BROWNFIELD, Texas — New UIL heat safety requirements will take effect August 1 for Texas high school athletics and marching band activities. Still, several local football coaches say many of the precautions are already part of their normal routine.
The University Interscholastic League is making Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT, monitoring mandatory for outdoor practices beginning with the 2026-27 school year.
WBGT goes beyond the temperature on a standard thermometer by accounting for several factors that affect heat stress, including temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation.
For schools across West Texas, where August football practices often take place in triple-digit heat, the updated guidelines bring added structure to how coaches monitor conditions, schedule breaks and respond to extreme heat.
But for several local programs, the system itself is not new.
Brownfield Already Using WBGT Monitoring
Brownfield Cubs Head Football Coach Lawrence Johnson said his program has already been operating under the type of heat protocols UIL is now requiring statewide.
“Nothing new for us,” Johnson said. “We have been following the protocol and using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature since I’ve been here.”
Johnson said Brownfield uses Perry Weather, a weather-monitoring system that provides coaches with real-time information about conditions and recommended precautions.
“We purchased Perry Weather and it tracks the heat index for us and gives us specific information on how long we can be outside, number of water breaks to have and what type of equipment we can wear,” Johnson said.
The system allows coaches to adjust practices depending on the conditions instead of relying only on the air temperature.
Johnson added that the Cubs also have procedures in place should a player experience a serious heat-related emergency.
“We also have to use a cooling station in the event of severe heat exposure,” he said.
That aligns with UIL requirements calling for schools to have rapid cooling capabilities available during certain heat conditions.
Wellman-Union: Athlete Safety Comes First
At Wellman-Union, Wildcats Head Football Coach Brett Labadie said athlete safety has always been a major part of his program.
“We’ve always made athlete safety our top priority, so a lot of these protocols are things we’ve already emphasized in our program,” Labadie said.
He said the UIL’s decision to strengthen the statewide requirements is a positive move.
“I think the UIL’s updated guidelines are a positive thing because they continue to put the health and well-being of our athletes first,” he said.
That responsibility takes on even greater importance during preseason football practices in West Texas.
“Especially here in this West Texas heat, it’s important that we take every precaution to keep our kids safe while still preparing them to compete at a high level,” Labadie said.
For coaches, that means balancing the need to prepare athletes physically for the season while recognizing when conditions require a practice to be adjusted.
Meadow Prepared to Adjust Practices
Meadow Broncos Head Football Coach Blake Jackson said geography could give West Texas programs one advantage compared with schools in more humid portions of Texas.
“A little more thankful to live in West Texas with the dry heat compared to East or North Texas where there’s more humidity,” Jackson said.
Humidity plays a major role in heat stress because high moisture levels can make it more difficult for the body to cool itself through sweating.
Jackson said he believes schools in more humid areas could feel the effects of the new guidelines more frequently.
“I don’t think it will affect us like it will them, but we will make sure to take precaution when it comes to everything,” Jackson said.
Those precautions could include changing the structure or length of practice when conditions become dangerous.
“More frequent breaks, shade, and shorter practices,” Jackson said.
What the New UIL Rules Require
Under the new UIL plan, schools must check WBGT conditions shortly before outdoor practices begin.
Schools are required to continue monitoring conditions throughout practice when temperatures reach designated thresholds.
Depending on the WBGT reading, schools may be required to:
Provide additional water and rest breaks.
Reduce the length of practice.
Restrict football equipment.
Eliminate conditioning.
Move workouts indoors or delay outdoor activity altogether.
At the highest WBGT levels, outdoor workouts are prohibited until conditions improve.
Schools must also have access to rapid cooling methods, including cold-water immersion or an equivalent method, in the event an athlete suffers from a serious heat-related illness.
UIL also states that athletes must have unrestricted access to water and cannot be denied hydration.
West Texas Schools Face Unique Challenges
While West Texas is known for lower humidity than many other parts of the state, coaches still deal with long stretches of intense heat during the opening weeks of football season.
Air temperatures around Brownfield, Meadow, Wellman and surrounding communities can easily reach or exceed 100 degrees during late July and August.
And because WBGT also considers direct sunlight, wind and humidity, two days with the same air temperature can produce different heat-risk readings.
That is why coaches will increasingly rely on monitoring equipment and weather services when determining how practices should be conducted.
For local programs, the UIL mandate may not completely change how football practices operate, but it does establish a consistent statewide standard.
Johnson said Brownfield is already accustomed to monitoring those conditions.
Labadie said Wellman-Union sees the rules as another tool to protect athletes.
And Jackson said Meadow will be prepared to modify practices when necessary.
In West Texas, football and the August heat have always gone together.
Now, coaches across Texas will be required to measure that heat more carefully — and adjust accordingly.
For Brownfield, Wellman-Union and Meadow, the message from their head coaches is much the same: prepare hard, but keep the athletes safe first.