Today in the MHSAA: 1/24/17

January 24, 2017

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Two of Michigan’s gymnastics powers met in dual competition Monday, and Detroit Loyola is seeking a football coach after the resignation of an MHSAA champion.

Each weekday during the school year, we’ll gather and post media links covering the most significant and intriguing high school events from all over the state. 

Girls Basketball

Buchanan edged Comstock 37-33 in a matchup of top Class B teams from the southwest corner of the state – South Bend Tribune

Freeland made 12 3-pointers to remain undefeated with a 58-35 win over Ithaca in a Tri-Valley Conference crossover of division leaders – Mount Pleasant Morning Sun

Gymnastics

Farmington edged Canton by 1.225 points in a matchup of MHSAA title favorites; Farmington was third and Canton fifth at last season’s Final – Observer & Eccentric

Football

Detroit Loyola coach John Callahan has stepped down after eight seasons and four MHSAA Finals appearances – Detroit News

MHSAA Provides Heat Management Reminders in Advance of 2023 Fall Practices

By Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor

August 1, 2023

Temperatures reached record highs in some parts of Michigan at the start of this summer, and heat waves have made headlines nationally over the last month. Although the state didn’t experience similar extremes during July, the beginning of August always is a pertinent time for reminders that more hot weather is likely in many areas and should be prepared for as Michigan High School Athletic Association practices are set to begin Monday, Aug. 7.

Each year, the MHSAA provides information to its member schools to help them prepare for hot weather practice and game conditions during the late summer and early fall. Practices for all Fall 2023 sports – cross country, football, Lower Peninsula girls golf, boys soccer, Lower Peninsula girls swimming & diving, Lower Peninsula boys and Upper Peninsula girls tennis, and volleyball – may begin Monday, Aug. 7.

The “Health & Safety” page of the MHSAA Website has links to several information sources, including the MHSAA preseason publication Heat Ways, which is available for download and includes valuable information on heat management in addition to requirements and resources regarding head injuries and sudden cardiac arrest.

The first days of formal practices in hot weather should be more for heat acclimatization than the conditioning of athletes, and practices in such conditions need planning to become longer and more strenuous over a gradual progression of time. Schools also must consider moving practices to different locations or different times of day, or change practice plans to include different activities depending on the conditions. Furthermore, football practice rules allow for only helmets to be worn during the first two days, only shoulder pads to be added on the third and fourth days, and full pads to not be worn until the fifth day of team practice.

The MHSAA advises student-athletes to make sure to hydrate all day long – beginning before practice, continuing during and also after practice is done. Water and properly-formulated sports drinks are the best choices for hydration.

A number of member schools follow the MHSAA’s Model Policy for Managing Heat & Humidity, which while not mandated for member schools was adopted as a rule for MHSAA postseason competition in 2013. The plan directs schools to begin monitoring the heat index at the activity site once the air temperature reaches 80 degrees, and provides recommendations when the heat index reaches certain points, including ceasing activities when it rises above 104 degrees. (When the temperature is below 80 degrees, there is no combination of heat and humidity that will result in a need to curtail activity.) The model heat & humidity policy is outlined in a number of places on the MHSAA Website, including as part of Heat Ways.