New Heat‑Safety Rules Take Effect August 1
Starting August 1, every public school in Texas will be required to follow a strict heat‑safety protocol that hinges on a little‑known metric called Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT.
Unlike the familiar heat index, which is calculated in the shade, WBGT incorporates a combination of air temperature, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover, sunlight intensity and the angle of the sun to gauge the real thermal stress placed on a person standing outdoors.
Why WBGT Matters
The metric was developed in the 1950s by the U.S. military to protect soldiers during training, and it has since become the gold standard for assessing athlete safety in extreme conditions.
The University Interscholastic League, the governing body for Texas high‑school athletics, now mandates that schools take a WBGT reading 15 minutes before practice begins and repeat it every half hour throughout the session, using the data to adjust water breaks, practice duration and even the time of day when workouts occur.
Thresholds and Protective Measures
When the WBGT climbs into the ‘high’ range, practice is capped at one hour with a mandatory 20‑minute rest, effectively leaving only about 40 minutes of actual drills.
If the reading reaches the ‘extreme’ category, outdoor activity must be postponed or canceled altogether, and schools are required to have cold‑water immersion tubs or other rapid‑cooling equipment on site.
Many districts have responded by shifting practices to the cooler early‑morning or late‑evening hours, especially avoiding the peak heat around 4:00 p.m., and by scheduling additional hydration stations to keep athletes safe.
Anthony Yanez, a senior quarterback at a Houston‑area high school, welcomed the added safeguards, saying the extra breaks give him confidence that coaches are watching the conditions closely.
‘Our top priority is that every student athlete returns home safely after practice,’ said a UIL spokesperson, emphasizing that the new standards blend rigorous training with a duty to protect young competitors.
Local coverage of the rollout has been provided by KPRC Click2Houston, which has been tracking the implementation of the WBGT protocol across the state, while the University Interscholastic League continues to monitor compliance and adjust guidance as needed.