What Is WBGT? The heat-safety number athletes and coaches are watching

When evaluating outdoor sports conditions, athletes and coaches often keep an eye on a metric known as WBGT, or Wet Bulb Globe Temperature. Unlike the heat index, which solely takes temperature and humidity into account, WBGT also considers direct sunlight, solar radiation, and wind. This additional data makes it a valuable tool for estimating the potential heat stress athletes might face during outdoor activities.

Interestingly, two days with identical air temperature can still yield vastly different WBGT readings, depending on variables such as cloud cover, humidity, and wind speed. As WBGT numbers rise, so too do the necessary precautions for athletic heat-safety. Schools may implement measures such as more frequent water and rest breaks, reduced equipment usage, shortened or modified practices, or even the outright suspension of outdoor activities.

The use of WBGT in athletic heat-safety policies is already commonplace in the Carolinas. In North Carolina, the NCHSAA provides WBGT-based guidelines for member schools, while South Carolina's SCHSL mandates WBGT monitoring during periods of high heat and humidity. Locally, districts like Union County and Catawba County have also integrated WBGT into their athletic heat policies.

In extreme heat situations, coaches and school officials may find WBGT to be a more comprehensive indicator of the conditions athletes encounter. By incorporating this additional factor into their decision-making process, they can better determine when to modify or halt practices to ensure the safety of their athletes.