UIL Heat Stress Compliance Checklist

Everything Texas Athletic Programs Must Have in Place Before August 1, 2026

The UIL WBGT mandate takes effect August 1, 2026. That date is not just a policy deadline — it is the first day of fall practice for most Texas programs. There is no grace period, no phased rollout, and no exception for schools that are still getting organized.

This checklist covers every compliance requirement in one place: equipment, monitoring protocol, recordkeeping, staff preparation, and game-day planning. Print it, share it with your staff, and check every box before the first whistle blows.

Section 1: Know Your Class

Your UIL WBGT class determines which thresholds trigger activity modifications. Get this wrong, and every reading that follows is referenced against the wrong standard.

• ▢ Identify your campus county and confirm whether you are Class 2 (West Texas/Panhandle) or Class 3 (all other Texas regions).
• ▢ Class 2 threshold confirmed: activity modifications begin at WBGT greater than or equal to 79.7 degrees F.
• ▢ Class 3 threshold confirmed: activity modifications begin at WBGT greater than or equal to 82.0 degrees F.
• ▢ All coaches and athletic trainers briefed on your school's class designation and corresponding flag levels.

Section 2: Required Equipment

The UIL specifies minimum on-site equipment for all programs conducting outdoor activities when WBGT is at or above the Yellow threshold.

WBGT Monitoring Instrument

• ▢ On-site WBGT monitoring instrument acquired — handheld meter or fixed weather station.
• ▢ Instrument capable of measuring all four WBGT inputs: air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and globe temperature (black globe).
• ▢ Instrument has been tested and confirmed operational before the first practice.

With decades of experience in WBGT monitoring trusted by multiple professional sports organizations, Kestrel offers a complete solution with the KestrelMet 6400 WBGT Weather Station for 24/7 monitoring and the widely recognized Kestrel 5400 WBGT Heat Stress Tracker, which provides the portability to monitor multiple locations where athletes are actually practicing and playing.

Cooling Zone

• ▢ A designated cooling zone identified and established at every outdoor practice location.
• ▢ Cold-water immersion tub (or equivalent: ice water and immersion capability) stocked and ready at the practice site when WBGT is at or above the Yellow threshold.
• ▢ Cooling zone accessible within 60 seconds of any athlete on the practice field — not across campus or in a separate building.
• ▢ A trained person designated and present to administer cold-water immersion if needed.
• ▢ Additional cooling supplies staged at the cooling zone: ice sponges, wet towels, misters, shade structure.

Written Emergency Action Plan

• ▢ A written heat illness Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place, reviewed, and up to date.
• ▢ EAP covers: recognition of heat illness symptoms, initial response steps, cooling protocol, emergency contact chain, EMS activation, and hospital transport route.
• ▢ EAP distributed to all coaches, athletic trainers, and support staff working on outdoor activities.
• ▢ All relevant staff have reviewed and acknowledged the EAP before the first practice.

Hydration

• ▢ Unlimited access to cool water is available at every outdoor practice location.
• ▢ Water stations set up before athletes arrive on the field.
• ▢ Energy drinks are explicitly prohibited during practice and prohibited from being provided to athletes.

Section 3: Monitoring Protocol

The UIL requires WBGT to be monitored and documented throughout every outdoor practice session. This section covers the operational steps.

• ▢ Staff member designated as WBGT monitor for each outdoor practice — this is a specific, named responsibility, not a shared afterthought.
• ▢ Monitoring instrument set up 30 minutes before practice begins.
• ▢Instrument deployed in direct sunlight, at least 3 feet off the ground, away from buildings and reflective surfaces, in the same environmental conditions athletes will experience.
• ▢Instrument allowed 8-15 minutes to equilibrate after being brought from an indoor environment to outdoors.
• ▢ WBGT reading taken and current flag level determined before any athletes take the field.
• ▢ Coaching staff briefed on current flag level and corresponding protocol before warm-ups begin.
• ▢ WBGT re-checked every 30 minutes throughout the practice session.
• ▢ Protocol adjusted immediately if WBGT crosses into a higher flag level during practice.
• ▢ Rest breaks scheduled and enforced per the current flag level — breaks are rehydration and rest only, no activity.

