New heat safety rules from the University Interscholastic League (UIL) are changing how Texas high school football teams conduct outdoor practices, with particular attention to artificial turf fields that can retain more heat than natural grass.
At Boerne High School, players took the field on August 3, 2026, for the first day of football practice at Boerne ISD Stadium, where the artificial surface may amplify heat exposure under the new guidelines. The UIL rules address concerns that artificial turf can increase field temperatures, potentially raising heat risk for athletes during outdoor workouts.
