LAUSD criticized for not allowing night practices
The Los Angeles Unified School District’s decision not to allow evening football practices on Wednesday because of heat concerns has caused administrators and coaches to openly question the decision.
“I’m about as cautious as it gets, and I think it’s ridiculous,” Sun Valley Poly Athletic Director Kim McEwen said. “All the coaches have their OSHA website information that gives them the humidity and heat index. We’ve gone over the rules and regulations. What about the safety for kids not practicing?”
The district banned outside practices on Monday unless specific approval was given by the local area administrator. Tuesday was a professional development day, so after-school practices were prohibited.
On Wednesday, officials in the district athletics department tried to get practices approved for the evening hours but that was denied, and an announcement was sent out after 3 p.m. telling schools they could not practice outside. Teams were allowed to practice in gymnasiums.
Narbonne Coach Manuel Douglas said the temperature was 84 with a breeze on Wednesday afternoon at his campus. On Friday, his team has to play Gardena Serra, a Southern Section school that has continued to practice.
“We’ve had instances of heat stress involving students,” said Yi Hwa Kim, the district’s interim director of environmental health and safety. “We want to protect the students. That’s our bottom line.”
LAUSD teams are expected to resume outside practices on Thursday, with games scheduled for Friday.
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