High school football teams across Georgia are doing a new "heat-conditioning" period under new rules designed to reduce the number of heat-related deaths and injuries.

Authorities say the five-day heat conditioning period is required before the start of full practices on Wednesday.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports (http://bit.ly/MfdYup) that several Athens-area schools began their acclimation period last week so they can put on pads Wednesday.

The new rule is among statewide guidelines implemented by the Georgia High School Association after two Georgia players died of heat-related injuries last year.