Baseball and softball don’t look like dangerous heat sports. There’s a lot of standing around, and most of the game happens in short bursts. But summer ball means long days in the sun: doubleheaders, weekend tournaments, games scheduled in the middle of the afternoon, and kids who stay at the field from morning until the last out.
Some players carry more heat than others. The catcher wears gear for inning after inning. The pitcher works on every play. And players in the dugout between games can be sitting on a bench with no shade and no air moving. Exertional heat stroke is 100% survivable when the athlete is cooled fast, on site. A team can be ready for that.
Watch the Catcher
The catcher squats, stands and throws on every pitch, in a helmet, mask, chest protector and shin guards. Gear holds heat in and makes it harder for the body to cool itself.
- let the catcher take off the mask and helmet between innings
- get the catcher to shade and water first when the team comes off the field
- on hot days, share the position so one player isn’t catching every inning of a doubleheader
- have someone else warm up the pitcher between innings so the catcher gets a real break
Plan the Day, Not Just the Game
A doubleheader or tournament day can keep a player outside for hours. The risk builds over the whole day, not one inning. Before the day starts:
- know where the shade is at every field, and bring a canopy if there isn’t any
- plan water breaks between innings and between games, and make sure there’s enough water for the whole day
- keep players out of the sun between games instead of letting them sit in the stands or a hot car
- check conditions before each game, not just in the morning
Humidity changes how hot it feels to a working body. A day in the 80s and humid can be more dangerous than a drier day that reads hotter. See how to use WBGT to make heat decisions, and the guide to heat safety at tournaments.
Early Season Is the Riskiest Stretch
Players who haven’t practiced in the heat yet are more at risk. That’s true when summer ball starts and when a team travels somewhere hotter for a tournament. Ease into hard workouts and long days. The guide to heat acclimatization explains why the first days matter most.
Know the Signs
Heat stroke shows up as a change in how a player is thinking or acting:
- confusion, or answers that don’t make sense
- stumbling, or losing balance
- acting out of character
- collapse
A player with heat stroke may still be sweating. In a game with lots of standing, a player who is struggling can go unnoticed in the outfield. Coaches, parents and teammates should all be watching. The full list is in heat stroke symptoms every coach and parent should know.
Have Cooling Ready at the Field
Cooling is the treatment, and it has to be at the field before the first pitch:
- a cold-water immersion tub, filled and ready
- plenty of ice, with more coming for a long day
- towels
- a charged phone and the field’s exact address
Use the cooling station checklist, and read why every event needs a tub on site.
If a Player Goes Down
- Call 911 and start cooling at the same time.
- Cool first, transport second. Cool the player on site with cold-water immersion and ice agitation.
- Start cooling within 10 minutes and aim to bring the body to about 102°F within 30 minutes.
- Remove anything you can quickly but don’t delay cooling because of gear removal.
At 104°F, the body loses its ability to regulate its own temperature. That’s why cooling can’t wait for the ambulance. Read more in cool first, transport second, and put each person’s job on paper with the free emergency action plan builder.
Coach Checklist for Hot Game Days
- Catcher gets shade, water and gear off first between innings
- Catching duties shared on hot days and doubleheaders
- Shade and enough water planned for the whole day
- Conditions checked before every game
- Cooling tub, ice and towels at the field before the first pitch
- Everyone knows who calls 911 and who starts cooling
Coaching a team this season? Sign up to take part in National Stay Cool Day on April 8, 2027.
