High temperatures and unhealthy air quality from regional wildfires forced some area high school coaches to modify practices Monday by sending their teams inside, and Tuesday’s forecast led a number of schools to already postpone games and events.
Vancouver Public Schools first announced late Sunday no after-school sports practices were held outdoors Monday. It’s was part of the district’s excessive-heat statement in response to the National Weather Service’s heat advisory and air-quality alert in effect through 6 p.m. Tuesday.
While neighboring district — Evergreen Public Schools — allowed outdoor teams to practice as normal Monday, it’s the second time over the past week VPS sent teams indoors to escape the heat and poor air quality.
“It’s not worth it to have our kids go through anything in this type of situation,” district athletic director Albert Alcantar said.
No high school varsity contests were scheduled for Monday, Labor Day, but two junior varsity football games in the district — Columbia River-Evergreen and Hudson’s Bay-La Salle — were postponed.
The air quality already impacted a number of Tuesday’s cross country, boys golf and girls soccer matches. Woodland, La Center and Hockinson announced Monday it postponed all Tuesday outdoors games and events.
Alcantar and Evergreen district athletic director Cale Piland said decisions will be made early Tuesday whether the day’s 4A and 3A Greater St. Helens League outdoor events will be played or postponed in their districts.
For teams that practice outdoors, Monday was all about being creative indoors. Area football coaches found new ways to prepare for their second games of the season without being able to hold regular practices outside.
Columbia River coach Christian Swain was one of them, and the Chieftains made the best of a tough situation.
“It’s nobody’s fault; it’s out of everybody’s control,” he said. “You take the negative and turn it into a positive.”
The positive? More time for film in preparation for No. 3-ranked Tumwater, the Chieftains’ (0-1) opponent Friday.
A typical Monday practice for Columbia River, Swain said, is a heavy work day that includes hitting, introduction to the opponent, and film review. Instead, Monday was an indoor walk-thru in the gymnasium after a film breakdown.
With temperatures expected to inch toward 100 degrees today and unhealthy air-quality levels likely to remain in effect, Swain said he’s prepared for a second day without outdoor drills, if needed.
“You try to make the best of it,” he said.
