GAINESVILLE - Hall County is the latest school system to restrict outdoor activities for students during the current heat wave much of the state is experiencing.
"With some of what's happened around the area, we just decided it was time to make a blanket statement and say let's stay out of the heat between 12 and six," said Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield.
Two high school football players died Tuesday elsewhere in the state during outdoor practices.
Schofield said the restrictions will likely remain in effect for the rest of the week as temperatures are expected to remain in the mid to upper 90s.
"I suspect there will be some football programs, some band programs and some softball programs that will have to adjust, but we're pretty good at adjusting," he said.
Paul Friel, head football coach for Johnson High School, said he's already made some adjustments to help keep his players cool.
"We go our heaviest stuff in the morning," Friel said. "Our second practice is over by 1 p.m., but even by then we've already taken the shoulder pads off and just gone helmets."
Friel called the recent deaths of high school football players "scary."
Flowery Branch High coach Lee Shaw concurred.
"Something like that is a coach's biggest nightmare," Shaw said. "You don't even want to think about something like that happening, so you take as many precautions as you can to make sure those kids stay safe."
Thursday
April 24th, 2025
9:22PM
