Discussion Regarding New UIL Rules Related to Heat Protocols and Procedures for Outdoor UIL Athletic and Marching Band Activities Presenter: Rick Kirkpatrick Description: The UIL has established new required protocols for practice schedules for athletics and marching band. These protocols require the district to follow guidelines based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) for practices. The We

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

VI.B. Discussion Regarding New UIL Rules Related to Heat Protocols and Procedures for Outdoor UIL Athletic and Marching Band Activities Presenter: Rick Kirkpatrick Description: The UIL has established new required protocols for practice schedules for athletics and marching band. These protocols require the district to follow guidelines based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) for practices. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature estimates the effect of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation using a combination of three thermometers. For Florence ISD, the guidelines are as follows: WBGT between 82 and 86.9 degrees — Provide at least three separate rest breaks each hour with a minimum duration of four minutes. WBGT between 87 and 90 degrees — maximum practice time of 2 hours. Football players restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts during practice. Must provide at least four separate rest breaks per hour with a minimum duration of 4 minutes. Must have an onsite Rapid Cooling Zone (Ice Tub). Unrestricted access to water. WBGT between 90.1 and 92 degrees — maximum practice time is one hour. Football players may not wear protective equipment and there may be no conditioning. Required to have 20 minutes of rest breaks distributed throughout the hour of practice. Must have an onsite Rapid Cooling Zone. Unrestricted access to water. WBGT Above 92 degrees - No outdoor workouts. Delay practices until a cooler WBGT is reached. In Florence during the summer, we are hitting an 87 degree WBGT before noon the 92 degree threshold midafteroon and not falling below that threshold until about 6 pm. The high school football team practices in the mornings beginning at 6 am, so they are not being impacted by these protocols. However, as the sun rises later each morning, they begin workouts before it is light. They turn on the softball field lights, which provides some light, but not enough. I plan to get pricing to add LED lights to the back of one of the softball poles that shines on the practice field to provide enough light for them to continue practice. This also impacts middle school athletics. Middle school football practice is after school, and they will be required to follow these protocols until we get cooler weather. This may mean that the only day they get to practice outside in full pads is on Saturday morning.

This docket item is classified as NEUTRAL (0.0 Score Impact). Routine administrative reports, monthly accounts payable/disbursement registers, minutes approvals, and procedural motions are logged for public transparency but carry zero weight in calculating an official's Roll-Call Freedom Score.