Waskom coaches adjust to mandatory heat safety rules as football season begins

"Now it's just a little bit stricter guidelines," said Wade Lawson, Waskom head coach and athletic director. "It's black and white now, basically."

To keep families informed, Lawson held a parent meeting to explain how wet bulb globe temperatures — a metric that measures heat stress in direct sunlight by accounting for temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation — will dictate daily practice modifications.

Staff members use a specialized monitoring device on the field to track conditions in real time. Readings are taken 15 minutes prior to practice and every 30 minutes during workouts. Coaches log the initial data on paper before uploading it to a digital spreadsheet for official record-keeping.

When wet bulb readings cross dangerous thresholds, outdoor activities pause. Teams adjust by moving into the gym or conducting film sessions indoors until conditions cool down.

On the field, safety measures are integrated directly into practice routines. Waskom provides unlimited water breaks and stations hydration setups at every drill area. The field house doors remain open throughout practice, keeping ice tubs positioned 35 to 40 feet from the field so staff can immediately plunge and cool an overheated athlete if necessary.

Annual UIL training and CPR certification prepare the coaching staff to recognize early warning signs of heat illness, including disorientation, lightheadedness, or an athlete reporting feeling cold despite high outdoor temperatures.

Lawson emphasized that prevention begins well before fall practices start. Athletes participated in conditioning four days a week over the summer to acclimate to the heat and learn hydration habits necessary to offset losing 3% to 4% of their body weight in sweat during intense workouts.