08/24/2026
Official Upward Heat & Weather Policy Announcement
In light of Thursday’s practice cancellation, I wanted to take a moment to clarify how Upward will handle weather-, rain-, and heat-related delays and cancellations moving forward.
Upward will follow the WFISD weather and heat policy. If WFISD cancels practices or games due to weather, excessive heat, or unsafe field conditions, Upward will also cancel our scheduled practices or games.
Rain Delays & Rainout Cancellations
When rain or storms are in the area, we will make every effort to avoid canceling unnecessarily. Depending on the conditions, we may implement a rain delay and allow additional time for weather to pass before making a final decision.
If fields or practice areas become unsafe or unplayable due to rainfall, standing water, lightning, severe weather, or other conditions, we may issue a rainout cancellation. We will communicate delays and cancellations to families as quickly as possible.
Heat & Practice Adjustments
We will continue to closely monitor heat advisories and make every reasonable effort to accommodate our athletes by utilizing our facilities as effectively as possible, similar to the approach WFISD takes. Our goal is to make adjustments when possible so that we can continue practicing safely rather than canceling every practice due to high temperatures.
On practice days, water stations will be available for athletes to refill their bottles. Coaches will provide multiple water breaks throughout practice and utilize shaded areas whenever possible.
For our cheerleaders, when there are no scheduling conflicts with Sheppard campus events, we may be able to utilize indoor space inside the church. This would provide an indoor practice option when the shaded flat sports area is being used by our football teams.
The safety and well-being of our athletes, coaches, and families will always remain our priority. Weather conditions can change quickly, and we appreciate everyone's patience and flexibility as we make the best decision possible for everyone involved.
Thank you all for your commitment, flexibility, understanding, and continued support of Upward. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Levi Fillmore
Upward Sports Director