Kestrel Instruments provides training to your staff so you don't have to. We can help set up your instruments for your specific class and provide a comprehensive overview of how to manage thresholds, set alerts, and export reports.

Section 4: Recordkeeping

The UIL requires schools to keep records of WBGT conditions for all outdoor practices. These records are your compliance documentation if questions ever arise.

• ▢ A system is in place to log every WBGT reading with date, time, location, and flag level (Kestrel Instruments does this automatically).
• ▢ Daily practice records include: date, sport/activity, location, session start and end time, pre-practice WBGT, and all mid-practice readings.
• ▢ Data is exported and stored after each practice session — not just retained on the instrument.
• ▢ Records are kept accessible for the duration of the season and can be produced for UIL review if requested.
• ▢ Records include any protocol adjustments made during practice in response to changing WBGT conditions.

Kestrel Instruments lets you view and manage your data for free. Our software subscriptions are based on the number of SMS alert recipients and include lightning and weather features.

Section 5: Staff Training

Equipment and protocols are only effective if the people using them understand them. All coaching and support staff with outdoor supervision responsibilities need to be trained before August 1.

• ▢ All head coaches, assistant coaches, and athletic trainers working on outdoor activities have reviewed the UIL WBGT activity chart and know all five flag levels.
• ▢ All outdoor staff know your school's class (2 or 3) and the WBGT thresholds for each flag level.
• ▢ Staff trained on heat illness recognition: early signs of heat exhaustion (heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, rapid pulse) and heat stroke warning signs (confusion, hot dry skin, loss of consciousness).
• ▢ Staff trained on cooling zone use and cold-water immersion protocol.
• ▢ Staff trained on when to activate EMS (immediately upon suspected heat stroke — do not wait, cool while calling).
• ▢ Designated monitor knows how to operate, read, and export data from the WBGT monitoring instrument. (We offer free training for our products.

Section 6: Game-Day and Competition Planning

UIL requirements apply to practices. For competitions, monitoring is strongly recommended. These steps are best practices for protecting athletes during games.

• ▢ WBGT monitoring instrument available at home competitions, especially those scheduled in the afternoon or early evening in hotter months.
• ▢ Cooling zone with cold-water immersion available at home competitions when WBGT is at or above 80 degrees F.
• ▢ Game start times evaluated and shifted earlier when possible to reduce peak heat exposure.
• ▢ Unlimited water access for all athletes throughout competitions.
• ▢ Air-conditioned locker room or facility available for players until warmups begin.
• ▢ Extended halftime option considered for middle school competitions when both schools agree.
• ▢ Visiting team notified in advance of available hydration stations and cooling zone access.

Section 7: Marching Band Specific

The UIL explicitly includes marching band in the heat stress mandate. Band directors carry the same compliance obligations as athletic coaches.

• ▢ Band director has reviewed and understands the UIL WBGT guidelines and flag levels.
• ▢ WBGT monitoring instrument available at all outdoor band rehearsals, not just athletic practices.
• ▢ Cooling zone established at outdoor band rehearsal locations.
• ▢ Water stations available and accessible throughout rehearsal.
• ▢ Rest break schedule aligned with current flag level.
• ▢ Band emergency action plan updated to include heat illness response.

Shop the Kestrel 5400: Get compliant before August 1 at https://kestrelinstruments.com/prevent-heat-stress

Sources & References

• UIL Heat Stress & Athletic Participation Plan: uiltexas.org/health/info/heat-stress-and-athletic-participation
• UIL Legislative Council Official Press Release, June 10, 2026: uiltexas.org/press-releases
• American College of Sports Medicine — Heat Stress Guidelines for Athletics
• Korey Stringer Institute — Exertional Heat Stroke Prevention and Treatment