TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – As many kids gear up for fall sports, the season is much later than usual and heat advisories are still being issued regularly. Parents are worried that their children will not be able to bear the heat.
Ryan Homsey is an assistant coach for his 6-year-old daughter’s soccer team, I9 Soccer.
“The season tends to be hotter, and that’s a concern,” Homsey said. “But we live in Arizona, so it’s something we deal with every year.”
Fall sports give kids an opportunity to be active, and as both a parent and a coach, Homsey ensures his players are safe even in the heat.
“We’re going to do short, progressive exercises followed by hydration,” Homsey said. “We’ll probably be hauling out a 10-by-10 tent to provide more shade for the kids.”
Zaro Guerrero, director of operations, parent and coach for the Marana Reapers lacrosse program, was hopeful for temperatures to drop by the end of the month.
The remaining heat is making conditions difficult for the players.
“It’s tough to practice for two hours in 100 degrees,” Guerrero said. “We have a travel team, so we go out to California. The players talk about, ‘It’s hot to train at 80 degrees,’ but the kids in Arizona are practicing at 110 degrees. It’s certainly difficult. ”
Amanda Lopez’s 7-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter attend Guerrero’s lacrosse practice. Although her daughter is enduring the heat, Lopez told 13 News that the heat has been especially difficult for her younger son, Eliam.
“By the end of practice, he was already grumpy,” Lopez said. “He’s a little frustrated and he’s going to go home and storm out.”
Lopez said that when Eliam gets heated, there are changes not only in his behavior but also in his performance.
“I felt sick,” Eliam told 13 News when asked about playing in the heat.
“The weather is a little hotter than I expected,” Eliam said.
Despite the warmer temperatures, some youth matches are expected to continue throughout the weekend. Parents told 13 News they are concerned about the heat and appreciate that their child’s coach is putting safety first.
Pima County Health and Community Services recommends drinking more water than usual, avoiding drinks with high amounts of caffeine and sugar, and staying indoors during the hottest parts of the day.
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