ISSA adjusts for El Niño | Sports
Hydration breaks could be among the new features of the ISSA schoolboy football competitions this season, but they will not be mandatory, says competitions officer Ewan Scott.
With the El Niño climatic impact in full effect, ISSA president Keith Wellington noted at Wednesday’s launch that hydration breaks – similar to those used at the recent World Cup – are likely to become part of the reality of schoolboy football this year to safeguard student‑athletes. However, he could not confirm whether they would be compulsory.
Scott later clarified that breaks will depend entirely on match‑day conditions.
“No, we will not have mandatory hydration breaks. It will depend on the temperature on the day.
“If it’s a 1 o’clock game we will likely have hydration breaks, but for the regular 3 o’clock games, no. We will not have mandatory breaks.
“If necessary, the temperature on the day will decide hydration breaks. It will not be mandatory,” he stated.
El Niño is a climate pattern defined by warmer‑than‑average sea surface temperatures, which disrupt global atmospheric conditions, alter jet streams and shift rainfall and temperature trends. This summer, the phenomenon has contributed to lengthy drought conditions across the region.
Hydration breaks
Wellington said ISSA has been reviewing all precautionary measures, with hydration breaks forming part of that protocol.
“The competition rules speak to these mitigating factors and what are some of the things we expect, including water breaks.
“Obviously we will have a policy of not playing double‑headers where teams have to be playing at 1 o’clock.
“So we are going to have to be mindful of safeguarding our student‑athletes. Even from a management perspective, we have said each team needs to have a safeguarding officer – somebody who is not a coach and who is not a part of the technical staff. Maybe a teacher who is not interested in football, but interested in the duty of care for our students.
“So, yes, we are mindful of the El Niño effect. Just generally, we want to ensure our students are being taken care of,” he said.
Wellington also revealed that sponsorship for this season is significantly lower than in recent years and will affect how ISSA executes the competitions.
“It (sponsorship) is less than it has been over the last few years. So far we have little over $40 million in cash.
“It has and will have a significant impact on the schoolboy football season in terms of what we are hoping to do, and that’s why it’s important the fans come out and support the competitions.
“Their little contribution will help support their schools. We (ISSA) provide all the schools with playing gear. We provide referees’ fees and we have to find venues when it comes to the latter stages of the season. So we need the support of the general public,” Wellington said.
The daCosta Cup for rural schools is scheduled to kick off on September 5, while the urban Manning Cup begins on September 9.