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Original poster

AIBU to think school cricket in 37 degree heat is dangerous?

158 replies

Worriedmummy1244 · 21/06/2026 23:44

DS prep school have just sent a letter about a cricket match 2-3pm on Tuesday with another school (we’re in south east it’s currently predicted 37 degrees) this is first we’ve heard of it and the letter says it is going ahead.

Their sports day is going ahead tomorrow

Are they insane?!

I don’t want to be that mum but I don’t want my child playing

OP posts:
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5
Plantchoc · 22/06/2026 18:32

TheCricketers · 22/06/2026 18:29

South Africa, Australia, India… all
much hotter than the UK yet they play school cricket matches in the day time…
How do they manage? Hats, sun block, water breaks??

You’ve never lived in any of those countries have you?

I have and the never hold matches in high summer in the middle of the day. Always early evening or very early

Plantchoc · 22/06/2026 18:31

Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2026 18:30

Jeez, read back a bit on the thread.

On @NDerbys32 mansplaining crap to us? Best laughed out rather than taken seriously. He spends most of his time on the sex forum

Piggywaspushed · 22/06/2026 18:30

Jeez, read back a bit on the thread.

TheCricketers · 22/06/2026 18:29

South Africa, Australia, India… all
much hotter than the UK yet they play school cricket matches in the day time…
How do they manage? Hats, sun block, water breaks??

Plantchoc · 22/06/2026 18:20

I bet that @Worriedmummy1244 has been notified now that it’s been cancelled

patate10 · 22/06/2026 17:51

Our Wednesday afternoon school cricket game has been called off. Grassroots football club have called off all training. An organised football business still running their afterschool/evening sessions.

Ricepopspls · 22/06/2026 17:50

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Ricepopspls · 22/06/2026 17:50

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Everanewbie · 22/06/2026 17:26

@JassyRadlett @mrsbowes fair play. You obviously know more about it than me!

mrsbowes · 22/06/2026 17:08

Everanewbie · 22/06/2026 17:03

Meh, they play cricket in Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa - all get quite toasty at times. Get them to take in lots of fluid and stay in shade when not on the field. Iced towels help too.

But as has been mentioned already, children don't play in the middle of the day in 37c heat.

JassyRadlett · 22/06/2026 17:07

Everanewbie · 22/06/2026 17:03

Meh, they play cricket in Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa - all get quite toasty at times. Get them to take in lots of fluid and stay in shade when not on the field. Iced towels help too.

I posted the Sports Medicine Australia guidelines upthread.

TLDR? Australian kids wouldn't be playing in 37 degrees plus with over 50% humidity.

Everanewbie · 22/06/2026 17:03

Meh, they play cricket in Australia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa - all get quite toasty at times. Get them to take in lots of fluid and stay in shade when not on the field. Iced towels help too.

BravasPatatas · 22/06/2026 17:00

House cricket on Wednesday has been postponed for a week!

JassyRadlett · 22/06/2026 16:52

Oh sweet Jesus our football coach has just confirmed that Wednesday's match is going ahead. Kick off at absolute peak time for the heat.

The WhatsApp is currently extremely quiet. I suspect we're all waiting to see if someone else jumps first.

Turntheswitch · 22/06/2026 15:50

France has cancelled ALL school sports events.

Another76543 · 22/06/2026 15:49

NDerbys32 · 22/06/2026 15:12

Play the game, a shorter version if necessary, with all the safety decisions in.

Give them an option, but if enough turn out, make it worth it for THEM.

My lad played as a youngster too. First question would be 'do you want to play?'

Just my opinion. I get it that others might not agree.

And, at that, I'm out as this could go round in circles.

Show quote history

Asking an 8 year old if they’d like to play, as a first step, is one of the more ridiculous things I’ve heard. Most 8 year olds would probably say yes to jumping in a river off a bridge in this weather if asked the question; it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.

Everybodysinthehousetonight · 22/06/2026 15:33

Our school (high school, sixth form) has cancelled all cricket matches to Thursday and club look about to do the same, training already cancelled all week. Rightly so

outerspacepotato · 22/06/2026 15:32

What's their time to local hospital and can they do rapid cooling there? How long to access rapid cooling for someone with heat stroke?

