Is It Too Hot for Practice? What Texas Parents Should Know About New Heat Safety Rules for Student Athletes

Back to School in Texas also means football practice, marching band, soccer, cross-country, cheer and plenty of other outdoor activities.

And let's face it: It's STILL HOT outside in Houston, even as we venture into fall.

As a mom or dad watching from the sidelines, you may have wondered, "How hot is too hot for my child to be practicing outside?"

Starting this school year, Texas schools have a new tool to help answer that question.

Beginning August 1, 2026, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) began requiring schools to use Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT, to monitor conditions during outdoor athletic and marching band activities. The readings help coaches and school staff determine when conditions require more water and rest breaks, changes to equipment, shorter practices or stopping an activity altogether.

As someone who has spent more than 30 years teaching CPR, first aid and emergency preparedness, I'm glad to see more attention being paid to preventing an emergency before it happens.

But parents should understand what these new rules mean, too.

What is Wet Bulb Globe Temperature?

First, let's clear up something that can be confusing. Wet Bulb Globe Temperature is not the same thing as the temperature on your weather app.

WBGT looks at several environmental factors that affect how much heat stress a person actually experiences, including:

• Air temperature

• Humidity

• Wind speed

• Sunlight and solar radiation

That distinction is especially important here in Houston, where humidity can make outdoor activity feel very different from what the temperature alone might suggest.

UIL says WBGT uses readings from three different thermometers to estimate the effect of those conditions on the body.

In other words, a simple "It's 92 degrees outside" doesn't tell the entire story.

What are the new Texas UIL heat rules for 2026?

For the 2026-2027 school year, WBGT monitoring is now a required standard for outdoor UIL athletic and marching band activities, rather than simply a recommendation.

For outdoor practices and workouts, schools should take a WBGT reading within 15 minutes before the activity begins and continue checking it every 30 minutes during practice. Schools can use an approved on-site WBGT instrument or an approved internet-based forecasting resource.

Depending on the reading, schools may need to modify:

• The length or intensity of practice

• The ratio of activity to rest

• Hydration breaks

• The equipment athletes wear

• Whether outdoor activity should continue

The UIL also requires rapid cooling capabilities under specified higher WBGT conditions. That includes the ability to use full-body cold-water immersion if someone is experiencing heat illness or distress.

And here's one part of the UIL guidance I especially like: student athletes should never be denied access to water.

Why are heat precautions so important for student athletes?

Heat illness can happen faster than many people realize, especially when someone is exercising.

The CDC says people exercising on hot days are more likely to become dehydrated and develop heat-related illness. Athletes should drink more water than usual, avoid waiting until they feel thirsty and stop activity if they begin to feel faint or weak.

Older CDC research examining high school sports found an estimated 9,237 time-loss heat illnesses occurred annually among high school athletes in the sports studied. About 66% occurred during August, and football accounted for more than 70% of the reported cases.

That research is older, but it illustrates why August practices have received so much attention from health and athletic organizations.

The combination of intense exercise, protective equipment, direct sun, humidity and high temperatures can put tremendous stress on the body.

What are the warning signs of heat illness in young athletes?

This is the part I want every parent, coach and student athlete to know. Heat illness can progress from something that seems manageable to a serious medical emergency.

Watch for symptoms such as:

• Muscle cramps

• Heavy sweating

• Weakness or unusual fatigue

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Nausea or vomiting

• Fainting

• Confusion or changes in behavior

The CDC advises anyone who feels faint or weak during activity in the heat to stop the activity and get to a cool place. Symptoms of heat-related illness warrant medical attention.

Confusion or an altered mental state after exercising in the heat is especially concerning and can be a sign of exertional heat stroke. Treat a suspected heat stroke as an emergency.

What should parents ask their child's coach or school?

You don't need to become a heat safety expert or show up to practice with your own thermometer.

But I do think parents should ask questions, like:

1. How are you monitoring the heat during practice?

2. How often are conditions being checked?

3. Where can students go to cool down?

4. What is the emergency plan if an athlete shows signs of heat illness?

5. Is rapid cooling equipment available?

6. Who on-site is trained to recognize and respond to a heat emergency?

These are reasonable questions, particularly if your child participates in football, marching band, cross-country, soccer or another activity that keeps them outside for extended periods.

What should student athletes do before practicing in the heat?

Parents can help their kids build good habits before they ever step onto the field. Encourage them to hydrate throughout the day instead of trying to catch up right before practice. Make sure they know they should tell a coach or athletic trainer immediately if they feel dizzy, weak, nauseated or "off." And please tell them this: pushing through concerning symptoms isn't being tough. It's dangerous.

The CDC also recommends gradually increasing the pace of activity, wearing lightweight clothing when appropriate and having athletes monitor one another for signs that something isn't right.

Heat safety is everyone's responsibility

I love seeing kids participate in sports, marching band and outdoor activities. They learn discipline, teamwork, confidence and so much more.

We don't need to be afraid of the Texas heat. We do need to respect it.

The new UIL requirements give schools another important tool for deciding when and how students can safely practice outside. Parents can help by understanding the rules, recognizing the signs of heat illness and teaching their children to speak up when they don't feel right.

Because whether I'm teaching CPR, first aid or heat safety, my message is always the same: the best emergency is the one we can prevent.

Stay safe outside!

Gail Gould

CPR and Safety Lady