5 Heat Safety Tips Every Youth Sports Program Needs
It is 95 degrees. The humidity is thick. And you have got 40 kids on a turf field for afternoon practice.
What happens next could be the difference between a great practice and a trip to the emergency room.
Heat-related illness is one of the most preventable risks in youth sports. And yet, every summer, young athletes end up in the hospital because the adults in charge were not prepared. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat illness during practice and competition is a leading cause of death and disability among young athletes in the United States.
After more than 50 years of protecting youth sports programs at Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we have learned that the best insurance is prevention. Here are five things every league director, camp operator, and coach should have in place before the temperature starts climbing.
1. Build a written heat safety policy
Do not leave it up to individual coaches to decide when it is too hot to practice. Create a written policy that spells out specific temperature and heat index thresholds for modifying or canceling activities.
For example, your policy might say that when the heat index reaches 104 degrees or higher, all outdoor activities are suspended. Between 90 and 104, you move to a modified schedule with mandatory water breaks every 15 minutes. Put it in writing, distribute it to every coach and volunteer, and follow it consistently.
2. Schedule practices during cooler hours
Early morning and late evening are your best windows. Avoid scheduling practices or games during peak heat hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the summer months.
We know that field availability can make this tricky. But when you are working with kids, especially younger athletes whose bodies do not regulate heat as efficiently as adults, adjusting the schedule is one of the simplest ways to reduce risk.
3. Require hydration breaks, do not just suggest them
Every 15 to 20 minutes. Non-negotiable. Make it part of the practice plan, not something coaches remember to do when a kid looks tired. Water should be available at all times, and coaches should actively encourage athletes to drink even when they say they are not thirsty.
Kids often do not recognize the early signs of dehydration. That is why the adults have to build it into the routine.
4. Train your coaches to recognize heat illness
Every coach, assistant, and volunteer should know the warning signs: heavy sweating that suddenly stops, dizziness, nausea, confusion, rapid heartbeat, and skin that feels hot and dry. They should also know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, because heat stroke is a medical emergency.
If a child shows signs of heat illness, stop activity immediately, move them to a cool area, apply cool water or ice to the neck, armpits, and groin, and call 911 if symptoms are severe. Do not wait to see if it gets better.
5. Make sure your insurance covers heat-related injuries
Even with the best prevention plan, injuries can still happen. Excess accident medical coverage through Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance helps pay for a participant’s medical bills when they are hurt during a covered activity, including heat-related illness. It fills the gap beyond personal health insurance, and if a child does not have health insurance, it can serve as primary coverage.
Knowing you have that safety net gives you one less thing to worry about when the temperature spikes.
What this looks like in practice
Imagine you are a league president running a summer flag football program. You have 200 kids across eight teams, and July hits with a string of 100-degree days. One afternoon, a 12-year-old starts feeling dizzy on the sideline. Your coaches follow the protocol: they pull the child from play, get them into the shade, apply cool towels, and call the parents. The child recovers quickly because your team was ready.
That is what preparation looks like. And if the situation had been more serious, if that child had needed an ambulance and an ER visit, your excess accident medical coverage would have helped cover those costs for the family.
As Kendrick Hilburn, one of our clients, shared, “Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance has exceptional customer service, they are friendly and always eager to help. You will always get a live person to help you with any questions or concerns.”
Be ready before the heat arrives
Heat safety is a leadership responsibility. The programs that take it seriously protect their athletes, their volunteers, and their reputation.
At Bene-Marc Youth Sports Insurance, we help thousands of youth sports programs across all 50 states prepare for the unexpected. Whether you need general liability, excess accident medical, or guidance on what coverage fits your program, we are here to help.
Call us at 800-247-1734 or visit bene-marc.com. A real person will answer the phone.
Play hard, rest easy, knowing you are covered.
For detailed heat safety guidelines, visit the CDC’s page on heat stress in young athletes.
