MSHSL modifying sporting events during extreme heat

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The Minnesota State High School League is making modifications to games and tournaments during this stretch of extreme heat in the metro.

Wednesday marks the seventh straight day of temperatures above 90 degrees.

An MSHSL spokesperson said the league is rescheduling some games to the morning to avoid having athletes competing at the peak of the day. Per policy, they are also giving athletes longer breaks so they can cool off and hydrate.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS visited several high school baseball games on Wednesday.

"In between innings, I go under the shade," said Jeff Thompson, who was at Minnetonka High School to cheer on his stepson.

In the Minnetonka vs. Chanhassen game, both the home and away teams wore white uniforms to give the players some relief from the direct sun.

Many fans tried to find seats in the shade and visited the concession booth for ice water and popsicles.

Minnetonka High School Activities Director Ted Schultz said they had the hockey arena on standby in case anyone started suffering heat exhaustion and needed a place to cool down.

"Twenty-one years as an AD and it’s not been this hot ever in June," Schultz said. "When you look at the 10-day forecast and you see oppressive heat day after day, you’re kind of like, ‘Wow.’"

He said organizers deployed several strategies to manage the extreme weather.

"Ice, rest, the officials give them extra breaks," Schultz said. "We take care of the athletes. They have less clothes on for warmups and then they put their uniforms on. You see both teams wearing white colors today. Those are all precautions our coaches and our training staff take."

The Minnesota State High School League said no games have been canceled due to the heat.