The Woodlands Highlanders, College Park Cavaliers, and their marching bands will train under mandatory heat safety rules starting Saturday, August 1, when the University Interscholastic League's new Wet Bulb Globe Temperature monitoring requirement takes effect statewide.

The UIL Legislative Council voted June 10 to upgrade WBGT monitoring from a recommendation to a binding requirement for all member schools, according to Perry Weather's analysis of the policy change. The UIL Medical Advisory Committee had unanimously recommended the shift at its April 2026 meeting, citing "two successful years of recommended implementation." The UIL confirmed on its Instagram account July 23 that schools will implement mandatory heat protocols starting Saturday, August 1.

Both The Woodlands High School and College Park High School fall in the UIL's Class 3 geographic zone, which covers the Gulf Coast corridor. Heat safety experts at HeatStress.com describe Red flag WBGT conditions during the first weeks of August practice as "routine, not exceptional" for programs in this region. That means local coaches should plan for shortened sessions from day one.

What the thresholds mean for practice

The five-level WBGT activity chart sets specific limits for Class 3 schools:

  • Green (below 82°F): Normal practice, no restrictions.
  • Yellow (82.0–84.2°F): A 3:1 work-to-rest ratio is required.
  • Orange (84.2–86.9°F): Practice capped at two hours, no conditioning drills, and football players restricted to helmets only.
  • Red (86.9–92.1°F): One-hour maximum, no pads or helmets, 1:1 work-to-rest ratio.
  • Black (92.1°F and above): No outdoor activity permitted. Practice must be delayed or moved indoors.

Schools must take a WBGT reading within 15 minutes before practice begins and re-check every 30 minutes, KBTX reported. If conditions escalate mid-session, the stricter restrictions apply immediately.

Cooling zones, water access now required

Once WBGT hits 82°F, Class 3 schools must have rapid cooling zones on-site, equipped with ice water tubs or tarps filled with ice and water. Schools are also required to give student-athletes unrestricted access to water at all times. No student may be denied water during practice or competition.

The rules apply equally to marching band rehearsals. Band directors must follow the same WBGT-based work-to-rest protocols as athletic coaches during outdoor sessions, according to ABC13's reporting.

Why now

The policy overhaul follows multiple heat-related tragedies involving Texas student-athletes. In August 2025, 15-year-old Preston Malone III, a sophomore JV football player at Lancaster Early College High School, died from exertional heat stroke after collapsing during practice, Fox 4 reported. That same summer, 17-year-old Cypress Springs High School student Jarvis Spires fell into a coma from heat stroke during a private training session.

Games not covered, but monitored

The mandatory practice modifications do not apply during actual games. Schools are strongly encouraged to monitor conditions during competitions. If WBGT reaches 82°F during a game, a rapid cooling zone must be available, and schools may adjust start times or add longer halftimes.

Schools had roughly six weeks from the June 10 vote to acquire WBGT monitoring equipment. Acceptable options include handheld WBGT meters or scientifically proven internet-based applications.

The new rules take effect Saturday, August 1, when fall football practices traditionally begin across Texas.