This story is part of our series Climate, Sports, and Recreation, about the impacts of extreme weather chaos on kids’ sports, outdoor activities, and generally enjoying nature.
Summer baseball is in full swing across the country. As young baseball players head to Cooperstown Dreams Park and World Series tournaments from coast to coast, a scary competitor is stepping up to the plate: extreme heat.
My son’s summer season just wrapped up with a four-day tournament in Florida, where we live. Since baseball is played in the heat nearly year-round here, our family has learned how to prepare for long days in the sun. But as dangerous heat waves grip parts of the country that aren’t used to these temperatures, many families are navigating these conditions for the first time.
Tell Congress: Protect Youth Athletes From Extreme Heat and Dirty Air
Climate risks on the field
As climate change drives more frequent, longer lasting, and hotter summers, youth sports schedules haven’t kept pace. Tournament weekends still mean multiple games a day, hours spent waiting between games, and very little shade for athletes or spectators.
During my son’s recent tournament, his team played six games over four days, all on artificial turf, which radiates heat right back at the players. By the sixth game, I was spending as much time watching my son’s body language as I was the ball itself: Was he drinking enough? Did he look unusually tired? Was he cooling down between innings?
Extreme heat isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s dangerous. It increases the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and fatigue. Hot sunny days also fuel the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant. Because young athletes breathe harder during competition, they can inhale more pollution when ozone levels peak. Plus, artificial turf fields are made from fossil-fuel-derived synthetic materials and can release chemicals when heated, compounding players’ toxic exposures.
The system isn’t helping
Climate risks aren’t the only challenge the team faces. Many barriers to keeping young athletes safe are built into the culture and logistics of youth sports.
Athletes have long been taught that pushing through discomfort is part of becoming mentally tough. Though extreme heat isn’t something to “tough out,” players may worry that asking for a break or admitting they don’t feel well could be seen as weakness or cost them playing time. Even if a young athlete recognizes the early signs of heat illness, they won’t always feel empowered to speak up.
Daily schedules make matters even worse. Whether teams are playing back-to-back games or waiting hours between them, families often spend an entire day outdoors with little opportunity to cool down. Shade is limited and some tournament venues restrict outside food and drinks, making families spend money to stay hydrated.
Signs with information about how to recognize heat illness, where to cool down, or what the ballpark’s heat safety plan is would be helpful, but I’ve never seen any.
What this baseball mom packs for every tournament
Parents wear a lot of hats: chef, chauffeur, nurse. Lately, we’ve added another title: heat safety officer. When prepping for a baseball tournament, we don’t just pack the gear. Now we pack everything we need to keep our family safe through long, hot tournament days.
Hydration comes first. I pack a gallon-sized jug of ice water for my son, along with electrolyte drinks if tournament rules allow. If outside drinks are restricted, I pack electrolyte powder instead. When kids are sweating through multiple games in the Florida sun, replenishing electrolytes is as important as water.
Next, I pack cooling gadgets. I bring a second insulated jug of ice water and cooling towels. The kids use the wet towels to recover between innings, getting creative with how they wear them: tied around foreheads, wrapped around necks, or even draped completely over their heads and faces. I’ve seen other cooling products at tournaments, like frozen neck rings. Anything that helps lower body temperature can make a big difference.
My favorite gadget is a portable misting fan. They’re inexpensive and make hours on the sidelines much more manageable. Every member of our family has one.
Sunscreen and hats are of course non-negotiable. We also bring a pop-up tent and folding chairs in case the bleachers aren’t shaded.
But the most important thing I pack isn’t something that fits in a bag. It’s a conversation with my son before every tournament. I remind him that no game is more important than his health. If he feels dizzy, nauseated, develops a headache, gets chills, or simply feels like something isn’t right, I want him to tell a coach immediately. Recognizing warning signs of heat illness, and knowing it’s OK to speak up, may be the most valuable safety equipment any young athlete can have.
All youth sports must adapt to the heat
The good news is that I’ve already seen signs that heat safety is being taken seriously. Some leagues, tournament directors, and venues are installing misting stations and providing free cold water in dugouts.
Every tournament organization—no matter what sport is being played—should provide cooling breaks, water refill stations, shaded rest areas, and heat index monitoring. Each tournament should have a heat safety plan with clear protocols for delaying games when conditions become unsafe. Now is the time.
Baseball has taught my kids resilience, teamwork, and perseverance. Those are lessons I hope they carry with them for the rest of their lives. But learning to be resilient should never mean learning to ignore dangerous heat.
Parents shouldn’t have to choose between their child’s love of sports and their health. While we can take personal steps to protect our own kids, we can also encourage leagues to adopt stronger heat safety practices and urge our elected leaders to protect all kids. The only thing our kids should be battling on the field is the other team.
Tell Congress: Protect Youth Athletes From Extreme Heat and Dirty Air