Dr. Nish Shah
As students head back to school and after-school sports practices kick into full gear amid near triple-digit temperatures across the Houston area, Houston Methodist experts are offering guidance on the new University Interscholastic League (UIL)’s heat safety rules and how student-athletes can stay safe in the extreme heat.
For the 2026-27 school year, UIL now requires schools to use Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) monitoring to assess outdoor conditions and determine whether modifications need to be made for practices, games and marching band activities. Previously, WBGT monitoring was recommended but not required. Schools must use WBGT readings to determine when additional water breaks, reduced practice intensity, modified equipment requirements or activity delays may be necessary to help protect students from heat-related illness.
“Heat safety starts long before an athlete steps onto the field,” said Dr. Nish Shah, a board-certified primary care sports medicine physician at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “Proper hydration, adequate nutrition, sufficient rest and gradual acclimation to the heat all play an important role in helping young athletes perform safely throughout the season.”
Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include fatigue, nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps, vomiting and confusion. Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, a life-threatening medical emergency.
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