The Georgia High School Association State Executive Committee adopted a new policy Monday that aims to reduce the risk of concussions in high-school football athletes.
The new policy, which goes into effect this spring, was adopted during the committee’s meeting in Macon.
According to minutes from the meeting, under the new policy, full contact during preseason practice is allowed for no more than two consecutive practices or for 45 minutes per day or 135 minutes per week. Also, only one session during a two-a-day practice will have full contact.
For regular season and post-season practices, full contact is allowed in no more than three practices in a week, on no more than two consecutive days or for more than 30 minutes a day or 90 minutes a week.
Full contact is defined as players running a drill at competitive speed through the moment of contact with no predetermined “winner” and contact above the waist and players staying on their feet; or running a drill in game-like conditions and the players taken to the ground.
Penalties for violating the policy are a fine of between $500 and $2,500 per violation on the first offense and probation with ineligibility for postseason play on the second offense.