District of Columbia school sports heat policy
DCSAA’s handbook says an on-site WBGT reading is required for practices and contests, and it calls the activity bands that follow guidelines. How to read these labels
- Association
- DCSAA (District of Columbia State Athletic Association)
- Label
- WBGT required
- Reading it uses
- WBGT
- Statewide table
- Yes, shown below
- Last checked
- September 8, 2026
What DCSAA’s document says
The policy cited below is written as a requirement.
DCSAA’s handbook makes the reading a requirement and calls the bands guidelines: “A WBGT is required to be measured on-site to determine if practices/contests should be modified or canceled,” and “It is the responsibility of the school’s coaching staff to know the WBGT before and during outdoor practices, activities and contests.” The zones here are DCSAA’s own numbers, printed on page 39 of its 2026-27 Member Handbook, not a regional model; DCSAA cites Grundstein (2015) but names no Korey Stringer category. DCSAA’s handbook page says “For the 2026-27 school year, this handbook should be used as template and guidance for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to assist in the administration of athletic programs”, so check which version your LEA adopted.
- < 82°FNormal activity
Normal activities. Provide 3+ rest breaks per hour (≥3 min each); unlimited water.
- 82 to under 87°FUse discretion
Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; watch at-risk athletes. 3+ rest breaks/hour (≥4 min each).
- 87 to under 90°FReduced: cap 2 h
Cap practice at 2 hours. Football: helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts only (pads off for conditioning). 4+ rest breaks/hour (≥4 min).
- 90 to under 92.1°FLimited: cap 1 h
Cap practice at 1 hour. No protective equipment and no conditioning. ~20 min of rest breaks across the hour.
- ≥ 92.1°FCancel outdoor activity
No outdoor workouts: delay or cancel until the WBGT drops to a cooler level.
This is a plain-language summary to help you plan. It is not legal advice, and it is not the association’s document. Associations revise these policies often. Confirm what currently applies with your school, district or association.
What else to know
- Although DCSAA calls the bands guidelines, some lines inside them use firm words, such as “There must be 20 minutes of rest breaks” in the one-hour band.
How to read this
Each row is a range of WBGT readings, and every reading falls in exactly one row. A range like “82 to under 87°F” includes the first number and stops just below the second. The short activity notes in each row are a general guide, worded the same on every state page. DCSAA’s document may word its limits differently or add rest breaks, equipment and water rules, so open it for the exact rules.
Before you rely on this
- This page summarizes DCSAA’s document. It does not replace it. If they differ, go by the document and by the policy your school or league has adopted.
- Confirm what currently applies with your school, district or association. Many schools adopt their own version.
- Any WBGT number WetBulbTracker shows is a modeled estimate for planning, not an official reading. Where a policy calls for an on-site reading, that reading governs.
- This page does not replace an athletic trainer’s judgment.
Live heat readings in District of Columbia
Suggest a correction
Associations update these documents, often before the fall season. If something here is wrong or out of date, send us a link to the current document and we will re-check it.
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