Athletics
- Usually covered already by a state association rule. Check whether yours now requires WBGT rather than heat index.
- Practice length, break schedule and equipment limits by threshold.
Most schools that monitor heat monitor it for athletics, because that is where the state association rule points. Meanwhile the marching band is on a black asphalt lot in uniform, the PE class is on the same field the team will use in two hours, and kindergarten is on a playground with artificial surfacing and no shade.
The heat does not distinguish between them. A school heat policy built around WBGT can cover the whole campus with one reading, one threshold table and one person responsible for taking it.
One readingCovers athletics, band, PE and recess
Every 30 minStandard re-reading interval during activity
+5°FWhat a marching uniform adds in effect
80°FHave cooling capability ready from here up
The four groups a school policy has to cover
Marching band and drill team
- Rehearses on asphalt in full sun, frequently in uniform, often for longer continuous stretches than an athletic practice.
- Historically excluded from athletic heat policies despite comparable or worse exposure. Texas now includes it explicitly.
PE and outdoor classes
- Large groups, mixed fitness, no acclimatization period, and a teacher who is not an athletic trainer.
- Needs simple, unambiguous triggers rather than a nuanced chart.
Recess and after-school care
- Young children have less effective thermoregulation and a higher surface area to mass ratio.
- Playground surfaces and equipment can reach temperatures that burn skin on contact.
A campus-wide threshold table
One table, four columns. Athletics follows your state association's numbers; the others follow this.
| WBGT | Band and drill | PE and outdoor class | Recess |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 82°F | Normal, water available | Normal, water available | Normal, water available |
| 82 to 86.9°F | Breaks every 30 min, hats and jackets off | Reduce sustained running, breaks every 20 min | Normal, shade available, check surfaces |
| 87 to 89.9°F | Maximum 1 hour, no full uniform, 10 min break every 30 | No sustained vigorous activity, shade breaks | Maximum 20 minutes, shaded areas only |
| 90 to 92°F | Indoors or cancelled | Indoors | Maximum 15 minutes, shade only, or indoors |
| Above 92°F | Cancelled | Indoors | Indoors |
These are illustrative. Your state association's athletics numbers govern athletics; see the UIL WBGT rules for how Texas does it, including thresholds that vary by region.
Writing the policy
- Name who takes the reading and who may modify or cancel activity. One role, named, with authority that does not require negotiating with a coach or a director.
- Specify where and when: at the activity site, 15 minutes before, then every 30 minutes, logged with the time.
- Set thresholds for every outdoor group on campus, not just athletics.
- Specify what has to be available at each level: water, shade, and cold-water immersion capability from roughly 80°F upward.
- Define the acclimatization period for athletics and for band, and apply it to both.
- Train coaches, directors, PE teachers and aides on the symptoms and the response, and rehearse the emergency plan each season.
- Tell parents what the policy is. A policy nobody outside the athletic department knows about does not build the trust it should.
Where school policies usually have gaps
Band is left out
The most common gap. Band often has worse exposure than athletics and no athletic trainer present.
One reading for a large campus
A stadium bowl, an asphalt lot and a shaded practice field are different environments. Measure where the activity is.
Nobody logs anything
Readings that are taken and not recorded cannot demonstrate afterwards that the policy ran.
No cooling capability
A cold-water immersion tub is cheap and it is what makes exertional heat stroke survivable. It has to be filled before it is needed.
Warning signs of heat illness
Heat stress shows up before it becomes an emergency. Anyone on site should speak up immediately on any of these:
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Nausea or vomiting
Chills or goosebumps in the heat
Severe or throbbing headache
Confusion or out-of-character behavior
Stumbling, cramping or collapse
When in doubt, cool first and call for help. Collapse or confusion in the heat should be treated as possible exertional heat stroke: begin cold-water immersion immediately and call 911. Cooling comes before transport.
One number, whoever needs it
Athletic trainers, band directors, PE teachers and administrators can all check the same reading for the campus, with a forecast for scheduling an early rehearsal or moving a class indoors before the period starts.
- Real-time WBGT for your location or any city
- Hourly and 14-day WBGT forecasts to plan ahead
- Color-coded flag levels with mode-specific guidance
- Humidity, wind, sun and cloud cover behind every reading
WBGT is estimated from weather data with the peer-reviewed Liljegren model. Where a policy requires on-site measurement, use the app for planning and as a cross-check alongside your instrument.
Common questions
Do schools have to monitor WBGT?
It depends on your state. A growing number of state athletic associations require WBGT for outdoor practice, and Texas made it mandatory for athletics and marching band from August 1, 2026 through the UIL. Requirements for PE and recess are rarer and usually set by district policy.
Does a school heat policy cover marching band?
It should, and increasingly it must. Band rehearses on asphalt in uniform for long stretches with no athletic trainer present, which is comparable to or worse than athletic exposure. Texas now includes marching band explicitly in the UIL requirement.
What WBGT should cancel recess?
There is no national standard. A common approach caps outdoor time progressively from the mid 80s and moves indoors above roughly 90°F WBGT, with the added check that playground surfaces and equipment can burn skin well before the air feels dangerous.
Who should take the WBGT reading at a school?
A named role, usually the athletic trainer, with authority to modify or cancel activity. For campus-wide coverage, make sure band directors and PE staff either get the reading from that person or have a clear way to check it themselves.
Can one reading cover a whole campus?
Approximately, but check your hot spots. A stadium bowl, an asphalt band lot and a shaded practice field can differ meaningfully. At minimum, take the reading at the hottest surface in regular use rather than the coolest.
Related WBGT guides
Know the real heat number
Real-time WBGT, flag levels and forecasts. Free on iPhone.
