Hot Weather Policy

Practice or competition in hot and humid environmental conditions poses special problems for student-athletes. Heat stress and resulting heat illness is a primary concern in these conditions. Although deaths from heat illness are rare, constant surveillance and education are necessary to prevent heat-related problems.

Sherman ISD coaches, UIL sponsors and students will follow special procedures to ensure students maintain proper hydration and body temperature levels during extracurricular practices in extreme heat. The following practices should be observed.

General Guidelines

General Guidelines

All SISD UIL participants need an initial complete medical history and physical exam on file with UIL sponsor.
Gradual acclimation of the student to hot/humid conditions is a must. We advise students should gradually increase exposure to hot and/or humid environmental conditions over a period of seven to ten days to achieve acclimation.
During the acclimation period, students need to have their weight loss monitored. Athletes must weigh-in before practice and weigh-out after practice. Readings should be recorded for coaches and/or athletic trainers to evaluate. Athletes that lose 2% or more of their body weight during practice must regain ALL of the lost weight in order to participate in the next scheduled practice.
Clothing and protective gear can increase heat stress. Dark colors absorb solar radiation. Clothing and protective gear interfere with the evaporation of sweat and other avenues of heat loss. During the acclimation process, a student should practice in T-shirts, shorts, socks, and shoes (helmets are allowed in football).
The district retains an open water policy – with students allowed water at all times – for the entirety of all practice sessions, regardless of activity.
To identify heat stress conditions, measurements of environmental conditions will be taken daily. At the practice time, on the practice field, Sherman ISD athletic trainers will use a thermal indicator to monitor the WBGT and the actual temperature. If such a device is not present, the Perry Weather monitoring system will be used to maintain consistency. All campuses will follow the guidelines set forth in this document.
WBGT or actual temperature at the start of practice determines the policy for that practice. Practices will be shortened due to a rise in the WBGT or actual temperature.

Specific Guidelines

For all outdoor extracurricular activities, Sherman ISD will follow the UIL guidelines on Heat Stress and Athletic Participation. More information can be found on the UIL website.

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index

Less than 82.0
- Normal Activities - Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour with a minimum duration of 3 min each during the workout
82.0 - 86.9
- Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour with a minimum duration of 4 min each during the workout.
87.0 - 90.0
- Maximum practice time is 2 hours; For Football: players are restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts during practice. If the WBGT rises to this level during practice, players may continue to work out wearing football pants without changing to shorts. For All Sports: Provide at least four separate rest breaks each hour with a minimum duration of 4 min each.
90.1 - 92.0
- Maximum practice time is 1 hour. For Football: No protective equipment may be worn during practice, and there may be no conditioning activities. For All Sports: There must be 20 min of rest breaks distributed throughout the hour of practice.

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.

Considerations for Risk Reduction

All UIL sponsors with Sherman ISD will adhere to the following practices:

Encourage proper education regarding heat illness (for athletes, teachers, coaches, parents, medical staff, etc.) Education about risk factors should focus on hydration needs, acclimation, work/rest ratio, signs and symptoms of exertional heat illnesses, treatment, dietary supplements, nutritional issues, and fitness status.
Assure that onsite medical staff has authority to alter work/rest ratios, practice schedules, amount of equipment, and withdrawal of individuals from participation based on environment and/or student’s medical condition.

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