IHSA OKs new rules to protect players from heat in playoffs

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois High School Association has adopted new safety measures designed to protect players participating in post-season sports from high heat.

The IHSA said Wednesday the new rules will affect regional sectional and super-sectional playoffs, as well as state finals and football playoff games.

The new rules will rely on a measure of the danger of the heat known as the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, or WBGT. It takes into account humidity and other factors in addition to air temperature.

A WGBT of 90 degrees will require that events be postponed until conditions cool. A measure between 87.6 and 89.9 degrees will require four water breaks per hour of competition.

The IHSA piloted the rules during this year's Class 3A and Class 4A baseball and softball state finals.