SSSA Hot Weather Policy (Feb 2017) Hot Weather Policy. The points allocated to each team will be based on the wash out points policy.

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1 Missin Statement Ht Weather Plicy Sutherland Shire Sftball Assciatin (SSSA) ffers their members/players a scial sftball cmpetitin at the hme grunds at Captain Ck Fields. As a result f the envirnmental cnditins n any given day cnsideratins and allwances may need t be made t ensure the health and safety f the members when playing in extreme weather cnditins. The age f the players frm the numerus clubs range frm 5 years ld t, but nt limited t, 65 years ld. Alng with the variatin f age there is a varying degree f physical fitness between the players in different cmpetitin divisins, therefre a duty f care needs t be dcumented fr public access and implemented t give players/members an enjyable safe experience. Individual Heat Stress Management The Assciatin reminds peple that everyne has a persnal respnsibility t manage their wn Heat Stress Levels and the belw is a guide t assist individuals and the Parents/Guardians and Officials in charge f Children during games t create thse wn Heat Management Prgram up t and including nt playing. Cancellatin f Play SUTHERLAND SHIRE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION Inc. When Thursday and Friday are recrded as 38 degrees Celsius r higher and the maximum temperature frecast fr the Saturday in questin will be equal t r greater than 38 degrees Celsius all games will be cancelled. This decisin will be made n the Friday by the SSSA Executive at apprximately midday and club cntacts will be ntified as sn as practical. Temperature surce will be thrugh the Bureau f Meterlgy (BOM) at the fllwing website: Bureau f Meterlgy - Alternatively, all games will be cancelled if a recgnised gvernment bdy (fr e.g. NSW Health) issues a warning t cancel sprt due t weather frecast cnditin. The pints allcated t each team will be based n the wash ut pints plicy. Page 1 f 7

2 Stpping f Games During a scheduled rund f cmpetitin games, the temperature will be measured, in the shade, at the grunds using bth temperature and humidity, Temperature surce will be thrugh lcal temperature recrding apparatus situated at the Sftball Cntrl Rm r as determined apprpriate by the n duty management cmmittee. Zne Temperature Humidity Level 1 <20 - Lw >70% Lw Medium >60% Medium >50% High Very High >30% Extreme Nte: Temperatures need t be within the range fr at least 5 minutes t be cnsidered in that zne. Znes 1, 2 & 3: Zne 4: All games cntinue Junir Games All Junir games will be stpped. Once stpped games will nt be resumed Senir Games A Watch and Act cnditin is declared. Giving the umpires recurse t suspend the game when necessary t have a break i.e. 3 5 minute r as needed, withut ramificatin. Nt starting a new innings ten minutes befre the end f the game. Lnger breaks between innings if needed. Other actins may be put in place as deemed required by the Management n the day Zne 5: All games will immediately stp and n further play t ccur fr the remainder f the day. Page 2 f 7

3 Effects f Heat n the Bdy The bdy can be affected by heat which can lead t:- Heat Exhaustin, Heat Strke, Dehydratin The symptms f the abve cnditins are summarised but nt limited t:- high heart rate, light headed, dizziness, headache lss f endurance/skill, cnfusin, bvius fatigue, aggressive r irratinal behaviur and nausea the skin may still be cl/sweating, they may be a pale clur (ashen grey pale skin). athletes may cllapse n stpping activity. death in extreme circumstances Sprts heat illness can ccur with high intensity exercise in cl cnditins and with wellhydrated participants. (Sprts Medicine Australia Plicy, Preventing Heat Illness in Sprt page 2) Treatment f Heat Illness In the event that an athlete is displaying any r sme f the abve symptms:- remve frm the field lay the persn dwn in a cl place raise legs and pelvis t imprve bld pressure remve excess clthing cl by wetting skin liberally and vigrus fanning (evaprative cling) apply ice pack t grin, armpits and neck give cl water if cnscius seek medical interventin if symptm persist r escalate Heat Exhaustin T prevent heat illness r stress it is advisable t avid heat exhaustin; if peple feel unwell during exercise they shuld immediately cease activity and rest. Further benefit cmes if the rest is in a shaded area with sme passing breeze (frm a fan if necessary) and the persn takes extra hydratin. Misting r spraying with water can als help. NOTE: Heat exhaustin/strke can still ccur even in the presence f gd hydratin. (Sprts Medicine Australia Ht Weather Guidelines page 2) pdf Page 3 f 7

