"Someone has to collapse before things change." Professionals had games cancelled due to extreme heat, while high school students ran under a scorching 37℃ sun without even being able to use the locker rooms.

*This content was translated by AI.

"I feel like I'm going to die from the heat," "I really think I'm going to collapse."

These were the words directly shared by players at last month's national high school baseball tournament in Gyeongbuk Pohang.

This was neither exaggeration nor pretense. At that time, the daytime high temperature in Pohang soared to 37℃. On artificial turf with no shade whatsoever, players ran, threw, and chased balls for hours while wearing hats and uniforms. Games starting at 9 a.m. did not end until after 1 p.m. Players preparing for the next match waited since 11 a.m., then ran under the scorching sun again from 2 p.m. for nearly three more hours.

After games ended, parents quickly handed water and bananas to exhausted players. However, there was no roof in the waiting area to block the intense sunlight, nor any air conditioning to cool the heat. Although Pohang Baseball Stadium had locker rooms, they were effectively closed off to high school players. Players changed clothes and warmed up while sitting on concrete floors with even no chairs available.

Around the same time, professional baseball games in areas under extreme heat warnings were cancelled. After ground temperatures at Sajik Baseball Stadium soared to 71℃ and players reported vomiting and dizziness, the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) prepared measures including delayed starts and game cancellations. Yet high school players, still developing, continued playing under a scorching sun of up to 37℃ with virtually no protective measures.

High school coach A participating in this tournament told StarNews, "We're not asking for new facilities to be built. There are already locker rooms, but players couldn't use them." He added regretfully, "It would have been better if the children could change clothes and cool down briefly in a comfortable place before going out to play."

A bigger problem is that it's difficult even to find regulations recognizing extreme heat as a 'disaster risk.' Reviewing this year's high school baseball weekend league and national tournament operating rules publicly released by the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA), while there were provisions for suspending games due to fine dust, there were no specific clauses regarding extreme heat or heat-related illnesses.

Tournament formats and contents were mostly similar across events. The only differences from KBSA's basic operating rules were minor details such as award criteria or uniform wearing standards. There were no explicit provisions for postponing or cancelling games when the heat index exceeded a certain level, mandatory rest periods, or air-conditioned waiting areas.

Reactions from KBO team scouts observing the scene were also cold. Scout B stated, "Someone has to actually collapse before things change. It's too hot; even the children can't show their proper game performance. Daytime games must be avoided." Another scout C added concern, "Especially at Pohang Baseball Stadium, which is an artificial turf field, players' perceived temperatures must be even higher. If concentration and stamina decline due to heat, the risk of injury also increases."

Extreme heat affects not only player safety but also performance evaluation. Another high school coach D pointed out, "Even pitchers who normally throw at 150 km/h can only reach the mid-140s in this weather." He added, "Training isn't going well, concentration is dropping, and many players aren't able to show their true abilities."

The KBSA, which organizes the tournaments, is not unaware of the problem. Schedules are arranged to avoid the hottest times, with games set for 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and after 5 p.m. The issue lies in games starting at 11:30 a.m. continuing until midday.

Until last year, morning games were advanced by 30 minutes or an hour. However, this also caused backlash as players had to prepare from early dawn. High school coach A pointed out the reality, "Morning games around 8 a.m. were definitely not easy. Players have to start moving three hours before the game starts, which means 5 a.m." He further emphasized, "It would be better to play seven-inning games during the hottest season. There's no problem with youth national team games being played as seven-inning contests either."

Increasing tournament days by holding two games each in the morning and afternoon is another option, but this is realistically too much for over 100 high school teams to manage. Since most national tournaments require each team to cover their own local accommodation and venue rental fees, the burden on parents and students becomes significant.

Eliminating summer tournaments altogether is also difficult. National tournaments serve as the final proving ground for university advancement and professional draft selections. Schedules are intertwined with deadlines to complete tournaments before September's professional rookie draft and university early admissions. Reducing participation opportunities is something players and parents would find hard to accept. Even if KBSA proposes adjusting admission schedules to relevant ministries, it cannot be changed unilaterally.

However, realistic limitations cannot justify neglecting safety. Proposals have emerged from the field to operate July-August tournaments under a seven-inning system and provide sufficient rest periods during games. High school coach E strongly stated, "We need to consider operating July and August tournaments with a seven-inning format. It would be good if players were given adequate rest time once during the game."

On the other hand, since reducing innings could decrease pitchers' playing opportunities, some suggested dispersing certain national tournaments to October and November or expanding regional leagues. High school coach D emphasized, "It might be better to hold two out of four national tournaments on a biennial basis, or host them in late October or November. Only first- and second-year students would participate in those tournaments." He continued, "In the university admission process, early admissions could proceed using second-year grades and first-half third-year results. Alternatively, we could eliminate early admissions and shift to regular admissions, continuing tournaments until November. There are plenty of methods available."

Regional league competitions were also proposed as an alternative. High school coach D suggested, "If teams are grouped by region with 20 teams per zone conducting league matches, each team can play up to 19 games. Even if national tournaments are reduced, the number of games can be secured."

There are immediate actions that can be taken. Opening existing locker rooms and preparing player waiting areas equipped with portable air conditioners and ice are feasible steps. Incorporating game postponement/cancellation criteria based on perceived temperature and mandatory rest periods into tournament regulations is not an impossible demand.

The final high school baseball national tournament, scheduled to begin this month on the 7th, will be held in Seoul at Mokdong, Sinwol, and Gyuui Baseball Stadiums. Games are also scheduled for 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and around 5 p.m. The opening day's peak temperature in Seoul is forecast to reach 37℃. There is no guarantee that the scenes witnessed in Pohang won't be repeated.

This is not solely KBSA's responsibility. Local governments owning stadiums, tournament organizers, schools, and education offices must act together. If a tournament is hosted, it is only natural to prepare an environment where players can compete safely. If institutional reform takes time, at least the existing spaces and equipment should be made available to children now.

High school players asked for game opportunities, not permission to run until they collapse. This is not about eliminating tournaments. It is about adults guaranteeing children's right to finish games safely and return home while preserving their chances to play baseball for their dreams. Even adult professional players are currently experiencing difficulties such as dizziness and vomiting due to increasingly hot summer weather. If action is only taken after someone actually collapses, it will already be too late.

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*This content was translated by AI.