The GHSA issued a statement after Tuesday’s deaths of high school  football players at Locust Grove and Fitzgerald. One is likely be  heat-related while the other is unknown. Here’s the statement …
STATEMENT ON THE DEATHS OF STUDENTS
 
The Georgia High School Association is deeply saddened whenever a  student dies, whether it be in an athletic situation or some other type  of situation.  We are devastated to have had two students die after  their involvement in football workouts, and we are concerned about the  well-being of our athletes in the days to come.
Privacy laws prevent us from discussing any medical information about  these situations without the permission of the family.  I can say,  however, that the GHSA staff is gathering facts about these situations  to evaluate whether our current standards for conducting practices are  adequate.
The GHSA is beginning the third year of a comprehensive 3-year study  on heat illness and football participation that is being conducted  around the state.  This study is being conducted by Michael Ferrara at  the University  of Georgia, and is attempting to get scientific data on  the relationship of heat and football activities in order to reduce the  risk of heat illness during football workouts.
GHSA coaches have a great deal of information available to them about  the importance of hydrating the players before, during and after  workouts – and about modifying or canceling workouts when conditions  warrant.  Most even institute a practice of weighing players before and  after practice to identify those who need more hydration.  The GHSA web  site (
www.ghsa.net) also contains information from various parts of the medical community about dealing with heat illness.
GHSA By-law 2.67 sets the guidelines that our schools are to follow:
a)      Each member school shall have a written policy for conducting  practices in all sports during times of extremely high heat and/or  humidity that will be signed by each head coach and distributed to all  players.  The policy shall include, but is not limited to:
(1)         the time of day the practices are to be scheduled at various heat/humidity levels
(2)         the ratio of workout time to time allotted for rest and hydration at various level of heat and humidity
(3)         the heat/humidity levels that will result in outdoor practices being terminated
b)      A scientifically approved instrument that measures the heat  index must be utilized at each practice to ensure that the written  policy is being followed properly.
c)      Schools may determine the heat/humidity levels using either wet bulb globe temperature readings or head index readings.
It is important to understand that the GHSA only sets the beginning  date that practices may occur in every sport.  The decisions about when  to begin those practices and how to schedule those practices are left to  the professional judgment of coaches and administrators.