Old Bridge High School Athletic Training
Ralph Di Iorio, ATC/PT Stephen La Regina, ATC Jane Maline, ATC
Collin Mascola, ATC
Revised June 2019
Heat Acclimation
NEW JERSEY STATE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 1161 Route
130 North, P. O. Box 487 Robbinsville, NJ 08691
Pre-season Heat-Acclimatization Guidelines
Intent: To provide pre-season acclimatization guidelines prior to the season for student athletes
with the purpose of minimizing injury and enhancing the player’s health, performance, and well-
being.
Core Principles:
1. Acclimatization Period: The first five days of Board of Education approved practice will
consist of no more than three (3) hours of practice time. For Field Hockey and football,
helmets may be worn on the first two days. Beginning on the third (3
rd
) day, full
protective gear may be added.
2. Scrimmages: A student/athlete shall not be permitted to participate in a scrimmage until
he/she has completed six (6) days of practice for all sports.
3. Rest Period: Teams may not practice for more than six (6) consecutive days. One 24
hour rest period must be included within a seven (7) day period.
4. 3 – 5 Practice Rule: The maximum allotted time per day for practice is 5 hours. A 5 hour
practice day may not be followed by a practice day greater than 3 hours; therefore,
practice days may follow a 3-5-3-5 format.
5. Recovery Period: A minimum of a three (3) hour recovery period should be provided
after any session of greater than 2 hours in length and a three (3) hour recovery period
should be provided before a walk-through.
6. Practice Prior to Approved Date: In football, it is recommended that schools should not
allow the use of full equipment for school sponsored practices prior to the NJSIAA official
start of practice date. Reminder: The wearing of equipment and/or exercise during hot
weather increases the risk of heat injury or illness.
Definitions:
Practice – the time a player engages in physical activity. It is recommended that any practice
session be no greater than three (3) hours in length. Warm-up, stretching, conditioning, weight
training and ‘cool-down’ periods are all considered practice. Note: Practice sessions may be
divided while adhering to the time restrictions as described above in #4.
Example: 3 Hour Day: one 3 hr practice, or two 1-1/2 hr practices 5 Hour Day: one 3 hr practice
and one 2 hr practice or
one 2-1/2 hr practice and one 2-1/2 hr practice Walk-through – No protective equipment or
strenuous activity permitted.
Only balls and field markers (cones) may be used.