Teacher on leave after athletes suffered blisters, third-degree burns during weightlifting class

LANCASTER, SC (WBTV/Gray News) – A teacher is on leave after forcing football players to do drills on a hot turf field, causing blisters and third-degree burns, according to an incident report.

Football players at Buford High School in South Carolina told investigators they were punished for making cat noises while preparing for weightlifting class. As punishment, the teacher allegedly took them outside onto the football field and made them do bear walks and crab walks.

The players told the instructor that the turf was burning their hands, but the instructor allegedly told them to keep going “to toughen up those soft hands,” according to the incident report.

The class was almost at the end of the day and the temperature reached 33°C that day. The temperature of the grass fields is about 20°C higher than the air temperature, according to the incident report.

After completing the exercises, some players said they asked the instructor if they could have their hands taped before lifting weights and practicing football. Some players interviewed by authorities said he refused their requests, although others were able to have their injured hands taped.

Photos of the players’ hands show blisters. At least one player suffered injuries severe enough that a doctor classified them as “third-degree burns,” according to the incident report.

The next day, at least two players were unable to participate in a practice match due to injured hands.

After the sheriff’s office spoke with the players, parents, school principal and teacher.

In an interview, the coach said he had the players do drills on the turf field but was unaware of how hot the field could be. He told investigators he did not see the players’ hands. He also said he was not a coach and that his only responsibility on the football team was to “prepare the players.” The incident report added that he “appeared remorseful.”

Investigators decided that the teacher would not be charged and that the incident should be “a matter for the school to handle.”

On Tuesday, the Lancaster County School District confirmed that the teacher had been placed on paid administrative leave.

The incident remains under investigation, according to a school district spokesperson.