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

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

Football players at Buford High School in South Carolina told researchers they were punished for making cat noises while preparing for weightlifting class. As punishment, the teacher allegedly took them outside to the grass field and made them crawl and scratch.

The players told the teacher that the grass was burning their hands, but the teacher allegedly told them to “continue to toughen those soft hands,” the incident report said.

Class was nearing the end of the school day and the temperature that day reached 93 degrees. The temperature of grass fields is about 20 degrees warmer than the air, according to the incident report.

After completing the exercises, some players said they asked the teacher if they could have their hands wrapped before lifting weights and soccer practice. Some players interviewed by authorities said he denied their request, while others said they could wrap their injured hands.

Photos of the players’ hands show they were blistered. At least one player suffered injuries severe enough that a doctor described the wounds 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 players, parents, the school principal and the teacher.

During an interview, the teacher said he had the players do drills on the grass field, but that he didn’t know how hot the field could get. He told investigators he didn’t see the players’ hands. He also said he’s not a coach and that his only responsibility with the soccer team is to “condition (the players).” The incident report added that he “seemed remorseful.”

Investigators determined that the teacher would not be charged and that the incident was “a matter for the school.”

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

According to a spokesperson for the school district, the incident is still under investigation.

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