UHSAA requirements work to keep high school football players safe on the field

SALT LAKE CITY — Two high school football players recently died while playing in Alabama. The Utah High School Activities Association has protocols in place to prevent the same thing from happening here. 

The UHSAA has mandated school football teams to slowly ramp up into full pads and uniforms. The requirement is meant to allow acclimation to conditions. 

Additionally, Brenan Jackson, a UHSAA assistant director, said cooling tanks will be required on the football field. They are intended for players who become overheated. 

“[If] a victim of exertional heat stroke is cooled first before they’re transported to the hospital, they have 100% survival rate,” said Jackson. 

Schools also use wet bulb globes to measure conditions, warning if it’s too dangerous to be outside. 

“Based on the reading from the ‘wet bulb globes’, [they can assess if] they need to change practice time, more water breaks, maybe they don’t go full pad,” said Jackson.  

Keeping high school football players safe 

Steps are in place to keep high school football players safe. 

Football helmets undergo yearly refurbishing. According to Jackson, they are replaced after 10 years. 

“All of the helmets in every high school have to be reconditioned and recertified. And so they are sent off back to the manufacturers that go through all the equipment, inside the helmet and outside the helmet,” said Jackson. 

Coaches must also certify on concussion protocols each year, according to Jackson. 

Tammy Kikuchi is a reporter and anchor for KSL NewsRadio. 

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