Massachusetts school sports heat policy
A standalone MIAA policy, not its handbook, says a WBGT instrument “must be utilized at each activity” and sets limits for practices and games. How to read these labels
- Association
- MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association)
- Label
- WBGT required
- Reading it uses
- WBGT
- Statewide table
- Yes, shown below
- Last checked
- September 4, 2026
What MIAA’s document says
The policy cited below is written as a requirement.
MIAA’s Heat Modification Policy says “A scientifically approved instrument that measures Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reading must be utilized at each activity.” The rule is in this standalone policy, not in the MIAA Handbook. MIAA’s table starts its bands at 76.1, 81.1 and 84.1 °F, with “No outdoor workouts” above 86.1 °F; this card starts each of them a little earlier, at 76, 81, 84 and 86 °F.
- < 76°FNormal activity
Normal activities. Provide 3+ rest breaks per hour (≥3 min each); unlimited water.
- 76 to under 81°FUse discretion
Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; watch at-risk athletes. 3+ rest breaks/hour (≥4 min each).
- 81 to under 84°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).
- 84 to under 86°FLimited: cap 1 h
Cap practice at 1 hour. No protective equipment and no conditioning. ~20 min of rest breaks across the hour.
- ≥ 86°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
- MIAA’s limits cover games as well as practice. Its policy says games “can take place up to and including WBGT readings of 86.0°F”, and “If equipment modifications are necessary, no games should occur for that sport.”
- Indoor events are included too. MIAA says “For indoor events without climate control, a WBGT reading should be taken indoors.”
- MIAA says rest breaks should be in a “cooling zone” out of direct sunlight, with ice water and towels there when the WBGT is above 84. It also says “Cold-water immersion tubs should be available for the benefit of any player showing signs of heat illness.”
- Searching for “MIAA heat policy” can also turn up a Maryland private-school league with the same initials and a different table. The Massachusetts policy is the one on miaa.net.
How to read this
Each row is a range of WBGT readings, and every reading falls in exactly one row. A range like “76 to under 81°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. MIAA’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 MIAA’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 Massachusetts
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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