North Texas high schools delaying football games due to heat

NTX high schools delaying football games due to heat

Several school districts have delayed kickoff with high temperatures expected to reach 108 degrees on Friday.

The Friday night lights will have to stay on a little longer than usual this week.

Several North Texas high schools are delaying kickoff for their games to try to avoid playing in the extreme heat.

Many have been delayed by 30 minutes to an hour.

On Thursday, high temperatures are expected to sit at 106 degrees. On Friday, we expect to see temps at 108.

Football teams navigate heat during practice

Tuesday, players for W.H. Adamson High School in Oak Cliff had to start their practice indoors.

The heat has caused several high schools to practice differently this summer, with some moving the practices indoors.

On Wednesday, MedStar said it was called to treat a young male patient for heat-related illness at football practice.

At North Crowley High School, having an indoor practice facility is a game changer.

The outside temperature Monday in Tarrant County topped out at 106 degrees.

"So this is a historical summer for me as a coach having to do deal with this," said head coach Ray Gates.

HS football coach not taking any chances in the heat

North Crowley High School head football coach Ray Gates said one of his players went to the hospital after suffering from dehydration. Now he and the school are doing all they can to keep students safe, including delaying games.

North Crowley’s varsity football team is on the road this Friday against Sam Houston in Arlington. It’s now slated for 7:30 p.m. instead of 7 due to the extreme heat.

Gates says that delay can make a huge difference, plus portable fans and tents for shade will be on the sidelines.

"If that sun can get behind that press box, and it shades the stadium, it can be a 20-degree difference," he said.

Coach Gates says his varsity team practices before school at the crack of dawn. The freshman split practice in the morning and afternoon.

"We’ve had some early scares," he said. "Going early in the morning was even more validation like yes this is the right path."

Dallas ISD says the teams will get extra timeouts.

All six varsity football games in Arlington ISD slated for Thursday and Friday have been moved from to 7:30 p.m.

Junior varsity games also have been shifted to 7:30, and running clocks will be in place to shorten the games for a doubleheader.

Fort Worth’s varsity games have all been adjusted to 7:30 p.m. Freshman and JV will do the same.

Frisco ISD’s varsity games will also have a 30-minute delay. The district tells FOX 4 it has around 100 football teams at middle and high schools to now reschedule, so time slots are still fluid.

North Crowley’s freshman and JV teams will also start an hour later than normal.

Start times are changing daily.

Below is a full list.