The NWSL quietly updated its public-facing extreme heat policy since the Aug 16 delay in KC. The league says the edits aligned the external doc with a change that was implemented internally in 2023; the NWSLPA says it was not aware of the removal of a key clause. My report for the Guardian:
![(discrepancies in brackets) OLD NWSL EXTREME HEAT POLICY: … During the Delay a. Similar to a severe weather delay, the match will not start or resume until it is safe to do so as outlined by the procedures below. b. The Fourth Official will take another WBGT measurement 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match. [Follow the same procedure as above, should the WBGT reading meet or exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit.] • If the WBGT temperature reads below 92.3 degrees Fahrenheit, warm-ups may begin. c. [Following the reading 15 minutes prior to the start of the match, should the delay continue, a WBGT measurement will be taken every 30 minutes at the kickoff spot,] until it is deemed safe to play, below 92.3 degrees Fahrenheit, or until such time has passed that the League decides to postpone the match. [• In the event a WBGT measurement is below the 92.3 degrees Fahrenheit threshold by 1 degree (i.e., 91.3 degrees Fahrenheit), it will be the Fourth Official in conjunction with the home club’s Team Physician with feedback from visiting team medical personnel, operations, officials and both technical staffs, to make the ultimate decision if and when play is allowed to resume.] NEW NWSL EXTREME HEAT POLICY: … During the Delay A. Similar to a severe weather delay, the match will not start or resume until it is safe to do so as outlined by the procedures below. B. The Fourth Official will take another WBGT measurement 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the match. ○ If the WBGT measurement reads < 92.3°F/33.5°C, warm-ups may begin. ○ [If the WBGT reading continues to be ≥92.3°F/33.5°C, the match will continue to be delayed.] C. [A WBGT measurement will then be taken every 15 minutes at the kickoff spot, until it is deemed safe to play], < 92.3°F/33.5°C, or until such time has passed that the League decides to postpone the match.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rn7pv7y7h5bnb26trk6uo2cn/bafkreihnesfkhwgeb4nw6qtgp7frhqij4pvocwuyzukyduc6rui3k5ucoq@jpeg)
