Georgia was the first state to put wet bulb globe temperature into an enforceable high school athletics rule, and GHSA By-Law 2.67, the Practice Policy for Heat and Humidity, remains the template a lot of other states copied. The thresholds below appear almost verbatim in several other association policies.
Two things make Georgia distinctive. It applies one statewide chart with no regional zones, unlike Texas or Oklahoma. And it attaches a financial penalty, which most state heat policies do not.
GHSA WBGT thresholds
One chart, every sport, statewide. It governs practices and voluntary conditioning workouts year-round, not just football preseason.
- Normal activities.
- At least three separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 3 minutes each.
- Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise. Watch at-risk players carefully.
- At least three separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 4 minutes each.
- Maximum practice time two hours.
- Football: players restricted to helmet, shoulder pads and shorts.
- All protective equipment must be removed for conditioning activities.
- All sports: at least four separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 4 minutes each.
- Maximum practice length one hour.
- No protective equipment may be worn, and no conditioning activities.
- 20 minutes of rest breaks provided during that hour.
- No outdoor workouts, including walk-throughs.
- Cancel exercise. Delay practice until a cooler WBGT reading occurs.
What the policy requires beyond the chart
- A scientifically approved instrument that measures WBGT must be used at each practice to confirm the written policy is being followed.
- The first reading is taken 30 minutes before the scheduled start of practice, then at least twice during a session or every 30 minutes.
- Rest time must involve unlimited hydration and rest with no activity. For football, helmets come off during rest.
- The rest site must be a cooling zone, not in direct sunlight.
- Above 86°F WBGT, ice towels and spray bottles filled with ice water must be available at the cooling zone, and cold immersion tubs must be available for any player showing early signs of heat illness.
- The policy is signed by each head coach at the start of each season and distributed to all players and their parents or guardians.
Practice, walk-through and the penalty
Practice is timed from when players report to the field until they leave, and covers any coach-supervised, school-approved sport or conditioning activity.
A walk-through is capped at one hour, does not count toward practice time, may not involve conditioning or weight-room activity, and players may not wear protective equipment. Above 92°F, walk-throughs stop too.
Schools that violate the heat policy face a fine of $500 minimum and $1,000 maximum. That enforcement mechanism is unusual among state heat policies and is a large part of why Georgia's compliance is taken seriously.
This policy requires an on-site WBGT instrument. A phone app does not satisfy it, and the WBGT app should not be used as the compliance reading here. Use it to plan the week, check conditions before you travel, and sanity-check a device you suspect is reading wrong. By-Law 2.67 calls for a scientifically approved WBGT instrument at each practice.
Warning signs of heat illness
Heat stress shows up before it becomes an emergency. Anyone on site should speak up immediately on any of these:
When in doubt, cool first and call for help. Collapse or confusion in the heat should be treated as possible exertional heat stroke: begin cold-water immersion immediately and call 911. Cooling comes before transport.
Plan the week around the forecast
Georgia requires the device at practice. What it does not give you is next Thursday. The app forecasts WBGT hourly and 14 days ahead, so a two-a-day can be moved before anyone has travelled to it.
- Hourly and 14-day WBGT forecasts
- Any Georgia town or your own field
- Athlete mode with practice guidance
- The flag level behind every reading
WBGT is estimated from weather data with the peer-reviewed Liljegren model. Where a policy requires on-site measurement, use the app for planning and as a cross-check alongside your instrument.
Common questions
What WBGT stops practice in Georgia?
Over 92.0°F WBGT, GHSA By-Law 2.67 allows no outdoor workouts at all, including walk-throughs. Practice must be delayed until a cooler reading occurs.
How often does GHSA require WBGT readings?
The first reading is taken 30 minutes before the scheduled start of practice. After that, readings should be taken at least twice during a session, or every 30 minutes.
Does GHSA allow a phone app for WBGT?
By-Law 2.67 requires a scientifically approved instrument that measures WBGT to be used at each practice. Treat an app as a planning and cross-checking tool rather than the compliance reading, and confirm the current requirement with GHSA.
When are cold immersion tubs required in Georgia?
Above 86°F WBGT. At that point ice towels and spray bottles of ice water must be available at the cooling zone, and cold immersion tubs must be available for any player showing early signs of heat illness.
What is the penalty for violating the GHSA heat policy?
Schools violating the heat policy face a fine of a minimum of $500 and a maximum of $1,000.
Does the GHSA heat policy apply to all sports?
Yes. It governs practices and voluntary conditioning workouts in all sports, and some aspects apply year-round rather than only during football preseason.
Related WBGT guides
Know the real heat number
Real-time WBGT, flag levels and forecasts. Free on iPhone.
