Mississippi High School Activities Association The place for high school sports in Mississippi Heat
Mississippi weather often combines high heat and high humidity into a dangerous combination for athletes whose sports require training and competition outside. It takes the body up to a week to get safely acclimated to temperature extremes, and beginning a season of phase of training without giving the athlete’s body time to adjust can lead to heat illness, when the athlete becomes dehydrated and ill from the heat, or worse heat stroke when high body temperatures start to affect the brain and neurological function. Even conditioned and acclimated athletes will have trouble with the heat when temperature and humidity are high enough, however, as the principle method for the body to lose excess heat is through evaporation. On very hot and humid days, sweat does not evaporate as efficiently, robbing the athlete of their best defense against overheating.
Recommendations:
- Familiarize yourself and follow the heat acclimatization guidelines recommended by the MHSAA.
- Give frequent rest breaks during high heat and high humidity conditions in order to allow athletes to cool and hydrate.
- Modify practice and competition schedules based on wet bulb globe temperatures or heat indexes to avoid dangerous climate conditions.
- The best way to cool an overheated athlete is submersion up to the chest in an ice bath. If the athlete is suspected of overheating: Remove any unnecessary clothing/equipment, submerge up to chest, and circulate the water around the body for at least 20 minutes.
- If the athlete is confused, combative, or shows any changes in their mental status: CALL EMS and begin cooling immediately. Keep the athlete in the cold water immersion for at least 20 minutes before transporting to the hospital, longer if possible.
Reviewed and updated August 2026
