AQI Threshold Policy

Air Quality Index Threshold Policy
The below policy pertains to Mid-American Conference members for sports that practice and/or compete outdoors.
 
Air Quality Index Thresholds
The air quality index (AQI) is a nationally uniform index promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for reporting and forecasting daily air quality across the country. It is used to report information about the most common ambient air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5 or PM10) and ozone. The AQI uses a normalized scale from 0 to 500 and provides associated health-based descriptors for each category; it is based on a full 24 hours of data.  Air quality is an important aspect of a safe game day environment. The most significant health risk occurs when levels of particulate matter (PM) rise to a level that can irritate the airways and cause breathing problems, especially during exercise. High pollen counts, smoke, dust, etc. along with temperature extremes and humidity can play a significant role in athletic performance and recovery. Being aware of the conditions in which a student-athlete is participating is significant and should be monitored by all necessary personnel such as a team’s physician, assigned athletic trainer, facilities personnel and/or sport administrator.
 
AirNow.Gov is a multi-agency web site operated by the EPA that reports air quality using the AQI and estimates the air quality for each hour within a given region. Although AirNow.Gov does not provide venue specific air quality readings, using AirNow.Gov to obtain AQI and particulate matter information can be helpful in providing estimates for a specific venue and educating the public about current conditions.
 
General NCAA parameters are as follows:
 
  • At an Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 150, outdoor activities may consider modification of athletics activity for all participants, and exertion should be minimized by decreasing the intensity of activity. Sensitive athletes should be moved indoors.
  • At AQIs of 201 or above, serious consideration should be given to rescheduling (postponement, reschedule, or cancelled) the activity or moving it indoors. Prolonged exposure and heavy exertion should be avoided. Avoid all outdoor physical activity for sensitive individuals.
 
Air Quality Policy Procedures for Competition:
  • An AQI reading shall be taken at least five (5) hours prior to the game time at the site of competition by the host institution.
  • If the AQI is at 150 or higher, air quality readings shall be monitored at 30-minute intervals leading to the start of the contest.
  • The individual responsible for tracking on the AQI shall be determined by the institution prior to the start of the season. 
    • Institutions are encouraged to dedicate their sport administrator, facility management personnel or the sport athletics trainer to be the individual responsible on campus.  This individual should not be a member of the coaching staff.
  • At three (3) hours prior to the competition start time, the host individual responsible for monitoring the AQI shall consult with the host Independent Medical Care Provider to evaluate the air quality conditions considering the current threshold, projected range, rainfall, other weather factors.
    • Must be available to consult with host on-site medical personnel.
  • Once a reading is taken, the host individual responsible for monitoring the AQI shall make a recommendation to the appropriate sport administrator(s) regarding the AQI levels as it relates starting or continuing competition.
  • If the AQI remains at 150 or higher within three (3) hours prior to start of competition, then communication must commence between the host institution, opponent, and Conference Office.
  • Directors of Athletics/Sport Administrators must take all available information to collaborate on a plan in consultation with the Commissioner (or his/her/their designee).
    • When a consensus is not available, the Commissioner (or his/her/their designee) will have the final say on the plan for competition.
  • Should AQI levels remain in the acceptable ranges outlined by the NCAA Sports Science Institute (currently an AQI reading of 200 or less), competition shall be started or continued.
  • If the competition has not begun and the AQI threshold crosses the 200 threshold, the competition shall be postponed or rescheduled.
  • If competition has begun, the AQI levels should be checked at all quarter/period/half breaks of a contest.  If the AQI levels surpass 200, competition shall be halted immediately.
    • Competition will resume at an agreed upon time by sport administrators, with a mutually-agreed upon warm-up time.
  • Competitions shall be postponed and/or rescheduled as soon as possible. 
    • Cancellation of competitions will be a last resort.
 
The Commissioner (or his/her/their designee) has the sole authority to declare a contest cancelled, postponed, rescheduled or terminated. [8/14/2023]
 
Air Quality Policy Procedures for Practice:
  • If the AQI is at 150 or higher, air quality readings shall be monitored at 30-minute intervals leading to the start of the practice.
  • The individual responsible for tracking on the AQI shall be determined by the institution prior to the start of the season. 
    • Institutions are encouraged to dedicate their sport administrator, facility management personnel or the sport athletics trainer to be the individual responsible on campus.  This individual should not be a member of the coaching staff.
  • Consideration of moving practice to indoor facilities should occur when the AQI level is at 151-200.
  • When the AQI is at 201 or greater, practice must be moved indoors or suspended/rescheduled/cancelled.
  • Determination of practice changes must be clearly communicated with all appropriate persons (i.e. facilities, sport administrators, coaches, staff, student-athletes).