Kansas City heatwave impacts Friday night high school football games

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - It’s been a hot week for the thousands of teachers and students returning to schools across the Kansas City metro.

Coaches and student athletes already moved practices earlier in the day, relocated inside buildings with A/C, and provided extra rest and water breaks to keep teenagers as safe as possible.

Now the heat is impacting games under the Friday night lights.

The Lee’s Summit School District notified families Thursday afternoon that it is adjusting times for varsity football games and canceling or postponing other events.

The Belton School District was the first to announces changes to Friday football games. The district announced Wednesday afternoon that the Belton High School game at Excelsior Springs High School on Aug. 25 is delayed. Kickoff is now scheduled for 8 p.m. because of the forecasted temperatures.

Park Hill School District announced the football game it is hosting against Battle High School in Columbia will also kickoff an hour later at 8 p.m. Friday night because of the heat. Park Hill South is traveling to Rock Bridge. That game will kickoff at 8 p.m.

FORECAST: Excess heat warning extended to Friday evening

Raytown High School hosts Smithville High School. The Raytown School District said it decided to push the game back to 8 p.m.

North Kansas City School District announced it will also push its home games back to 8 p.m.

Ray-Pec at Rockhurst High School’s game will kickoff at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25.

Other metro school districts said they are following Missouri State High School Athletic Association guidelines to keep students, staff and families safe during this extreme heat, but haven’t yet decided is football games will be delayed.

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated with information from other school districts if they decide to change kickoff times for Friday night football games.

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