It’s one of the most highly anticipated times of the year – the start of the school year and coming of fall high school sports. The excitement, however, is somewhat tempered at the moment as the heat continues to persist and fall is more than a month away.  

The advent of year-round school schedules has pushed the start of practices for fall sports – and activities like band – into the heart of summer with heat indices exceeding 100 degrees in many parts of the country.

As a result, schools must be prepared to help the millions of students deal with the oppressive heat and humidity during the coming weeks for football, soccer, cross country, field hockey and other sport practices. Including those students in marching band, more than five million individuals will be on the fields and courts prepping for fall activities. 

Unfortunately, several high school athletes have already been involved in heat-related emergencies as practices have started in some parts of the country, including two fatalities, according to Dr. Kristen Kucera, director of the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research (NCCSIR). We also are aware of several band members needing heat-related medical assistance after practicing in the heat.

Historically, most heat-related fatalities and catastrophic events have occurred during pre-season practices. And with several weeks remaining before first games of the 2025 fall season, steps must be taken to reduce the risk of additional catastrophic events. In fact, as often noted in NFHS materials, heat-related fatalities are 100 percent preventable.

The NFHS had an opportunity earlier this week, with an appearance on AccuWeather.com, to discuss available resources and steps being taken to minimize risk of heat illness. We appreciated the opportunity to share ways that schools can reduce the risk of heat illness with viewers across the country.  

The NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) continues to distribute information to member state associations. As we noted during the AccuWeather session, heat concerns are not related just to football. Any student participating in an outdoor sport or activity in the heat is vulnerable to heat illness, including marching band, cheer and players practicing in hot gyms without air conditioning.   

Even with one million participants in high school football, death from heat stroke is preventable with proper precautions and timely intervention. Coaches, athletic directors and athletic trainers must have effective prevention plans in place so that student participants are fully protected from heat-related illnesses and injuries.

The NFHS SMAC and the NFHS Learning Center continue to offer many educational tools to assist schools in developing a proper heat acclimatization and heat illness prevention program. In addition, many state associations have developed state-specific guidelines for dealing with heat issues and safety challenges.

The SMAC has developed a “Heat Acclimatization and Heat Illness Prevention Position Statement” which is available on the NFHS website.  This document contains seven fundamentals of a Heat Acclimatization Program. In addition, the SMAC’s “Position Statement and Recommendations for Maintaining Hydration to Optimize Performance and Minimize the Risk for Exertional Heat Illness” is also available on the sports medicine page of the NFHS website.

Venue and sport/activity specific emergency action plans (EAP) for interscholastic activities play a pivotal role in preemptively addressing and responding to potential risks and emergencies. The SMAC’s “Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for Interscholastic Activities Position Statement” is also available on the sports medicine page of the NFHS Website.

Through the NFHS Learning Center, the NFHS offers a free online course entitled Heat Illness Prevention. This course, which is available at www.nfhslearn.com, also reviews the seven fundamentals of a Heat Acclimatization Program. More than 3.4 million Heat Illness Prevention courses have been accessed. In addition, to address the necessary precautions for participants in marching band, the NFHS has a free course entitled Band Safety.

Among the fundamentals of a Heat Acclimatization Program are 1) a slow progression in activity level – duration and intensity; 2) adjusting workouts as heat and humidity increase, including close monitoring and a prompt response to developing problems; and 3) proper hydration.

Four other Learning Center courses should be a part of the preseason planning for all key members of the school’s team: The Collapsed Student, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Concussion in Sports and Emergency Action Planning for Afterschool Programs.

 As an additional resource, the NFHS Foundation previously distributed more than 5,000 Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) devices to high schools across the country. The WBGT measures the heat stress in direct sunlight, accounting for temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover. High schools can use the thermometer’s reading to help determine if the weather is appropriate to hold outdoor activities. The NFHS Foundation provides a video on proper use of WBGT. If the available devices indicate that the weather is a risk to the health of students, practices must be cancelled.   

School leaders must also make sure that AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) are available in key locations in the school, and that an Emergency Action Plan has been established and rehearsed. There have been several cases on high school sports fields and courts the past two years where quick action on the part of individuals saved lives, and we hope that trend continues. As a part of preseason planning, coaches and administrators should consider another Learning Center course – CPR & AED Training.    

We encourage all school leaders – coaches, band directors, athletic directors and others – to take the free online courses – Heat Illness Prevention and Band Safety – at www.nfhslearn.com. It could be the best investment of time this year.

Read all NFHS Voice columns here.

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Surrounded by 20 family members and friends, Charles E. “Charlie” Anderson, 73, passed away on Sunday, July 27, at the Grand Strand Medical Center, Myrtle Beach, S.C. The family wishes to thank the medical personnel who cared for Charlie during his two-month battle with acute kidney failure. 

A Conway resident since 2019, Charlie was an Eastern Long Island resident for most of his life. The son of the Rev. Harold and Phyllis Anderson, Charlie was born July 2, 1952, in Port Jefferson. The Anderson family moved to Southold while Charlie was still in grade school. He graduated from Southold High School in 1970, where he played varsity baseball, and went on to study for a time at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

Charlie worked for several years at Academy Printing in Southold, but most of his working life was spent as facilities manager for Suffolk County National Bank. Charlie was a friend to all and joined his wife, Janet, in hosting many legendary barbecues and holiday parties. He contributed to his Long Island and South Carolina communities by coaching youth sports, especially soccer. He was also a longtime member of the Mattituck Board of Education and served for several years as school board president.

