MACON, Ga. — At Westside High School, players are at their first official day of fall football practice.
Teams across the state use the first couple days of practice to get acclimated to the heat and practice in helmets and shorts. Padded practices will begin on August 1.
In Georgia, the start of high school football season coincides with some of the hottest temperatures we see all year long. To stay safe in the heat, the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has adopted a set of guidelines to protect athletes.
The GHSA uses a measurement called the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature to measure the amount of heat stress on players.
Each school is required to have a device on hand that can produce this measurement. Based on the reading, coaches may have to adjust how practice is handled.
These heat rules do not only apply to football. All high school sports must adhere to the GHSA heat policies. Cheerleading and softball are the two other GHSA sports in session now dealing with the heat.