EVERYONE is feeling the heat in TT. The Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) bowled off earlier this week with team officials and league administrators doing their best to keep the players and referees cool and safe.
Eight matches kicked off at 3.30 pm on Wednesday. TT is now in the rainy season, but the skies have been clearer than normal leading to sunny conditions. On some days the temperature has been as high as 34 Degrees Celsius, which would certainly affect student-athletes.
During all matches in the SSFL, two water breaks will take place during the game other than half-time.
This reporter attended the match between San Juan North Secondary and St Benedict's College at the former's school ground. Players certainly kept hydrated as other than the two scheduled water breaks, players went to the sidelines for water when a player got injured or during other stoppages in play.
President of the SSFL Merere Gonzales said, "The guidelines and the rules of the SSFL, follow the footsteps and the guidance and directive of FIFA under the FIFA medical committee. They advise FIFA accordingly. The humidity and the temperature is so high, FIFA has implemented what you call the one-minute water break in both halves."
Gonzales said around the 25th minute in the first half the players will be given a water break and that same rule will apply in the second half. He said in extremely hot conditions an additional break is given to the players and referees.
"There is also a three-minute cooling break. Therefore, if the humidity is so exhausting and so high and it is affecting the quality of play and more importantly the health of the players then that three-minute cooling down break is taken."
The referees use their discretion to determine if the three-minute break is needed.
Gonzales gave pointers to teams on how to keep cool. He said coaches and team managers can place water bottles around the field which will allow players to take a few sips of water while staying on the field.
Team officials have been trying to keep their players hydrated and praised the SSFL for making safety a priority.
Malick Secondary School team manager Rajdeo Sinanan said, "Before a game, we use to carry like four cases of water, now we have to double up on it so if they need water during the game they come to the sideline quickly and we give them something to drink and they keep rehydrating."
Sinanan felt the players coped with the weather on Wednesday during their match against Queen's Royal College. "They did well. Honestly, we did not really have any problems yesterday."
He encouraged team officials to continue keeping the players cool. "They have to rehydrate the players before and have enough supply of water because we learned that yesterday. We had to go and buy some extra yesterday because we got caught a little off guard. Make use of the water breaks, encourage your players to come to the sideline to get water or some liquid to rehydrate to cope with the heat."
Acting manager of Bishop's High School Dayne Isaac, s