4 Dehydratin Thirst is a pr indicatr; it is a late signal f server fluid lss. Athletes drink apprximately 500mls (2 glasses) in the 2 hurs prir t exercise. Drink 200ml, 1-2 glasses every 20 minutes during a game. After exercise replenish the fluid deficit t ensure the athlete is fully rehydrated, but nt ver-hydrated. If weight lss ccurs as a result f playing drink 1 litre per each kilgram f weight lst. Cl water is absrbed mre rapidly than warm water. Nte: Drinking t much fluid can lead t a dangerus cnditin knwn as hypernatremia (lw bld sdium). Aim t drink enugh t replace lst fluids, but nt mre than that. Slip, Slp, Slap, Wrap Clthing: Reduce the amunt f clthing yu are wearing t enhance sweat evapratin. Prtective Equipment: Remve prtective equipment as early and ften as pssible t enable the bdy t cl dwn. Hat: Wear a hat r visr. Sunscreen: Wear a 30+ sunscreen t prevent skin damage and skin cancer. Eyes: Wear sunglasses t prtect yur eyes. Preventin f Heat Illness During Games/Training Lng distance running ver a lng perid is mre detrimental than start-stp team games. Player rtatin may be necessary mre ften during htter weather. Reducing playing time and extending rest perids with pprtunities t rehydrate during the event wuld help safeguard the health f participants and umpires. Prvisin fr extra water fr wetting face, clthes and hair is als imprtant. A fan t enhance air mvement wuld be beneficial in enclsed envirnments i.e. umpires rms. Stpping games at the cmpletin f even innings when there is 10 minutes r less befre the hter is scheduled t sund. Children and Heat Stress At ambient (air/rm) temperature greater than r equal t 30 degrees Celsius, children have greater difficulty getting rid f heat than adults. (Sprts Medicine Australia Plicy, Preventing Heat Illness in Sprt page 7) Children sweat less and get less evaprative cling than adults. In warm and ht weather they have greater difficulty getting rid f heat; they lk flushed, and feel htter and mre Page 4 f 7

5 stressed than adults. Overweight children are particularly disadvantaged exercising in warm weather. Children seem t be effective at listening t their bdies and regulating their physical activity. Fr this reasn, children shuld always be allwed t exercise at their preferred intensity. They shuld never be urged t exercise harder r cmpelled t play strenuus sprt in warm weather. If children appear distressed r cmplain f feeling unwell, they shuld stp exercising. In warm weather wet spnging will make children feel mre cmfrtable. (Sprts Medicine Australia Beat the Heat page 2) Drinks shuld be available t children at all times. Risk f Heat Strke/Dehydratin/Stress The httest time f the day is between 11am 3pm. 1 lw risk 2 mderate risk 3 high risk Age Reflecting n the abve table care needs t be shwn when yunger players are playing in the mrning, smetimes tw games, then umpiring in the afternn. The risk increases the mre activity the players/umpires undertake during the day even thugh they play their game in the mrning during mderate risk. The same can be said fr Caches that cach in the mrning, are at the grunds all day then play in the afternn. Acclimatisatin t Ht Weather/Cnditins It is imprtant t be aware that verweight and uncnditined athletes, umpires, fficials and vlunteers will generally als be susceptible t heat stress. Female participants may suffer mre during exercise in the heat because f their greater percentage f bdy fat. Page 5 f 7

6 Yung children are especially at risk in the heat. Prir t puberty, the sweating mechanism, essential fr effective cling is prly develped. The rati between weight and surface area in the child is als such that the bdy absrbs heat rapidly in ht cnditins. Veteran participants may als cpe less well with exercise in the heat. Reduced cardiac functin is thught t be respnsible fr this effect. Participants and fficials wh present with an illness such as a virus, flu r gastr r wh are feeling unwell are at an extreme risk f heat illness if exercising in mderate t ht weather. Players Players Respnsible Fr Play in a manner t prevent verexertin Have enugh water t re-hydrate befre, during and after the game. Rest in a cl place where pssible Keep an eye n yur team mates wh may nt realise they are suffering frm dehydratin r heat stress Train in ht and cld weather, this will assist with cping with these cnditins in the future. Cach/es Cach/es Respnsible Fr Manage players in a manner t prevent verexertin Listen t the athletes and abide by their wishes t have a break. If they d nt have a break call time with the umpire and take water t them n the diamnd. Make sure all the players have water as necessary t re-hydrate befre, during and after the game. Be aware f the player s duties thrughut the day and ensure rest perids are sufficient and bench time is adequate t recuperate. Assciatin Management Allw additinal time fr drink breaks Umpire t call game when reached even innings and time will nt permit anther full innings being cmpleted. Prvide sheltered areas fr players t rest Encurage players t train during a range f weather cnditins - unless the grunds have been clsed by PCSA r lightning is present. Assciatin Management Allw additinal time fr drink breaks with batting changes that may nt nrmally be acceptable under Sftball NSW rules. Umpire t call game when it has reached even innings and time will nt permit anther full innings being cmpleted. Prvide sheltered areas fr players t rest Encurage the cach/es t train during a range f weather cnditins - unless the grunds have been clsed by SSSA r lightning is present. Page 6 f 7

7 Train the athletes in ht and cld weather. This will assist the athletes t cpe better with these cnditins in the future. Umpires Umpires Respnsible Fr Have water than necessary t rehydrate befre, during and after the game. Be flexible when the players request a drink break. Change int apprpriate clthing after the game t encurage a quick cl dwn. Assciatin Management Prvide sheltered areas fr the umpires t rest Parent (Guardians)/Spectatrs Parent Respnsible Fr (Guardians)/Spectatrs Supprt decisins made by the players if they need time t re-hydrate r rest Supprt the decisin made by team caches, they are ding the best fr the players/team n the day and in the cnditins put befre them. Keep an eye n the players wh may nt realise they are suffering frm dehydratin r heat stress, speak with the team Manager/Cach. Assciatin Management Prmte Heat Stress management t players and parents etc. Prvide sheltered areas fr parents/spectatrs t rest Page 7 f 7