MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Despite Tuesday's heat advisory, many people spent the day outside whether for work or for fun.
For Karim Diouf, it was fun.
"I really, really, really, really, really, really, really like soccer," the 8-year-old said. "I play better when it's hotter."
He may be quite the trooper but his mom, Jennifer Diouf, knows when it's time for a break. She's the founder and director of Twin Cities Soccer Academy, where this week boys and girls ages 6 to 9 are there from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
"Lots of water breaks and whenever we take a break they have to sit in the shade," Diouf said. "Today on a hot day we have towels in a cold water bucket for them to put on their necks."
A favorite way to stay cool is a run or two through the sprinkler. It's so hot, the kids are mostly dry by the time they get back on the field. Before you know it, it's time for another break.
"We don't always wait for them to say they're hot or tired," Diouf said. "We just right away see what scrimmage we did or what skill stations we worked on, then we have them take a break after every station."
It's no sweat, especially for Karim.
"I've been playing soccer this week for already 110 hours," he said.
Twin Cities Soccer Academy officially launched last year but wasn't able to hold camps because of the pandemic. This is its first year in operation. Diouf says each of the four weekly camps are considered full-day day camps, giving kids more time to play than most other soccer camps where one or two hours per day is standard.
Although the kids and coaches made it through the hot day, the Academy plans to start two hours earlier Wednesday to avoid the afternoon sun.
When it comes to construction workers doing their jobs outside in the heat, Minnesota Department of Transportation officials say, without a state mandate in effect, it's up to the various contractors to decide whether road construction workers should start or end their shifts early to stay safe.
By 2 p.m. Tuesday, Hennepin County crews were done working for the day.