The extremely hot temperatures forecast for this week have caused schools to make changes in their athletic practice and game schedules. The Arkansas Activities Association issued an extreme heat warning Monday and implemented their “Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer” protocols for heat and humidity monitoring during practices. Those protocols limit the amount of time and break requirements mandated during extreme heat events.
The extreme heat forecast has caused schools across the state to revise their practice schedules for the week. Teams are now practicing before schools or later at night to minimize the effects of the extreme heat and humidity.
The AAA’s mandate has also caused some schools to cancel or delay junior high games set for Thurs-day evening and senior high contests set to be played Friday. So far, there have been no cancellations in our coverage area for Friday, but several seventh grade games scheduled for Thursday have been cancelled. There have also been several changes to start times.
Thursday nights junior high game between Gosnell and Brookland has been pushed back to 8 p.m. Harrisburg’s game at Cross County will also begin at 8 p.m.- the seventh grade game has been cancelled. East Poinsett County’s game at Piggott has been pushed back 30 minutes to a 7:30 p.m. kickoff and the seventh grade game has been cancelled.
However, Marked Tree’s junior high scrimmage against Manila will remain a 7 p.m. start.
The Osceola, Rivercrest and Trumann junior high teams do not play this week.
Friday games have seen several changes made. Osceola’s game at Newport will start 30 minutes later than the scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff. Gosnell’s road game at Piggott will also start at 7:30 p.m.
Several games have had their start times pushed back to 8 p.m. The Hector at Marked Tree, Cross County at Harrisburg, Hoxie at Trumann, Manila at Rivercrest and Blytheville at Mills University Studies games will all kickoff an one hour later than the scheduled 7 p.m. start time.