Summer sports camps work to keep kids safe
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Summer sports camps work to keep kids safe
Western Mass News is learning how local summer camps are keeping kids cool. We went to American International College’s Youth Football Camp Monday. The kids were having a great time out on the field despite the heat and the coaches were making sure the young athletes stayed safe and hydrated. We also stopped by the Massachusetts Outlaws baseball practice Monday and the coach told us they decided to move things indoors due to the heat. “I was very grateful when I found out that we were inside outside is real hot and staying in the AC, and not passing out in general is awesome,” said Brenden Ringman, a baseball player at AIC.
We went to American International College’s Youth Football Camp Monday. The kids were having a great time out on the field despite the heat and the coaches were making sure the young athletes stayed safe and hydrated by bringing them inside every 45 minutes to cool down with athletic trainers on standby. We spoke with AIC’s football coach Dan Chipka Monday morning and not too long after we spoke, he let us know that once the wet bulb temperature hit 86% humidity, they brought the kids inside and moved the rest of the day’s activities into the gym.
Coach Chipka shared some of the other ways they were making sure the athletes stayed safe before it was time to head inside: “We’re taking consistent water breaks you know about every 15-20 minutes, we’re breaking under the shade tent for ice water and Powerade, we’re also going inside every hour, really every 45 minutes, and we’re mobilizing the troops into the gymnasium. I learned in the state of Ohio, when you get inclement weather and certainly here when you have the dramatic spikes in temperatures, your football clinic can turn into a basketball clinic really quick.”
If you’d like to sign up your youth football player for next year’s camp at AIC, Coach Chipka said sign-ups typically start a few months out during the springtime. A link to their website can be found HERE.
We also stopped by the Massachusetts Outlaws baseball practice Monday and the coach told us they decided to move things indoors due to the heat.
The Massachusetts Outlaws are youth baseball organizations that range from ages 12-18. They travel around playing in tournaments and they’re comprised of a group of kids from across western Massachusetts. Practice typically takes place outdoors, but Monday their coach John Grenia felt it was best to bring practice indoors due to the heat.
“It’s good that we can keep them, you know indoors, out of the heat, save them from themselves and avoid the exhaustion. That kind of thing. Just walking around is exhausting, never mind sprinting, throwing, catching. They can get heat exhaustion pretty quick so having them indoors is beneficial to having them on the field when it counts.”
And his athletes like Brenden Ringman, said that they’re thankful Coach made that call: “I was very grateful when I found out that we were inside outside is real hot and staying in the AC, being indoors, and not passing out in general is awesome” “Yeah, I think it definitely helps us out a lot. We’re in the heat all summer getting a little bit of a break from it. It’s nice.” Added Jacob Wellz.
Coach Grenia also said that even though they’re indoors today, he’s still making sure his athletes stay extra hydrated.
Copyright 2025. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.
Summer sports camps work to keep kids safe
Western Mass News is learning how local summer camps are keeping kids cool. We went to American International College’s Youth Football Camp Monday. The kids were having a great time out on the field despite the heat and the coaches were making sure the young athletes stayed safe and hydrated. We also stopped by the Massachusetts Outlaws baseball practice Monday and the coach told us they decided to move things indoors due to the heat. “I was very grateful when I found out that we were inside outside is real hot and staying in the AC, and not passing out in general is awesome,” said Brenden Ringman, a baseball player at AIC.
We went to American International College’s Youth Football Camp Monday. The kids were having a great time out on the field despite the heat and the coaches were making sure the young athletes stayed safe and hydrated by bringing them inside every 45 minutes to cool down with athletic trainers on standby. We spoke with AIC’s football coach Dan Chipka Monday morning and not too long after we spoke, he let us know that once the wet bulb temperature hit 86% humidity, they brought the kids inside and moved the rest of the day’s activities into the gym.
Coach Chipka shared some of the other ways they were making sure the athletes stayed safe before it was time to head inside: “We’re taking consistent water breaks you know about every 15-20 minutes, we’re breaking under the shade tent for ice water and Powerade, we’re also going inside every hour, really every 45 minutes, and we’re mobilizing the troops into the gymnasium. I learned in the state of Ohio, when you get inclement weather and certainly here when you have the dramatic spikes in temperatures, your football clinic can turn into a basketball clinic really quick.”
If you’d like to sign up your youth football player for next year’s camp at AIC, Coach Chipka said sign-ups typically start a few months out during the springtime. A link to their website can be found HERE.
We also stopped by the Massachusetts Outlaws baseball practice Monday and the coach told us they decided to move things indoors due to the heat.
The Massachusetts Outlaws are youth baseball organizations that range from ages 12-18. They travel around playing in tournaments and they’re comprised of a group of kids from across western Massachusetts. Practice typically takes place outdoors, but Monday their coach John Grenia felt it was best to bring practice indoors due to the heat.
“It’s good that we can keep them, you know indoors, out of the heat, save them from themselves and avoid the exhaustion. That kind of thing. Just walking around is exhausting, never mind sprinting, throwing, catching. They can get heat exhaustion pretty quick so having them indoors is beneficial to having them on the field when it counts.”
And his athletes like Brenden Ringman, said that they’re thankful Coach made that call: “I was very grateful when I found out that we were inside outside is real hot and staying in the AC, being indoors, and not passing out in general is awesome” “Yeah, I think it definitely helps us out a lot. We’re in the heat all summer getting a little bit of a break from it. It’s nice.” Added Jacob Wellz.
Coach Grenia also said that even though they’re indoors today, he’s still making sure his athletes stay extra hydrated.
Copyright 2025. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.
Source: https://www.westernmassnews.com/2025/06/23/summer-sports-camps-work-keep-kids-safe/