DALLAS — High school students at most Dallas-Fort Worth schools resumed outdoor football and band practices Monday, as cooler weather gives way to seasonable heat.
Temperatures are forecasted to reach or exceed 100 degrees for at least the next ten days.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL), which governs Texas high school athletics, updated its heat protocols for the 2024-2025 school year to protect children from the heat.
"Day one is tiring, man," North Dallas High School senior Sheriff Jallow said. "But the season is going to be even more tiring. It's going to be hard, so I'm happy they're working us this hard so when we get on the field it won't be as difficult."
Under year-old UIL recommendations, schools now use the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) instead of the heat index to inform decisions about practices. The WBGT better represents what direct sunlight feels like, accounting for cloud cover, wind speed, the sun's angle and humidity.
All schools must have a rapid cooling zone on standby any time the WBGT exceeds 80 degrees. Such zones include an ice bath or wrap that quickly stop a student from overheating.
When the WBGT exceeds 87 degrees, football players will not wear long pants. Practice time should not exceed two hours under such conditions, the UIL recommends.
Marching bands follow the same rules.
The North Dallas High School bulldogs will not practice outside between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Players can stop for water at any time, though the practice schedule include breaks every five minutes.
About 80 students practiced Monday. More will join the team once they complete necessary paperwork, Coach Carlos Perez said.
"We got out here early, trying to beat the heat," Perez said. "It's a different feeling when it's the actual first day of practice."
The school provides protein shakes, muffins, fruit and other quick snacks for students before and after practice. The extra food ensures no student feels "worn down," Perez said.
Senior football players said they encourage younger athletes to drink water on their own.
"You've been there before," senior left guard Christian Soto said. "You've got to lead them in the right direction and not let them get too dehydrated."
Quarterback Angel Trevino noted the bulldogs have participated in offseason conditioning camps, so Monday's practice was not the first time they'd been exposed to the heat this summer.
"We're used to it," Trevino said. "We've been doing it all offseason, so I feel like we came out here and we know what to do."