South Carolina High School Heat Policy and WBGT Guidelines
For South Carolina fields, Sports Safe uses the GHSA chart from Georgia, which is the chart the UNC Southeast Regional Climate Center's WBGT tool lists for South Carolina. It is not the SCHSL's own policy, so check with the SCHSL for any additional requirements. Here are the activity limits at each level, and how Sports Safe applies them to your fields.
Outdoor practice stops
Above 92.0°F WBGT
South Carolina WBGT activity chart
Normal activity
Under 82.0°F
Practice limit: None stated
Normal activity. Provide at least 3 separate rest breaks each hour of a minimum of 3 minutes each.
Use discretion
82.0 to 86.9°F
Practice limit: None stated
Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; watch at-risk players carefully. 3 rest breaks/hour, 4 min each.
Modify activity
87.0 to 89.9°F
Practice limit: 2 hours
Maximum practice 2 hours. Football restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts. Provide 4 rest breaks/hour, 4 min each.
Equipment: Football: helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts only; remove all other protective equipment for conditioning.
Severe restriction
90.0 to 92.0°F
Practice limit: 1 hour
Maximum practice 1 hour. No protective equipment, no conditioning. 20 minutes of rest breaks distributed through the hour.
Equipment: No protective equipment. No conditioning activities.
No outdoor workouts
Above 92.0°F
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 82.0°F | Normal activity | None stated | Normal activity. Provide at least 3 separate rest breaks each hour of a minimum of 3 minutes each. |
| 82.0 to 86.9°F | Use discretion | None stated | Use discretion for intense or prolonged exercise; watch at-risk players carefully. 3 rest breaks/hour, 4 min each. |
| 87.0 to 89.9°F | Modify activity | 2 hours | Maximum practice 2 hours. Football restricted to helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts. Provide 4 rest breaks/hour, 4 min each. Equipment: Football: helmet, shoulder pads, and shorts only; remove all other protective equipment for conditioning. |
| 90.0 to 92.0°F | Severe restriction | 1 hour | Maximum practice 1 hour. No protective equipment, no conditioning. 20 minutes of rest breaks distributed through the hour. Equipment: No protective equipment. No conditioning activities. |
| Above 92.0°F | No outdoor workouts | No outdoor practice | No outdoor workouts. Delay practice until a cooler WBGT level is reached. |
Key points
- South Carolina shares one WBGT chart with Georgia and Florida in the guideline set published by the UNC Southeast Regional Climate Center's WBGT tool.
- Your school may follow additional SCHSL requirements, so confirm the current policy with the SCHSL.
Common questions
- At what WBGT does outdoor practice stop in South Carolina?
- Using Georgia's GHSA chart, Sports Safe stops outdoor practice above 92.0°F WBGT.
- How long can practice last at each heat level in South Carolina?
- Under Georgia's GHSA chart, which Sports Safe uses for South Carolina, the practice time limits are: Modify activity, 87.0 to 89.9°F: 2 hours; Severe restriction, 90.0 to 92.0°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 South Carolina automatically?
- Yes. Sports Safe uses Georgia's GHSA chart for fields in South Carolina. You can choose a different chart for any field in its settings.
How Sports Safe uses the South Carolina 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
This is the GHSA chart, which the UNC Southeast Regional Climate Center's WBGT tool lists for South Carolina. It is not the SCHSL's own policy, so confirm the current rules with the SCHSL. View the source. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.
Sports Safe is not affiliated with or endorsed by the South Carolina High School League. Policies change, so always confirm the current rules with your association and follow your school's emergency action plan.