What is their experience with heat related illness including heat exhaustion/heat stroke?

What is their monitoring plan for players? Are they familiar with the signs of early heat related illness?

Are they wearing gear appropriate for the weather?

What's the temp on the field?

What's the wet bulb temp and are they familiar with the guidelines?

You guys are not familiar with extreme temps. We have AC here and acclimation, you guys don't. You're sending 8 year olds unaccustomed to 95° plus heat in the hottest part of the day to play a sport.

JassyRadlett · 22/06/2026 15:29

ShanghaiDiva · 22/06/2026 15:27

Exactly! Summer where I lived in China was regularly over 35 degrees and sometimes. Sports day was held in April.

Show quote history

Our athletics day was in August - depths of winter!

JassyRadlett · 22/06/2026 15:28

NDerbys32 · 22/06/2026 14:34

Not without having all the information I need to hand. That would be ridiculous.

I'm assuming there are two teams of youngsters and staff who are keen on the game.

IF the game is scheduled 2-3pm, it's an hour that needs to be managed. That's not hard to do.

If it starts at 2 or 3pm we're already past the midday heat and can also be managed.

My inclination would be to see what the data looks like the day before, ask opinions of those who are going to be involved and put any necessary mitigations in place to safely make it happen for them.

Sensible, emotion free and evidenced decision making, with a working assumption that it takes place, safely, and what's needed to make that happen, for those who want to play or officiate.

Not 'interesting' and doesn't need to be, just real life, professional experiences.

Edited
Show quote history

Oh dear lord.

The "midday heat" is not the hottest part of the day. It hardly ever is in the UK. The hottest part of the day in this country is usually well after 3pm, because of the way heat works - especially in more built up areas. The brightest part of the day and the hottest part of the day rarely coincide.

The peak on Wednesday is forecast between 4 and 5pm, earlier on Thursday but with the peak sustained for longer.

ShanghaiDiva · 22/06/2026 15:27

JassyRadlett · 22/06/2026 15:22

I grew up in Queensland. I just checked the Sports Medicine Australia guidance for schools which is basically:

Under 31 degrees: crack on.

31-35 degrees, and over 50% humidity: crack on, but slowly and with caution and adaptations. Planned vigorous, sustained physical activity should be limited in intensity or duration to less than 60 minutes per session.

36 degrees and over: do not crack on, what is wrong with you.

And these are kids who are acclimatised and better accustomed to dealing with heat.

Edited
Show quote history

Exactly! Summer where I lived in China was regularly over 35 degrees and sometimes. Sports day was held in April.

Kalimero · 22/06/2026 15:27

PollyBell · 21/06/2026 23:59

Life doesn't stop in hot countries

Actually, it does. I grew up in a hot country and school year ends begging of June and starts September the 1st- because June, July and August it's too hot for children to be in the school. And it's considered insanity to make anyone do physical activity in the peak heat hours, nevermind children. Between 11am and 5pm hot countries have the wisdom and common sense to keep out of the sun.

BravasPatatas · 22/06/2026 15:23

Yep, we’ve got ‘house cricket’ on Wednesday and so far it seems it’s still going ahead. 36 here.

JassyRadlett · 22/06/2026 15:22

PollyBell · 21/06/2026 23:59

Life doesn't stop in hot countries

I grew up in Queensland. I just checked the Sports Medicine Australia guidance for schools which is basically:

Under 31 degrees: crack on.

31-35 degrees, and over 50% humidity: crack on, but slowly and with caution and adaptations. Planned vigorous, sustained physical activity should be limited in intensity or duration to less than 60 minutes per session.

36 degrees and over: do not crack on, what is wrong with you.

And these are kids who are acclimatised and better accustomed to dealing with heat.

Turntheswitch · 22/06/2026 15:17

My lad played as a youngster too. First question would be 'do you want to play?'

these are 8 year olds
fgs