Football season is right around the corner! The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) lists the official first day of fall practice as July 25.
Of course, that is right in the middle of the heat of summer. Fortunately, the GHSA has outlined a plan to keep players safe during hot conditions.
You've heard of the heat index. Meteorologists frequently use it to describe what the temperature feels like, but this number doesn't tell the full story.
The heat index is calculated by using the temperature and humidity to show what the air feels like in the shade. To get a more accurate measure of how stressful the heat is on individuals, the GHSA now uses the Wet Bulb Global Temperature.
Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) is a number calculated using temperature, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover, and solar angle. Each high school has a device that can take this measurement, and quickly calculate the WBGT.
Based on the reading, coaches must adhere to guidelines set forth by the GHSA. A summary of the risk categories, their WBGT ranges, and action taken can be found in the chart below.
These numbers and rules don't apply to only football players. All high school sports must adhere to the GHSA heat safety guidelines year round.