The Dallas Cowboys are practicing inside at The Star in Frisco because late-summer heat is still brutal, and coach Brian Schottenheimer says part of that call comes from high-tech urinals that measure how hydrated his players are.
Schottenheimer told reporters Thursday the decision is “more of the humidity and what we’re doing with the sweating,” the Associated Press reported. The team also does sweat testing. “We’ve got these cool urinals. I don’t know how much they cost, but they must be expensive. It tells you whatever your urination levels are. It’s crazy,” he said.
He did not name the manufacturer. In elite sports, similar “smart urinals” analyze a sample in seconds. Published research in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living describes devices that measure urine specific gravity — how concentrated the urine is compared with water — as a stand-in for hydration. Other systems log color, estimated electrolytes, volume and how often a player goes. Soccer clubs in Europe have used touchscreen units that assign a hydration score so athletes are not guessing by thirst alone.
Cowboys practicing inside again today because of the heat and humidity in Frisco, TX. They will probably be inside again tomorrow.
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) September 9, 2026
Brian Schottenheimer: “It’s more of the humidity. We do all the sweat testing. We got these cool urinals. I don’t know how much they cost, but they… pic.twitter.com/tUFaierjmj
Schottenheimer said those readings, plus humidity, help decide grass versus indoor turf. “That’s what you do as a head coach. You’re like, hey, how are the urination levels?” he said, according to Dallas Sports Journal.
He added he was “making light of it,” but that science is driving the choice. The indoor field is a 12,000-seat high school stadium next to headquarters. The grass practice field is a short walk away. When Dallas stays inside, some position groups still step outside briefly.
North Texas has had almost no rain for weeks. Wednesday was the eighth 100-degree day of September, tying a record, the AP reported. Regular practice is early afternoon, when the heat index has been in triple digits. The Cowboys held two shorter outdoor sessions last week at 8 a.m.
Their last full practice of the week was Thursday, three days before Sunday night’s season opener at the New York Giants. Schottenheimer said they were “probably” inside again and that the team does not play games in that kind of heat.
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