BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Birmingham City Schools (BCS) are relying on real-time mobile tracking and mandatory hydration schedules within their athletic department to protect student athletes as high temperatures persist across the region.
BCS athletic director Henry Pope Sr. said keeping students hydrated is a top priority, but coaches are also taking extra steps, including moving practices indoors when temperatures peak.
“We have intentional water breaks, we have the cold tubs, we have the cool zones,” Pope said. “We want to make sure that our scholar athletes are cool. Cool first is our rule.”
Pope added keeping players safe remains the department’s primary focus.
Coaches communicate with athletes throughout the school day to ensure they drink plenty of water before stepping onto the field.
(WBRC Fox6 News)
To take safety a step further, the district uses a mobile tool called the Perry Weather App. The platform tracks weather conditions at each school site and generates real-time safety instructions for coaches.
The district started using the app last year, and all local coaches and athletic directors have direct access to it.
“All of the coaches and all of the ADs have access to the app, and so once you pull the app up, each one of their apps is set to their location,” Pope said.
The districts medical director uses the information from the app to provide instructions on how coaches must adapt their practices depending on the severity of the heat.
“If it is moderate, you have to make sure you are keeping your eyes on your at-risk students,” Pope said. “When it gets into the high situation, we know we go to the point where you can only have a limited number of practices, you must put your extreme breaks in. When it gets to over 90 degrees, then they have to go inside.”
While the app helps coaches manage weekday training sessions, Pope noted that game day safety protocols are managed differently.
During actual athletic games, safety guidelines and weather delays are mandated by game day officials. However, the school system continues to enforce frequent, mandatory water breaks for all players.
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