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§ 7-434. Preseason-practice heat acclimatization guidelines for student athletes

West's Annotated Code of MarylandEducationEffective: July 1, 2022

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Education (Refs & Annos)
Division II. Elementary and Secondary Education [Titles 2-9.5] (Refs & Annos)
Title 7. Public Schools (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 4. Health and Safety of Students (Refs & Annos)
Effective: July 1, 2022
MD Code, Education, § 7-434
§ 7-434. Preseason-practice heat acclimatization guidelines for student athletes
Currentness
Definitions
(a)(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Heat acclimatization” means enhancing an individual's exercise heat tolerance and ability to exercise safely and effectively in warm to hot conditions.
(3) “Practice” means a period of time a student athlete engages in physical activity during a coach-supervised, school-approved sports- or conditioning-related activity, including warm-up, stretching, weight training, and cool-down periods.
(4) “Preseason practice” means the initial 14 days of practice for a student athlete.
(5) “Recovery period” means the time between the end of one practice or walk-through and the beginning of the next practice or walk-through.
(6) “Student athlete” means a student who participates in an athletic program for high school students in a State secondary school that is a member of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association.
(7)(i) “Walk-through” means a teaching opportunity when an athlete is not wearing protective equipment, including helmets, shoulder pads, catcher's gear, or shin guards, or using other sports-related equipment.
(ii) “Walk-through” does not include any part of a practice period.
Development of policy for preseason-practice heat acclimatization guidelines
(b)(1) The Department, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health, each county board, the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, the Maryland Athletic Trainers' Association, and representatives of licensed health care providers who treat student athletes, shall develop a model policy for preseason-practice heat acclimatization guidelines for student athletes.
(2) Each local board shall adopt preseason-practice heat acclimatization guidelines for student athletes consistent with the Model Policy for Preseason-Practice Heat Acclimatization Guidelines for Student Athletes established under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
Practice duration, walk-throughs, and recovery periods
(c) The preseason-practice heat acclimatization guidelines shall include requirements for the duration of a practice time, a walk-through, and a recovery period during preseason practice.
Venue-specific emergency action plan
(d) Each middle school and high school shall develop a venue-specific emergency action plan for heat acclimatization that meets the requirements of § 7-451 of this subtitle.

Credits

Added by Acts 2012, c. 700, § 1, eff. July 1, 2012. Amended by Acts 2017, c. 62, § 6; Acts 2022, c. 212, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022.
MD Code, Education, § 7-434, MD EDUC § 7-434
Current through legislation effective through April 9, 2023, from the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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