South Carolina school sports heat policy
SCHSL’s heat guidelines are written as a requirement; its own WBGT table limits practice, and its top level postpones games as well as practices. How to read these labels
- Association
- SCHSL (South Carolina High School League)
- Label
- WBGT required
- Reading it uses
- WBGT
- Statewide table
- Yes, shown below
- Last checked
- September 28, 2026
What SCHSL’s document says
The policy cited below is written as a requirement.
SCHSL’s guidelines say “All schools are required to use a 1) scientifically approved on-site Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer (WBGT), 2) cold immersion tub or other effective cooling devices, and 3) have a venue-specific Emergency Action Plan in place as primary prevention strategies for EHI.” The zones here are SCHSL’s own table: “If WBGT is at 92.1 or above, suspend/postpone practice/competitions.” One rule this card cannot show: “Once the WBGT reading has stayed in a range for 15 minutes, practice restrictions for that range are in place and cannot be lowered to a lower range.” So on a falling reading, SCHSL’s restrictions can stay stricter than the zone shown here.
- < 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
- SCHSL says readings “should be taken directly on the playing surface” 30 minutes before activity and every 30 minutes after, and it says “Do not rely on local weather updates or weather apps”.
- If the WBGT at kickoff is above 87.0 °F and below 92.1 °F, SCHSL calls for a mandatory three-minute hydration break halfway through each quarter.
- SCHSL says outdoor sports should have a cold-water immersion tub or similar ready to use “when the WBGT is 82 or greater”, typically from May through October.
- SCHSL’s guidelines also say “Schools must follow the SCHSL Pre-Season Acclimatization Plan”, a separate plan this document names but does not include.
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. SCHSL’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 SCHSL’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 South Carolina
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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