Exertional heat illness is one of the most predictable and most preventable catastrophic conditions in sport. The guidance is well established; the challenge for many small-college programs is implementing it without a Division I budget.
The non-negotiables
A gradual acclimatization ramp over the first week of practice, unrestricted access to fluids, a shaded rest area, and a cold-water immersion tub on site are the foundation. The tub, in particular, is the highest-value purchase a program can make: cool-first, transport-second is the standard of care for exertional heat stroke.
Measure what you can
A simple wet-bulb globe temperature reading changes practice decisions from guesswork to policy. The Foundation's Center for Environmental Policies and its heat and hydration library collect the NATA position statements and member-school protocols you can adapt to your own venues.
Write the plan down, share it with coaches, and rehearse the emergency response. A heat emergency is survivable when the staff on the field already know their roles.