XENIA — High school football programs changed their practice schedules due to the extreme heat across the region.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, Xenia High School football coach Maurice Harden said he had his players practice early in the morning over the summer before temperatures reach their peak.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Officer accused of driving while impaired placed on leave
- 2 injured after crash on busy Darke County road
- Former softball coach facing more than 100 additional voyeurism, child porn charges
Harden told our news crew that he checks the weather every day and then checks in with their athletic trainer.
Harden said they have guidelines from the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) to help them decide what is safe for student-athletes.
“Well, I think the priority is always to be safe, right?” he said. “You know, keeping players safe is a big thing for us. So, we wanted to make sure that was at the forefront of everything.”
Trotwood-Madison High School is in the same situation. They won’t practice until 7 p.m. tonight. Athletic trainer Tianna Dixon Gordan said that they make sure they have plenty of ice and water around the stadium.
She also says this to the players.
“Just making sure that they’re taking care of themselves before practice, eating right, and after practice,” she told our news crew.
Xenia hosts Butler on Friday at Doug Adam Stadium. Trotwood-Madison plays at Springfield.
Both games are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]