As heat stress policies continue to evolve nationwide, Tennessee schools are feeling the pressure to standardize their weather safety protocols—especially when it comes to wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) monitoring.
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) has introduced a clear, WBGT-based policy requiring real-time monitoring and activity decisions based on live field conditions—not just air temperature or heat index.
To help coaches, athletic trainers, and athletic directors navigate these changes, we hosted a webinar with three key voices:
- Brian Wyatt, Athletic Director at Hardin Valley Academy
- Jeff Wood, Director of Partnerships at Perry Weather
- Spencer Patton, Senior Growth Marketing Manager at Perry Weather
Together, they explored how Tennessee schools are implementing the new policy in real-world settings, what challenges they’re facing, and how technology and automation are helping reduce manual workload, improve compliance, and keep athletes safe.
Watch the full session or keep reading for expert insights, actionable takeaways, and answers to frequently asked questions.
What The TSSAA Webinar Covers
The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) enforces a statewide WBGT-based policy to manage heat stress—but knowing the rulebook doesn’t mean implementation is simple. In this webinar, we break down:
- Why WBGT is a more accurate and reliable metric than air temperature or heat index
- How Tennessee schools can automate heat tracking and reduce the burden of manual readings
- The risks of relying on free weather apps or handheld meters like Kestrels for compliance
- What recent WBGT trends in Tennessee reveal about rising heat levels and regional variability
- How to balance safety protocols with practice performance and preseason preparation
- Why having an archive of heat data is essential for audits, parent inquiries, and future planning
Whether your district is just getting started or already tracking WBGT manually, this session offers practical, Tennessee-specific guidance to help you comply with the policy and build a more confident safety culture across your school community.
Key Takeaways from the TSSAA Webinar
1. Tennessee’s Class 3 Policy Provides Simplicity—But Still Requires Local Action
Tennessee follows a uniform Class 3 WBGT heat policy statewide, which simplifies compliance compared to states like California.
However, Brian Wyatt emphasized that “just because the policy is simple doesn’t mean implementation is.” Coaches and athletic trainers still need to understand how to respond to each zone shift—from Green to Black.
Wyatt shared how his team simply loaded the TSSAA heat policy into the Perry Weather app, so every outdoor head coach automatically receives zone-based alerts.
“They get a message through the app letting them know, ‘Hey, you’ve reached this zone. Here are the stipulations from the state,’” Wyatt explained. “And if we drop zones, they get that too.”
That real-time visibility, combined with Perry Weather’s WBGT forecasts, helped Hardin Valley preemptively cancel JV soccer practice when Red Zone conditions were expected at 4 PM—”and honestly, it was a good rest day anyway,” he noted.
2. Manual Monitoring Creates Gaps, Delays, and Safety Risks
Wyatt openly acknowledged that before automation, heat monitoring at his previous schools was inconsistent at best:
- Athletic trainers had to take readings manually while also managing injuries.
- Practices sometimes continued longer than they should have due to delayed zone updates.
- Coaches using handhelds created potential conflicts of interest.
“Some would joke, ‘Can we hide this under a shady tree so we can get through practice?’” Wyatt recalled. “I never felt like that was worth the risk.”
Add in juggling Kestrels, batteries, and spotty group texts, and it’s clear why many trainers called the Perry Weather system a game-changer. Wyatt said it best:
“You get continual feedback without a human having to be there holding the device.”
3. WBGT Is More Accurate Than Heat Index or Free Apps
Tennessee is one of the few states that still allows schools to use either WBGT or heat index. But both the TSSAA and Perry Weather strongly recommend WBGT as the preferred standard.
- Heat Index only considers humidity and air temperature.
- Wet Bulb Temperature lacks sun angle and radiant heat factors.
- WBGT includes air temp, humidity, wind, radiant heat, and sun exposure.
“It’s the most complete measure of how the body is experiencing heat stress,” Spencer said.
Even Joe Blair, Assistant Executive Director of the TSSAA, chimed in during the Q&A to reinforce:
“We do allow WBGT or heat index to be used, but on-site WBGT should trump heat index pulled from an app.”
4. Automated Alerts Build Trust and Ensure Accountability
The real power of Perry Weather lies in its automation and shared visibility:
- Coaches, ATs, and ADs all receive mobile alerts when zones change.
- Notifications repeat every 20–30 minutes, ensuring nothing is missed.
