Recently, UIL has approved the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature guidelines as a safety regulation to protect all athletes and students from heat related illnesses during outdoor school activities, such as practices and competitions. The WBGT has five levels which determine if outdoor activities should continue, change, or be canceled for the day. The levels are green, yellow, orange, red and black. If the temperature is within the green level then students are allowed to continue any outdoor activities that are planned, as long as there is a minimum of a three minute break each hour. The higher the temperature rises, the higher you go in levels. Black is the most severe level, as it means all outdoor activities are canceled and must not start back until the temperature reaches a cooler level.
This new rule has caused a lot of problems for athletes and students alike by stopping them from being able to practice and get ready to compete for their competitions this year. So far, the band and football have been two of the most affected groups.
“The Wet Bulb has really affected the band because we have been hit by the black level before and we couldn’t go outside, so that’s really hurt our show practice,” junior Harper Nichols said. “Right now, we’re only half way through the second movement, and normally at this time we are starting the third movement in some way. So we’re pretty behind when it comes to marching and drill and all of that.”
While some students believe the rule should be removed because it is affecting their practice, others believe that the Wet Bulb should stay, due to the idea that it has made their sport easier.
“Changing wise, I think it’s so much better for all the players because they don’t have to suffer in the heat any more,” junior Maddison Smith said. “Plus, if it gets too hot we can just workout inside, so I just think it’s better for the rule to stay.”
Some students have mixed feelings of whether or not the guideline should remain, seeing both upsides and downsides to the Wet Bulb.
“I’m in soccer and it has affected us in both good and bad ways,” junior Alaina Ruiz said. The good ways are that not a lot of players are getting sick anymore, and there are also not as many big breaks we have to take because we are inside more, but some bad ways are that we can’t practice on a real field anymore, and with the different setting means there is less space to practice.”
Overall, the Wet Bulb Globe has affected many activities in a handful of different ways, some viewing these changes as a benefit, while others view it as something far more negative.
