by Jaron Von Runnen
The Paducah Sun
July 30, 2025
Used with permission.
Amid an ongoing heat wave, local schools have been cracking down on student athletes’ safety while they practice over the summer.
The Paducah Tilghman High School football team is gearing up for its season, but head coach Sean Thompson said they are taking extra precautions while training in the heat.
“We definitely want to make sure they stay hydrated and make sure they’re getting the nutrients they need,” Thompson said. “The cafeteria does a good job providing us with meals to make sure they’ve eaten and have opportunities. We got things that they need in the locker room as well.”
Thompson said they are given a set of rules from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA), explaining that if the heat index is 104 degrees or higher, students are not allowed to train on the field. If the heat index is above 100 degrees, athletes can’t wear protective padding.
To make up for lost time, Thompson said they have been conditioning with workout equipment and running laps on the indoor field during the first half of practice, and then heading outside after the heat index drops.
“Within those heat index regulations, there’s scheduled water breaks that have to take place, which is nice to do,” Thompson said. “Whether it’s hot, cold, rainy, snowing, I don’t care…if they need water, they can get water anytime. We make sure we provide them with plenty of water stations.”
Thompson said he has seen in-game situations where kids get too overheated and exhausted early in the season, which he said is not a great situation to witness.
“We’re firm believers in keeping our athletes healthy. We feel like we keep them healthy throughout the season,” Thompson said. “We want to play the long game, and we’ll be able to play late in the playoffs. So, we try to take care of our guys. We don’t push the envelope. I mean, if it’s too hot to do something, it’s too hot; we’re not going to do it.”
Every coach and volunteer in Kentucky is required to complete safety training and stay updated on it every two years with the KHSAA, according to Thompson. The training ensures coaches know how to respond to a variety of situations, including heat-related illnesses.
“At the end of the day, there’s no win that’s bigger than a life,” Thompson said. “You just got to make sure your coaches stay updated and educated, so that when those situations arise, you know how to handle it, and then just having good leadership in place that holds people accountable, so you’re not pushing that envelope.”
Thompson said they make sure to follow all rules required, as they do not want to push an athlete into a dangerous situation.
“Make sure that your kids are with good people that you can trust that are following the guidelines that are put in place because the guidelines are there for a reason,” Thompson said. “A lot of times, you only have the kids for those few hours every day, so what they’re doing on their time, you can’t control that, as far as taking care of their body and make sure they’re hydrated and eating food like they’re supposed to, but as long as you’re part of a program where you know things are being done right, then it’s going to be OK.”