Hot Weather Guidelines
Shippensburg University Athletics operates under the guidelines in the following table. The Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a measurement that can be determined by the Division of Sports Medicine. A chart has been attached to help estimate the WBGT reading. WBGT has been shown to provide an accurate measure of environmental heat stress.
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| WBGT Reading |
Activity Guidelines and Rest-Break Guidelines |
| Under 82.0°F |
- Normal Activities
- Provide ≥3 separate rest breaks per hour of a minimum duration of 3 minutes each during a workout
|
| 82.0-86.9°F |
- Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise
- Watch *At-Risk* players carefully
- Provide ≥3 separate rest breaks per hour of a minimum duration of 4 minutes each
|
| 87.0-89.9°F |
- Maximum practice time = 2 hours
- Football: players restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts during practice. All protective equipment must be removed for conditioning activities.
- All Sports: provide ≥4 separate rest breaks per hour of a minimum duration of 4 minutes each
|
| 90.0-92.0°F |
- Maximum practice time = 1 hour
- No protective equipment may be worn during practice and there may be no conditioning activities.Â
- There must be 20 minutes of rest breaks provided during the hour of practice
|
| Over 92.1°F |
- No outdoor workouts, cancel exercise, delay practices until a cooler WBGT reading occurs
|
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Guidelines for Hydration and Rest BreaksÂ
- Before:Â Student-athletes should drink 2 cups or more in the hour before practice or competition, and continue drinking during the activity (every 15-20 minutes)
- During:Â Rest time should involve both unlimited hydration intake (water or electrolyte drinks) and rest without any activity involved
- For football, helmets should be removed during rest time
- The site of the rest time should be a ‘cooling zone’ and not in direct sunlight
- Student-athletes should be encouraged to drink frequently throughout a practice session
- Water loss during a practice should be replaced as soon as possible
- After: The student-athlete should rehydrate with a volume that exceeds the amount lost during the activity
- In general, 20 ounces of fluid should be replaced for every pound lost
- Urine volume and color can be used to assess general hydration (use this chart)
- During preseason or periods of high environmental stress, weight can be recorded before and after a workout, practice or competition
Exertional Heat Illness
 • Exertional Heat Illness includes Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps, Heat Syncope (fainting), Heat Exhaustion, Exertional Heat Injury, & Exertional Heat Stroke
 • Some student-athletes can be more susceptible to exertional heat illness (*At-Risk*)
- Individuals with sickle cell trait
- Individuals with inadequate acclimatization or aerobic fitness
- Excess body fat
- A history of heat illness
- Those taking a substance with a diuretic or stimulant (coffee, energy drinks, etc.)
• Signs and symptoms of exertional heat stroke (a medical emergency)
- Aggressiveness
- Elevated core temperature
- Weakness
- Cramping
- Rapid and weak pulse
- Pale or flushed skin
- Excessive fatigue
- Seizures
- Collapse
- Nausea
- Unsteadiness
- Disturbance of vision
- Mental confusion
- Incoherency
• Environmental Risk Factors
- Environmental conditions
- Barriers to evaporative heat loss (athletic equipment e.g. padding/helmets)
- Wet-bulb globe temperature the previous day and night (causes an increased risk the following day)
- Excessive clothing or equipment
 • Non-environmental Risk Factors
