WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - For the first week of high school football, some game times are being pushed back to avoid the heat. But on Wednesday, girls flag football played right under the sun in near-100-degree weather. The excitement on the field and in the stands was evident, as this was one of the first sanctioned girls' flag football games in the state. The elephant in the room, though, was the heat — with coaches expecting a later game time. Wichita Public Schools says a drop in humidity and no pads factored into the decision for normal game times. Players did not start warming up outside until it was 20 minutes before kickoff. Coaches say the real heat is on the field, as it can feel 10 to 15 degrees hotter than the outside temperature. "We told the girls Monday, 'Hey, if you haven't started hydrating already for Wednesday, you're a little behind,'" said Edmund Cronn, the assistant coach for Northwest High. "And just give them those talks about getting their electrolytes in; make sure they're drinking plenty of fluids all through the day."
Kansas school districts delay games because of scorching heat For the players, they've already adapted to the hard-nosed football attitude. To them, they say it's just another day doing what they love, and an opportunity to get comfortable in these conditions. "I mean, it's challenging at times. It's been really hot for the past two weeks, but it's an outdoor sport," said Jaedyn Jones, a wide receiver for Kapuan Mt. Carmel. "So, we kind of just have to suck it up and push through it no matter the circumstance, so might as well get used to the heat while we can." The parents also found themselves in near triple-digit heat, but some of the players are multi-sport athletes, which means they are used to the outdoor environments. Even while sweating in their seats, the heat is the last thing on their mind. "Again, with her playing other sports like it's the weather has always been something we just dealt with, so I mean yeah it's uncomfortable," said Luis Bowers, a Northwest High parent. "Watching them play, you quickly forget about it." Coaches said they need to have their heads on a swivel to make sure nobody gets heat exhaustion. And although a game has one winner, they are both in a battle against the heat — together.
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