2025-2026 Recommended Heat Protocols and Procedures for Outdoor UIL Athletic and Marching Band Activities

For the 2025–2026 school year, UIL has doubled down on Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) as the primary way to monitor environmental conditions during outdoor sports and marching band. WBGT combines temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation into a single safety number, which is far more accurate for heat risk than heat index alone. EnviroLive’s WBGT Heat Stress Monitoring series provides an accurate and care-free solution to coaches and personnel for heat stress tracking and alerts.

Key new UIL heat rules (2025–26)

  • UIL now recommends WBGT for all outdoor activities

    UIL recommends that member schools use WBGT to set practice schedules, adjust work:rest ratios, change equipment, and decide when to stop activity. The guidelines are adapted from the American College of Sports Medicine, specifically to prevent exertional heat stroke.

  • Rapid cooling zones are required at specific WBGT levels

    Every school must have equipment on‑site that allows for full-body immersion in ice water if an athlete shows signs of heat illness. For 2025–26, UIL ties this rapid cooling zone requirement to the WBGT “green → yellow” transition: anytime WBGT reaches 79.7 (Class 2) or 82 (Class 3) or higher, a rapid cooling zone must be available for practices, workouts, conditioning, and contests.

  • Stricter rules on when and how to measure WBGT
    • WBGT must be read within 15 minutes before practice starts.
    • Readings should be taken every 30 minutes throughout practice.
    • When possible, the same person should take all readings for consistency.
    • Schools are advised to record and keep WBGT readings on file for outdoor practices.
  • Emergency Action Plan must include heat procedures


    UIL requires each school to have an emergency action plan that includes onsite rapid cooling (cold-water immersion or equivalent) for heat emergencies. Rest breaks must allow unlimited hydration and should be true rest, not “water while you do drills.”

  • Competitions: monitor WBGT and have cooling available


    While the specific practice restrictions do not automatically apply to competitions, UIL recommends monitoring WBGT before and during games, making responsible modifications (timeouts, start-time changes, quarter length adjustments), and ensuring a rapid cooling zone is present once WBGT hits 79.7 (Class 2) or 82 (Class 3).

How the WBGT-1000 remote monitoring helps schools follow UIL rules

Accurate WBGT measurement and logging

A dedicated WBGT monitoring system uses scientifically approved sensors instead of phone apps, which some guidelines explicitly discourage. The WBGT-1000 delivers on-site WBGT readings at field level, matching UIL’s recommendation to use scientifically proven instruments or weather platforms.

Automatic readings every 30 minutes (or faster)

EnviroLive’s Remote monitoring system can be configured to log WBGT at fixed intervals, meeting and exceeding UIL’s “take readings every 30 minutes” guidance without depending on a busy coach remembering. 

Real-time alerts at UIL threshold levels

You can set WBGT thresholds matching UIL’s classes and color zones, so coaches get instant alerts when WBGT crosses into a higher risk category, allowing for less on-hand monitoring. Alerts can also be categorizes per priority level, giving ample warning about increasing temperatures, or to remind staff to confirm that rapid cooling zones are set up and to implement rest and hydration adjustments.

Consistent, centralized data (no human error)

Because the WBGT-1000 system gathers and stores readings in the cloud, athletic directors and risk managers have an audit trail of WBGT values and any alerts or status changes over the season. It also prevents a missed dangerous WBGT level, ensuring teams are aware to take rest breaks with or without intervention. 

Multi-site visibility for districts

For districts managing several schools, or multiple fields, the WBGT-1000 remote monitoring dashboard lets administrators see WBGT status across multiple fields, tracks, and band practice areas in one place, making district-level decisions (like moving practices or rescheduling games) faster, and easier.

Turning UIL’s WBGT Table into Clear Actions

Resources like the WBGT Forecasting Resource can be used by seaching location.

WBGT-1000 Helps Schools Follow UIL Rules

Remote heat monitoring gives coaches and supervisors better visibility into practice conditions. With WBGT readings, you can document heat exposure, respond faster, and support a more consistent safety program across meetings and practices. That makes it easier to protect your teams and show that your institution is taking heat stress seriously. 

UIL Expectaton

Within 15 minutes before practice; every 30 minutes during activity

Same person when possible for consistency

Required at WBGT 79.7°

Recommended to keep WBGT records on file for practices

What a WBGT Monitoring System Does

Automates frequent readings and logs them to the cloud with time stamps

Replaces manual variation with standardized instrument readings

Triggers alerts when thresholds are reached to confirm cooling zones are active

Automatically archives a complete WBGT history

EnviroLive’s WBGT-1000 Series

Consistent

By monitoring the thermal footprint of the production floor and external areas, the device ensures that every shift operates under the best environmental conditions.

Reliable

Captures a full profile of the production environment, ensuring warnings of relative humidity and radiant heat stay within strict parameters.

Accurate

The WBGT-1000 Series provides detailed temperature readings, including humidity and radiant heat from machinery, preventing ambient interference and possible thermal degradation.

Through real-time telemetry, data is streamed directly to the dashboard, allowing for instant oversight of the entire facility from the central office, or any personal device.

The transition to data-driven heat safety marks a shift in how we manage the modern industrial environment. With EnviroLive’s WBGT-1000 Series‘s ability to monitor every zone of your facility from any device, you gain the transparency needed to mitigate risks before they impact your bottom line. Protect your team, preserve your assets, and maintain your competitive edge with a smarter approach to environmental awareness.