This isn't exactly breaking news to anyone, but: it's hot in Texas.

Mother Nature can be particularly unkind to the Lone Star State in August and September, when Texas high school football heats up. As a result, the University Interscholastic League has rolled out recommended protocols for outdoor activities, including Texas high school football.

Much of the guidance centers around the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT, a device that estimates the effect of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation using a combination of temperatures from three thermometers. So, for example: it might be the 90 degrees in both Amarillo and in Corpus Christi, but the WBGT may determine that because of humidity, it's more dangerous to be outside in Corpus than in the Panhandle.

The American College of Sports Medicine breaks the country down into three classes of concern — most of the state of Texas resides in Class 3, the highest level of concern, but some of the Panhandle and West Texas is in Class 2.

Depending on what the WBGT reads at a given time, the UIL has recommendations for maximum practice times, what players should wear, frequency of breaks and more. You can see the full chart of recommendations based on WGBT readings here.

The UIL also offers an emergency action plan for heat-related illness, plus recommendations on modifying competitions in the event of unfavorable conditions.

Emergency Action Plans & Procedures for the Prevention of Heat Related Illness

• Each member school’s emergency action plan must include procedures to address heat emergencies that include onsite rapid cooling using cold-water immersion or equivalent means.

• Rapid cooling zones must be available for each outdoor athletic and marching band contest, practice, workout, or conditioning session that is held in wet bulb globe temperatures of 80 degrees or higher. Rapid cooling zones are required to have immediate availability of cold-water immersion tubs or tarps that can be filled with ice and water and wrapped around individuals to rapidly cool internal body temperature (TACO method) and are encouraged to include a combination of the following options: ice sponges, towels, water misters, and shade. The presence of an employee or volunteer trained to administer cold-water immersion is recommended.

• Coaches and directors must adopt a heat injury prevention philosophy by promoting unrestricted access to water at all times and a student- athlete should never be denied access to water.

• Rest breaks must involve unlimited hydration intake and rest without any activity involved.

Competitions & Possible Modifications to Competitions

• WBGT practice guidelines and limitations do not apply to UIL competitions, but it is recommended that schools monitor WBGT conditions prior to and during the game and use appropriate emergency action plans for high temperature and humidity.

• Any contest played in WBGT of 80.0 degrees or higher must have a rapid cooling zone on site and available at all times to allow for full body, rapid cooling of athletes experiencing heat illness.

• It is recommended that additional appropriate and responsible modifications to contests are made as needed to keep participants safe.

• Modifications that potentially can be made include (but are not limited to the following):

  • Alteration of start times as possible to allow for participation in the best conditions possible

  • Allowing teams that are waiting to warmup access to airconditioned gyms or locker rooms until organized warmups begin.

  • Consider hydration and fueling strategies for participants on long pregame bus rides.

  • Unlimited access to cool water.

  • Shade structures/tents on the sideline to allow for athletes to get out of the direct sunlight.

  • Fans/Misters to allow for evaporative cooling.

  • Ice towels/sponges

  • Potentially using additional strategically placed official timeouts (possibly at 6-minute mark or halfway through each quarter) agreed upon by both coaches and officials prior to the start of the game. This would allow the quick stoppage of play and permit officials, athletes, and coaches to quickly hydrate and cool off. 

  • Lengthening halftimes to allow for more complete cool down and hydration/refueling processes to occur.

  • Having resources that allow athletes to refuel at halftime by providing appropriate snacks

  • A modification, in addition to those listed above, for sub-varsity contests, including middle school, may include reducing the length of quarters if agreed upon by both schools.