Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray at the Australian Open
The big news coming from the Australian Open this week is the heat--and lots of it. Players are wilting and defaulting everywhere and only solution being offered is the "Extreme Heat Rule." This rule says that play can be suspended on the outer courts until 5:00 p.m. and the roofs closed on the show courts before play can be resumed. But, is this enough?
During the summer ITA tournaments the heat regularly goes over 110 degrees and the heat at the Australian Open is only 109. Last summer we placed a thermometer on the court and it registered 145 degrees! Now that's really hot...
There are a few extreme heat rules but basically there isn't much that can be done in temperatures of 145 on a tennis court. In the ITA tournaments the players play 2 singles matches and 2 doubles matches in a day--and yes, there are a lot of defaults and exhausted players. If its bad for a 20 year old, just imagine what it does to some of the adult players in summer tournaments.
What's the solution for players? Not really sure but it includes the following:
* Stay hydrated.
* Be careful what you consume before and during a match. One player drank a glass of pickle juice in the 3rd set and all he accomplished was throwing up green junk all over the court.
* Remember that it takes a while to get bananas and pickle juice into your system so don't eat and drink a bunch in the middle of the final set.
* Keep some mustard packets in your bag. This is the best treatment for cramps.
* Get in the shade on the changeovers. Noone is impressed with your hurrying through the changeover so you can stand at your end and tap your foot waiting for the other player to come on court.
* Stop playing if you get light-headed or cramps. No tennis match is worth losing your life or health.
* Listen to what people tell you. If someone says you look sick and pale and all of that--slow down or quit playing. Even your opponent doesn't want you dying on the court.
Here are some solutions that might help at the tournament level:
* Stop play until at least 6:00 p.m. when the heat reaches 105 degrees. The 105 degree figure might be too high but at least its a start. You can continue play until about 9:00 p.m. in the summer months so that should help but not cure the situation. If you're at a site with lights, that's not a problem and parents and players will appreciate you for the suspension.
* Use no ad scoring and a third set tiebreak when the "Heat Rule" is enacted.
* Think about the use of an 8 game pro set. Its a radical thought but then temperatures of 145 degrees on court are pretty radical too.
* Build indoor air-conditioned courts. The best option but not financially feasible.
* Increase the changeover time to 3 minutes instead of 2. That extra minute isn't going to derail any tournament and might save some lives and bodies.
* Make sure there is plenty of ice water available for all players. At sites where there is ice, be sure everyone knows how to get it and that there is an ample supply.
* Keep plenty of mustard packets available at the tournament desk. Ask any collegiate trainer and they will tell you that this is the best remedy for cramps.
* Make sure the officials keep a close eye on all players. Signs of being overcome by heat are plentiful and we need to be watching.
* Don't listen to the word of a 12 year old. They will always want to play and don't care how hot it is--until they get sick and then they want their Mother.
* Be sure to keep plenty of fluids available for your officials. We get hot out there too!
2 comments:
That GREAT advice
OR....
Take up BOWLING for three month's - you big BABY's!
I am grateful that the tennis powers that be are realizing the potential dangers of having a match played in extreme conditions, however, I thought it rather silly that they would not use a perfectly good roof and air conditioning system as soon as the conditions were deemed to severe on the other courts, simply because the match was in the middle of a set. In fact, because the match was so long added logic to using these tools to protect the players. I am sure neither of them would have complained if the conditions were made much more playable, even in the middle of a set.
Playing in the heat can cause permanent damage to players who are great assets to the game. Over twenty defaulted in a tournament last year where such conditions were not considered. I do not see how any right-minded individual can consider them "babies" for balking at playing in these dangerous conditions.
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