OSAA's air quality guidelines set required actions by AQI band, and they are the only source we verified that also publishes an AQI-to-visibility mapping — which matters when the nearest monitor sits far from your field.
| AQI | 5-3-1 visibility | Required action |
|---|---|---|
| 51-100 | 5-15 Miles | Athletes unusually sensitive to air pollution should consider indoor activity only. Rescue inhalers on hand, and pretreatment if their provider directs it. Anyone with respiratory illness, asthma, lung or heart disease watches symptoms and reduces or stops activity if they appear. Add rest periods as needed. |
| 101-150 | 3-5 Miles | All of the above, plus extra rest breaks for asthma, other lung disease, heart conditions or diabetes. Consider moving practice to another time or an area with a lower AQI, and weigh several days of elevated AQI together. Indoors may not be cleaner — check the ventilation. |
| 151-200 | 1-3 Miles | All outdoor activity, practice and competition alike, shall be canceled or moved to an area with a lower AQI. Indoors may not be cleaner — check the ventilation. |
| >200 | 1 Mile | All outdoor activity, practice and competition alike, shall be canceled or moved to an area with a lower AQI. Indoors may not be cleaner — check the ventilation. |
The chart starts at its moderate band. OSAA states no action below that, and we will not invent one — a silent document is not a clearance.
On a clear day, pick landmarks about 1, 3 and 5 miles from the field. Stand with the sun behind you: when a landmark's outline can no longer be seen, visibility is shorter than that distance.
In smoke or haze, check the AQI or the visibility index at least hourly during practices and games — conditions turn over fast.
OSAA's own instruction when readings differ: "Be aware that conditions may change rapidly and always use the more conservative of multiple metrics (AQI, 5-3-1 Visibility Index, etc.)."
Every threshold and action on this page was read off the primary document. OSAA 2025-2026 Handbook, Executive Board Policies §5 Air Quality Guidelines (Revised February 2024)
Cross-checked against the primary document on 2026-08-09
wbgtcheck.com is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the UIL, GHSA, NFHS, NATA, or any state athletic association.
Readings come from the EPA AirNow program, which republishes hourly observations from state, local and tribal air agencies. Credit belongs to those agencies first. Category colors follow the RGB values EPA specifies for the AQI, unaltered.
Using an online satellite map, locate three landmarks that can be seen from a specific venue. The landmarks you choose should be 1 mile away, 3 miles away and 5 miles away. […] Standing with the sun behind you, look at the three objects and when the outline of the landmark can no longer be seen, then the visibility range is less than the distance marker.