Inclement Weather - Cold Policy

Introduction

Cold exposure can be uncomfortable, impair performance, and even become life threatening. Wind chill can make activity uncomfortable and can impair performance when muscle temperature declines. Wind speed interacts with ambient temperature to significantly increase body cooling. When the body and clothing are wet (whether from sweat, rain, snow, or immersion), the cooling is even more pronounced due to the evaporation of the water held close to the skin by the wet clothing.

Clothing is one of the most important parts of keeping the student-athlete’s body warm. Student-athletes should dress in layers and try to stay as dry as possible. Layers can be added or removed depending on temperature, activity and wind chill. Student-athletes should layer themselves with wicking fabric next to the body, followed by a lightweight pile or wool layers for warmth. Student-athletes should use a wind block garment to avoid wind chill during workouts. Heat loss from the head and neck may be as much as 50% of total heat loss; therefore the head and neck should be covered during cold conditions. Other extremities should be covered at all times to protect from the wind chill.

Effects of Cold Weather

Exposure to cold weather has varying effects on athletic performance. Breathing of cold air can trigger an asthma attack. Athletic performance is affected through a reduction of strength, power, endurance, and aerobic capacity.

Conditions created by cold exposure include frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite is the freezing of superficial tissues, usually of the face, ears, fingers, toes, and/or any exposed skin. Hypothermia is a significant drop in body temperature. Hypothermia frequently occurs at temperatures above freezing. A wet and windy 30-50 F degree exposure is as serious as a sub zero exposure.

It is important to recognize signs and symptoms associated with cold weather and resulting cold weather illness. Shivering is a means for the body to generate heat, and excessive shivering contributes to fatigue, loss of motor skills. People exposed to cold weather may also experience numbness and pain in fingers, toes, ears, and exposed facial tissue. When there is a drop in core temperature, a person exhibits sluggishness, slowed speech, and disorientation.

Wind-Chill Guidelines

Wind Chill Factor will be assessed prior to practices.