Monday marked the official start of practice for high school fall sports across Kansas, with athletes in sports ranging from football to debate taking the first steps toward the new season.
The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) recognizes 10 activities that open practice in mid-August: football, volleyball, boys soccer, girls golf, girls tennis, gymnastics, girls cross country, boys cross country, debate and scholars bowl.
Several schools across the state, including many in Reno County and surrounding areas, began practices early Monday morning in an effort to beat the afternoon heat. Temperatures are forecast to climb into the low to mid-90s later in the day.
Athlete safety in hot weather has been a point of emphasis for KSHSAA since April 2018, when the association adopted new heat acclimatization rules. Those regulations officially took effect on Aug. 13, 2018, the first day of practice that fall.
The guidelines limit the length and intensity of early-season practices and ban two-a-days in the opening week. They also gradually phase in the use of helmets and pads, cap single practices at three hours, and stress the importance of consistent hydration.
More recently, KSHSAA encouraged schools to use Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) readings, a measure that factors in temperature, humidity, wind speed and sunlight, to determine heat risk and adjust practice schedules accordingly.
As schools prepare for the upcoming competition season, the focus on safety remains as strong as the excitement. For athletes, Monday’s first whistle marked the beginning of months of preparation, and for communities across Kansas, the first sign that fall sports have officially arrived.