- Each alert includes clear instructions tied to the exact TSSAA policy.
“My coaches joke about how many alerts they get,” Wyatt said. “But I’d rather them get too many than not enough.”
You can even set custom quiet hours, so no one gets pinged at 6 AM unless needed.
5. Historical Logs Are Essential for Planning and Protection
Wyatt shared that his athletic trainer downloads WBGT logs weekly and submits them to her employer for documentation. This isn’t just bureaucracy—it’s protection.
“If a parent says, ‘My child was lightheaded after practice,’ we can pull the WBGT at that time and say, ‘It was 75. Conditions were safe.”
This data is also useful for:
- Comparing practice conditions year-over-year
- Adjusting schedules for peak heat windows
- Validating compliance if questions arise
6. On-Field Conditions, Not Turf Alone, Drive Accurate Readings
An attendee asked about Perry Weather’s WBGT readings on turf vs. grass fields. Spencer explained that while turf is physically hotter at foot level, air mixing above 1 ft means WBGT readings remain reliable at head and torso height, where heat stress matters most.
He added that Perry Weather adjusts rooftop sensor data to reflect field-level conditions, and they’re actively conducting a six-school validation study to further verify accuracy.
“It’s really about choosing your challenge. Handhelds bring inaccuracies; rooftop sensors offer consistency—especially when adjusted algorithmically.”
7. Forecasts, Widgets, and Meteorologists Offer a Full Safety Net
Beyond heat, Perry Weather supports schools during lightning delays and severe weather:
- Wyatt praised the ability to text Perry Weather’s meteorologists: “I got a lightning forecast in under 5 minutes…we moved our football game to Saturday and avoided a long delay.”
- He also used the Perry Weather widget to send a lightning delay notice to parents and staff.
“I didn’t have to answer a single question about when fans could re-enter the stadium. That’s a win.”
From practice planning to real-time emergency communication, Perry Weather provides a unified platform for safety, transparency, and peace of mind.
FAQs from the TSSAA Webinar
What are the biggest challenges with using handheld WBGT meters like Kestrels?
- Need to warm up 20–30 minutes before practice.
- Inaccurate readings due to sun angle, wind absence, and probe placement.
- Difficult for athletic trainers to monitor consistently while treating athletes.
- Lack of standardization: different coaches using different apps/devices caused confusion.
- Risk of data spikes from direct sunlight hitting exposed sensors.
What is the difference between Heat Index, Wet Bulb Temperature, and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)?
- Heat Index: Only measures air temperature and humidity.
- Wet Bulb Temperature: Measures air temperature, humidity, and wind, but misses the crucial impact of the sun.
- Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT): This is the gold standard because it is a composite measurement of air temperature, humidity, wind, sun angle, and cloud cover. It is the most accurate way to measure the total heat stress on an athlete’s body.
How can we ensure athletic trainers across the county are following the WBGT policy?
Consistent communication from the county or district level is key. Brian Wyatt shared that in Knox County, the athletic director holds a mandatory meeting in July to review the policy, and sends out email reminders with the policy attached any time there’s a threat of extreme heat. Additionally, using Perry Weather ensures all coaches and staff receive the same automated alerts and view the same data, creating uniformity.
Does the Perry Weather system work for both grass and turf fields?
Yes, and this was a common concern. Spencer explained that while turf can be hotter at the surface, WBGT sensors placed at 3–5 feet off the ground show consistent readings due to air mixing—making the system reliable for both surfaces.
Is it safe to rely on rooftop-mounted Perry Weather stations for field-level WBGT?
Yes. Perry Weather compensates for rooftop placement by using calculations to normalize WBGT readings to ground level. Spencer shared that the company is currently conducting a study across 6 schools to scientifically validate the equivalence of rooftop vs. field-level readings.
Do you need to track WBGT in the offseason?
Yes. Jeff Wood stressed:
“The rules might start August 1, but the heat doesn’t wait. We’ve had 90-degree days in July with full-on workouts.”
Monitoring heat conditions during summer conditioning, 7-on-7s, or voluntary practices helps protect athletes and builds safer habits year-round.
Thanks for joining us. We hope the webinar gave you practical takeaways for managing heat stress and keeping athletes safe. Perry Weather removes the guesswork from weather safety decisions—try it yourself with a free two-week trial.
