New Jersey NJSIAA Heat Policy and WBGT Guidelines
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) sets heat limits for high school athletics by Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). Here are the activity limits at each level, and how Sports Safe applies them to your fields.
Outdoor practice stops
90.0°F WBGT and above
New Jersey WBGT activity chart
No Flag
Under 80.0°F
Practice limit: None stated
Normal activities. At least three separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 3 minutes each.
Green Flag (low)
80.0 to 85.0°F
Practice limit: None stated
Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; watch at-risk players carefully. At least three separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 4 minutes each.
Yellow Flag (moderate)
85.1 to 88.0°F
Practice limit: 2 hours
Maximum activity time is 2 hours. All sports: at least four separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 4 minutes each.
Equipment: Football, lacrosse and field hockey: ALL helmets and shoulder pads removed for practice and conditioning. If the WBGT rises to this level during practice, players may continue in football pants without changing to shorts.
Red Flag (high)
88.1 to 89.9°F
Practice limit: 1 hour
Maximum practice length is 1 hour. No conditioning for any sport. 20 minutes of rest breaks distributed through the hour of practice.
Equipment: Football, lacrosse and field hockey: no protective equipment may be worn, and no conditioning activities.
Black Flag (extreme)
90.0°F and above
Practice limit: No outdoor practice
NO OUTDOOR WORKOUTS. Delay practice until a cooler WBGT level is reached.
| WBGT | Level | Practice limit | What the chart says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 80.0°F | No Flag | None stated | Normal activities. At least three separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 3 minutes each. |
| 80.0 to 85.0°F | Green Flag (low) | None stated | Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; watch at-risk players carefully. At least three separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 4 minutes each. |
| 85.1 to 88.0°F | Yellow Flag (moderate) | 2 hours | Maximum activity time is 2 hours. All sports: at least four separate rest breaks each hour, minimum 4 minutes each. Equipment: Football, lacrosse and field hockey: ALL helmets and shoulder pads removed for practice and conditioning. If the WBGT rises to this level during practice, players may continue in football pants without changing to shorts. |
| 88.1 to 89.9°F | Red Flag (high) | 1 hour | Maximum practice length is 1 hour. No conditioning for any sport. 20 minutes of rest breaks distributed through the hour of practice. Equipment: Football, lacrosse and field hockey: no protective equipment may be worn, and no conditioning activities. |
| 90.0°F and above | Black Flag (extreme) | No outdoor practice | NO OUTDOOR WORKOUTS. Delay practice until a cooler WBGT level is reached. |
Key points
- Equipment restrictions apply to football, lacrosse, and field hockey.
- NJSIAA's Black flag starts over 90°F WBGT. Sports Safe treats a reading of exactly 90.0°F as Black, the more protective choice.
- At Yellow, helmets and shoulder pads come off for practice and conditioning, which is stricter than most charts on this site.
Common questions
- At what WBGT does outdoor practice stop in New Jersey?
- Using the NJSIAA heat policy, Sports Safe stops outdoor practice at 90.0°F WBGT.
- How long can practice last at each heat level in New Jersey?
- Under the NJSIAA heat policy, the practice time limits are: Yellow Flag (moderate), 85.1 to 88.0°F: 2 hours; Red Flag (high), 88.1 to 89.9°F: 1 hour. Levels not listed have no time limit stated, and at the top level outdoor practice stops.
- Does Sports Safe use the heat chart for New Jersey automatically?
- Yes. Sports Safe uses the NJSIAA chart for fields in New Jersey. You can choose a different chart for any field in its settings.
How Sports Safe uses the New Jersey chart
Sports Safe estimates WBGT for each of your fields from current weather, checks it against this chart, and alerts you when a field moves into a stricter level. On the Organization plan, coaches can keep a timestamped log of meter readings and the actions taken.
An app estimate supports your decisions but is not a WBGT meter. Where your association requires readings from an approved instrument, use one for the reading of record.
Source
Summarized from the NJSIAA's published heat policy. View the source. Last reviewed October 3, 2026.
Sports Safe is not affiliated with or endorsed by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Policies change, so always confirm the current rules with your association and follow your school's emergency action plan.