No one loved sports more than Charlie, who played softball in leagues in both Mattituck and Greenport. Charlie also enjoyed playing golf, often at Island’s End in Greenport, but he was best known for his love of the New York Yankees. After moving to Conway, Charlie devoted an entire room in his new home to Yankees memorabilia, and he made sure to set up his television so that he could continue watching every Yankees’ game. Charlie was also a fan of the New York Jets, New York Islanders and St. John’s University college basketball. When it came to music, The Allman Brothers were No. 1 on Charlie’s list.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Janet, whom he married on Sept. 30, 1978; as well as his two sons, Brian (Danielle) and Scott (Jacky); his identical-twin brother Jim (Barbara) and sisters Adele Miller and Irene Devlin (Andrew). All live in and around Myrtle Beach except Irene, of Estero, Fla. Charlie is also survived by grandchildren Jacob, Emma, Scotty, Carter, Nicolas and A.J. as well as many nieces and nephews.

Instead of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be directed in Charlie’s name to the favorite charity of the giver or to the Conway Recreation Center Sports Complex, 1515 Mill Pond Road, Conway, S.C., 29527. Funeral arrangements are private, but the family hopes to hold a memorial service later this year.

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Youth Sports Night is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2 at Toyota Field as the Trash Pandas host its’ special night where local youth teams can attend a game and have a night to remember.

Madison County Record, News, Sports, The Madison Recor, Z – News Main

 By Bob Labbe  

Published 6:03 am Wednesday, July 30, 2025

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KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI — A 68,000-square-foot sports dome that reopened in late 2024 after a $4 million expansion and renovation has been given a new name.

Previously known as the Next Level Sports Center, the facility at 12733 U.S. 131 in Schoolcraft, will now be called The Kalsee Dome at Next Level Sports Center.

Discover Kalamazoo announced the new community-focused partnership between Kalsee Credit Union and Next Level Sports Center in a Wednesday, July 30 news release.

The collaboration reflects the shared values of both organizations, which include supporting youth development, promoting wellness and investing in the Southwest Michigan community, the release states.

The dome, which originally opened in 1998, was deflated in July 2024 as it underwent a massive four-month renovation project.

RELATED: Dome deflation: Well-known sports facility deflates dome, shares plans for future

RELATED: Familiar sports dome in Schoolcraft reopens twice the size after $4 million project

After reopening in November with a plethora of new amenities, its name was changed from The Dome Sports Center to the Next Level Sports Center.

Adding “Kalsee Dome” to the beginning of the name represents more than just a name change, said Josh Baird, who has owned the facility since 2015.

“It symbolizes our joint effort to enhance the experience for everyone who visits our facility,” Baird said. “Kalsee helped make our expansion project possible, and we look forward to their continued positive impact on our athletes and families.”

With the support of Kalsee Credit Union, Next Level Sports Center will continue to grow its offerings with a goal of making a lasting difference in the lives of athletes across the region. The facility — which serves thousands of local families a year — has a mission of creating 1 million moments of fun through youth athletics, camps, leagues and inclusive programs.

“This partnership reflects our dedication to supporting local businesses and fostering community engagement,” said Matt Lahman, CEO of Kalsee Credit Union. “We are especially proud to be part of Next Level’s facilities and programming expansion following the recent installation of their much larger dome with new volleyball and pickleball courts.”

As part of this partnership, a Kalsee Interactive Teller Machine will also be installed on campus, offering banking services for visitors.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLive’s local Kalamazoo news page.

DETROIT (WXYZ) — A week-long celebration of basketball and culture has descended upon Detroit as the city hosts the PeacePlayers Friendship Games, uniting youth from around the world through sports.

Watch Demetrios Sanders’ video report:

Celebration of basketball and culture

Since 2001, the international peace-building non-profit PeacePlayers has used sport and movement to unite divided communities that have experienced conflict.

“We have sites in the Middle East, in Israel, in Northern Ireland, South Africa,” said Jasmine Cooper, director of PeacePlayers Detroit.

In the U.S., PeacePlayers also has sites in cities like Detroit, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

The Friendship Games brings youth from around the world to one location for a week of cultural exchange, leadership training, and basketball — and this year it’s in the Motor City.

“Being able to elevate this and put it on a platform that no other city could really do like Detroit is just so meaningful and so important to the city,” said Chris Economeas, Pistons Senior Director of Community and Social Responsibility.

The Friendship Games include an opening and closing ceremony, a basketball tournament, and children will even get to meet Detroit Piston Ron Holland.

Wednesday was “Detroit Day” at Wayne State University, where dozens of Metro Detroit middle schoolers got to interact and play games with PeacePlayers participants from international sites.

“Hopefully it’ll change their perspectives and spark their interest and recognize that the world is beautiful and people that are different are also beautiful as well,” said Cooper.

FULL INTERVIEW: Jasmine Cooper talks about PeacePlayers Friendship Games

FULL INTERVIEW: Jasmine Cooper talks about PeacePlayers Friendship Games

A teen from South Africa says visiting Detroit — his first trip to the U.S. — has been an eye-opener.

“It feels like home, it feels like I’m back home, but then there’s these key differences like the cars you see around, driving on a different side of the road,” said Lebogang Keti, with PeacePlayers South Africa.

Another participant from Northern Ireland says it’s also been a pleasure to share what his country is like.

“We have a reputation for being some of the nicest people in the world despite the past, and it’s because we’ve learned to grow and expand our culture in every different way,” said Declan Curran, with PeacePlayers Northern Ireland.

And a Cass Tech student involved with PeacePlayers Detroit says there’s a lasting message he will take with him.

“Just because history doesn’t mean everywhere is bad. You have to go and look at people’s hearts,” said Ransom Thomas, with PeacePlayers Detroit.

The Friendship Games will continue through Saturday.

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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.