YSYSL Heat Guidelines
What the U.S. Soccer Heat Guidelines Mean for Us (Category 3 - California Valley including Yuba, Sutter & Colusa Counties)
The U.S. Soccer Heat Guidelines use Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which factors in heat and humidity, to decide when play is safe, needs modification, or must be stopped. Since we’re in Category 3, the thresholds for Normal Play, Caution/Light Risk, High Risk/Modified Play, Very High Risk and Extreme/No-Go are set a bit higher than in cooler regions.
Here’s how it breaks down for us:
Green – Normal Play
WBGT < 82.1°F
Equivalent to ~86°F air temp with 45% humidity.
What it means: Normal training/play is fine. Just schedule 3 breaks of 3 minutes/hour, or a 10-minute break every 40 minutes.
Yellow – Caution / Light Risk
WBGT 82.2 – 87.0°F
Roughly 87–91°F at 25–35% humidity.
What it means: Still okay to play, but more structured breaks are required: 3 breaks of 4 minutes/hour or 12-minute breaks every 40 minutes. Coaches should keep an eye out for kids struggling with the heat.
Orange – High Risk / Modified Play
WBGT 87.1 – 90.0°F
Around 91–95°F at 25–30% humidity.
What it means: Training must be reduced. No more than 2 hours total, and players need 4 breaks of 4 minutes/hour or 10-minute breaks every 30 minutes. Conditioning should be cut back.
Red – Very High Risk
WBGT 90.1 – 91.9°F
Roughly 95–100°F at 20–25% humidity.
What it means: Training should be limited to 1 hour max, with 4 breaks of 4 minutes each hour. Absolutely no extra running or conditioning.
Black – Extreme / No-Go
WBGT ≥ 92.0°F
For us, this is about 100.4°F at 35% humidity or even lower if humidity is higher.
What it means: Cancel or postpone training/matches. This is unsafe for outdoor play.
Key Takeaway for Coaches
• Green: Normal play, just add regular breaks.
• Yellow: Still okay, but be careful—extra breaks needed.
• Orange: Cut down intensity and time.
• Red: Very limited activity, short sessions only.
• Black: Stop play completely.
Put simply:
👉 Once temps climb past 95°F with moderate humidity, coaches need to dial things back.
👉 At 100°F+ with any noticeable humidity, we move into the no-go zone.
🔥 Heat Risk by Age Group
U6 & U8 (Ages ~4–7)
Higher vulnerability: Kids this young can’t regulate body temperature as well. They sweat less efficiently and may not recognize or communicate early signs of overheating.
Lower heat tolerance: Should have stricter thresholds than older groups. Even “Yellow” zone days could be risky.
Recommendations:
More frequent breaks (every 15–20 minutes regardless of WBGT).
Coaches must actively monitor for signs of heat stress (flushed skin, unusual fatigue, irritability).
Keep practices shorter (30–45 mins) in moderate heat.
U10 & U12 (Ages ~8–11)
Developing thermoregulation: These players are better at handling heat than U6/U8, but still less efficient than teens/adults.
Moderate adjustments: They can generally follow the Category 3 thresholds, but coaches should err on the side of caution.
Recommendations:
Stick to the heat guideline break schedule (e.g., 3 breaks/hour).
Modify drills on hot days (more skill/low exertion activities, less conditioning).
Keep hydration front and center—kids this age may forget to drink unless reminded.
U15 (Ages ~12–14)
Similar to adults: Physiologically, U15 athletes regulate heat almost as effectively as adults when hydrated.
Follow standard Category 3 thresholds without additional restrictions.
Recommendations:
✅ Practical Summary for Coaches
U6/U8: Treat them as higher risk → shorter sessions, more breaks, stricter caution.
U10/U12: Use normal guidelines, but lean conservative → don’t hesitate to cut back early.
U15: Apply full U.S. Soccer Category 3 thresholds → safe to train like adults, with hydration compliance.