matches. Junction City High Athletic Director Chris Bogenhagen tells KJCK they're working to hold practices before school hours or moving those and games to after 6:00pm.
"The weather is definitely something you have to contend with, but it's also something that we have to prepare for. So, getting kids acclimated, giving them an opportunity to be outside is is very important. "
Something that has become a large part of monitoring conditions has been rules put in place for what are termed "Wet Bulb Globe Temperatures". Those are readings that combine multiple measurements to determine evaporative cooling, sun exposure impacts and the ambient temperature when taken in the shade.
"Usually starts around that 2:30 time frame where we're really starting to look at what is this going to look like," says Bogenhagen.
"KSHSAA has some guidelines for us to to help make some decisions, but overall, yeah, it is a language of itself that takes a little bit to get used to."
Bogenhagen says they're recommending additional time outs be taken by the officials Friday night when the Blue Jay football team opens against Hays at home in a seven o'clock contest.