Texas schools must now use WBGT readings for outdoor sports and band practices
Effective August 1, all University Interscholastic League member schools in Texas are required to measure Wet Bulb Globe Temperature before and during outdoor athletics and marching band activities.
Starting Saturday, August 1, Texas schools that belong to the University Interscholastic League must adopt statewide heat-safety standards that rely on Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) rather than the traditional heat index. The UIL Legislative Council adopted the change earlier this year, making it compulsory for the 2026-27 academic year. Under the new protocol, schools are required to record WBGT before outdoor practices begin, repeat measurements every 30 minutes, and modify or halt activities as heat stress rises.
Additional mandates include providing rapid-cooling devices capable of full-body cold-water immersion for athletes showing signs of heat illness. Districts have spent the summer installing monitoring equipment and revising emergency plans, with early-season football teams in places like Beaumont set to follow the rules immediately. The policy aims to create a uniform, science-based approach to protecting students from extreme summer heat across Texas.
Why it matters
Uniform WBGT monitoring helps prevent heat-related injuries for Texas students during outdoor sports and band activities.
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