FMYSA COLD WEATHER POLICY

Cold exposure can be uncomfortable, impair performance and even become life threatening. Conditions created by cold exposure include frostbite and hypothermia. Wind chill can make activity uncomfortable and can impair performance when muscle temperature declines. Frostbite is the freezing of superficial tissues, usually of the face, ears, fingers, and toes. Hypothermia, a significant drop in body temperature, occurs with rapid cooling, exhaustion and energy depletion. The resulting failure to the temperature regulating mechanisms constitutes a medical emergency. Hypothermia frequently occurs at temperatures above freezing. A wet and windy 30-50 degree exposure may be as serious as a subzero exposure. For this reason FMYSA is developing a cold weather policy using the wind chill factor not the ambient temperature. Wind speed interacts with ambient temperature to significantly increase body cooling. When the body and clothing are wet (whether from sweat, rain, snow or immersion), the cooling is even more pronounced due to evaporation of the water held close to the skin by the wet clothing.

Clothing is one of the most important parts of keeping the athlete’s body warm. Athletes should dress in layers and try and stay dry. Layers can be added or removed depending on temperature, activity and wind chill. Athletes should layer themselves with wicking fabric next to the body, followed by lightweight pile or wool layers for warmth. Athletes should use a wind block garment to avoid wind chill during workouts. Heat loss from the head and neck may be as much as 50% of total heat loss; therefore the head and neck should be covered during cold conditions. Other extremities should be covered at all times to protect from the wind chill.

COLD EXPOSURE:

• Breathing of cold dry air can trigger asthma attach (bronchospasm).
• Coughing, chest tightness, burning sensation in throat and nasal passage.
• Reduction of strength, power, endurance and aerobic capacity.
• Core body temperature reduction, causing reduction of motor output.

COLD RECOGNITION:

• Shivering, a means for the body to generate heat.
• Excessive shivering contributes to fatigue, loss of motor skills.
• Numbness and pain in fingers, toes, ears and exposed facial tissue.
• Drop in core temperature; Athlete exhibits sluggishness, slowed speech, disoriented.

CHAIN OF COMMAND:

THE FOLLOWING CHAIN OF COMMAND WILL OCCUR:

NOTIFICATION OF TEMPERATURE

• FMYSA General Manager will obtain weather report from National Weather Service (or other reliable national weather service provider) and email current temperature, wind chill and precipitation to FMYSA Board Members.
• Weather reports are only required on days where the temperature concerns are warranted, i.e. a weather forecast, or weather statement, or weather advisory has been issued where temperatures are forecasted to below 32 degrees or below 40 degrees with precipitation.
• With Board Approval (President or EVP) FMYSA General Manager will “Close the Fields” by notifications to the league membership on the FMYSA Website and FMYSA Social Media Outlets.

ENFORCEMENT OF POLICIES:

• Violation of policies will be reported to the FMYSA Board. Consequences will be; loss of scheduled practice time, suspension from coaching, or dismissal from coaching, for any coaches that violates this policy.

FMYSA LEAGUE POLICY:

WIND CHILL FACTOR LESS THAN 32 DEGREES:

• No outside exposure.

WIND CHILL FACTOR LESS THAN 40 DEGREES WITH PRECIPITATION:

• No outside exposure.

TOURNAMENT POLICY:

• Decision to be made on-site by Tournament Director with support from League President and or League Executive Vice President.