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

It’s apparently well over 40c in Qatar right now. Which is why when they hosted the World Cup 4 years ago they did so in December and not June. It was still hot as fuck but alternative arrangements were made. That seems to be quite common in countries hotter than ours.

OP, I agree with you. So glad my son’s school is relaxing uniforms all this week. They also stopped holding sports day during the summer years ago and now do it between Easter holidays and May half term. Sunny days aren’t as hot then.

Awesome.

And I bet that when you were 7 was many decades ago…. Maybe 6 decades ago?

Now we know that young children like the elderly can’t balance their body temperature the way adults can, hence taking a more precautionary stance to playing in 37 degree heat.

Correct, and been playing and umpiring since I was 7.

Sensible precautions needed and they're unlikely to be playing all day in junior cricket.

I'd turn up, there might be a conversation between the umpires, teachers, captains and go from there.

I mean I am still alive (and officiating) after my experience a couple of years ago. It wasn’t ok tho. Govt guidelines are not to be active or outside between 11am and 3pm. A nice tea and white trousers are not going to make much difference.

You are an adult, correct?

I've played cricket for many years. A good hat, water and sunscreen along with cricket whites, and sensible umpiring, all will all be ok.

And I hope there's a nice tea involved if it's a prep' school. They should know how to do things properly, both on and off the field.

I've never been called off a game because of sun and played in some searing heat.

I, and other, are still here to tell the tale.

no need to for kids to play sport at 2pm in these temps. they should have the match first thing in the morning or scrap it. not worth the sunburn

But even if @TheCurious0range does live by the coast… the temperatures for example Leigh on Sea are hitting 37 degrees

We’re in London and our prep sports day was still on as of this morning for Weds but they’ve thankfully cancelled. If they hadn’t, I would have had no issue with not sending DC in for it.

People suggesting that this type of temp in June anywhere in the UK is normal and manageable given our infrastructure are bonkers.

These aren’t just sunny days. There is a genuine risk to life if people continue with their usual routine in the hottest areas, especially those with underlying health conditions, kids and the elderly.

Seeing anyone, let alone a child, with heatstroke is horrible and I speak as an ED nurse.

I guess you are by the coast then. I am Surrey/W. Sussex border and Met Office (who are generally very accurate for this location) are predicting highs of 35 tomorrow, and 39 on Wednesday and Friday. Humidity will be 90% on the hottest days.

I’m In Kent
37 and 38 on Wednesday and Thursday

Where are you in the SE where 37/38 is predicted? I'm in the SE and it's mainly 27 and under, 31 on Friday

A few years ago my son played in a football tournament when the temperature was a bit lower than this. We hoped it would be cancelled, but it wasn't. I didn't want him to play but he didn't want to let the team down. The games were fairly short but there were several of them. There was a gazebo to shelter under when not playing, but it wasn't enough. It shouldn't have gone ahead and some children felt unwell. I instructed my son not too fast or too much, which defeats the point of the tournament and I don't think he listened anyway.

Having spent some time in South Africa, there is lots of shade available on sport fields, plenty of water, if it's extremely hot they DO postpone things. The events take place in the morning not the afternoon when it's hotting up

Ridiculous to even think of playing sport in this

I used to teach in SE Asia.

The key stage 1 playground and pool had a large fabric cover so were always mostly shaded.

The school day started and finished earlier.

Classrooms and the staffroom had aircon.

The corridors and the hall had open sides to catch breezes.

The uniform was different and included hats as compulsory.

At temperatures over 37 degrees, it wouldn’t be safe. The ECB and Cricket Australia recognise that cricket in high temperatures is not advisable. Batters and wicket keepers are padded up and wear helmets, bowlers (especially pace bowlers) would struggle, and fielders can be running around a fair bit.

In addition to that, girls don’t tend to wear whites, unlike boys. They are normally in dark colours. Their dark polyester trousers are most definitely not designed to keep them cool.

Ah I’m sorry to hear that. The sport should support volunteers in any way needed.

I stopped being an athletics official because of the ludicrously long days. Even without the heat or heavy rain, it was too much.

Come off it. If it's 37 in the shade, and so more in direct sunlight, wearing white clothes and a hat is not going to do nearly enough to make it sensible for unacclimatised kids to be stood out in it even if they're totally stationary.

You've not heard of the siesta then?

I wouldn't let my child do PE in these conditions, it's ludicrous. No, it's not character-building, it's just stupid. You'd postpone if it was hammering down with rain so postpone for hot weather too.

My son had played cricket all through teens and spent many a Saturday ( all afternoon and into evening) stood on cricket field in all heats inc 36c. Lots of water breaks. Never had a problem

I was talking to a colleague based in India who explained it's absolutely standard that schools are shut when it's above 40 degrees. It all moves to google classrooms. Because they are used to the heat so they know how dangerous it is to have kids walking to and from school in it.

Countries like Australia or parts of the Middle East have aircon as standard. Most British schools are not air conditioned.

Lots of children need to walk home and that won't be very safe at 3pm.

Just to add to the life doesn't stop in hot countries crowd. I attended a wedding in Madrid in July. The church ceremony was at 8pm. We sat down to dinner at 11pm. So it doesn't stop but adjustments are made!

And how many hot countries have you lived in with school age children to see first hand how they do it over there?