Georgia Athletic Group Weighs Heat Safety Policy for High Schools

The Georgia High School Association is considering changing regulations to require schools to have a written heat policy and thermometers on the field.

The change comes amidst growing criticism from state lawmakers after the Aug. 1 heat stroke death of Rockdale County High School football player Tyler L. Davis. The 15-year-old collapsed after a voluntary football practice and died the next day.

Until now, the high school association has left heat safety measures up to school districts because of the state’s diverse geography. While the association isn’t considering a statewide policy, it is looking to require each school to craft written guidelines for coaches and to have scientifically recognized heat-monitoring devices.

The changes, if approved by the association’s board of trustees, would be voted on by the association’s executive committee Aug. 28.

Last week, association executive director Ralph Swearngin took questions from state lawmakers during a meeting of the state General Assembly’s Athletic Overview Committee. The panel was established during this year’s legislative session for lawmakers to discuss the association’s operations.

Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, co-chairman of the committee, questioned continuing to let coaches or school administrators make the decision on when it’s safe to practice.

“The local folks always have better personal knowledge of a specific situation; however, the local folks also are impacted by local pressures, demands and competition,” he said.

Over the last couple of years, lawmakers have intervened whey they disagreed with the association’s rules. In 2005, legislators passed a bill requiring parents to have doctors complete in-depth physical exam forms of athletes.

Another law passed last year allows public prayer at private schools before athletic events, a move the association had opposed during sanctioned playoff games. The association, under pressure from lawmakers, also changed the way it tallies private school enrollment to determine athletic classification.

Swearngin said a one-size-fits-all policy on heat wouldn’t be beneficial for the state because standards vary by athlete and by where they live. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, no association in the country has statewide rules regarding practicing in heat.

Still, the Georgia Athletic Trainers Association is planning to make recommendations to the high school association on statewide rules within a month. President Lori Groover said Davis’ death “shot up so many red flags.”

Some basic perameters can be established statewide, she said.

“You can look at different things timing of practices, length of practices, acclimation that needs to be implemented,” Groover said.