WBGT - How has it been effecting your schools & campuses?

[11BandMan11]

Hey y'all! Posting this topic as a genuine question to gather more information and data from as many people as possible, and see if anyone can explain it more to me. 

According to the UIL guidelines, there are specific ranges with the WBGT that dictate groups limit their practice time & increase breaks, or flat out can not be outside in any capacity. Which is honestly a good thing. Back in my day we just had to deal with it and only went inside when kids started puking or falling out from the heat. 

Here's where I scratch my head and wonder what the heck is going on with this system. I'm down in the Houston area, and the other day the WBGT according to multiple weather apps and a monitor that a neighbor has was anywhere from 95.6 to 97.2 for the WBGT. That is CRAZY hot and humid to get a reading that high. Now here's where it gets fun, guess what was also occurring at that time? Tennis matches, football scrimmages, etc. at the high school campus that's down the road from me. When I asked around, apparently the WBGT guidelines DO NOT apply AT ALL for contests, matches, games, etc. I looked it up, and it says the exact same thing! This is directly from the UIL website:

• WBGT practice guidelines and limitations do not apply to UIL competitions, but it is recommended that schools monitor WBGT conditions prior to and during the game and use appropriate emergency action plans for high temperature and humidity.

 Pardon my french, but how the heck does that make sense?! It's ok to limit practice time when the reading is too high, but when it's a competition, when students arguably push themselves harder because it 'matters more', it's ok?! Can ANYONE provide a reasonable justification to this reasoning? 

Additionally, it seems the WBGT MASSIVELY effects groups down in Houston, San Antonio, etc. more than other groups. I called a friend who lives up in Dallas, and their WBGT temps were within range to hold practices and rehearsal times the other day when all of Houston was considered the surface of the sun. Seems like these guidelines are greatly disproportionately effecting some groups more than others, and make it impossible to compete with groups who can actually get outside and rehearse. 

Would love to hear others perspectives and experiences with these new guidelines as well. 

[LeanderMomma]

I read through the article yesterday after finding out that all of the Leander ISD bands stayed indoors this week and my understanding was that these are only SUGGESTIONS by UIL and it’s up to each district whether or not to follow the guidelines  

https://www.uiltexas.org/health/info/heat-stress-and-athletic-participation

Notice, it only says “recommended” not required. 

but yeah, I can see this becoming a real issue when some districts follow it and others do not. It won’t be fair if a lot of the bands do not get outdoor practice before competitions when other bands are in districts that are choosing not to follow the recommendations and have full outdoor practices every week.

[youraveragebandkid]

  On 8/24/2024 at 6:11 PM, LeanderMomma said:

I read through the article yesterday after finding out that all of the Leander ISD bands stayed indoors this week and my understanding was that these are only SUGGESTIONS by UIL and it’s up to each district whether or not to follow the guidelines  

https://www.uiltexas.org/health/info/heat-stress-and-athletic-participation

Notice, it only says “recommended” not required. 

but yeah, I can see this becoming a real issue when some districts follow it and others do not. It won’t be fair if a lot of the bands do not get outdoor practice before competitions when other bands are in districts that are choosing not to follow the recommendations and have full outdoor practices every week.

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The fact that some schools don’t follow these rules at all is crazy. In my HS band we follow the WBGT rules to some extent and then go outside but at least my directors have the decency to take us outside when it’s not super duper hot and not overwork us to the point where someone could pass out from heat exhaustion. I just hope no one gets hurt . To my fellow marching band kids: stay safe, have fun, and drink water!!! (Like, actually go find your water jug/bottle and chug some water 🤩 jkjk don’t chug it lol)

[11BandMan11]

  On 8/24/2024 at 6:11 PM, LeanderMomma said:

I read through the article yesterday after finding out that all of the Leander ISD bands stayed indoors this week and my understanding was that these are only SUGGESTIONS by UIL and it’s up to each district whether or not to follow the guidelines  

https://www.uiltexas.org/health/info/heat-stress-and-athletic-participation

Notice, it only says “recommended” not required. 

but yeah, I can see this becoming a real issue when some districts follow it and others do not. It won’t be fair if a lot of the bands do not get outdoor practice before competitions when other bands are in districts that are choosing not to follow the recommendations and have full outdoor practices every week.

Expand  

Having lawyers in the family always makes me read some verbiage of items with an unfortunate pessimistic viewpoint. I sent them over to one of my sisters whose husband is a lawyer and he had the same indication I did upon reading them; "The verbiage is deliberately vague and written to avoid liability and culpability in the instance of anything going wrong."

It wouldn't be such an issue if there was more equitable application of these across the state, and if resources were provided to programs such as the cold water immersion tanks etc. but unfortunately thats not the case and will probably never be the case. 🫤

[Samuel Culper]

*affecting