TSSAA Heat Policy and WBGT: Making the Right Call on Hot Practice Days

Under the most recent 2025-26 TSSAA Heat Policy, every Tennessee member school must measure heat conditions at the site of practices and competitions and modify activity at set thresholds. Schools may use Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) or heat index, but TSSAA calls WBGT "a school's first choice," and on-site WBGT readings take precedence. Above 92.0°F WBGT, outdoor practice is not allowed.

September hasn't let up in Tennessee. Middle Tennessee programs, including Metro Nashville Public Schools, have been moving practices to early mornings as record heat stretches into the fall season. For athletic directors, coaches, and athletic trainers, the question isn't whether to follow Tennessee high school heat rules. It's whether the numbers driving those decisions can be trusted.

What Does the TSSAA Heat Policy Require?

The TSSAA Heat Policy makes each member school responsible for measuring heat at the site of practices and competitions, not from a regional forecast miles away. WBGT "takes into account more environmental factors than heat index and should be a school's first choice."

Those readings drive mandatory activity changes:

If conditions climb into a higher range during practice and stay there for 15 minutes, the stricter restrictions take effect. Monitoring isn't a one-time check before warmups. It's a responsibility that lasts the whole session.

Heat Index vs. WBGT: Why WBGT Is Better for Student Safety

Heat index estimates how hot it feels to a person resting in the shade. High school athletes are rarely in the shade and never at rest. They're running on sun-baked turf, often in helmets and pads, generating their own heat with every drill.

WBGT captures what heat index misses: direct solar radiation, wind speed, humidity, and air temperature, combined into one measure of the actual heat load on the body. That's why the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the Korey Stringer Institute, and the U.S. military rely on WBGT for activity decisions.

The stakes are real. Exertional heat stroke is one of the leading causes of sudden death in high school sports, and it is almost entirely preventable. Adolescents regulate heat less efficiently than adults and often push through symptoms rather than let teammates down. Accurate, on-site WBGT data takes the guesswork and the pressure out of the call.

Phone apps and weather websites pull data from stations that may be miles from your field. They can't measure the radiant heat coming off your surface at your hour. (Learn more in WBGT: A Key Measurement in Preventing Heat Stress Injury.)

Why the Kestrel 5400 Is the Trusted WBGT Meter for High School Athletics

The Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Tracker is the WBGT meter of choice for athletic trainers, professional and collegiate sports programs, and the military. Here's why so many schools and organizations rely on it:

• True WBGT measurement. A black globe sensor, precision humidity and temperature sensors, and an integrated impeller measure every WBGT input directly on your field.
• Continuous monitoring and alerts. Mounted on a tripod, the 5400 tracks conditions throughout practice, with customizable alert thresholds so staff know the moment a new threshold is reached or changes.
• Built-in data logging. Every reading is time-stamped and stored, giving your athletic department a defensible record of the conditions behind each decision.
• Bluetooth connectivity. Pair with the free Kestrel LiNK app to view live readings from the sideline and export logs.
• Rugged and field-ready. Waterproof, drop-tested, and built for two-a-days and Friday afternoon games, season after season.
• Designed and assembled in the USA and backed by a support team that knows heat stress.

Need indoor coverage for gyms or wrestling rooms? See the Kestrel Heat Stress Monitoring System.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does TSSAA require a WBGT meter? TSSAA requires schools to measure heat conditions on site and allows either WBGT or heat index. WBGT is named the school's first choice, and on-site WBGT readings take precedence.

Can Tennessee schools use a phone app to measure heat? A weather app is permitted for heat index only if no other instrument is available. Apps can't measure on-site sun, wind, or radiant heat, which is why WBGT is preferred.

What WBGT cancels outdoor practice in Tennessee? Above 92.0°F WBGT (or above 104°F heat index), no outdoor practice is allowed until conditions drop.

What is the best WBGT meter for high school sports? The Kestrel 5400 Heat Stress Tracker is widely used by athletic trainers and sports programs because it measures all WBGT inputs directly, logs data, and alerts staff as conditions change.

Protect Your Athletes This Season

The TSSAA Heat Policy gives Tennessee schools a clear framework. A Kestrel 5400 gives you accurate, on-site WBGT data to follow it with confidence, and the records to show you did.

Always consult the current TSSAA Heat Policy and your school's athletic trainer or medical staff for complete requirements.