2431.3	HEAT PARTICIPATION POLICY FOR STUDENT-ATHLETE SAFETY

The Board of Education adopts this Policy as a measure to protect the safety, health and welfare of pupils participating in school-sponsored interscholastic athletic programs.  The Board believes practice and pre-season heat acclimation participation guidelines for students will minimize injury and enhance the student’s health, performance, and well-being.

In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:11-3.10, a school district which is a member of any voluntary association, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:11-3, which oversees activities associated with Statewide interscholastic sports programs shall adopt and implement the most current “Heat Participation Policy” required by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIA) for conducting practice or games in all sports during times of high heat or humidity.

The NJSIAA Policy shall address:

1.	The scheduling of practice or games during times of various heat and humidity levels;
2.	The ratio of time devoted to workouts to time allotted for rest and hydration during various heat and humidity levels; and
3.	The heat and humidity levels at which practice or games will be canceled.
The guidelines included in the NJSIAA Heat Participation Policy shall provide a default Policy to those responsible or sharing duties for making decisions concerning the implementation of modifications or cancellation of practices or games based on the presence of heat and humidity.

The Board of Education shall purchase a WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) tool to measure the heat stress in direct sunlight at the practice or game site.  Heat stress consists of temperature, humidity, wind speed, the angle of the sun, and cloud coverage.

The Board of Education shall adopt and implement the provisions of the NJSIAA Heat Participation Policy concerning the frequency and recording of WBGT measurements.

The provisions and requirements of this Policy and of the NJSIAA current Heat Participation Policy, which shall be utilized in conjunction with the current NJSIA Pre-Season Heat Acclimatization Policy, shall be carried out by Athletic Trainer, certified designee, or individual as appointed by the school staff member designated by the Superintendent to supervise athletics, which may include a coach or individual responsible for sharing duties for making decisions concerning the implementation of modifications or cancellation of practices and games based on WBGT measurements.

A copy of this Policy and NJSIAA’s current Heat Participation Policy and Pre-Season Heat Acclimatization Policy shall be provided to each coach, as appropriate, and reviewed with all coaches by the Principal or designee which may include, but not be limited to, the Athletic Trainer or staff member supervising athletics as designated by the Superintendent prior to the first practice session of the season for each team.  The Superintendent shall designate the staff member responsible to ensure compliance with the Policy and NJSIAA’s current Heat Participation Policy and Pre-Season Heat Acclimatization Policy.

This Policy and the requirements outlined in the Policy shall apply to all student-athletes in grades nine through twelve participating in Statewide high school interscholastic athletic programs.

N.J.S.A. a8A:11-3.10
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Heat Participation Policy and Pre-Season Heat Acclimatization Policy

Adopted:	March 28, 2011
Revised:	April 30, 2019, September 15, 2020